How Solo Founders Set Up a Lean Email Launch Funnel with Brevo's Free Plan

If you're a solo indie founder staring down a product launch with a small email list and no marketing department behind you, a lean email funnel can carry a lot of weight. Below you'll find a step-by-step way to plan and automate a full welcome-to-launch sequence using Brevo's free plan. The goal: keep new sign-ups warm, build momentum, and convert when launch day hits, without spending a cent.

Why Brevo's free plan is a hidden advantage for solo founders

When you're bootstrapping, tools that give you proper automation without charging upfront are gold. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) stands out here. Unlike Mailchimp, which gets expensive quickly as contacts grow, Brevo's free plan packs in key automation features from the start.

Here's what you get for free:

• Up to 300 emails sent per day
• Automation for as many as 2,000 unique contacts
• Multi-step workflows (so you can run real drip sequences without a paywall)

For most first launches, that's plenty. You can comfortably run a pre-launch sequence for a few hundred subscribers without running into limits. Later, once your list grows, you can decide whether to upgrade.

Practical takeaway: If your launch list is under a few hundred people, you don't need to pay for fancy tools. Brevo Free can handle your full sequence.

A deeper comparison if you're still weighing platforms. Brevo edges out Mailchimp on features-for-free and growth pricing: Brevo vs. Mailchimp (2025): The No-Fluff Guide for Solo Businesses and Small Teams

A lean welcome-to-launch sequence (with timing)

You don't need dozens of emails to warm up a small list. Three to five is solid. Four often works best, spaced across your pre-launch period. Think of it as: Welcome → Value → Teaser → Launch.

Here's the blueprint:

• Email 1 - Welcome & warm-up (Day 0)
  • Send right after signup.
  • Thank them and deliver any promised incentive.
  • Set expectations about what's coming and when the launch is.
  • Invite replies with a simple question to drive engagement.
  • Why this matters: first emails often get 50%+ open rates, giving you the best chance to make a strong impression.
• Email 2 - Story & value-builder (Day 3–4)
  • Share the backstory of why you're building this.
  • Add one actionable tip or useful resource that connects to the problem you solve.
  • Keep it subtle—no hard selling yet.
• Email 3 - Teaser & engagement (Day 7–10)
  • Share a sneak peek like a screenshot, demo clip, or a feature highlight.
  • Use a quick poll or question to keep subscribers involved.
• Email 4 - Launch announcement (Launch day)
  • Direct and clear: your product is live.
  • One main call-to-action (Sign up, Get Started, Join Now).
  • If your list is larger than 300, either batch sends over multiple days or consider upgrading for launch week.

Real example: Alexis Grant built They Got Acquired's pre-launch list to 1,000 subscribers by sending behind-the-scenes updates before launch. One story about the business journey resonated so much it became a permanent post-launch feature. Lesson: don't be afraid to share the build process.

Handy roundup if you want more scrappy, free pre-launch marketing ideas to pair with your email funnel: Marketing Your Bootstrapped Startup on a Zero Budget – 5 Tactics

How to build the automation in Brevo (step-by-step)

You can create this funnel entirely in Brevo Free. The setup is straightforward:

1. Create your account and list

• Sign up at Brevo.
• Make a new list like "Launch Waitlist" and connect your signup form so new leads flow directly in.

2. Draft your emails as templates

• In Brevo, create four templates: Welcome, Value, Teaser, Launch.
• Keep the design clean; personalization (like first name) helps more than flashy graphics.

3. Build the workflow

• Go to Automation → Create a workflow.
• Trigger: "When a contact is added to list" → Launch Waitlist.
• Steps:
  • Send Email 1 right away
  • Delay 3 days → Send Email 2
  • Delay 4 days → Send Email 3
  • Delay 3 days → Send Email 4 (Launch)
• Optional: add branches for opens/clicks if you want to experiment with conditional paths.

4. Activate and test

• Double-check templates, triggers, and delays.
• Add yourself as a test subscriber and confirm everything fires on time.

5. Monitor and optimize

• Watch open and click rates. Adjust subject lines or copy if needed.
• If you import a batch larger than 300 people, Brevo Free will drip out 300 per day automatically. Plan around that.
• Best practice: authenticate your sending domain (SPF/DKIM) in Brevo to help keep emails out of spam.

Maximizing the free plan during launch week

The free plan does have ceilings, but you can work within them:

• Batch smartly: send to your most engaged contacts on day one, others the next day.
• Avoid overloading: don't schedule blasts that would exceed 300 sends in a single day. Brevo will buffer, but pacing matters more on launch day.
• Upgrade only when you must: if limits start to slow you down, a one-month paid tier just for launch week can ease bottlenecks. Downgrade after.

Brevo vs ConvertKit and Mailchimp for lean launches

Here's the quick breakdown for founders keeping it lean:

• Brevo: Free plan includes true multi-step automation; 300/day and 2,000-contact automation cap still fit most early-stage launches.
• Mailchimp: Free tier is tighter, and costs ramp up steeply as your list grows.
• ConvertKit: Its free "Newsletter" plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers but only lets you run one automation sequence. Fine if you need a single flow. If you want multiple automations under free, Brevo is the better option.

Quick answers (FAQs)

Does Brevo's free plan allow automation?

Yes. Multi-step workflows are included. Just keep in mind the 300 emails/day cap and limit of 2,000 unique contacts entering automations.

What's a good welcome email open rate?

Around 50% or higher. This is why Email #1 deserves your sharpest subject line and clearest messaging.

How many pre-launch emails should I send?

Three to five works well. A classic sequence is Welcome → Value → Teaser → Launch, plus an optional reminder if you're running a limited-time bonus.

Executive summary

• Run a full welcome-to-launch funnel with Brevo Free.
• Sequence: Welcome (Day 0), Value (Day 3–4), Teaser (Day 7–10), Launch (Day 14+).
• Build in Brevo Automation with "added to list" triggers and delays.
• Mind the limits: 300 emails/day and 2,000 automation contacts. Segment or batch if needed.
• Email #1 is your best chance to impress—average open rates hover around 50%.