The Bootstrapped Founder

436: When Long-Term Investments Finally Pay Off

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

What happens when the seeds you planted eighteen months ago finally start breaking through? In this episode, Arvid shares how Podscan's long-term investments are compounding—from programmatic SEO earning backlinks from major publications to an OP3 integration improving data fidelity across millions of podcasts. He also talks about how agentic coding tools helped him migrate to OpenSearch, a system he never would have touched on his own, and the semi-automated 10-80-10 workflows that are freeing him up for higher-leverage work.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/when-long-term-investments-finally-pay-off/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/436-when-long-term-investments-finally-pay-off

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Here are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.
- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx
- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid
- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid
- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60
- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ
- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q
- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

435: How to Actually Use Claude Code to Build Serious Software

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

After six months of building Podscan almost exclusively with Claude Code, Arvid shares the configuration and prompting strategies that make agentic coding actually work. From connecting Claude to your browser with the --chrome flag so it can visually inspect your app, to the "Ralph Wiggum loop" that keeps the agent iterating until a task is truly done, to the permission settings that prevent it from nuking your database—these are the practical lessons that separate productive Claude Code users from those constantly cleaning up messes. Plus: why testing is Claude Code's superpower, and how to build a system prompt that turns raw code generation into genuine collaboration.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-to-actually-use-claude-code-to-build-serious-software/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/435-how-to-actually-use-claude-code-to-build-serious-software

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

434: Follow Your Passion (But Not Like That)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

"Follow your passion" consistently ranks as the most frustrating advice entrepreneurs receive. Today I'm breaking down why this well-meaning guidance becomes dangerous when followed blindly, and more importantly, what it actually decodes into when you think about it properly.

Using my own experience with miniature painting and 3D printing, I'll show you how the real opportunity isn't doing what you love for money—it's finding others who share your passion and solving the problems they can't solve themselves.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/follow-your-passion-but-not-like-that/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/434-follow-your-passion-but-not-like-that

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

433: The 1% Improvement Myth

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The "improve 1% every day" mantra sounds inspiring until you realize it mostly gets people tweaking button colors and reorganizing task managers. Real improvements in early-stage businesses come from unexpected moments—like a single customer conversation that reveals you've been doing something wrong for six months. Instead of chasing unmeasurable micro-improvements, talk to one customer every day. \

That's where assumptions clash with reality, where you learn their language, and where you discover the insights that actually move the needle.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-1-improvement-myth-why-customer-conversations-beat-micro-improvements-every-time/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/433-the-1-improvement-myth

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

432: Don't Give Up... Your Assumptions

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The entrepreneurial world loves telling founders to "never give up"—but what if that advice is slowly killing your business? In this episode, I unpack why persistence without direction is just expensive stubbornness. The real skill isn't grinding through everything; it's knowing which assumptions to abandon while keeping the business alive. I share why running parallel experiments beats blind faith, and what a Twitter thread about Pieter Levels' "ugly" landing pages taught me about the beliefs we cling to without questioning.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dont-give-up-your-assumptions/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/432-dont-give-up-your-assumptions

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

431: Many Heads, Not Many Hats: The Founder's Identity Crisis

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

We joke about founders wearing many hats, but that metaphor misses the point. It's not about swapping accessories—it's about growing entirely new heads, each with its own brain that thinks, speaks, and prioritizes differently.

In this episode, I explore why the transition from consulting or agency work to software entrepreneurship is so disorienting, and why the instincts that made you successful before might be the exact things preventing success now.

From the uncomfortable truth about acquisition in low-touch SaaS to the cognitive dissonance of believing in yourself while questioning everything you know, this is about what it really takes to become someone new while staying grounded in who you've always been.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/many-heads-not-many-hats-the-founders-identity-crisis/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/many-heads-not-many-hats-the-founders-identity-crisis

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

430: The Case Against Vendor Lock-In: Why Easy Exit Means Better Retention

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

There's something strange about founders who built their entire business on open source software and open standards, then turn around and say you should lock customers in as hard as possible. I think that's a horrible practice—and counterintuitively, making it easy to leave actually makes people stay longer.

Today I'm making the case for frictionless import and export, with real examples from PermanentLink and lessons from Fathom Analytics, and why informed choice beats artificial lock-in every time.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-case-against-vendor-lock-in-why-easy-exit-means-better-retention/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/430-the-case-against-vendor-lock-in-why-easy-exit-means-better-retention

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

429: The Dead Internet Theory: Are We Building Machines That Only Talk to Other Machines?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

I spotted a LinkedIn post the other day—obviously AI-generated—with dozens of enthusiastic comments underneath. Every single one also written by AI. Bots responding to bots, a whole conversation with zero humans involved.

It was both hilarious and deeply sad.

