UnlockDM
Instagram DM automation, from idea to Meta-approved SaaS
- Next.js
- SaaS
- AI
- Payments
01 / Overview
UnlockDM turns Instagram comments into DM unlock loops. A creator sets a keyword on a post or reel; when a fan comments it, they get a DM, follow to unlock a reward, then get a referral link to bring friends for a bonus.
It runs on Meta’s official Instagram API with Instagram Login, and one founder designed, built and runs all of it: the Next.js app, a Postgres-driven DM queue, four payment gateways and a marketing site in English, Spanish and Bahasa Indonesia.
02 / Problem
“Comment X and I’ll DM you” doesn’t scale by hand, and tools that bend Meta’s rules put creator accounts at risk. Most comment-to-DM tools also stop at one message: they don’t gate the reward behind a follow or reward fans for bringing friends.
03 / Our Role
Built solo, end to end, by our founder, Vishal Paliwal: product, design, engineering, Meta compliance, payments, localisation and growth.
Built Solo
Product strategy
UX/UI design
Full-stack engineering
Meta API integration
App Review & compliance
Payments
Localisation
SEO & growth
04 / Engineering Challenges / Solutions
Pacing DMs through viral spikes
A Postgres-driven outbox with one worker per account and message type keeps every send inside Meta’s rate limits and its 24-hour messaging window, even when a post blows up overnight.
Passing Meta App Review
Instagram Login scopes mean creators need no Facebook Page; the app went through Business Verification, Advanced Access and App Review as a Tech Provider.
Four gateways, one ledger
Razorpay, PhonePe, PayPal and Dodo all use server-computed amounts and verified webhooks, and reconcile through one shared payment step.
05 / Process
From a working MVP in a week to a hardened, multi-language SaaS.
May – Oct 2026
MVP build
Full SaaS in days
May 2026
- Next.js
- Prisma
- Supabase
Referral loop & Meta compliance
Follow-gate • Referrals
May – Jun 2026
- Graph API
- Webhooks
- Instagram Login
Scale & trust
Rate-safe outbox • Tech Provider
Jun 2026
- Outbox
- Rate limits
- Meta Verified
Monetisation
Per-campaign pricing
Jun – Jul 2026
- Razorpay
- PayPal
- Dodo
Global growth
EN • ES • ID
Jul – Sep 2026
- next-intl
- SEO
- Blog
Hardening & referrals v2
Postgres drain • Invite & earn
Aug – Oct 2026
- pg_cron
- Tests
- CI deploy gate
06 / Outcome
Approved
Passed Meta App Review
Verified
Listed as a Meta Verified Tech Provider
3
Languages on the marketing site
07 / Stack
- Next.js
- React
- TypeScript
- Supabase
- Postgres
- Prisma
- Instagram Graph API
- Vercel
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