Beyond Friends & Family: What Actually Worked for Getting Your First 10 Unbiased SaaS Users?

Hey r/SaaS,

Lots of talk about scaling, but I'm always fascinated by the very beginning. Specifically, getting those first 10 users who aren't your mom, your college roommate, or someone obligated to be nice. The ones who give you brutally honest feedback because they genuinely need your solution (or don't).

Thinking back over a few attempts, finding these initial champions feels like one of the hardest, most crucial steps, especially without a pre-existing audience or network.

Beyond the standard "post on Indie Hackers/Reddit/LinkedIn" advice:

• What specific, maybe less common, tactic actually landed you one of your first truly unbiased, relevant users? (e.g., hyper-niche forum engagement, super-personalized cold outreach that worked, a weird discovery channel?)
• How did you identify where these potential early adopters actually hung out online or offline?
• What was the 'hook' or offer that convinced them to try an unknown, early-stage product?

Especially interested in stories from those who started with zero personal brand or network. How did you bridge that initial gap?