This got me thinking about the dead internet theory and our role as founders in either contributing to it or pushing back against it. Today I'm exploring how we can build AI tools that augment human connection rather than replace it entirely—using AI as the means, not the end.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-dead-internet-theory-are-we-building-machines-that-only-talk-to-other-machines/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/the-dead-internet-theory-are-we-building-machines-that-only-talk-to-other-machines

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

428: Marketing for Founders Who Hate Marketing

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Most technical founders I know understand marketing matters—they just hate doing it. They'd rather spend their time building features than fumbling through outreach and content strategies. I get it. I've been there for years.

So today I'm sharing what's actually worked for me: letting machines do the heavy lifting.

From programmatic SEO that turned Podscan's internal data into a signup engine, to AI-assisted customer scoring that tells me who's worth a personal conversation, to treating documentation as a discovery channel—these are systems that market your product while you focus on building it. And here's the counterintuitive part: most of the people who find you through these systems won't be your ideal customers. That's fine. They become your word-of-mouth channel instead.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/marketing-for-founders-who-hate-marketing/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/428-marketing-for-founders-who-hate-marketing

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

427: Vibe Coding Won't Kill SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

The "vibe coding will kill SaaS" narrative is everywhere right now, and I think it's completely wrong. Yes, anyone can spin up a Lovable or Bolt.new project in an afternoon. But there's a fundamental confusion happening: people are mistaking software products for software businesses. SaaS was never really about the software — it was always about the service, the operations, the years of edge cases and integrations and customer conversations that make a product actually work.

In this episode, I break down why vibe-coded solutions fall apart the moment real customers show up, why "comprehension debt" is the hidden killer of AI-built projects, and how we might need to shift our messaging to make the invisible 20% of our work visible to buyers who now think they could build everything themselves.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/vibe-coding-wont-kill-saas/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/427-vibe-coding-wont-kill-saas

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

426: How Your Data Model Shapes Your Product

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Jack Ellis recently shared that storing page views and custom events in separate database tables was his biggest mistake at Fathom Analytics. That got me thinking about my own data modeling decisions at Podscan—choices I made on day one that now, two years and 45 million episodes later, either enable or constrain everything I build.

Today, I'm exploring how your data model doesn't just store information, it fundamentally shapes how you think about your product. From the simple decision of whether to include teams in your authentication system to the complex realities of running full-text search across terabytes of transcript data, I'll share the migrations, the blue-green deployments, and the hard lessons about building flexibility into both your infrastructure and your founder mindset.

I'm running a time-limited Black Friday sale of The Bootstrapper's Bundle: all my books, all my courses, all formats, for $25 instead of $100+. Grab it here: https://tbf.link/bff

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-your-data-model-shapes-your-product/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/426-how-your-data-model-shapes-your-product

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

425: AI Best Practices for Bootstrappers (That Actually Save You Money)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

AI systems change constantly. Models get deprecated, APIs shift, and what works today might fail tomorrow. Instead of trying to keep up with everything, I've built my systems for permanent adaptability.

That means migration patterns that let me run old and new prompts side by side, using OpenAI's hidden Flex tier to cut costs by 50%, front-loading repeated data in prompts to maximize cache savings, and implementing circuit breakers so runaway AI costs can't blow up my bill. These aren't optimizations — they're how you run AI in production without losing your mind or your money.

I'm running a time-limited Black Friday sale of The Bootstrapper's Bundle: all my books, all my courses, all formats, for $25 instead of $100+. Grab it here: https://tbf.link/bff

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-best-practices-for-bootstrappers-that-actually-save-you-money/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/425-ai-best-practices-for-bootstrappers-that-actually-save-you-money

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

424: I Never Really Loved Coding (And Only AI Made Me Realize It)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

After 20+ years as a software developer, AI coding assistants revealed a shocking truth: I never actually loved coding—I loved what code could accomplish. In this episode, I explore how transitioning from hand-crafting every line at Podscan to orchestrating AI-generated code exposed the fundamental difference between developers who cherish solving technical puzzles and entrepreneurs who prioritize shipping features that drive business value.

This shift from programmer to orchestrator isn't just about tools; it's about letting go of a carefully constructed identity and embracing that for software entrepreneurs, pristine code was never the goal—rapid deployment, customer value, and business growth always were. If you're struggling with AI coding tools or clinging to perfectionist coding standards, this perspective might fundamentally change how you view your role as a technical founder.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/i-never-really-loved-coding-and-only-ai-made-me-realize-it/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/424-i-never-really-loved-coding-and-only-ai-made-me-realize-it

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

423: The Marketer's Hierarchy of Needs: A Framework for Understanding Customer Intelligence

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

What if your customers can't care about your advanced features because you haven't satisfied their basic needs first? Just like humans need food before philosophy, marketers need specific data in a rigid order – and understanding this hierarchy transformed how Podscan onboards customers.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligence/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/423-the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligence

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

422: The Things Your Customers Don't Care About

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

When you build a software business as a founder, you have a dream. Building. Features. APIs. UIs.

But how much of that is JUST a dream, and what REALLY leads to paying customers?

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-things-your-customers-dont-care-about/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/422-the-things-your-customers-dont-care-about

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

421: Why You Should Never Start a Software Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

The brutal truth about SaaS nobody tells you.

