The Bootstrapped Founder

239: Things That Kill The Village

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We delve deep into the world of online communities, exploring their growth, evolution, and the disruptive elements that can lead to their downfall. Dr...

238: Brian Sierakowski — Leading an Acquired Business

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever found yourself stepping into a role that you never expected you'd be in? That’s what my guest, Brian Sierakowski, did when he took over as CEO ...

237: Eventual Reciprocity

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the power of eventual reciprocity and how it can benefit your business. Discover how giving without expecting anything in return can lead ...

236: Tony Dinh — Ups and Downs of an Indie Hacker Journey

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Step into the world of Tony Dinh, an accomplished indie hacker famed for his ability to craft products with show-stopping aesthetics while keeping the...

235: The Bad Kind of Attention

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here the three common pitfalls that can sabotage your efforts to build a Twitter audience: transactional interactions, focusing on “free,” and a t...

234: Jason Cohen — Two Exits & Two Unicorns

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a bootstrapper who's never considered raising investment money? Or maybe you're a die-hard VC-funded growth hacker who can't imagine running a...

233: Entrepreneurship isn't genetic. It’s memetic.

14 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are entrepreneurs born or made? Find out as we explore the profound impact of nature and nurture on the development of an entrepreneurial spirit. Disc...

232: Andrew McIntosh — First-Generation Entrepreneurs

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew McIntosh is a first-gen entrepreneur. And so am I. And we both needed help along the way. From building a sustainable and inclusive community f...

231: Responding Fast to Customers — A Good Idea?

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you responding to customer service requests as quickly as possible? You may think it's the best strategy, but this dedication comes at a hefty pri...

230: Moritz Dausinger — Serial Indie Entrepreneurship

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Moritz Dausinger, a serial indie hacker with several exits under his belt. Moritz most recently pivoted his software business ...

229: Utility, Pricing, and Entrepreneurship

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you struggling to find the balance between the utility of your product and its perceived value? Let’s explore the biggest misconception in entre...

228: Kevin McArdle — The Man Who Changed My Life (and Could Change Yours)

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin McArdle bought my SaaS. For millions. And now, I get to talk to him about all things acquisition. In our chat, we discuss the importance of annu...

227: Self-Censorship on Twitter

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join me on a thought-provoking journey as I explore the challenge of balancing authenticity and public opinion on social media. Discover the struggle ...

226: Paul Millerd — Walking The Pathless Path

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed by societal expectations?Today, I’m talking to Paul Millerd, author of “The Pathless Path.” We talk abo...

225: Twitter Teardowns: 3 Low Hanging Fruit to Massively Improve Your Twitter Presence

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Discover how to make your Twitter profile a promise of a fruitful long-term relationship with your future followers. Today,. let’s explore the bigge...

224: Dr. Julie Gurner — Founder Mental Health 101

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"Imposter syndrome isn’t just a moment of self-doubt — it’s all-encompassing. It prevents founders from taking action, from taking a risk in the...

223: How to Build in Public Without Revealing Too Much

09 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sharing your journey as an entrepreneur can be scary, but it's a great way to connect with your audience and demonstrate your expertise. Let's explore...

222: Joe Masilotti — Building in Public and Monetizing Open Source

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Masilotti is the founder of RailsDev —a reverse job board— and a Turbo Native consultant. In this conversation, we explore Joe Masilotti's phi...

221: Why Entrepreneurs are Choosing 'Short-Lived Businesses' Over 'Forever Businesses

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you're an entrepreneur looking to start a digital business, you might be tempted to aim for a "forever business" right from the start. However, pur...

220: Simon Høiberg — Building a SaaS That Works for You

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I interviewSimon Høiberg, an active software engineer, founder, and YouTuber. Simon shares his strategies for balancing his roles as...

219: ∀𝑦∃𝑥 ≠ ∃𝑥∀𝑦: The Dangerous Misconception Founders Have About Their Market

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever searched for the perfect resume to get hired? Or tried to create a product that appeals to everyone? This essay explores the logical fal...

218: Evelyn J. Starr — The Evolution of a Brand

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Evelyn J. Starr is a brand-building expert. We talk about finding the right niche, having a community-centric long-term perspective, and how brands ev...

217: The Flip Side: When Not to Build in Public

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Building in public is a popular trend in entrepreneurship. However, it may not always be the best approach. Entrepreneurs should consider their person...

