Julien Nahum, the 28-year-old creator of Note Forms, turned his passion for solving problems into a thriving business. Note Forms, a form builder for Notion users, boasts over 100,000 registered users and generates $37,000 in monthly recurring revenue. What’s remarkable? Julien built the app in just six days.

Julien’s journey started during his time as a software engineer, where he faced a grueling three-hour daily commute. Rather than letting that time go to waste, he dedicated it to working on side projects. After years of experimentation, he struck gold with Note Forms when Notion released its API, allowing developers to build integrations. Spotting a gap, Julien created a form-building tool inspired by Airtable’s functionality but tailored specifically for Notion users.

The Power of MVPs and Iterative Growth

Julien’s approach to building Note Forms highlights the importance of launching a minimum viable product (MVP). He spent just six days developing a functional prototype that addressed a specific problem within Notion’s ecosystem. By launching quickly and gathering feedback early, Julien ensured that his product was solving real user needs. He advises others to do the same, emphasizing that small, fast iterations are often more effective than spending months building a “perfect” product.

“It’s fine to start small,” Julien says. “As soon as you get some users and feedback, you can iterate much faster and focus on the core value of what you’re building.” His reliance on simplicity and user-driven development has been key to Note Forms’ growth. Each iteration brought refinements and improvements based on direct input from his users, ensuring the product stayed relevant and valuable.

Building on Existing Platforms

One of Julien’s most strategic decisions was to build Note Forms as an integration for Notion, rather than as a standalone SaaS product. By targeting an existing platform with a dedicated user base, Julien avoided the challenge of building his own audience from scratch. “Notion already had a huge community—tons of Facebook groups, an active subreddit, and loyal fans,” he explains. Leveraging this community gave him a head start in gaining traction.

This strategy does come with risks, such as platform dependency. However, Julien believes the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for new entrepreneurs. By solving a specific problem within a larger ecosystem, he was able to “cannibalize” part of Notion’s audience and turn them into Note Forms users, minimizing his marketing efforts while maximizing reach.

Effective Marketing on a Budget

Julien’s early marketing strategy was simple but highly effective: he promoted Note Forms in Notion-related communities. Platforms like Reddit and Facebook groups played a significant role in spreading awareness about his product. By offering the tool for free initially, Julien was able to sidestep resistance from community members who might otherwise object to promotional posts.

His viral growth strategy also contributed to Note Forms’ success. The forms created using his tool often included embedded links back to the Note Forms website. This natural sharing mechanism created a loop where users of the forms inadvertently became marketers for Julien’s product. He advises other entrepreneurs to think creatively about how their users can help spread the word, whether through shareable widgets or features that encourage public use.

Monetization and Pricing Strategies

Monetizing Note Forms was a gradual process. Julien started by adding premium features, marking them as “Pro” but allowing free access during the beta phase. When he finally introduced subscriptions, he rewarded early users with lifetime discounts to encourage conversions. Despite some initial nerves—Julien recalls refreshing his payment page repeatedly on launch day—his revenue eventually began to climb steadily.

Pricing was another area where Julien relied on experimentation. He began by undercutting competitors, reasoning that his product had fewer features and needed to be more accessible. Over time, as Note Forms evolved, he incrementally raised prices and introduced higher-tier plans. This flexible approach allowed him to find a balance that worked for both his users and his business.

Scaling Support and Building for Users

In the early days, Julien handled all customer support himself, answering questions and resolving issues at all hours. While challenging, this hands-on approach gave him invaluable insights into user needs and product shortcomings. Today, he employs an AI chatbot and a small team to handle support, but the principle remains the same: listening to users and building what they request.

“Since the beginning, I’ve only built what people asked me to build,” Julien says. This customer-centric philosophy has been key to Note Forms’ sustained growth. By prioritizing feedback, he’s been able to stay ahead of user expectations while ensuring the product continues to address real-world problems effectively.

Here's a Video of Julien Sharing his Story on the Starter Story Youtube Channel:

Credit: Starter Story

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

For those looking to follow in his footsteps, Julien’s advice is straightforward: start small, ship fast, and embrace feedback. He stresses the importance of action over endless planning, noting that launching an MVP quickly can provide clarity and motivation. “The most important thing you can do is start,” he says. “Don’t overthink it. Build a simple MVP and get it in front of customers.”

Julien also encourages entrepreneurs to seek out existing communities and platforms where their target audience is already active. By solving specific problems within those ecosystems, founders can gain traction faster while minimizing the risks associated with building from scratch. His journey is a testament to the power of focus, iteration, and consistent effort in achieving entrepreneurial success.