Here’s the thing: I’m about to share all the reasons why you should never, ever start a software business.

And yes, I’m fully aware that I’m talking to an audience of software founders. This is somewhat sarcastic, somewhat ironic twist on the great things about entrepreneurship. And the problems you'll face.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/why-you-should-never-start-a-software-business/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/421-why-you-should-never-start-a-software-business

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

420: AI for the Code-Writing Purist: How to Use AI Without Surrendering Your Keyboard

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

I know you're out there. The developer who watches their colleagues enthusiastically embrace Claude Code and Cursor, having AI write entire feature sets while you proudly type every semicolon by hand. The founder who sees AI-generated code as a ticking time bomb of bugs and security vulnerabilities. The software entrepreneur who believes that real code comes from human minds, not language models.

This one's for you.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-for-the-code-writing-purist-how-to-use-ai-without-surrendering-your-keyboard/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/420-ai-for-the-code-writing-purist-how-to-use-ai-without-surrendering-your-keyboard

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

419: The Missing Piece in Your Validation Strategy

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

A lot of early-stage founders have understood—mostly because more and more people are talking about their early-stage strategies—that you need to validate your ideas. You need to make an effort to figure out if the thing you're planning to do is actually reasonable to attempt. Validation is important and absolutely worth doing prior to building.

That much, many people have understood.

But here's where things get interesting. Often enough, validation looks like checking if people have the problem—checking if people have the challenge that your idea solves. And if you find people complaining about it, if you find people mentioning that they struggle with this, to some founders, that's a sufficient reason to build a software-as-a-service solution.

Then they bring it to market and realize something frustrating: even if they directly engage people in their market, even if they directly show this and onboard people into the product, they still don't get a sale.

People stick with what they're currently doing, even though it is something that, from your perspective as a founder, is much worse, much more expensive, much more complicated, much less scalable.

Why is that?

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com
You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-missing-piece-in-your-validation-strategy/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/419-the-missing-piece-in-your-validation-strategy

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

418: Why AI-Generated Code Hurts Your Exit

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

We're living through a fascinating moment in software development. AI coding tools can build features faster than ever before. They can scan entire codebases, spot things we might miss, and implement changes across dozens of files in seconds. It's incredible.

But there's something we need to talk about. Something that's quietly accumulating in our projects while we marvel at how quickly we can ship features.

This is called comprehension debt.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/why-ai-generated-code-hurts-your-exit/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/418-why-ai-generated-code-hurts-your-exit

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

417: The Best Tech Stack in the Age of AI

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

A couple of years ago, I tweeted that “the best tech stack is the one you already know.” To this day, this is one of my most resonating tweets. People keep bringing it back, and founders who've been around for a while seem to particularly agree with it. But AI changes things. Or does it?

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-best-tech-stack-in-the-age-of-ai/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/417-the-best-tech-stack-in-the-age-of-ai

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

416: The Ownership Paradox: What Do You Really Control in Your Software Business?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

As I'm building yet another software service business after having built and sold one back in 2019, I keep wrestling with a fundamental question that might sound simple but has profound implications: What do I actually own in this business?

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-ownership-paradox-what-do-you-really-control-in-your-software-business/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/416-the-ownership-paradox-what-do-you-really-control-in-your-software-business

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

415: Handling Multiple ICPs as a Solo Founder

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

This is something I've been wrestling with at Podscan, and I know many of you face the same challenge: you're building a product that could serve two, three, maybe even five different ideal customer profiles. And you're trying to figure out how to keep them all balanced—or whether you should even try.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/handling-multiple-icps-as-a-solo-founder/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/handling-multiple-icps-as-a-solo-founder

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

414: The Pure Amateur is Vanishing: Why Everyone's a Performer Now

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

I was recently reading an article about The Great British Baking Show - or Bake Off, as we fans of this fun TV competition call it. It was written by someone who had been on the show, one of the competitors, and they were talking about how looking at the show from the inside made them realize something profound: there are no real amateurs anymore.

Not only is that changing the media landscape, it also affects what businesses are needed to serve what has replaced them.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-pure-amateur-is-vanishing-why-everyones-a-performer-now/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/414-the-pure-amateur-is-vanishing-why-everyones-a-performer-now

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

413: We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Moat

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

You know that moment when you realize the ground has shifted beneath your feet? I had one of those moments recently. I was watching an AI agent build out a complex feature for Podscan in about twenty minutes – something that would have taken me days to code properly just a year ago. And it hit me: the rules of the game have fundamentally changed.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/were-gonna-need-a-bigger-moat/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/413-we-re-gonna-need-a-bigger-moat

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

412: The $0.20/Day AI System That Converts Trial Users Into Paying Customers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

It took me a long while to realize this: AI isn't just something like a chatbot for my customers. AI can work behind the scenes to facilitate getting the right stuff in front of the right people for me, even just to figure out who people are and how I should talk to them. And today, I want to share exactly what I'm doing, how expensive this is to run, and how I believe this can be part of every single software as a service business out there—even if you don't have any touchpoint with artificial intelligence in that business at all. Even if you don't think you should be offering AI features to your customers.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com — SaaS Happy Hour Series

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-0-20-day-ai-system-that-converts-trial-users-into-paying-customers/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/the-0-20-day-ai-system-that-converts-trial-users-into-paying-customers

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

411: The Currents of a Founder

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

I was reading Brandon Sanderson's latest novel, Wind and Truth, when I came across a sentence that stopped me cold: "A stronger current makes for stronger fish."

