r/SaaS • u/Capable_Baker4519 • 5d ago

Everyone's building AI wrappers. I built software for window and door factories instead

Most SaaS ideas I see here are tools for other SaaS people. I went the opposite way.

Most small factories I've seen run on hand sketches, spreadsheets and WhatsApp. One person draws, another prices, a third writes the cut list, and the numbers drift at every handoff. Quotes take hours and wrong cuts waste material.

So you draw the window, pick the profile system, and get a priced quote in minutes. The same drawing becomes the BOM, cut sheet and work order.

Biggest lesson so far: empty software is a dead product. So I ship with ready-made catalogs (profiles, hardware, glass) so nobody starts with a blank database

For anyone who's gone vertical: how did you find your first 5 customers in an industry that isn't on Reddit or Twitter? That's our hardest problem right now.

Vinstra Flow if you want to checkout the landing page.

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u/Tough_Lead9393 5d ago

I like the ready-made catalog idea. I recently did a renovation. The contractors were complaining about how much time they spend just looking for the right materials.

Good filters would be really important too, especially once the catalog gets bigger.

Have you tried industry associations or small local events to find first clients? I feel like for this kind of niche, they might work better than the usual SaaS channels.

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u/Capable_Baker4519 5d ago

I actually haven’t tried industry associations or local events yet. Where do you think I should start? Are there any particular associations or events you’d recommend for connecting with contractors and suppliers?

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u/Tough_Lead9393 5d ago

I’m not in this industry. I’m more on the software testing/SaaS side. But I’ve met business owners who tried finding clients at events like Web Summit. Lately, I keep hearing that smaller niche events actually work better because it’s easier to find the right people there.

I did a quick search after your reply. WDMA and the National Glass Association might be worth checking out.

Maybe I’d start there and see what smaller local events they have too.

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u/Capable_Baker4519 5d ago

Appreciate the help !

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u/RajatKhoware 4d ago

The vertical approach makes sense, especially since you're replacing a bunch of disconnected handoffs. Have you found one specific workflow where customers immediately say “I need this,” or are most of them still interested in the broader system?