216: Jack Ellis — Taking on Google as a Bootstrapper

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Jack Ellis, the co-founder of Fathom Analytics, a privacy-conscious web analytics business that I personally use for all my we...

215: In Pod We Trust: How Creators Can Best Juggle Credibility & Sponsored Content

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

People would rather sift through fake AI results than see yet another ad. Something is happening in advertising, and the creator economy is affected g...

214: Fatih Kadir Akın — Selling a Global Sticker Business

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When Fatih started his sticker business Stikkernet, his peers asked him, “You’re a developer; why don’t you write this from scratch?” His resp...

213: The Rubber Band Effect

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when we encounter something so novel that our minds can't fully comprehend it?  Today, let’s explore the "Rubber Band Effect" and how ...

212: Dagobert Renouf — The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“As an entrepreneur, you need someone you’ve been through shit with already” — and that’s exactly why Dagobert and Lucie are the perfect pow...

211: Writing with a Nemesis: Using ChatGPT to Strengthen Your Arguments

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Using ChatGPT as a writing partner helps strengthen arguments by acting as an editor, proofreader, and devil's advocate. It prompts the AI to provide ...

210: Dr. Sherry Walling — The Reality of Burnout for Entrepreneurs

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Few people had an impact on my founder journey as Dr. Sherry Walling — and she didn't even know. But I got to tell her! We discussed burnout, impost...

209: MicroConf US '23 Recap — What Happens When 250 SaaS Founders Meet

21 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I got on my first post-COVID trip and headed to Denver, Colorado for MicroConf 2023.It.Was.Awesome.Unsurprisingly, being in the same room w...

208: Louis Nicholls — Growing Your Newsletter

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to building an "owned audience," nothing beats an email list. Louis Nicholls is a newsletter expert, and he shared with me how to moneti...

207: ChatGPT: Goldmine or Minefield for Indie Hackers?

14 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

ChatGPT is everywhere. But can we build businesses on it? What risks will we face? Let's dive into the future of entrepreneurship in a world where AI ...

206: Marie Poulin & Benjamin Borowski — Digital Permaculture

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Marie and Ben are a power couple. Together, they run Notion Mastery, an intense workshop for people who want to use Notion professionally and producti...

205: Artificial Scarcity Damages the Creator Economy

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial scarcity, a marketing tactic that fosters urgency in customers, can lead to short-term financial gains but raises ethical concerns and nega...

204: Josh Spector — Saying Less and Making More

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most of Josh Spector's newsletter issues are just a few sentences. Sometimes, just a link. And still, advertisers and readers alike flock to Josh's em...

Bonus: Arvid on "First Class Founders" by Yong-Soo Chung

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is probably the most concentrated and well-produced podcast I've been on in a long while. And I want to share it with you here today as a bonus e...

203: The Art of Naming Your Business

31 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What are the factors involved in choosing a solid business name? From securing an available domain to choosing a unique name for SEO reasons, I delve ...

202: Peter Askew — Domain Expertise

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Peter knows how to get good domains and turn them into businesses. He's selling onions, helps dude ranchers get clients, and will share his approach t...

201: How I Stay Consistent

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here are my personal strategies for achieving consistency in content creation, which encompass implementing accountability systems, connecting with my...

200: Justin Jackson — Bootstrapping Transistor.fm on Open Standards

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Jackson has been successfully bootstrapping Transistor.fm with a small team throughout the ups and downs of a shifting economy. He even rejecte...

199: The SaaS Solution-Workflow Fit

19 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to build a successful SaaS business? Don't just focus on product-market fit. In this video, learn about the Solution-Workflow Fit, a crucial e...

198: Rob Fitzpatrick — Tinkerers, Thinkers, and Teachers

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Fitzpatrick is a serial entrepreneur, a writer, a community leader, and a very curious human being. I talk to Rob about building an incredibly com...

197: Securing your SaaS

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How to secure your product, the business, and an eventual exit, including using established frameworks, outsourcing to secure third-party vendors, and...

196: Troy Hunt — Securing Your SaaS

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Troy Hunt (of HaveIBeenPwned fame) is a cybersecurity expert who has been around long enough to be able to give actionable and pragmatic security advi...

