How François Mommens Turned a Failed Startup Into 3 Profitable SaaS Tools

François Mommens shares his journey of turning a failed startup into three successful SaaS tools—Linkody, Index Checker, and LinkStorm—over 13 years. Starting as a software engineer, he built Linkody during weekends after a career setback in 2008, eventually quitting his full-time job to focus on it. Despite a slow, progressive growth and a plateau in 2020 due to rising competition, he diversified by launching two new SaaS products, both rooted in SEO and content optimization. He emphasizes that 100% of his customers come from organic SEO, a strategy he’s maintained since the beginning, and has learned that pricing can be doubled without losing conversions. He also discusses the operational challenges of running multiple SaaS businesses, including API dependencies, abuse prevention, and decision fatigue. A key theme is building a business around life, not the other way around—prioritizing family, rock climbing, and health. He uses AI extensively for content, support, and automation, yet remains grounded in SEO fundamentals. His advice to aspiring founders: solve real problems, validate with a strong distribution channel, and persist through slow growth. The episode highlights the importance of patience, resilience, and balance in long-term SaaS success. Key takeaways include the power of SEO as a compounding growth engine, the danger of overvaluing rapid MVP launches without distribution, and the critical role of personal sustainability in entrepreneurship. Mommens’ story is a testament to building multiple profitable SaaS businesses not through hype, but through consistency, iteration, and alignment with personal values.