How to Become an AI Indie Hacker
The realistic path from your day job to a profitable AI micro-SaaS — niche selection, MVP, launch, first 100 customers.
The 2026 playbook: pick a boring vertical, wrap an AI workflow around a painful existing process, launch in 21 days, get to $2k MRR before you touch design, buy or bootstrap distribution.
Niche selection
Ignore anything a general-purpose ChatGPT user can do. Look for workflows with regulatory friction, integrations with legacy tools, or measurable ROI over $500/mo per user.
First 30 days
Ship a working product on day 21, charge on day 22. Free tier delays feedback by 6 months.
Get to $2k MRR
Do things that don't scale: cold DM, communities, one-to-one onboarding. Automation comes after you know what to automate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to quit my job?
No — most successful indie hackers get to $5k MRR before quitting.