How to Find the First Users for a SaaS Startup
The first users rarely come from a polished launch alone. They come from showing up where the ICP already asks painful questions and offering a specific next step.
Last updated May 2026
Quick answer: first users for SaaS
- Listen: Find problem threads
- Search Reddit, X, LinkedIn, and niche groups for repeated complaints in the customer language.
- Help: Answer before linking
- Useful replies build trust faster than promotional posts.
- Route: Send attention to one action
- Do not send everyone to a generic homepage. Use an ICP, waitlist, demo, or specific guide.
Start in existing conversations
Search for the problem in Reddit, X, LinkedIn, Facebook groups, YouTube comments, and niche communities. The language people use there should shape your message.
Offer a useful diagnostic
Instead of saying 'try my product,' give a teardown, checklist, or decision tree. Then mention the tool only when it helps complete the step.
Track source to activation
Use UTM links and measure not just visits, but signups, ICP completions, waitlist publishes, and first return visits.
Founder checklist
- Five communities where your ICP asks questions
- Ten phrases customers use to describe pain
- One helpful reply template
- One activation link with UTM tracking
- Weekly review of replies, clicks, and signups
Common questions
- Where do SaaS startups find first users?
- Often in niche communities, founder networks, search-driven content, direct outreach, waitlist campaigns, and problem-specific conversations.
- Should I launch on Product Hunt first?
- Only if it matches your audience and you already have a clear story. Many startups need niche conversations before broad launch platforms.
- What should I measure when finding first users?
- Measure replies, qualified clicks, signups, activation, usage, and whether users match the ICP you actually want.
Turn the answer into action
Build the ICP before choosing where to find the first users.