How to Find SaaS Founders on LinkedIn (Even If You Have 0 Filters or Tools)

Introduction

Finding the right people is harder than sending messages.

Most founders don’t struggle with outreach.

They struggle with:

• Who to target
• Where to find them
• How to filter good vs bad leads

That’s why most LinkedIn lead gen fails before the first message is even sent.

If you’re getting low replies, chances are you’re targeting the wrong people (I explained this deeper here → “How to Get Your First 10 B2B Leads from LinkedIn”).

Let’s fix that.

Step 1: Define EXACTLY Who You’re Looking For

Don’t open LinkedIn yet.

First answer this:

• Founder or marketer?
• Early-stage or funded?
• Solo or team?

Example:

“Early-stage SaaS founders building in public with no clear lead system”

That level of clarity = better leads.

If you’re still broad, read this →

“Best LinkedIn Lead Generation Strategies for SaaS Founders”

Step 2: Use Simple LinkedIn Search (No Tools Needed)

Go to LinkedIn search and type:

• “SaaS Founder”
• “Co-founder SaaS”
• “Indie Hacker”

Now filter manually:

• Look for recent posts
• Check activity
• Avoid inactive profiles

You don’t need Sales Navigator for this.

In fact, most people rely too much on tools and ignore fundamentals →

“How to Find LinkedIn Leads Without Sales Navigator”

Step 3: Use Content to Find High-Intent Prospects

This is where most people lose.

Don’t just search profiles.

Search content.

Type things like:

• “struggling to get users”
• “launched my SaaS”
• “looking for customers”

These people:

• Already have a problem
• Are more likely to reply
• Convert faster

Step 4: Spot GOOD vs BAD Leads Fast

Not every founder is a good lead.

Good signs:

✅ Posting regularly

✅ Talking about growth

✅ Asking for help

Bad signs:

❌ No activity

❌ Corporate tone

❌ No real problem

Targeting bad leads is one of the biggest hidden mistakes →

“7 LinkedIn Prospecting Mistakes That Kill Your Lead Generation”

Step 5: Build a Simple Prospect List

Don’t overcomplicate this.

Just track:

• Name
• Profile link
• Why they’re a good fit

Even 20–30 solid prospects is enough to start.

This is exactly what feeds your outreach system →

“How to Get Your First 10 B2B Leads from LinkedIn”

Step 6: Don’t Scale Too Early

Most founders try to automate too soon.

Bad move.

First:

• Understand your audience
• Test messaging
• Learn what works

Then scale with tools.

If you’re already comparing tools, this will help →

“Best LinkedIn Lead Generation Tools for SaaS Founders (2026)”

Or if you're switching from Apollo →

“Apollo Alternative: Best Tools for LinkedIn Lead Generation (2026)”

⚡ Want to Skip Manual Prospecting?

Manual works—but it doesn’t scale.

If you want:

• Pre-qualified SaaS leads
• Better targeting
• Faster prospecting

👉 Use a system that finds and filters leads for you.

(That’s what I’m building with Nexa.)

Final Thoughts

Most people think LinkedIn lead gen is about messaging.

It’s not.

It’s about:

• Finding the right people
• At the right time
• With the right intent

Do that well, and everything else becomes easier.