Startups For the Rest of Us

Latest Episodes:

Episode 574 | The Deep Need to Be a Software Entrepreneur Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 574, Rob Walling chats with Andrew Fiebert, a founder who just couldn't get away from software. He's a software developer, turned podcaster, turned marketer, and now he's a software entrepreneur and on this episode, they discuss his success and struggles while building Lasso.

The topics we cover

[2:40] Introductions

[4:15] WordPress plugin with an annual subscription

[5:51] Starting a podcast

[8:00] Experiments with monetizing a podcast

[13:26] Starting Giftlab.co

[15:08] Starting another software business

[16:35] Building Lasso

[21:23] Launching without the right pricing/product

[23:32] Discovering the sticking points in the UI/UX

[29:29] Freemium vs paid users

[31:06] The biggest struggle with building Lasso

[35:23] The future for Lasso

Links from the show

This episode of Startups for the Rest of Us is sponsored by Software Promotions. Get better results from Google.

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you'd like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We'd love to hear from you!

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Bonus | The 2022 State of Independent SaaS Survey is Live Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

We need your help! The 2022 State of Independent SaaS Survey is now live and we need as many eligible founders of B2B SaaS businesses to complete the survey. This survey will be used to create our third annual State of Independent SaaS report, offering recommendations, insights, and pitfalls critical to planning for a future in B2B SaaS. Venture funded businesses have a wealth of research and data helping them make decisions about the next steps they should take with their business - our community and niche of indie funded SaaS businesses shouldn't miss out on these best practices. Fill out the 2022 State of Independent SaaS survey today! microconf.com/state-of-indie-saas

Episode 573| Hiring FT vs. PT, WordPress Consolidation, and More Bootstrapper News Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 573, Rob Walling chats with Einar Vollset and Tracy Osborne about the part-time contractor versus hiring full-time debate, the acquisition of Sandhills Development, as well as the launch of a TinySeed Europe.

The topics we cover

[02:14] FT vs PT Contractor

[09:06] When could part time contracting work?

[10:25] Sandhills Development acquisition

[14:50] TinySeed Europe announced

[21:04] DuckDuckGo and Privacy

Links from the show

This episode of Startups for the Rest of Us is sponsored by Software Promotions. Get better results from google.

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you'd like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We'd love to hear from you!

Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher

Episode 572 | Fault vs. Responsibility & Games vs. Practice (A Rob Solo Adventure) Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 572, Rob Walling does another solo adventure to talk about taking responsibility for the outcomes of your business and the importance of putting in the reps as a founder. Bootstrapping a startup is a marathon, not a sprint and it's important to enjoy the journey along the way.

Thanks to Software Promotions for supporting this podcast! Learn more about their SEO and AdWords services

The topics we cover

[1:56] Intro

[2:20] It's not your fault, but it's your responsibility

[8:35] It's not the game, it's the practice

[15:23] Dietary patterns Rob wishes he would've known 15 years ago

Links from the show

Episode 551 | Task-level vs. Project-level Thinkers, No Such Thing as an Autopilot Business, and More (A Rob Solo Adventure)
11 Years to Overnight Success: From Beach Towels to A Successful Exit – Rob Walling – MicroConf 2017
Thanks to Software Promotions for supporting this podcast! Learn more about their SEO and AdWords services

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Episode 571 | Deciding When to Move on to Your Next Idea Oct 12, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 571, Rob Walling chats with Peter Suhm about moving on from WP Pusher and Branch. We also dive into how he came up with the idea for Reform and his process for validating the idea with a landing page before building.

The topics we cover

[1:28] Intros

[2:48] Default alive and selling Branch

[8:15] Changing customer behavior is hard

[12:25] Struggling through customer interviews from a small studio

[16:20] Thinking through all the options and deciding to keep going

[18:45] Moving from a list of requirements to a form builder

[27:23] Building a high-quality MVP, starting with a landing page

[34:52] Entering a big, horizontal, crowded space

Links from the show

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Episode 570 | Bootstrappable Businesses, Selling as an Introvert, and More Listener Questions Oct 05, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 570, Rob Walling answers listener questions about the ideal business for bootstrapping, how to create trust with potential customers, navigating depression as an entrepreneur as well as advice for introverted founders.

The topics we cover

[1:42] Problems that are more conducive to bootstrapping

[8:51] Creating trust with potential customers

[10:51] Battling depression or mental illness as an entrepreneur

[13:45] Advice for introverted founders

[18:95] Standard operating agreement for co-founders

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Episode 569 | The Life Changing Decision of When to Sell Your Company Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 569, Rob Walling chats with Anna Maste, a founder who's been a part of the MicroConf community for several years. They talk about how Anna bootstrapped a two-sided RV marketplace and eventually sold it for a healthy multiple.

The topics we cover

[1:16] An RV boondocker

[2:53] Selling for a healthy multiple

[5:21 ] Building a business with a a family member

[7:02] Tech stack used

[8:23] Launching and early customers

[12:45] Experimenting with business models and pricing

[14:01] Inflection in growth

[18:21] Bootstrapping and fitting in

[23:53] First purchase offer

[28:05] Accepting the second strategic offer

Links from the show

Boondockers Welcome
Anna Maste (@skulegirl) | Twitter

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Episode 568 | MailChimp Sells for $12 billion Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 568, Rob Walling talks about MailChimp selling for $12 billion to Intuit, the largest exit for a bootstrap company, ever. Not that all founders aspire to grow to this scale, but it's truly an incredible day for bootstrapped founders to know that we have the potential to get to this level without raising institutional funding.

The topics we cover

[1:41] $800 million in ARR without outside funding

[4:14] Acquisition multiple

[7:42] Everyone sells, eventually

[9:31] Respect for MailChimp

[11:49] Disappointed with the UX

[13:21] Equity vs higher salaries and bonuses

[18:00] Long term outlook for existing Mailchimp customers

[21:21] Never say you're never going to sell

[21:42] Being an email service provider today is hard

Links from the show

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Episode 567 | From Developer to CTO to Buying the Company for $1 Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 567, Rob Walling chats with Don Pottinger about joining a company as a developer, transitioning to CTO within 6 months, buying the company for $1, and then later on selling it for a life-changing sum of money.

The topics we cover

[1:13] Introductions

[4:08] Learning to code independently vs learning on the job

[06:38] Joining Kevy in 2014

[8:00] Transitioning to Director of Engineering and then to CTO

[11:58] Difficulty of laying employees off

[14:20] A new CEO and $0 MRR

[16:08] Cap table difficulties

[19:56] CEO departure and buying the company for $1

[26:30] Starting over and doing it solo

[29:01] Running as a lifestyle business and selling the company

[35:02] Launching a new startup

Links from the show

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Episode 566 | From Bootstrapped to Venture Backed with Hana Mohan Sep 07, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 566, Rob Walling chats with Hana Mohan about her journey as a SaaS founder. They compare and contrast bootstrapping and being venture-backed, hiring a chief of staff early on as a startup founder, and more.

The topics we cover

[2:17] Intro

[3:36] Deciding not to bootstrap MagicBell

[6:34] The team Composition at MagicBell

[9:15] The marketing approaches that are working today.

[10:47] Technology behind MagicBell

[19:32] Bootstrapping vs raising funding

[24:24] The importance of finding the right investors and hiring the right people

[25:27] Hiring a Chief of Staff

Links from the show

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you'd like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We'd love to hear from you!

Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher