How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With an API-First Product
The Indie Hacker Podcast with Fexingo: Solo Developers, SaaS Side Projects, and Independent Tech

How a Solo Dev Hit 10K MRR With an API-First Product

Jun 28, 2026
8:14
S2 · E78
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About this episode

In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the story of a solo developer who built a simple API for converting PDFs to text and scaled it to $10,000 monthly recurring revenue without a traditional SaaS dashboard or user interface. They explore how API-first products reduce friction, the importance of documentation and developer experience, and why selling to developers requires a different approach than selling to consumers. The hosts discuss pricing strategies like usage-based billing, the role of rapid iteration based on user feedback, and the challenges of standing out in a crowded API marketplace. They also touch on how this developer leveraged Product Hunt and Hacker News for initial traction, and why focusing on a single, well-executed endpoint can be more effective than building a suite of features. This episode offers concrete takeaways for indie hackers considering an API-first or backend-focused product strategy. Perfect for developers and entrepreneurs interested in SaaS, side projects, and bootstrapped businesses. #API #SoloDev #IndieHacker #10KMRR #PDFtoText #DeveloperTools #UsageBasedPricing #ProductHunt #HackerNews #Bootstrapping #SideProject #Documentation #DeveloperExperience #Technology #SaaS #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #APIFirst Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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Episode Details

Author
Fexingo
Show Type
full
Audio Format
audio/mpeg

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