How this PM built an $1800 ARR SaaS in 3 weeks
Learn how to build SaaS products using AI coding tools like Bolt and Cursor
I’m excited to share Built with AI, a new podcast that features stories of PMs, designers, and engineers who are shipping real products with AI (and making real revenue).
This first episode features Darren, a PM, builder, and founder of BuzzerBee. As a non-technical PM, he built BuzzerBee's initial version in less than 3 weeks using AI coding tools.
I hope you enjoy!
Darren, a product manager from Vancouver, had a simple but persistent problem: missing buzzer calls at his apartment building. Whether it was friends waiting outside or packages being returned, the missed calls were a constant annoyance. Instead of just living with it, he decided to build a solution.
Enter BuzzerBee: Automated Building Access
What it does: BuzzerBee automatically answers buzzer calls and grants building access when you're expecting deliveries or guests. Users can "unlock" their buzzer through the app, and when someone buzzes their unit, the system automatically:
Answers the call
Presses the unlock digit (typically 6 or 9)
Grants building and elevator access
Notifies you that someone has entered
The Build Journey: From Zero to Revenue in 3 Weeks
Despite being a "non-technical PM" with only basic programming knowledge from his business degree, Darren shipped a working product using AI tools. His iterative approach:
Phase 1: Started with just Twilio to test if automatic call answering was possible
Phase 2: Built a prototype in Bolt for personal use (got messy, had to restart)
Phase 3: Rebuilt in Bolt, then moved to Cursor for the full production app
Timeline: 3 weeks from proof of concept to working product
Current Traction
Users: 30 active customers
Revenue: $150/month
Costs: $50/month to maintain
Status: Profitable from the start
Key Takeaways for Builders
Start with your own problems: "Figure out something that you can get some users for, use it for yourself, and then start to iterate from there."
Architecture doesn't matter without users: "It doesn't matter if you've got a bulletproof database or the best architecture in the world. If no one uses it, then it doesn't need to scale."
Don't rush into code: Despite the temptation to start coding immediately with AI tools, Darren recommends against jumping straight into development. The iterative, experimental approach proved more valuable.