How to Get Your First 100 Users for SaaS (A Proven, Founder-Led Approach)

Your first 100 users matter more than your first 10,000.

They shape your product, define your messaging, and determine whether you are solving a real problem. If you are struggling to reach that milestone, the issue is rarely the product itself. It is distribution and positioning.

This guide breaks down how founders actually get their first 100 SaaS users without ads or a large audience.

Focus on People With Active Pain

The fastest way to 100 users is not exposure. It is relevance.

Your early users should already be:

• Searching for solutions

• Complaining about current tools

• Using workarounds

• Asking for recommendations

You do not need to create demand. You need to locate it.

Reddit Is the Most Reliable Source of Early SaaS Users

Reddit is where users describe problems in their own words.

Every day, people post:

• “Is there a tool that can do X?”

• “What software should I use for Y?”

• “I am frustrated with Z”

These users are already motivated. That makes them ideal early users.

The challenge is finding these posts consistently and early.

That is why founders use reddix to monitor Reddit for keywords tied to their SaaS and surface high-intent discussions in real time.

The First 100 Users Playbook

A simple system that works:

1. Identify 10 to 20 keywords related to your core problem

2. Track those keywords on Reddit

3. Read each post fully before replying

4. Provide a helpful and specific response

5. Invite users to try your product only if it fits

This works because it feels natural. You are participating in a conversation, not pitching.

Using reddix removes the manual search and lets you focus on replies that convert.

Build Relationships, Not Traffic

Your first 100 users are not anonymous signups.

They are conversations.

Treat them like collaborators:

• Ask how they are solving the problem today

• Offer to onboard them personally

• Follow up after they try the product

This approach increases activation and retention early on.

Use Competitor Frustration to Your Advantage

Your competitors already gathered your audience.

Look for:

• Reddit posts asking for alternatives

• Complaints about pricing or missing features

• Threads comparing tools

These users are already shopping. They convert faster than cold traffic.

Many founders find these conversations by tracking competitor names with reddix.

Charge Early, Even for the First 100 Users

Free users give opinions. Paying users give truth.

You do not need perfect pricing. You need validation.

Charging early:

• Filters out low-intent users

• Confirms real value

• Speeds up learning

Even a simple price signals seriousness.

Why This Beats Waiting for a Launch

Launches create spikes.
First users create momentum.

Founders who wait for Product Hunt or press often stall. Founders who focus on direct, intent-driven conversations build traction faster and with better feedback.

Final Takeaway

Getting your first 100 SaaS users is not about hacks.

It is about:

• Finding people with active pain

• Showing up in the right conversations

• Helping before selling

• Systemizing what works

If you use intent-based channels like Reddit and tools such as reddix to surface real demand, your first 100 users become achievable and repeatable.