195: Don't Fall for the Follower Count Trap

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Goodhart's law is powerful and important to remember for every creator: when a measure becomes a target, people tend to optimize their behavior to mee...

194: Matt Wensing — Publish Your Juicy Thoughts

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Matt Wensing — the founder behind Summit and tweeter of many often controversial things. We talk about bootstrapping a finan...

193: Stair-Stepping with Plugins: Platforms to Build On

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Stair-stepping into software entrepreneurship is a great way for developers to start their own businesses without taking on massive risks. Building a ...

192: Colleen Schnettler — Stair-Stepping into SaaS

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hammerstone and build-in-public podcaster. We talk about getting bootstrapper-compatible fun...

191: Writing for Founders

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Arvid shares what writing can bring to the founder table.Self-funded entrepreneurs can benefit from honing their writing skills, as it can be used to ...

190: Hassan Osman — Writing on the Side

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Hassan Osman— he’s the host of Writer on the Side, and himself a prolific writer. We talk about crafting books that sell (...

189: Be The Kindest Person in the Room

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Arvid talks about how applied kindness builds a brand and an audience.In a hostile world, many founders isolate themselves, but this isn't sustainable...

188: KP — Building an Authentic Personal Brand

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

KP talks about building in public, sharing your journey, and becoming a respected community member.Today, I’m talking to KP — the build-in-public ...

187: Negative Reviews are Good for You

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Negative reviews are an important part of the customer experience, as they provide valuable feedback to creators about how their product or service is...

186: Brennan Dunn — Mastering Email Marketing

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brennan shares the secrets to using emails to build relationships and increase your revenue.Today, I’m talking to Brennan Dunn, the founder of Palla...

185: The Monkey and the Pedestal

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To increase your chances of success as an entrepreneur, think outside the box and expand your opportunity surface. This can be achieved by embracing a...

184: Laura Elizabeth — Building Software Products As a Non-Technical Founder

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Laura Elizabeth. She co-hosts the Non-Tech Founders podcast and runs several products as a non-technical founder. We talk abou...

183: Expanding Your Opportunity Surface

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To increase your chances of success as an entrepreneur, think outside the box and expand your opportunity surface. This can be achieved by embracing a...

182: Daniel Fayle — Door-to-door to $2M ARR

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Daniel Fayle — co-founder of Chekkit, a business he and his team have boostrapped to $2mil in ARR. We’ll touch on finding ...

181: The Role of Trust in Remote Work

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I was chatting with Marissa Goldberg about remote work this week, and she gave me several handy frameworks for founders who want to build remote-first...

180: Marissa Goldberg — Running a Remote-First Business

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Marissa Goldberg. She’s an expert in remote work and guides companies and founders alike toward a future-proof workplace. We...

179: Founder Mental Health Pitfalls

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week I chatted with Patrick Campbell about his exit of ProfitWell to Paddle for $200 million. One of the most mind-blowing things that I experien...

178: Patrick Campbell — Life After a $200mil Exit

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Patrick Campbell, founder of ProfitWell, a bootstrapped business that recently got acquired by Paddle for a whopping 200 milli...

177: Diversify Your Creator Portfolio

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a creative entrepreneur, it is important to diversify your portfolio and have multiple projects in progress in order to reach a wider audience, sta...

176: Jay Clouse — Creative Commitments

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Jay Clouse, a creative entrepreneur, and all-around amazing human being. We’re talking about keeping it all together as a so...

175: Realistic Building in Public for Introverted Founders

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sharing your work and process in public can be difficult for introverted entrepreneurs and creators, but it can help build credibility and trust with ...

174: Ana Bibikova — The Introvert Superpower

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I’m talking to Ana Bibikova, a defender and cheerleader for introverts in entrepreneurship. Ana knows what it means to be skeptical of loud a...

[Bonus] Sahil Lavingia — Gumroad’s Pricing Disaster

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday, the creator economy learned that Gumroad, a platform where creators have been building their businesses by selling their services and produ...

173: Build a Defensible Indie Business

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to selling a small indie business, defensibility is a key factor that potential buyers will consider. A unique moat, or competitive adva...

172: Andrew Gazdecki — Building a Sellable Business

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am talking to Andrew Gazdecki, a pillar of the founder community and himself founder of the acquisition platform formerly known as MicroAcqui...

