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Summary
Type
SaaS
My Role
Founder / Head of Product
Business Model
B2B
Location
Remote
Engagement
Ongoing
Core Brief
Build a new venture
In 2023, I launched DesignLeads.ai, a SaaS tool that helps design agencies and freelancers find high-potential leads by identifying outdated or poorly designed websites. As Founder and Head of Product, I built and tested the idea from scratch — from concept validation and landing page copy to lead scoring logic and operations. The tool aimed to generate predictable deal flow for design professionals by offering curated lead reports with decision-maker contact info, screenshots, and outreach-ready copy.
Go-to-market
We went to market with a low-cost subscription model, targeting small studios and solo designers via design Twitter, Slack groups, and niche newsletter sponsorships. I created cold outreach scripts, social proof assets, and a “sample report” funnel to convert visitors. The offer — 25 ugly business websites that need redesign — was positioned to resonate with designers frustrated by inconsistent inbound work. Conversion was driven through a highly focused, benefits-first landing page and community testing.
Product & Design
I designed the UX/UI for the MVP myself and led the initial technical build in partnership with a freelance developer. The product experience was intentionally simple: subscribers received a curated monthly lead report with lead summaries, visual scores, contact info, and messaging templates. I developed the website scoring logic using a custom rule-based system that analyzed HTML structure, content clarity, and mobile friendliness. Feedback loops were built into the delivery flow to quickly iterate on lead quality.
Lessons & Resources