That's it. That's what entrepreneurship is.

We're constantly encountering currents that either facilitate what we want to accomplish—the businesses we want to build, the lives we want to create—or they oppose us, trying to sweep us into dangerous waters. These currents change all the time. They vary in strength depending on where you are in your journey. And here's the thing: they're mostly invisible until you learn to feel them.

Someone on Twitter asked me what my top three currents were after I shared this thought. It turned out to be a revealing exercise—assessing what I'm exposed to, what I'm dealing with, and how I'm navigating these forces. So let me share what I've discovered about the currents pulling at me as I build Podscan.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com — The Web Revenue Lab Series

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-currents-of-a-founder/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/411-the-currents-of-a-founder

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

410: Building for the Age of AI Consumers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

I think we're at the precipice of a pretty significant change in how we build software products. Obviously, the recent ascent of vibe coding and all the agentic coding tools that we find very useful and highly effective shows a difference in how we approach building products. But there's another change - not just in how we build, but in who these products are for.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/building-for-the-age-of-ai-consumers/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/410-building-for-the-age-of-ai-consumers

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

409: James Phoenix — Claude Code Masterclass

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

James Phoenix is an expert in agentic coding, particularly Claude code, a tool that I have been using to great effect over the last couple months. I chatted with James just a couple days ago and have implemented several of the tips that he gave me during a conversation, and I'm already almost twice as effective at using this already magically effective tool. So I don't think I can overpromise how much insight into well-structured and highly optimized agentic coding you will get from this conversation.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/james-phoenix-claude-code-masterclass/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/409-james-phoenix-claude-code-masterclass

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

408: The Podscan Ideas Vault: Engineering as Marketing

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today I'll be talking about a successful marketing project within my software business that turned out to be so successful that it spawned a business built on top of that business.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-podscan-ideas-vault-engineering-as-marketing/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/408-the-podscan-ideas-vault-engineering-as-marketing

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

407: Nick Groeneveld — Exploring AI's Impact on Modern Design

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Nick Groeneveld is a designer and User Experience expert who has been a valued collaborator on Podscan, my own software product. Nick works as a freelancer for a lot of companies that have no in-house design knowledge, and he's been navigating the rapid changes that AI tools like Lovable and vZero are bringing to the design world. With 10 years of professional design experience and a deep understanding of design theory, Nick brings a unique perspective on what happens when machines start creating interfaces that look surprisingly good.

We also tackle deeper questions about whether AI is making us dumber, why human judgment remains irreplaceable, and how to use AI as a learning tool rather than just a productivity hack.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/nick-groeneveld-exploring-ais-impact-on-modern-design/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/407-nick-groeneveld-exploring-ais-impact-on-modern-design

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

406: Making Your Business Sellable (Even If You Never Plan to Sell)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today, I’ll share how I’ve been preparing Podscan (and long before that, another SaaS business) to be ready to be acquired at a moment’s notice.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/making-your-business-sellable-even-if-you-never-plan-to-sell/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/406-making-your-business-sellable-even-if-you-never-plan-to-sell

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

405: The Friction Paradox: Why AI Might Be Making Us Worse at What We Do

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today we’ll talk about how AI systems, particularly the ones that do all the work for us, can both massively amplify and hinder our effectiveness. The good get better, and the bad get worse. It's a problem.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-friction-paradox-why-ai-might-be-making-us-worse-at-what-we-do/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/405-the-friction-paradox-why-ai-might-be-making-us-worse-at-what-we-do

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

404: The Transcription Challenge: Building Infrastructure That Scales With The World

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today we’ll talk about keeping up with an avalanche of audio data and how I built Podscan’s transcription infrastructure.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-transcription-challenge-building-infrastructure-that-scales-with-the-world/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/404-the-transcription-challenge-building-infrastructure-that-scales-with-the-world

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

403: Amar Ghose — From Non-Technical Founder to SaaS Innovator

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Amar Ghose has been growing Zenmaid from idea to market leader as a non-technical founder. Zenmaid is a SaaS platform that's been helping maid service owners grow their businesses since 2013. Amar is one of those amazing founders who truly embodies the bootstrapping spirit—when his co-founder left early on at just $15k in monthly revenue, he could have easily given up. Instead, he stuck with it, and through relentless customer focus and persistence, he's built ZenMaid into a $150k per month business over the past 12 years.

