Take a look at your GitHub profile. Or your Documents folder. How many half-finished projects are sitting there, gathering digital dust? I call it the 'graveyard of good intentions.' We've all got one. That brilliant idea you had in the shower, the one you spent three weekends coding, only to realize... nobody actually cared. Ouch.
The silence after a product launch is deafening. It’s a feeling I know all too well, and if you’re in the startup or indie hacker space, you probably do too. The biggest mistake we make? We fall in love with a solution before we ever truly understand the problem. We build, and then we hope people will come. Spoiler: they usually don't.
What's the Big Deal with a 'Validated' Idea Anyway?
For years, the mantra has been "fail fast." But what if you could just... not fail? Or at least, dramatically lower the odds. That's the whole point of validation. It's about finding proof—cold, hard evidence—that people are already opening their wallets to solve a specific problem. It's flipping the entire process on its head.
Instead of building a key and searching for a lock, you find a lock that people are desperately trying to pick, and then you build a better key. It’s less romantic, maybe. But it's a hell of a lot more likely to lead to paying customers. It's the difference between gambling and making a calculated investment of your time, money and energy.
Introducing Validated SaaS: Your Weekly Dose of Pragmatic Inspiration
Alright, so I stumbled upon this service called Validated SaaS a while back, and my inner pragmatist did a little happy dance. It’s a platform created by Sanket Kogekar, a fellow indie hacker who clearly got tired of seeing founders (including himself, I’d wager) burn out on dead-end ideas. His whole mission seems to be helping founders build for a validated market from day one.
It's not an AI-powered, buzzword-filled, magical idea generator. It’s much simpler, and frankly, more useful. Every week, Sanket and his team deliver two proven, profitable SaaS or agency business ideas directly to you via Telegram and a master Google Sheet. The kicker? These aren't just pie-in-the-sky concepts. Each one is rooted in reality.
What You Actually Get in the Box
This isn't just a one-line prompt like "build a CRM for dog walkers." It's a full-blown blueprint. For each idea, you get a breakdown that saves you weeks of initial market research. You get the Problem and the proposed Solution. You get a defined Target Audience, so you know exactly who to talk to. Most importantly, you get the Validation Proof.
This part is golden. They'll point to an existing company that’s already making serious money in that space. For example, one idea for an "Automated Customer Discovery AI" points to CustomerPing.ai, which is pulling in over $50,000 in monthly recurring revenue. That's not a guarantee of your succes, of course. But it’s a massive signal that the market exists and is willing to pay. You also get a sense of development complexity, marketing tips, and even a little note on how Sanket himself would approach it. It’s like a mini-consulting session for every idea.
Visit Validated SaaS
A Look Under the Hood: The Good and The Not-So-Good
No tool is perfect, right? It's not a magic wand. So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what I think works and what you should be aware of before jumping in.
The Upsides (And There Are Plenty)
The most obvious benefit is the time you save. What Validated SaaS provides is essentially the output of dozens of hours of market research, delivered weekly. That alone is huge. As one user, Bhanu P., put it, "These ideas saved me months of market research." Beyond that, it massively de-risks the entire venture. You're not guessing anymore; you're entering a proven arena. This also gives you a huge head start on competitive intel. You know who the players are and what they're doing from day one.
A Reality Check
Now, for the other side of the coin. First, this service isn't free. There’s a subscription fee, which can be a hurdle if you're bootstrapping with zero budget. Second, and this is critical, an idea is not a business. Validated SaaS gives you the map, but you still have to drive the car, navigate the traffic, and actually reach the destination. Success is not guaranteed; it still hinges entirely on your execution. Finally, the ideas might not always align with your personal interests or skills. You might get a brilliant idea for a FinTech app, but if you have zero interest in finance, it's probably not the right fit for you.
How Much Does This Shortcut Cost?
The pricing model is pretty straightforward, which I appreciate. From what I can see on their site, there are generally two main options. Keep in mind, they explicitly state that the price increases as the database grows, so these numbers might change.
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly Access | $69 / year | Weekly ideas, full database access, problem/solution, validation proof, marketing tips, etc. |
| Lifetime Access | $79 / once | All benefits of the Yearly plan, but it's a one-time payment. Crucially, it includes a future strategy call with the founder, Sanket. |
Honestly, that lifetime deal seems like a bit of a no-brainer if you're serious. A one-time payment that's barely more than the annual fee, plus a personal call with the founder? That's incredible value, in my opinion.
Who Is This Really For?
So, who should sign up? I see a few perfect profiles. The Indie Hacker or Developer who is technically brilliant but gets stuck in the idea phase. The Aspiring Founder who feels overwhelmed by market research and just wants a validated starting point. And the Serial Entrepreneur looking for their next profitable venture without wanting to reinvent the wheel. It's for builders who want to build, not just dream.
Who is it not for? Anyone looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. If you're not prepared to put in the work to build, market, and sell, this list of ideas will be just another file sitting in your inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions (The Stuff You're Probably Wondering)
- Why should I pay for ideas when they're free online?
- You're not paying for the idea itself. You're paying for the curation, the research, the validation, and the strategic packaging. It's the difference between a pile of lumber (free ideas) and a ready-to-assemble IKEA kit with instructions (Validated SaaS).
- Are these ideas really market-proven?
- Yes. The core of the service is that each idea comes with proof of an existing company that is already generating significant revenue in that exact niche. They show you the money trail.
- Will I get access to all the past ideas if I join now?
- Yep. When you sign up, you get immediate access to the entire back catalog of ideas that have been shared. The database just keeps growing.
- What kind of business ideas are we talking about?
- The focus is squarely on SaaS (Software as a Service) and some agency models. You won't find ideas for info-products, e-commerce stores, or get-rich-quick shortcuts.
- Can I get a refund if I don't like it?
- Their FAQ section mentions a question about cancellations and refunds. It's always best to check the most current policy on their website directly when you sign up, as these things can sometimes change.
My Final Take on Validated SaaS
Look, I'm a cynical guy when it comes to services that promise to make the startup journey easier. But Validated SaaS feels different. It's not selling a dream; it's selling a smarter starting line. It's a compass for the startup wilderness, pointing you toward fertile ground where you know things can grow.
It won't build the business for you. It won't write a single line of code or make a single sales call. But it can, and I believe it does, solve the very first and often most paralyzing problem for any founder: "Where do I even begin?" For the price, especially the lifetime deal, it’s one of the most practical investments an aspiring founder could make.
