João Pedro Saraiva

Why this persona fits the audience

He is a freelance developer in Lisbon who builds pilot SaaS apps for founders in the UK and US. For the last year he has been paying for another Nuxt starter kit and reusing its authentication and billing patterns across projects. He still keeps some client onboarding and launch tracking in spreadsheets.

• Age: 28
• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Occupation: Freelance full-stack developer
• Income: €54k freelance gross
• Education: Bootcamp + self-taught
• Company size: 1 (self-employed)
• Years in role: 4

“Every project is a chance to refine the process, to build faster and smarter, but the real win is when the client's idea takes flight because you gave them the wings.”

João Pedro Saraiva, 28, is a freelance full-stack developer based in Lisbon, Portugal, earning a gross income of around €54k annually. His journey into development began with a intensive coding bootcamp, supplemented by a relentless drive for self-teaching, which has equipped him with a strong command of modern web technologies, particularly within the Nuxt ecosystem. For the past four years, he has carved out a niche building pilot SaaS applications for early-stage founders in the UK and US markets. This specialization allows him to leverage his expertise in rapid prototyping and full-stack development, delivering Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) with impressive speed. His current workflow is significantly streamlined by a paid Nuxt starter kit, which provides a robust foundation for authentication and billing, saving him considerable development time on recurring features. This allows him to focus on the unique aspects of each client's project. However, he still relies on manual processes, primarily spreadsheets, for managing client onboarding and tracking key launch metrics, a practice he acknowledges is becoming a bottleneck as his client volume increases. This dual approach—embracing efficient paid tools while maintaining some manual workflows—reflects his pragmatic approach to balancing speed, cost, and quality. He is driven by a desire for autonomy and the satisfaction of crafting functional, elegant solutions that help bring new ideas to life. His decision to freelance was motivated by a desire for flexibility and the challenge of working with diverse projects, rather than being tied to a single company's vision. He views his income as a direct reflection of his output and skill, reinvesting a portion back into learning and tools that enhance his productivity and the quality of his deliverables. He is currently evaluating how to better integrate his project management and client tracking into a more automated system, a decision that weighs on his mind as he aims for greater efficiency and scalability in his freelance business.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

João's weekday typically begins around 8:30 AM with a strong Portuguese coffee and a quick scan of emails and Hacker News. He dedicates the morning to focused coding on his primary client project, often a UK-based fintech startup needing a quick MVP. After a simple lunch, he might have a client call or two, usually scheduled for early afternoon to accommodate US time zones. The late afternoon is for less intensive tasks like code reviews, updating project documentation, or tackling the spreadsheet-based client onboarding for a new US-based e-commerce founder. He aims to wrap up 'official' work by 7 PM, often followed by an hour of personal learning or exploring a new Nuxt module before dinner and unwinding.

Lifestyle

João lives a focused, digitally-driven life in Lisbon. He rents a compact apartment, prioritizing location and natural light over size. His days are structured around client work and personal projects, often blurring the lines between them. He enjoys exploring Lisbon's historic neighborhoods on foot during breaks and meeting friends for casual drinks or a late dinner. While not extravagant, he budgets carefully for quality tools and occasional travel, seeing it as an investment in his freelance career and personal growth. He’s health-conscious, preferring home-cooked meals and regular walks to intense gym routines.

Work life

As a freelance full-stack consultant, João's work is a constant juggle of client demands and self-management. He thrives on the autonomy but feels the pressure to consistently deliver high-quality pilot SaaS applications for UK and US founders. His current workflow relies heavily on a paid Nuxt starter kit for its pre-built authentication and billing, saving him significant setup time. However, he still manages client onboarding and tracks project launch metrics manually in spreadsheets, which feels increasingly inefficient as his client base grows. He spends his workdays coding, communicating with clients via Slack and Zoom, and researching new tools to streamline his process.

Relationships

João maintains close ties with a small group of university friends who are also in tech, often exchanging advice and commiserating about client work. His family, back in Brazil, is a source of support, though the distance means communication is primarily through video calls. He has a few professional acquaintances in the Lisbon tech scene he meets occasionally for coffee, but his primary professional network is online.

How they decide

João tends to be research-heavy when it comes to tools and frameworks, valuing evidence of performance and community support. He's not impulsive but will adopt solutions that demonstrably save him time and effort, especially if they integrate well with his existing stack. He trusts recommendations from established developers and reputable tech blogs, often trying out free tiers or open-source options before committing financially.

How they sound

Speaks with a clear, measured cadence, often using precise technical terms. His English is fluent but carries a subtle Portuguese accent. He avoids overly casual slang but is comfortable with common developer jargon. He tends to be direct and factual, preferring to explain the 'how' and 'why' rather than making broad generalizations. He might occasionally use Portuguese interjections when thinking aloud.