What makes Amar's story particularly inspiring is that he's a non-technical founder who used a customer development approach from day one, really listening to his market and building exactly what maid service owners needed. He's also created an incredible content marketing ecosystem around ZenMaid—from YouTube channels to the Maid Summit conference to podcasts—always focused on helping maid service owners succeed rather than just selling software.

We're talking about the power of persistence in bootstrapping, how to build as a non-technical founder, the importance of customer development, and how to create content that truly serves your community. We'll also dive into building a remote-first, location-independent company and staying focused on your customers' success over quick growth.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/amar-ghose-from-non-technical-founder-to-saas-innovator/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/403-amar-ghose-from-non-technical-founder-to-saas-innovator

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

402: A $2 Billion Industry Built on Digital Duct Tape

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today I’ll share my insights into the podcasting universe, from a software founder perspective. There are so many untapped opportunities in a space where budgets and expectations are growing massively, so why not talk about the most challenging issues and what could be gained if they were solved.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-podcasting-infrastructure-crisis-a-2-billion-industry-built-on-digital-duct-tape/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/402-a-2-billion-industry-built-on-digital-duct-tape

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

401: Vova Feldman — Mastering Entrepreneurship in the Payments Sector

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Vova Feldman is the founder of Freemius, a Merchant of Record payment provider. He's been at it for a while, and it wasn't always easy. Vova shares his approach to weathering the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, how to build a team (and mis-hires), and what operating in the payment industry means for a crafty founder.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/vova-feldman-mastering-entrepreneurship-in-the-payments-sector/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/401-vova-feldman-mastering-entrepreneurship-in-the-payments-sector

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

400: The Hidden Revolution: AI Is Democratizing Coding Mentorship

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

One aspect of the AI hype we’re all dealing with right now is severely underreported. And it’s that part that I personally think has a much more substantial long-term impact than all the magical video generators and coding agents.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-hidden-revolutionai-is-democratizing-coding-mentorship/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/400-the-hidden-revolution-ai-is-democratizing-coding-mentorship

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

399: NativePHP: How Simon Hamp & Shane Rosenthal are Building & Monetizing PHP on Mobile

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Shane Rosenthal and Simon Hamp from the NativePHP Project have brought PHP, and with it my favorite web framework Laravel, onto Mobile devices. I love this: taking established tech and porting it into places where you wouldn’t expect. I’ll be talking to Share and Simon about how they accomplished this, and, maybe even more impressively, how they turned this into a profitable business at a very early stage.

This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/simon-hamp-shane-rosenthal-building-monetizing-nativephp/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/399-simon-hamp-shane-rosenthal-building-monetizing-nativephp

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

398: The Hidden Cost of Being First

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

When Python's dominant package manager pip was challenged by newcomer uv—which is so fast users think it's broken—it revealed a fundamental truth about first-mover advantage that every founder needs to understand. Discover why being first means building "unavoidable complexity," how smart competitors exploit this weakness, and the strategic framework for deciding whether to pioneer a market or build a better mousetrap.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-hidden-cost-of-being-first/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/the-hidden-cost-of-being-first

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

397: When Profitability Disappears — A Podscan Reality Check

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode represents the reality of entrepreneurship—not just the wins, but the difficult decisions and uncertainty that come with building something new. Sometimes the most valuable conversations happen when we're honest about the challenges we're facing.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/when-profitability-disappears-a-podscan-reality-check/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/397-when-profitability-disappears-a-podscan-reality-check

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

396: Jack Friks — Building Tools That Empower Without Overwhelming

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Jack Friks (@jackfriks) is the founder of PostBridge, a social media scheduling tool that grew from his own frustration with spending hours posting across platforms to a $18k/month business. We explore the evolution of social media toward authenticity, the challenges of building lean products as a solopreneur, and how to navigate the noise while maintaining a genuine human connection in an AI-driven world.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jack-friks-building-tools-that-empower-without-overwhelming/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/396-jack-friks-building-tools-that-empower-without-overwhelming

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

395: From Code Writer to Code Editor: My AI-Assisted Development Workflow

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

My day-to-day coding looks very different from what it was a few years ago. Today, you'll learn about my voice-to-code workflow and how I leverage smart tools to have so much free time that I feel guilty for "not working enough." Seriously.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/from-code-writer-to-code-editor-my-ai-assisted-development-workflow/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/395-from-code-writer-to-code-editor-my-ai-assisted-development-workflow

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

394: Taylor Otwell — The (Quite Entrepreneurial) Creator of Laravel

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Taylor Otwell (@taylorotwell) didn't just create the popular open-source framework Laravel. He turned it into a highly profitable business that helps developers build profitable businesses themselves. Few other open-source devs have such a clear understanding of market needs AND developer requirements. Taylor shares his approach to monetizing freely available code, how he intentionally built an ecosystem of free and paid-for tooling, and where the Laravel journey will go.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/taylor-otwell-the-quite-entrepreneurial-creator-of-laravel/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/394-taylor-otwell-the-quite-entrepreneurial-creator-of-laravel

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

393: AI is a Threat to SaaS Multiples

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Software-as-a-service business acquisitions are in trouble. What is responsible for a downward trend in multiples and acquisition dollar amounts? It has a lot to do with AI, but it may not be what you think.

