Episode 3
How to Build a SaaS Community
Leonard Eldić
Founder, SaaStanak
The conversation
Milan Savov talks with Leonard Eldić, founder of SaaStanak, about how a pub meetup of 18 people grew into one of the fastest-growing SaaS communities in the Balkans. Leonard explains how peer learning, knowledge sharing and founder support build trust that speeds up business growth. He contrasts authentic community-building around shared challenges with transactional networking.
He also discusses how partnerships, including with Paddle, extend a community's reach and credibility. Looking ahead, he sees SaaS communities in emerging markets playing a bigger role by giving founders resources, mentorship and international exposure.
What came up
Introduction
Meet Leonard Eldić
Why he started SaaStanak
Biggest challenges in growing a SaaS community
Why real-life events beat online groups
How to keep people engaged at events
How partners like Paddle bring value
Success stories from community members
The power of peer-to-peer learning
Why founders need community in uncertain times
Why transactional communities fail
Building mission-driven SaaS communities
Communities as the future of B2B marketing
What makes a great conference speaker
The future vision for SaaStanak
Why boutique conferences beat trade shows
Advice to SaaS founders on joining communities
Give before you take: the mindset of real community
Speaker sign-ups and how to get involved
Closing thoughts
About the guest
Leonard Eldić
Founder of SaaStanak, a community and event series for SaaS founders and operators in Central and Eastern Europe.
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