How did a two-person team build a $29K MRR with zero employees and no external funding?

SuperLemon, a WhatsApp plugin for Shopify, achieved this by doubling down on simplicity, customer obsession, and leveraging the power of app marketplaces. Founded by Preetam Nath and Sankalp Jonna, SuperLemon started as a small idea to solve a common problem for Shopify merchants.

Let’s unpack their journey, explore the strategies they used, and discover how they built a thriving bootstrapped SaaS business.

The Problem They Solved

Shopify merchants needed a better way to communicate with their customers. Existing tools for customer chat and order notifications were clunky, outdated, and often difficult to use.

SuperLemon identified this gap and set out to create a simple, effective WhatsApp plugin that enabled merchants to:

• Chat with customers directly on their stores.
• Send order-related notifications via WhatsApp.

By focusing on ease of use and solving a real pain point, they tapped into a massive demand.

The Strategy

SuperLemon’s journey began with a razor-sharp focus on solving a real problem for Shopify merchants: the need for a simple, effective WhatsApp plugin. By addressing a clear gap in the market, they positioned themselves as a must-have app for e-commerce store owners.

Instead of spreading themselves thin, the two-person team doubled down on Shopify App Store Optimization (ASO) to drive organic growth. With a clear app name and an optimized listing, SuperLemon ensured that merchants searching for a WhatsApp tool found them easily.

Customer obsession became their superpower. 🚀

They prioritized ease of use, with an intuitive interface requiring minimal setup, and delivered 11/10 customer support. These efforts translated into glowing reviews and consistent word-of-mouth referrals.

From MVP to Market Leader

SuperLemon’s success wasn’t a fluke—it was a result of deliberate, focused strategies.

• ASO Mastery: A clear app name (“WhatsApp Chat Button”) and optimized listing drove visibility and installs.
• MVP Approach: They validated their idea with a simple version of the app, ensuring merchants could achieve their primary goal with minimal effort.
• Exceptional Support: Proactive, empathetic customer support fueled retention and referrals.

By maintaining a lean operation and prioritizing user feedback, SuperLemon scaled to $29K MRR with $0 in customer acquisition costs. Their story is a masterclass in simplicity, focus, and execution.

Metrics & Milestones

Here’s a snapshot of SuperLemon’s growth:

• $29K MRR.
• 70% gross margins.
• 10–15% install-to-trial conversion rate.
• 50% trial-to-paid conversion rate.
• 10% monthly churn rate, primarily from SMBs.
• 20,000 merchants using the app.
• 1,700+ paying customers from 50+ countries.

Takeaways & Practical Tips

SuperLemon’s journey offers valuable lessons for SaaS founders:

✅ Focus on simplicity. Customers value tools that are easy to use and solve their problems quickly.

✅ Leverage marketplaces. Platforms like the Shopify App Store can drive organic discovery and reduce customer acquisition costs.

✅ Invest in customer support. Stellar support not only retains users but also drives referrals and positive reviews.

✅ Validate early. Launch an MVP to test your idea before investing heavily in development.

✅ Highlight ROI. Show customers the value your app generates in clear, tangible terms.

Preetam and Sankalp were prepared for failure, with four backup ideas ready to test if SuperLemon didn’t take off. Their mindset was simple: keep pushing forward until success or savings run out.

SuperLemon proves that you don’t need a massive team or a huge marketing budget to build a successful SaaS business.

By solving a real problem, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and leveraging the right platforms, they’ve created a scalable, profitable business—all while staying bootstrapped.

Great things require passion and innovation. Bonify founders Dan and John are certainly familiar with this road as they went through it while scaling their Shopify App to $42K MRR.

What’s your next step toward building something great?