The Problem (Pain Level: 7/10)
Indie developers and small SaaS teams struggle with security vulnerability management:
- Existing security scanners are too expensive or complex
- Enterprise tools take hours to days to set up
- Interpreting results is difficult without security expertise
- Features are overkill for small projects
As a result, many indie SaaS products run with basic security vulnerabilities unaddressed.
Target Market
Global Indie Developers/Micro-SaaS - Estimated TAM $500M+
- Solo developers, small startups
- Indie Hackers, Reddit r/SideProject community
- Developers hosting projects on GitHub
- Full-stack developers who aren’t security specialists
What is Micro-SaaS Security Scanner?
A simple security tool that lets you complete your first security scan within 10 minutes after connecting your GitHub repo.
Key Features:
- One-click GitHub/GitLab integration
- Automatic dependency vulnerability scanning (npm, pip, composer, etc.)
- OWASP Top 10 basic checks
- Secret/API key exposure detection
- Severity-based prioritization + fix guides
- Slack/Discord notifications
Competitive Analysis
| Solution | Pricing | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Snyk | $98+/mo | Complex setup, enterprise-focused |
| Aikido | $49+/mo | Feature-rich but overwhelming for beginners |
| GitHub Dependabot | Free | Dependencies only, no comprehensive scanning |
| SonarQube | Complex setup | Self-hosted, requires infrastructure |
Differentiation Opportunity: Starting at $29/mo, 5-minute setup, developer-friendly UI, actionable fix guides
MVP Development
- MVP Timeline: 6 weeks
- Complexity: MEDIUM
- Tech Stack: Node.js/Python + React + PostgreSQL
- Core MVP: GitHub integration + dependency scanning + secret detection + dashboard
Revenue Model
Subscription-based - Price range: $29-99/mo
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | $29/mo | 3 repos, weekly scans |
| Pro | $59/mo | 10 repos, daily scans, Slack alerts |
| Team | $99/mo | Unlimited repos, real-time scans, API |
Projected MRR:
- 6 months: $2K-5K
- 12 months: $8K-15K
Risk Analysis
- Technical: LOW - Can leverage open-source scanners
- Market: MEDIUM - Need to compete with free alternatives
- Execution: LOW - Clear scope, fast MVP possible
Who Should Build This
- Backend developers interested in security
- Those with DevOps/infrastructure experience
- Anyone connected to the indie hacker community
If you’re building this idea or have thoughts to share, drop a comment below!