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A waitlist is a list of people who said maybe. Your job is to find the few who will pay now and ask them directly. Here is how to do that for an AI caption tool built for podcast producers, with no audience and no budget.

All guidesFor founders of an AI caption tool for podcast producers

1. Sort the waitlist by who has a real caption problem

Go through every signup and look up their name, email domain or LinkedIn. Put anyone who produces a show weekly, works at a podcast agency or network, or edits video podcasts for YouTube at the top. A freelance podcast editor with five client shows is worth more than a hobbyist with one show a month. Aim for a top 20.

2. Email the top 20 personally with one question

Skip the newsletter. Send a plain, short email from your own address. Example: "Hi Maya, you joined the waitlist for [Tool]. Quick question: how do you handle captions for your shows right now, and how long does it take per episode?" Replies tell you who has pain worth paying for.

3. Get on a 15-minute call and caption a real episode live

Ask anyone who replies to send one recent episode or clip. On the call, run it through the tool and show the caption file or burned-in captions for the clip they actually post on Instagram Reels, TikTok or YouTube Shorts. Watch how they react to speaker labels, timing and edits. If they say "this would save me hours," ask for money on that call.

4. Offer a founding price with a clear deadline

Pick a simple price like $29 a month for solo producers and $99 a month for agencies handling up to 10 shows. Make it a founding member rate locked for 12 months, open until a specific date. Say it plainly: "The founding rate is $29 a month, locked for a year. I'm keeping it open until Friday for the first 10 producers. Want me to send the payment link?"

5. Take payment before the product is perfect

Send a Stripe payment link right after the call, not a free trial signup. If someone hesitates, offer this: "Pay for the first month. If it doesn't save you at least an hour per episode, reply and I'll refund you, no questions." A refund promise lowers risk without training people to expect free use.

6. Pitch agencies and networks a done-for-you pilot

Podcast agencies and production studios caption dozens of episodes a week, and their producers or ops leads feel the cost. Offer a paid pilot: "For $300 I'll caption your next 20 episodes, with clips and SRT files ready for your editors. If it works, we move to a monthly plan." A pilot lets you charge before they commit to software.

7. Fill the list from places producers already talk

Once the waitlist runs dry, go where podcast producers hang out: r/podcasting, the Podcast Editors Club and Podcast Movement communities, Facebook groups for podcast editors, and Upwork or LinkedIn searches for "podcast editor" and "podcast producer." Answer caption and clip questions with real help first. Then DM the people who complain about captioning and use the same email and call script.

8. Track every ask and repeat daily

Keep a simple sheet: name, role, shows produced, date asked, answer, amount paid. Send at least five personal asks a day until you have 10 paying customers. Hulby, an AI cofounder, does this daily for founders: it finds the right producers, drafts the messages and tracks follow-ups.

Mistakes to skip

  • Sending one mass launch email to the whole waitlist instead of personal emails to the best 20.
  • Offering a free trial with no end date instead of asking for a payment on the first call.
  • Pricing per minute of audio so producers can't predict their monthly bill.
  • Demoing on a sample clip instead of the producer's own episode.

Want this done for your AI caption tool for podcast producers, every day?

Hulby finds the people asking for what you built, writes every reply and email, and keeps you on it until they pay. Free to start.

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Questions

What should I charge podcast producers for AI captions?

Start with a flat monthly price, such as $29 for solo producers and $99 for agencies. You can raise it later. Founding customers locked at a lower rate are fine.

Should I give waitlist users free access first?

Give a live demo on their own episode, not open-ended free access. Ask for payment right after, with a money-back promise for the first month.

What if nobody on my waitlist replies?

Send one short follow-up after three days. Then find new producers in r/podcasting, podcast editor Facebook groups and LinkedIn searches, and use the same script.

How many paying customers do I need before building more?

Get 10 paying producers first. Their requests will tell you which features to build next, like speaker labels, clip export or caption styles.