171: Avoid Vanity Metrics

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've been taught to believe that creators are only truly successful when they reach the top echelon of their platform, with millions of followers and...

170: Rosie Sherry — Building Profitable Communities

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I am talking to Rosie Sherry, proprietor of Rosieland and community empowerment expert. She runs her own communities, monetizing a few of them, and ha...

169: Paying the Bills While Building Your First Indie Business

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is a huge difference between building a product, a business, and a company. It's a progression from one to the other, usually involving making s...

168: Jakob Greenfeld — Writing Your Way to Clarity

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am talking to Jakob Greenfeld. I’ve been reading Jakobs blog posts for years now, and they’re as spicy as they’re thoughtful. There’s...

167: Find Business Ideas on Social Media

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In my conversation with Daniel Vassallo this week, I learned that Daniel uses social media —Twitter in particular— to find inspiration for his own...

166: Daniel Vassallo — Building a Portfolio of Small Bets

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am talking to Daniel Vassallo, writer, founder, and person with very strong opinions. He is building a portfolio of small bets in public, on ...

165: Why You Shouldn’t Sell Your Business

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I was talking to Damon Chen, who built Testimonial.to to $400.000 in ARR this week, and at one point, he mentioned that he isn’t looking into sellin...

164: Damon Chen — Building a $400k/year SaaS

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am talking to Damon Chen, the founder behind Testimonial.to, a social proof tool that has recently reached $400.000 in annual recurring reven...

163: When Should You Go from Side-Project to Full-Time?

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, I talked to Michele Hansen of Geocodio on The Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Michele co-founded the business with her husband and ra...

162: Michele Hansen — Moving from Side Project to Full Time

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I am talking to Michele Hansen, the co-founder of Geocodio, an indie SaaS business in the world of mapping and geolocation. I've been a fan of her wor...

161: Calm Business Misconceptions

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a world where everyone talks about disruption and hustling, the concept of a calm business can seem out of place or even naive. How can you compete...

160: Operating a Calm SaaS Business

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For most founders, running a business is juggling hot coals while riding on a unicycle. It's a stressful occupation, requiring constant vigilance, and...

159: Pricing for Calm SaaS Businesses

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest points of confusion for any software business is pricing. It often takes months, if not years, to find a working way to charge your...

158: Product Development for Calm SaaS Businesses

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Building a software product is both incredibly simple and excruciatingly complicated. You can build a new mind-blowingly helpful feature within hours,...

157: Solution Exploration for Calm SaaS Businesses

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you're building an audience-centric and community-first business, you're delaying finding your business idea and building your product for as lon...

156: The Toxicity of Growth Hacks

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- The Toxicity of Growth Hacks- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash courseThis...

155: Problem Discovery for Calm SaaS Businesses

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Problem Discovery for Calm SaaS Businesses- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter cr...

154: Market Analysis for Calm SaaS Businesses

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Arvid shares how he picks a market for a new business.- Market Analysis for Calm SaaS Businesses- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with ...

153: On Art and Artifice — When AI creates Masterpieces We Can't Ignore

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- On Art and Artifice- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash courseThis episode ...

152: Infrastructure of a Calm SaaS Business

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Infrastructure of a Calm SaaS Business- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash ...

151: Entrepreneurial Strategies & Anti-Patterns for a Calm SaaS Business

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Entrepreneurial Strategies & Anti-Patterns for a Calm SaaS Business- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Ess...

150: Business Models for a Calm SaaS Business

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Business Models for a Calm SaaS Business- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter cras...

149: Fundamentals of a Calm SaaS Business

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Fundamentals of a Calm SaaS Business - Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash c...

148: Fundamentals of a Calm Business

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Fundamentals of a Calm Business - Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course...

147: How NOT to Use Twitter DMs

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- How NOT to Use Twitter DMs - Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash courseThis ...

146: Don't blame the market; blame your marketing

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Don't blame the market; blame your marketing- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter ...

145: On Saying "No"

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- On Saying No- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash courseThis episode is spon...

144: The Risks and Illusions of the "Post-Exit Retirement"

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- The Risks and Illusions of the "Post-Exit Retirement"- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day...

143: Permission to Follow Up

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Permission to Follow Up: The Difference Between Owned & Borrowed Audiences- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Follow...

142: Consulting in Public

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

- Consulting in Public- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash courseThis episode...