- 01
Lead with the outcome
Your headline should name the result, not the struggle. Say what you will finish and when. A strong headline fits on one line and makes a stranger curious enough to open the story.
- 02
Tell it in three short parts
Who you are, what you are making and why now. A few plain sentences each. Never promise what you cannot prove later; Backers give to a person, so let your own voice come through.
- 03
Show, then ask
Add real photos of you and your work. Link each milestone to the proof you will post. End with a clear ask: what the first milestone needs and what Backers will see when it is done.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Too many customer requests
Early feedback can pull the service toward unrelated workflows. Define one initial use case and keep optional requests outside the core development milestone and budget.
- R2
Account boundaries fail
Errors in account separation can expose information between users. Budget dedicated boundary tests before onboarding and share results without revealing real account data.
- R3
Operating costs grow unseen
Usage-heavy features can raise hosting needs before revenue is established. Test representative workloads and keep an operating reserve tied to monitored resource use.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a SaaS startup dream with a goal of $25,000. Backers pay you directly, funding the goal all at once or milestone by milestone as you post proof for each step.
Milestone 1
$5,000 · 20%
Define the customer workflow
Post a workflow map, interactive mockup and anonymised interview notes identifying the first problem the software addresses.
Milestone 2
$10,000 · 40%
Develop the core service
Share a demo using sample accounts, a completed feature checklist and evidence that the main workflow runs from start to finish.
Milestone 3
$5,000 · 20%
Test service reliability
Upload test summaries for account separation, error handling and recovery, with sensitive configuration details removed.
Milestone 4
$5,000 · 20%
Prepare ongoing operations
Post onboarding documentation, monitoring examples and a support plan showing how reported problems will be recorded and handled.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to review the proof, ask for more info, and decide whether to keep supporting your next milestone.
0% commission — direct gifts, nothing taken
Backers pay exactly what they choose directly through your payment methods. cohero takes 0% commission on backings, so you keep what is sent. Any refunds or disputes are handled directly between you, the Backer and your payment provider.
Gifts, not shares
Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a SaaS startup dream in Atlanta, shown in USD. Backers pay you directly using your accepted payment methods.
Example goal
$25,000
- Core software development$15,000 · 60%
- Hosting and infrastructure$3,750 · 15%
- Reliability and security testing$2,500 · 10%
- Onboarding and support reserve$3,750 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $25,000
- 0% platform commission
- −$3,750
- You receive
- $21,250
Questions and answers
What should I show if the software handles private business data?
Demonstrate the workflow with synthetic records and separate test accounts. Share summaries of account-boundary and recovery tests, while removing credentials, customer identifiers and sensitive infrastructure details.
What makes a SaaS startup pitch convincing?
Specific numbers, real photos and a first milestone small enough to reach soon. Backers trust Dreamers who show where every amount goes and who have already started on their own.
Can I fund a SaaS service before it has paying customers?
Describe the workflow, available prototype and remaining development honestly. Use milestones for working software and reliability evidence rather than making paying customers or future subscription income the proof.
Ready when you are
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