How Transistor.fm Grew from $33 to $30K MRR in Just Over a Year

In early 2018, two podcast enthusiasts, Jon Buda and Justin Jackson, set out to solve a problem they knew firsthand—creating Transistor.fm – a better podcast hosting platform.

What started as a side project, with just $33 in revenue in February 2018, quickly gained traction. Within 11.5 months, they hit $20K MRR, and now, they’ve crossed $30K MRR—allowing them both to work on Transistor full-time.

This is the story of how they did it.

The Problem They Solved

Podcasting was booming, but existing hosting solutions were clunky, overpriced, or missing key features that serious podcasters needed.

The gap in the market:

1. Many hosting providers were too complicated for beginners.
2. They lacked good analytics for podcasters looking to grow.
3. There was no strong brand connection—podcasters wanted a platform built by podcasters.

Jon and Justin saw an opportunity: a podcast hosting service that was simple, analytics-driven, and community-focused.

The Strategy

From the start, Transistor.fm wasn’t built in isolation. The founders tapped into their existing credibility in the podcasting and SaaS communities, allowing them to attract an initial wave of users without heavy marketing spend.

Their audience already trusted them, making word-of-mouth a natural growth driver. 🎯

Instead of relying on paid ads, they leaned into SEO and content marketing. By ranking for high-intent search terms like “best podcast hosting,” they attracted podcasters actively searching for a solution. This organic strategy created a steady influx of traffic that continued to compound over time.

At the same time, they structured their pricing model to encourage growth. Unlike competitors who charged per show, Transistor’s flat-rate pricing allowed users to scale without penalty. This approach made them the go-to choice for businesses and serious podcasters.

Building Organic Growth Without Paid Ads

Rather than spending on paid acquisition, Transistor focused on long-term, scalable strategies. Their growth was powered by community trust, organic search, and a referral-friendly pricing model.

• SEO-driven content funneled in high-intent leads consistently.
• Affiliate and word-of-mouth marketing incentivized users to promote the platform.
• Flat-rate pricing reduced friction for multi-show podcasters, increasing retention.

This approach not only kept costs low but also ensured that each new customer brought in more users, fueling a self-sustaining growth loop.

Metrics & Milestones

Here are some dates and numbers defining the journey of Transistor.fm:

📅 February 2018 – First revenue: $33
📅 August 2018 – Official launch
📅 July 2019 – Hit $20K MRR (in 11.5 months)
📅 October 2019 – Crossed $30K MRR

📈 Growth Rate:

• First 9 months: 29% average MRR growth per month
• Current growth: 15% month-over-month

Takeaways & Practical Tips

Transistor’s growth wasn’t an accident—it was intentional, strategic, and repeatable. Here’s what other SaaS founders can learn:

✅ Leverage your community. If you already have an audience, tap into it early. Build trust first, then sell.

✅ Double down on SEO early. Organic traffic compounds over time, making it one of the most cost-effective acquisition channels.

✅ Use affiliates & referrals. Happy customers are your best salespeople. Give them incentives to spread the word.

✅ Choose pricing that encourages growth. A flexible, scalable model helps reduce churn and increases LTV.

✅ Solve a real pain point. The biggest growth hack is strong product-market fit. If there’s pent-up demand, growth will follow.

Transistor.fm proves that SaaS success doesn’t require massive funding—just a great product, a deep understanding of the market, and a smart growth strategy.

They didn’t rush.

They didn’t chase trends.

Instead, they focused on solving a real problem and let demand do the rest.

For bootstrapped founders, this is a blueprint worth following.

Another founder who solved a real problem is Malcolm Tyson. This self-thought programmer launched Nichesss which grew to $360K ARR!