Keeping everything on track, managing transitions, and making sure the whole thing flows smoothly can feel like an impossible feat. But what if there was a tool that could take some of that pressure off?
Lukas Hermann, a 34-year-old developer, is the founder of Stagetimer.io, a web-based timer app designed for stage presentations, events, and livestreams. The app allows for synchronization between devices, making it a valuable tool for professionals in the video and event industry.
Lukas Hermann
In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating journey of how this simple idea turned into a €10,000 Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) business.
The creation of Stagetimer
Lukas' journey with Stagetimer began on November 1, 2020, when he made his first commitment to the project. Just three weeks later, he posted about it on Reddit, leading to his first user. By February 2021, he had officially founded the company. His first paying customer came in June 2021, and by September 2023, Stagetimer had reached a €10,000 Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR).
When Lukas Hermann visited a friend's studio and witnessed their clunky, outdated method for timing speakers, he had an "aha" moment. There had to be a better way. That weekend, he built the first version of Stagetimer, a browser-based timer app designed for stage presentations, events, and livestreams. Little did he know this side project would soon become a thriving business.
Initially, Lukas worked on Stagetimer as a side project while holding down a full-time job. This approach was slow but allowed him to gradually build the product. After about 1.5 years, he quit his job to focus on Stagetimer full-time. By then, the app was generating around €3000 per month. Lukas and his wife even canceled their apartment and traveled through Asia for six months, during which time Stagetimer's revenue grew enough to cover their living expenses in Germany.
Early customer acquisition
Lukas put Stagetimer online for free, labeling it as a "Beta" version. He believed that pricing wasn't necessary at the beginning and that the key was to see if people would use and return to the app. He posted the link on Reddit, specifically in the r/CommercialAV subreddit, and observed user behavior. While this wasn't the perfect place or time, it worked out.
It took six months before Lukas earned his first Euro with Stagetimer. The delay was due to the time it took to build out enough features to justify a premium plan while working full-time. The very day he rolled out the update, he got his first paying customer. This customer had originally found out about Stagetimer from the Reddit post, which was a strong validation of the product's value.
Lukas reached out to these early customers to understand their needs better. He asked questions like "Why do you use it?", "What do you use it for?", and "What did you use before?" These insights helped him refine the product and its marketing messages.
Here’s how it used for educational purposes in college
Marketing Strategies
Lukas adopted a "throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks" approach to marketing. SEO, Google Ads, and word of mouth have been particularly effective. Facebook Ads, social media posts, and cold email outreach, on the other hand, did not yield good results.
Lukas recommends several low-effort, high-reward marketing tactics:
- Good landing page: Ensure the product is well-described with easy-to-understand visuals;
- Compare to / alternative to pages: Highlight how Stagetimer compares to other popular products in the market;
- Freebies: Offer downloadable content like PDF guides, spreadsheets, and templates;
- Post in a fitting subreddit: This works especially well with a free tool.
Lukas emphasizes that a happy customer is the best advertisement. He believes in providing quality customer service that solves problems promptly.
Here’s some merch they’ve created for a trade show
Revenue model
Stagetimer operates on a freemium model, offering a limited set of features for free. To access more features, users can opt for a subscription, which comes in two tiers.
Additionally, Stagetimer offers one-time packages with a license valid for 10 days, which are popular among professionals contracted to run shows. This model allows clients to forward the cost to their customers without dealing with monthly subscriptions.
Lukas is currently working on team billing (per-seat pricing) to cater to power users and plans to introduce several features specifically for the most expensive tier.
Financials and future plans
Stagetimer recently crossed €10k MRR, with an average profit margin of 85% (not counting Lukas' time). The biggest cost factor is Google Ads.
Lukas doesn't expect Stagetimer to grow as steeply as other apps due to its niche market. However, he is optimistic about the future and continues to refine the product and its marketing strategies.
Conclusion
Lukas's story is proof that sometimes the simplest ideas are the most powerful. He saw a problem, built a solution, and then hustled like crazy to get it in front of the right people. Now, Stagetimer is helping event organizers around the world breathe a little easier (and maybe even enjoy the show).
It just goes to show, sometimes all it takes is a little ingenuity, a lot of hard work, and a well-timed countdown to turn a bright idea into a successful business.
