Building a SaaS product was always something I dreamed about, but I never knew what I was signing up for until I started working on my very first one.
Then came AI and changed everything.
In two weeks, I have built my first fully deployed app online.
I want to share the story behind VideoBrainstorm, the struggles, the lessons, and the excitement of turning an idea into something tangible that could (hopefully) help other creators.
The Struggle with YouTube Ideation
Like many creators, I faced the same battle: staring at an empty Notion page or a Google Doc, trying to come up with that perfect YouTube video idea.
It's not just about the video itself—it's the whole package.
The title, thumbnail, script, and even the first 3–8 seconds of the video have to be just right, or else people simply don't click.
I knew I wasn't alone in feeling overwhelmed by this process, but I never found a tool that really helped me crack the code.
I remember watching other creators breeze through or even skip the ideation stage while I spent hours brainstorming, doubting myself, and eventually shelving half-baked ideas.
I thought, what if there was a way to make this easier, more fun, and even a little inspiring? That's where the spark for VideoBrainstorm started. (April 2023)
Finding the Solution in the Struggle
Initially, I didn't set out to create a product. I was just trying to solve my own problem—I wanted something that combined ideation, organization, and creativity in one place.
Something that would help me create more videos I feel good about.
My early efforts were messy: I tried a couple tools, some spreadsheets, some AI tools, Notion templates, and even plain old pen and paper. Nothing really stuck.
That's where people should look for ideas, btw. If you think something sucks, take a moment. Step back. And ask the magical question:
What would this look like if it was fun?
I wasn't just trying to organize ideas; I wanted a tool that could help me come up with new ones, drawing inspiration from what was already working, while still allowing me to put my own spin on things.
I read this book by Austin Kleon called "Steal Like An Artist," and I fell in love with the concept.
Nothing is truly original—everything is influenced by what came before.
Embrace inspiration from others, remix ideas to make them your own, and not don't fear borrowing concepts as long as you add your own spice to it.
So this tool had to not only help me get unstuck, but also inspire me—and hopefully others—to create better content.
That's how VideoBrainstorm was born.
Building the First Version
I knew nothing about building a SaaS. So, I decided to learn by doing.
I started exactly when AI tools like Cursor and Zed became more popular, and I heard about them for the first time.
Instantly, I imagined myself building my idea. Seeing the AI assistant write code for me in my IDE for the first time was fascinating.
And still, every time it writes code for me, it feels like magic. So I used that to build VideoBrainstorm, and even though I am not a real developer, I managed to build the MVP in around 2 weeks.
I had to figure out everything from how to build a simple front-end to how to securely handle user data. And let me tell you, I had my fair share of failures.
I faced bugs that took entire weekends to fix. I remember one particular day where a seemingly minor problem with video data pulling from YouTube completely broke the app.
I went through frustration, sleepless nights, and yes, thoughts of giving up.
But it was also in those moments that I learned the most about patience, problem-solving, and why failure is crucial.
The more I fail, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I ...exactly.
The "Aha!" Moment
The key turning point came when I really listened to what I, and other creators, needed.
Our video isn't the first thing that viewers interact with—it's the title and thumbnail.
If they don't click, they don't watch.
→ So, what if we focused on "packaging" the video first?
Now, instead of starting from scratch, you can paste a link from an existing successful video and "borrow" inspiration from it.
Our AI helps create potential titles, gives suggestions for thumbnails, and even drafts an outline and script. It brings structure to the chaos that is ideation.
It took a while to get the prompts right, but they are pretty good now.
Where Are We Now—The Launch Plan
We're at a stage where VideoBrainstorm is functional, and I want to get it into the hands of other creators.
There's still a lot to do, of course. It's not perfect, and it probably never will be—software is never truly finished. But it works, and it helps. That's what matters.
I've decided to invite a small group of creators to join the waitlist and become part of the early stages of VideoBrainstorm.
My hope is to create a community of people who share their feedback and ultimately shape the future of the product alongside me.
It's scary to put something out there that you've worked so hard on, but at the same time, it feels incredibly rewarding.
<span class="a-thank-you">Takeaways</span>
Lessons Learned
- Embrace Being a Beginner – Everyone starts somewhere. It's frustrating not knowing things, but it's part of the journey. Googling basic concepts is nothing to be ashamed of—each search gets you closer to your goal.
- Your Struggles Are Valuable – The challenges I faced became the foundation for this tool. What feels hard to you likely feels hard to others too. Use your struggles to build solutions that matter.
- Share Your Journey – Building in public is daunting, but being transparent has helped me connect with others who resonate with my mission. Sharing my journey has also generated early interest for VideoBrainstorm.
- Feedback Fuels Growth – Community is everything. Every bug and every piece of feedback was an opportunity to make VideoBrainstorm better. Early feedback was invaluable in shaping the product to serve creators more effectively.
Moving Forward
Currently, I'm planning my own first ever SaaS launch on platforms like Twitter, YCombinator, Reddit, AppSumo, and Product Hunt.
I've also started sending out a few cold emails to YouTube creators asking if they'd be willing to test it out. Let's see where this takes us!
If you're interested, feel free to join the waitlist at videobrainstorm.com.
You can also check out the video I uploaded about an AI feature I built with AI. :)
Thanks for being here and being part of this journey.
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