I recently recorded an in-depth session for Rob Walling's SaaS Launchpad. This module is called AI in SaaS, and I share over a dozen pitfalls, unobvious risks, and hard-earned insights from my own AI SaaS building journey. The course was already great, but... you know... ;) Use the code ARVID150 to get $150 off until June 8th.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-is-a-threat-to-saas-multiples/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/393-ai-is-a-threat-to-saas-multiples

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

392: Building AI Businesses Without Breaking the Internet

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Ever heard of model collapse? It occurs when AI models are trained on the outputs of previous AI models. And it's not pretty.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/building-ai-businesses-without-breaking-the-internet/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/building-ai-businesses-without-breaking-the-internet

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

391: AI is Flipping Our Relationship with Technology

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Second brains were all the rage a year ago. Now, it feels like we're not just externalizing our thoughts; we're training a much bigger, much less personal brain. A first brain. THE brain. Is this a good thing? Are we truly the beneficiaries here?

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-is-flipping-our-relationship-with-technology/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/391-ai-is-flipping-our-relationship-with-technology

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

390: When to Choose Local LLMs vs APIs

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

When I started Podscan, I wanted to go full local AI. Self-hosted, self-managed, self-serving. But that tune has changed. Here's what to think about when contemplating a local AI strategy.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/when-to-choose-local-llms-vs-apis-a-founders-real-world-guide/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/390-when-to-choose-local-llms-vs-apis

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

389: The Founder's First Hire: When to Let Go of Your Weaknesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

It's time. Solopreneurship works for a while, but it can't last forever. Not for me, not for Podscan. We need help.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-founders-first-hire-when-to-let-go-of-your-weaknesses/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/389-the-founders-first-hire-when-to-let-go-of-your-weaknesses

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

388: The Job To Be Done: Understanding Customer Value Communication

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

PMF is MIA without JTBD. Make sense? :D

The "job to be done" sits at the core of my customer's use of my product. I need to understand it to understand them. To fathom their needs.

This week, I'll share how I approach that — and why it's taken me years to get here.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-job-to-be-done-understanding-customer-value-communication/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/388-the-job-to-be-done-understanding-customer-value-communication

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

387: Your API Documentation is Not For Developers Anymore

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

API docs used to be by and for developers. Now, non-technical people use AI tools to build integrations into our SaaS products. We need to rethink how we communicate with them (and the AI agents that write their code).

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/your-api-documentation-is-not-for-developers-anymore/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/your-api-documentation-is-not-for-developers-anymore

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

386: One Year of Podscan: Reflecting on Tech & Business Decisions

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

This week, I'm sharing behind-the-scenes choices that allowed Podscan's growth from a small experiment to a thriving business. I'll delve into the choices I've made and how some have worked better than others. I'll explore the key decisions that have driven our success, such as selecting the right tools and technology, and utilizing AI to enhance the efficiency of our processes. Join me to learn how these choices, along with important upgrades and strategic partnerships, have contributed to our achievements.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/one-year-of-podscan-reflecting-on-tech-business-decisions/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/386-one-year-of-podscan-reflecting-on-tech-business-decisions

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

385: The Balancing Act: Free Trials, Value Demonstration, and Business Sustainability

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Just how much of your service should a trial user be allowed to "try"? When it costs you real money to supply your product, when and how do you apply limits so that people have to upgrade?

That's my challenge this week, and I'll share a concrete example from my journey with Podscan.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-balancing-act-free-trials-value-demonstration-and-business-sustainability/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/385-the-balancing-act-free-trials-value-demonstration-and-business-sustainability

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

384: Podscan's Profitability Milestone: What's Next?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Podscan is profitable.

Wild.

A great success, a year after starting the business, and a fun opportunity to look at the options that lay before me. What will be my next milestone? What's the ultimate goal here?

Well, you'll hear all about it today.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podscans-profitability-milestone-whats-next/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/podscans-profitability-milestone-whats-next

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

383: Repositioning Podscan: From Monitoring to Data Platform

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Last week, in my hotel room just after MicroConf, I got excited about repositioning. I have had some time to think about the steps forward since then, and here's what I've come up with. This week, I dive into what I have already done, what needs to be done next, and where this is going.

The blog post: https://tbf.fm/episodes/383-repositioning-podscan-from-monitoring-to-data-platform
The podcast episode: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/repositioning-podscan-from-monitoring-to-data-platform/

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

382: I went to MicroConf in New Orleans

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

And I have a few things to say.

