Solo dev launching my first hardware and SaaS hybrid. Terrified but excited.

Hi Product Hunt! I am the solo developer behind TapRef, and I am incredibly excited (and a bit nervous) to share what I have been building with you all.

The Problem: Local businesses live and die by their online reputation and foot traffic. But getting a customer from a physical table or counter to a digital action (like leaving a review or viewing a menu) is full of friction. Clunky QR codes often fail, and forcing people to download an app is a conversion killer.

The Solution: I wanted to build something completely frictionless. Enter TapRef: Custom branded NFC cards (with a backup QR code on the back). Customers just tap their phones, and it instantly opens a dynamic link. No app required.

The Aha Feature (The SaaS Magic): Competitors just sell dumb plastic cards. I wanted to build a powerful SaaS layer. Our standout feature is Review Routing (Safe Mode): 4 to 5 star experiences? Routed straight to your Google Maps review page. 1 to 3 star feedback? Intercepted to a private form so the owner can fix the issue.

Plus, you can change the destination URL anytime via our dark mode dashboard without ever replacing the physical card.

My Journey & My Biggest Fear: I built the entire ecosystem from the ground up, from designing the physical cards to coding the backend and analytics engine. I am currently entirely bootstrapped and in a preorder phase to validate demand before mass producing.

To be completely vulnerable with this community: my biggest fear as a solo founder is getting stuck as a hardware business selling individual $20 cards, instead of successfully converting users to our $19 per month Pro SaaS tier, which provides the real value. I am chasing that SaaS MRR!

I would love your honest feedback on the dashboard and the platform. What do you think of the hybrid Hardware and Freemium SaaS business model?

(P.S. We have a special PH code: Use PH10 for 10% off your custom card or first month of Pro!)