Takuya Matsuyama
Takuya Matsuyama has turned his coding passion into a thriving business and massive online following. His app, Inkdrop, now brings in over $10,000 every month, while his YouTube channel boasts more than 201,000 subscribers. But how did he get here?
Inkdrop has maintained its $10,000+ monthly income for over three years. On YouTube, one of his videos has even hit the one million view mark. These achievements show that Matsuyama's methods really work. His path is filled with unexpected twists, smart decisions, and valuable lessons for anyone dreaming of making it big in tech. Now, let’s go deeper into his story.
The early days
Matsuyama's tech journey began in his teens when he created popular free software in Japan. After a short time at Yahoo! Japan, he realized office life wasn't for him. He turned to freelancing, which allowed him to work on personal projects.
One of these projects, a music app called Walknote, attracted over 130,000 users. While it didn't make money, it proved Matsuyama's skills and taught him the importance of having a solid plan to earn income from his work.
Birth of Inkdrop
In 2016, unhappy with existing note-taking apps, Matsuyama decided to build his own. Many doubted his idea, but he pushed forward anyway. This choice would be crucial in creating Inkdrop.
Matsuyama gave himself three months to build the first version of Inkdrop. He used various programming tools like NodeJS, Electron, React Native, and NextJS. He likes to try new technologies for each project to keep things interesting.
What sets Inkdrop apart
Inkdrop isn't just another note-taking app. It's specially designed for developers, offering:
- Over 100 plugins
- Use across different devices and systems
- Strong encryption to keep data safe
By focusing on what tech professionals really need, Inkdrop stands out from more general apps like Evernote.
Doing business differently
Matsuyama runs Inkdrop in ways that go against common startup advice:
- No free version: Instead of a free tier, Inkdrop gives a 14-day trial. This helps manage support needs and server costs. Matsuyama found that free users often need more help and use more server resources, which isn't worth it for a small business.
- No special deals for big companies: By avoiding custom versions for large clients, Matsuyama avoids extra work and complications. He believes this could lead to maintenance problems for a solo founder.
- Higher prices: Inkdrop now costs $9.98 per month or $99.80 per year - more than twice its starting price. This change let Matsuyama focus on better features instead of just getting more users. He wants to make Inkdrop better, not just bigger.
When Matsuyama raised prices, about 20% of users left. But the number of new users signing up stayed about the same. He told users about the price change through his blog, newsletter, Twitter, and YouTube.
Growing through viral posts
Matsuyama's success comes largely from sharing his story online. He posted about his journey on sites like Hacker News, being open about both successes and challenges. Readers loved this honesty, and these posts brought in 90% of Inkdrop's first users.
Some of his popular posts included:
Matsuyama says the key is being open. He advises others to show their weaknesses and tell their story, not just promote their product.
YouTube takes It to the next level
Starting the Devaslife YouTube channel was a smart move for Matsuyama. It now brings in 70-80% of new Inkdrop users. His videos work because:
- They connect emotionally: Teaching while also motivating viewers
- They have a unique style: A special "Wabi-sabi" approach that keeps people watching
- They're made for YouTube: Content built for video, not just copied from writing
Matsuyama says it took about three years to build his YouTube following. He advises others to keep trying different things until YouTube starts to promote their videos. He also suggests focusing on emotions and making content that you'd want to watch yourself.
Building a strong brand
Matsuyama believes a strong brand is vital for business growth. He suggests:
- Focus on what makes you different
- Don't copy others
- Build a community around your brand
He sees his business as a form of art, which makes it hard for others to copy. Matsuyama believes that while features can be copied, communities and brands are much harder to replicate.
Important lessons from Matsuyama's experience
- Trust yourself: Don't give up if others don't see your vision at first.
- Be honest: Sharing your ups and downs can help build a loyal audience.
- Find your niche: Focusing on a specific group (like developers for Inkdrop) can lead to more dedicated users.
- Try different things: Mix making your product better with creating content to grow faster.
- Think long-term: Sometimes, charging more for fewer, happier customers is better than growing too fast.
- Be yourself: Matsuyama says he's "incompatible with employers" because he sees himself as an artist, not just an engineer.
- Learn from failures: His earlier app, Walknote, taught him the importance of making money from his work.
- Keep improving: Matsuyama constantly tries new technologies to keep his skills sharp.
Remember to live your life
Despite his success, Matsuyama stresses the need for balance. He encourages entrepreneurs to:
- Work at a steady pace
- Make time to exercise
- Have interests outside of work
He believes you don't have to work all the time to be successful. Taking care of yourself is important for long-term success.
Dealing with challenges
Running a business for over eight years isn't easy. Matsuyama often feels tempted to start new projects. Instead of fighting this urge, he uses it to fuel his YouTube content. When he wants to try something new, he builds it on his channel. This keeps him interested and helps promote Inkdrop at the same time.
Future plans
Matsuyama wants to keep Inkdrop running smoothly without overworking himself. He's focusing on building his brand and creating a product that's uniquely his. He believes this approach will protect his business better than trying to compete directly with larger companies.
Conclusion
Takuya Matsuyama went from coding alone to running a successful SaaS business and becoming a YouTube star. He did it by using his skills, not giving up, and changing his approach when needed. By focusing on his strengths, being open about his experiences, and always looking for new ways to grow, Matsuyama built a thriving business and a loyal following.
His experience shows what's possible in the online world. It proves that success often comes from being true to yourself while also being open to new ways of growing. As the internet keeps changing, Matsuyama's mix of product development, personal branding, and content creation is a solid way to stand out.
Thinking about starting a SaaS product, growing on YouTube, or trying another online venture? Take a tip from Matsuyama: focus on what makes you special, build a strong brand, and share your story with others. Keep at it, use smart strategies, and you might just turn your own viral content into lasting success.