In one of my rare directly-from-the-hotel-room-to-you episodes, I'll dive right into the many wonderful experiences of this uniquely amazing conference, and I'll share my biggest learnings with you right here.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/i-went-to-microconf-in-new-orleans/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/382-i-went-to-microconf-in-new-orleans

Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

381: How AI Changes Famous Laws in Software and Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

The rise of AI is fundamentally changing and challenging the classic laws and principles of software development and entrepreneurship. Drawing from my experience building Podscan.fm with AI assistance, I dive into how laws like Conway's Law, Brooks' Law, and Postel's Law are being transformed in this new era of AI-assisted development, while sharing practical insights for founders and developers navigating this shifting landscape.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-ai-changes-famous-laws-in-software-and-entrepreneurship/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/381-how-ai-changes-famous-laws-in-software-and-entrepreneurship

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

380: Experiment Report: Trying New Things

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0500

When I talked to Anne-Laure Le Cunff earlier this week, we get into experiments and how to run them effectively. That made me think that I've been running quite a few of those recently, and here's how that has worked out for me.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/experiment-report-trying-new-things/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/380-experiment-report-trying-new-things

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

379: Anne-Laure Le Cunff — Tiny Experiments

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Anne-Laure Le Cunff (@neuranne) is a neuroscientist and author of the book Tiny Experiments, where she shines a scientific light on how we set goals, what experiments we should think about, and how we can deal with uncertainty in a high-stress world.

We chat about goals, reprogramming your own subconscious, and how learning in public can benefit anyone on any journey.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/anne-laure-le-cunff-tiny-experiments/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/379-anne-laure-le-cunff-tiny-experiments

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

378: Think with AI, Do with People

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

I'm not usually trying to create FOMO in other founders — I know all too well that we're busy enough with what we're building.

But if you're not using chat-based AI to collaborate with (both in your business and outside of it), you're playing the game on hard mode.

I'll share a few stories today of why this particular kind of virtual collaborator helps me so much in my business.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/think-with-ai-do-with-people/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/378-think-with-ai-do-with-people

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

377: Virality is Poisonous

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

The most insidious consequence of chasing virality isn't that it makes you look foolish; it's that you're actively poisoning your precious audience.

Here's what "playing the algorithm" might do to (instead of for) your personal and professional brand.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/virality-is-poisonous/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/377-virality-is-poisonous

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

376: Justin Moore — Becoming a Sponsor Magnet

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Justin Moore (@justinmooretfam) knows a thing or two about sponsors. He's responsible for dozens of episodes of this very podcast to be sponsored! And what he taught me, he'll teach you.

I was VERY hesitant when I started looking at sponsors. I thought that would dilute my brand. Make me a sellout. But that's a self-limiting belief — and Justin will give you the tools to profitably reprogram your mind to embrace alignment and value-added sponsorship relationships for whatever you do.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/376-justin-moore-becoming-a-sponsor-magnet/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/376-justin-moore-becoming-a-sponsor-magnet

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

375: Mute those “Dings”

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500

When notifications prevent you from focusing on your actual work, you know you're in trouble. Here's how I approach the balance between keeping an eye on the critical parts of the business and focusing on the deep work that needs to get done.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/mute-those-dings/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/375-mute-those-dings

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

374: Indie Hacking Databases at Scale

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Databases are hard. Making the right choices early and keeping things running smoothly even when budget pressures and customer requests start piling on — that's the hard part that many solopreneurs and indie founders struggle with.

I certainly do.

So here's a journey through my learnings and experiences from running SaaS offerings with sizeable —talking about terabytes of data— databases.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/indie-hacking-databases-at-scale/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/374-indie-hacking-databases-at-scale

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

373: Delete Your Backlog

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Sometimes, less is more. Here's how I pruned my feature backlog from 120 to 15 items.

I'll share my decision-making framework; every single rule comes with examples. Time to cut down on the mental load that is having too many "ideas" in your backlog.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/deleting-your-backlog-a-founders-guide-to-feature-pruning/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/373-delete-your-backlog

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

372: Indie Hacking & the Singularity

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

One day, we'll all meld our minds into one, sharing our thoughts like the Borg on Star Trek.

But before that, we have a few things to get done. And for us founders, that's dealing with the ever-increasing speed of technological advancement.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/indie-hacking-the-singularity/
The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/372-indie-hacking-the-singularity

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

371: Brian Sierakowski — Mastering Product Communication

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Brian Sierakowski (@bsierakowski) has been busy over the last year: he started working on ChangeBot and TRMNL, and both projects are taking off.

If you ever wondered what a good changelog looks like or why you might need one, this episode is for you.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/brian-sierakowski-mastering-product-communication/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/317-brian-sierakowski-mastering-product-communication

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

370: Building Systems That Work While You Don't

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

This week, I was super sick — to the point where all I could do was rest in bed.

The businesses needed to keep running, though. And fortunately, I set them up to do just that.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/building-systems-that-work-while-you-dont/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/370-building-systems-that-work-while-you-dont

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

369: Expect-AI-tions

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Expectations around AI tooling are changing, and software founders will be the first to either provide what people want — or perish.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/expect-ai-tions/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/369-expect-ai-tions

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

368: Johannes Jäschke — From Hypnosis Innovation to Business Exit

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Johannes Jäschke is a pioneer in the intersection of technology and mental health. From a college seminar to the forefront of digital well-being, Johannes developed Hypnu, a hypnosis app that gained significant traction during the pandemic. His innovative approach offered an alternative to traditional methods, addressing insomnia and anxiety without side effects.

