Ep 13: From writer to SaaS founder, with Jane Portman

In this engaging conversation, Jon and Jane Portman discuss the multifaceted journey of building a SaaS business while balancing personal life. Jane shares her experiences transitioning from a UI/UX consultant to co-founding User List, an email automation platform. They explore the challenges of slow growth in the SaaS industry, the importance of niching down, and the realities of technical hurdles. Jane emphasizes the significance of continuous learning and adapting in the ever-evolving tech landscape, while also offering insights for aspiring podcasters. In this engaging conversation, Jane Portman discusses the long-term benefits of podcasting, emphasizing the importance of networking and learning from guests. She highlights the necessity of delegating production tasks to focus on content creation and shares insights on investing in quality equipment for better audio production. The conversation culminates in a light-hearted quiz segment, showcasing the fun side of podcasting while reinforcing the value of collaboration and creativity. Takeaways * Balancing personal life and entrepreneurship is challenging but possible with support. * The journey from consultant to co-founder involves leveraging existing skills. * Evolving a product is a gradual process rather than a sudden pivot. * Technical challenges are significant, and having a reliable team is crucial. * Slow growth can be beneficial, allowing for steady learning and adaptation. * Narrowing down the target market can help in finding ideal customers. * Limited resources force prioritization and focus in product development. * Understanding the market and customer needs is essential for success. * Building a SaaS business requires patience and resilience. * Advice for podcasters includes finding a niche and staying consistent. Podcasting is a long game, focused on enjoyment and learning. * The primary benefit of podcasting is networking with interesting people. * Delegation of production tasks is crucial for efficiency. * Investing in quality equipment can significantly improve audio quality. * Learning from guests is a unique privilege of podcasting. * Quality production can be outsourced affordably. * The right tools, like a boom arm, can enhance the podcasting experience. * Editing can be time-consuming; consider hiring help. * Engaging with guests in-depth is a rare opportunity. * Podcasting can be both fun and a valuable learning experience. Titles * Navigating the SaaS Landscape: Insights from Jane Portman * From Consultant to Co-Founder: A SaaS Journey * Balancing Life and Business: The Reality of Entrepreneurship * The Evolution of User List: A SaaS Success Story * Slow Growth vs. Overnight Success: The SaaS Dilemma Sound Bites * "It's always been like a mix of things." * "The product itself did not pivot." * "Just keep going. That's the lesson." * "It's always a game of limited resources." * "What advice would you have for them?" * "It's a long game." * "You can't get people to do that generally." * "Please, please delegate the production." * "It's a spectrum of costs." * "I was doing deep audio editing." * "Use a boom arm, please." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Awkward Beginnings 03:05 Balancing Life as a Founder and Parent 06:07 The Journey from Consultant to Co-Founder 08:58 Evolving the Product and Business Model 11:59 Navigating Technical Challenges and Team Dynamics 14:52 The Reality of Slow Growth in SaaS 18:01 Lessons Learned from Building a SaaS Business 21:08 Future Aspirations and the SaaS Landscape 23:57 Narrowing Down the Target Market 27:01 Overcoming Fears of Niching Down 29:52 Advice for Aspiring Podcasters 37:08 The Long Game of Podcasting 38:02 Networking Through Podcasting 39:45 The Importance of Delegation 40:55 Investing in Quality Production 42:51 Learning from Experience 44:12 The Right Equipment Matters 46:45 Fun and Games: The Surprise Quiz Keywords podcasting, SaaS, entrepreneurship, user list, email marketing, business growth, co-founder, balancing life, niching down, startup challenges, podcasting, networking, delegation, production, equipment, learning, user list, marketing, audio editing, guest interviews This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit saasyasfuck.substack.com

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Ep 13: From writer to SaaS founder, with Jane Portman is an episode from SaaSy as F**k by Jon McGreevy & Alex Radford.

This episode is 45:21 long.

This episode was published on Mar 31, 2025.

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