15 Years Ago: "If you build it, they will come."
Startups focused on product. Growth was organic—word of mouth, early
adopter buzz, a few media mentions. Founders rarely put themselves
out there.
7 Years Ago: Inbound, Content, and Product Hunt Era
Content marketing, guest blogs, SaaS launches on PH, and growth
hacks took over. Early VC money fueled paid campaigns. A few SaaS
“rockstar” founders emerged.
Last 3 Years: Founder-Driven Branding, Always-On GTM
LinkedIn branding, Twitter threads, viral founder stories, PR for
every fundraise. SaaS brands use webinars, influencer reviews, SEO,
and targeted outbound. Every stage is "launch mode".
Today: Investors & Users Want Proof, Not Just Hype
Community-first, demo days, press features, founder podcasts, global
launches. SaaS growth means real inbound pipeline, viral demos, and
repeatable retention—not just installs.