{"id":1231,"date":"2024-02-12T17:34:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T17:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saasboomi.codecrane.com\/?p=1231"},"modified":"2024-06-19T11:49:34","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T11:49:34","slug":"how-we-got-almost-got-every-tool-of-our-saas-stock-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.matsio.com\/matsio\/saasboomi\/saas\/build\/how-we-got-almost-got-every-tool-of-our-saas-stock-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Our SaaS Stack and how we got almost every tool for free"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We are a six-people company, and we use more than Forty different SaaS tools.<\/p>\n

For a new startup in the startup desert landscape<\/a>, funds are like water \u2014 they\u2019re essential commodities which must not be used until you get to the next oasis. Everything you do to conserve your funds increases your chances of getting to the next stop, while not optimizing them can lead to an early end.<\/p>\n

Our goal is to put every dollar to work for us. Startup spending should be budgeted, controlled, and, if possible, reduced as much as possible, often by being creative.<\/p>\n

You will be surprised how many software tools you can get for free especially in the early days of your company.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our story on how we did that for all our SaaS and infrastructure expenses.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We started by making a list of all the software tools we were using and would be using and looked for the following attributes:<\/p>\n

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  1. Cost:<\/strong>\u00a0Do they offer credits as part of a plan? If yes, can we get discounts?<\/li>\n
  2. Flexible Billing:<\/strong>\u00a0We love monthly billing with a discount offered for an annual commitment.<\/li>\n
  3. Ease of Use:<\/strong>\u00a0We didn\u2019t want to waste time in managing and deploying the tools.<\/li>\n
  4. Lock-in:\u00a0<\/strong>We wanted to ensure business continuity without any worry of getting locked into a vendor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Here are the startup programs that offer discounts on the tools.<\/p>\n

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    1. Microsoft Startup Program<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>No matter where your company is located, if you are a funded startup, we suggest you sign up MS Startup Program. You get access to Azure cloud deals, Visual Studio license, and Office 365 subscription.<\/li>\n
    2. AWS Activate<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>With AWS Activate, you can get $100,000 for the first year if you are a part of a reputed accelerator or backed by a VC firm.<\/li>\n
    3. YC Startup School<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>This is probably the best deal for any startup. You don\u2019t need to be part of any accelerator program.<\/li>\n
    4. Segment Startup Program<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0Ideal for companies that are less than two years old or have received less than $5 million of funding, Segment offers two years of free services and a host of deals from Intercom, Customer.io, and Mode.<\/li>\n
    5. Google Cloud for Startups<\/strong><\/a>: You need to be part of an accelerator or a venture-backed company. If you are incorporated in the US, you can also get access to six months of GSuite.<\/li>\n
    6. And, obviously, our own\u00a0SaaSBoomi<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>if you are a SaaS Startup.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      We also found programs that offer a combination of discounts and credits:<\/p>\n

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      1. The Founder Club<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0:\u00a0($750 to get in, but we can give you a 50% off promo code)<\/em><\/li>\n
      2. The Secret<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0a free Europe-based startup that offers deals to new small businesses who pass their application. No accelerator or VC backing required.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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        DemandWork<\/a>\u00a0Software SaaS Stack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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        And here\u2019s our list of preferred SaaS tools which we almost managed to get for free.<\/p>\n

        1. Mail Client and Office Suite<\/strong><\/p>\n