https://contentforsaas.hashnode.dev/how-tally-built-175k-mrr-without-vc-funding
learn how tally founders bootstrapped their no-code form builder to $175k mrr using freemium strategy, community building, and lean operations. examples
Building a successful SaaS without venture capital or paid advertising might seem impossible in today's competitive landscape. Yet Marie Martens and Filip Minev proved otherwise with Tally, their no-code form builder that reached $175K monthly recurring revenue by early 2025.
Their journey from failed travel-tech startup to profitable SaaS demonstrates that strategic positioning, community focus, and disciplined execution can triumph over big budgets.
Before Tally's success, Marie and Filip experienced the harsh reality of startup failure with their travel-tech venture. Rather than retreating to corporate safety, they embraced a bootstrap mindset and identified a market opportunity where scrappy execution could compete with well-funded giants like Typeform and Google Forms.
The duo recognized that most form builders frustrated users with restrictive free plans and constant upselling. This insight became their competitive advantage.
Their market research revealed three critical user frustrations:
Artificial limitations plagued free plans with response caps and feature restrictions that forced premature upgrades.
Complex interfaces made form creation unnecessarily difficult, especially for non-technical users seeking intuitive design tools.
Feature fragmentation required multiple tools for payments, file uploads, and integrations, creating workflow inefficiencies.
Tally positioned itself as the antidote to these problems with unlimited forms, Notion-style editing, and comprehensive built-in features.
Their approach prioritized speed and user feedback over perfection:
They built and launched their minimum viable product within weeks, focusing on core functionality rather than polish.
Instead of guessing user needs, they engaged directly through cold outreach, community posts, and early adopter feedback loops.