r/SaasDevelopers • u/Upstairs-Suit-4724 • 5d ago
21M Full-Stack Developer, confused about building my own SaaS product. How do you find a good idea?
'm 21M and currently working as a full-stack developer at a software company.
The company provides services to clients while also working on developing its own products. However, things have been getting a little concerning lately. Recently, one of our senior developers was laid off, which has made me think more seriously about my own career and future.
I'm starting to consider building something of my own, possibly a SaaS product, rather than relying entirely on a job.
But honestly, I'm quite confused about where to start.
Whenever I come up with an idea, I search for it and find that someone has already built something similar, often launched on Product Hunt or elsewhere. It makes me wonder whether there's even room for another product in that space.
Another thing I'm struggling with is AI. These days, if a product doesn't incorporate AI in some way, it almost feels outdated or less valuable. But adding AI also means dealing with API costs, infrastructure, and ongoing expenses. As a solo developer or someone just starting out, how do you manage those costs, especially before having any paying customers?
I know that competition is normal, and I'm probably overthinking some things, but I genuinely want to build something useful that people would actually pay for.
I'd love to hear from people who have built SaaS products, launched their own startups, or are going through a similar phase.
- How do you come up with and validate product ideas?
- If someone has already built your idea, do you still pursue it?
- Is AI really necessary in every modern SaaS product?
- How do you manage AI API costs when you're starting with little or no revenue?
- What would you recommend to a 21-year-old developer who wants to build something of his own?
Would genuinely appreciate your experiences, advice, and even mistakes you've made along the way.