After successfully exiting Hypnu, Johannes continues to inspire with his journey through the competitive startup world, exploring how he transformed an academic idea into a practical tool that changed lives. We also examine the nuanced differences between hypnosis and meditation, shedding light on how Hypnu distinguishes itself in the crowded digital wellness market.

Johannes shares invaluable advice for aspiring non-technical founders, drawing from his personal experiences and the challenges he overcame to create a successful mental health solution. Join us for an insightful discussion that reveals the intricacies of entrepreneurship and the impact of technology on mental health.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/johannes-jaschke-from-hypnosis-innovation-to-business-exit/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/368-johannes-jaschke-from-hypnosis-innovation-to-business-exit

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

367: The Biggest Opportunity of 2025

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Now that we're starting a new year, let's look ahead at the opportunities and challenges facing the software business world in 2025.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-biggest-opportunity-of-2025/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/367-the-biggest-opportunity-of-2025

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

366: Omar Zenhom — Crafting Success Without a Tech Background

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Omar Zenhom (@TheOmarZenhom) is one of those few amazing founders who just can't stop giving back to their entrepreneurial peers, no matter how much success they might have. Recently having sold WebinarNinja, Omar still shows up every single day — on Twitter, on the $100 MBA podcast, or wherever builders and makers struggle to build and make.

We talk about the exit, how to build a support network as a founder, and what Arnold Schwarzenegger has to do with the AI avalanche. Enjoy!

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/omar-zenhom-crafting-success-without-a-tech-background/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/366-omar-zenhom-crafting-success-without-a-tech-background

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

365: Arvid's Year in Review: 2024

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

A new business. Raising money. Bootstrapping. Lifting. And then some.

My 2024 was a year of progress, changes, and taking a few more risks than usual.

Here's my 2024 year in review.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/arvids-year-in-review-2024/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/365-arvids-year-in-review-2024

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

364: Breaking my Own Rules

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Sometimes, you have to pivot. And that's harder than it seems: old assumptions are deeply ingrained, new frontiers look scary.

But right now, Podscan needs this. And today, I'll share what happened, why I'm changing direction, and where this will go.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/breaking-my-own-rules/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/364-breaking-my-own-rules

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

363: Ben Rometsch — From Side Projects to Industry Giants

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Ben Rometsch (@dabeeeenster.bsky.social), the founder of Flagsmith, created a bootstrapped SaaS success story. Feature flags are transforming software deployment by decoupling releases and enhancing control. And Ben bootstrapped this deceptively simple-looking part of engineering into a significant software business.

And then there's the open-source part of all that. The Open Feature project is setting new standards in software development, akin to OpenTelemetry. Ben shares insights into this collaborative open-source initiative and takes you on a decade-long journey running a software agency in London, where creativity thrived, leading to the creation of a cost-effective, open-source feature flag tool now used by major companies.

We even get to the parallels between Brexit and business growth as Ben discusses breaking growth ceilings and the challenges of venture capital. You'll hear about a pivotal deal during the pandemic and how it set off a massive growth spurt that was previously impossible.

Ben and I both value slow, sustainable growth without VC pressures. But it comes with its own challenges, like balancing monetization strategies while maintaining a sustainable open-source project. Join us for a conversation about building a business with purpose.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ben-rometsch-from-side-projects-to-industry-giants

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/363-ben-rometsch-from-side-projects-to-industry-giants

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

362: Startup Opportunities in Podcasting

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

The podcasting industry is full of business opportunities. I see them every day, either as a podcaster, a listener, or someone running a SaaS in this industry. So here are the most promising ideas and problem areas in podcasting — right now.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/startup-opportunities-in-podcasting/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/362-startup-opportunities-in-podcasting

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

361: Pierre de Wulf — Bootstrapping ScrapingBee to Millions

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Pierre de Wulf (@PierreDeWulf), the founder of Scraping Bee, transformed himself from a frustrated developer into a SaaS success story. Here's what you'll learn from this episode:

1/ 🐝 Pierre's journey began with a subpar web scraping tool, sparking the idea for Scraping Bee. Discover how he bootstrapped his company in a crowded market, emphasizing lean operations and strategic growth.

2/ 🚀 Overcoming growth plateaus in SaaS can be challenging. Pierre shares insights on experimentation with new marketing channels, leveraging user feedback, and balancing traditional and fresh approaches for sustainable innovation.

3/ 🌐 The complexities of web scraping and the untapped potential of data are vast. Pierre discusses logistical challenges, the importance of bandwidth, and the value of data as a modern-day resource.

4/ 🇫🇷 Running a business in France vs. the U.S. offers unique challenges and opportunities. Pierre reflects on French bureaucracy, startup incentives, and how services like Stripe Atlas can simplify global expansion.

5/ 💡 Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned SaaS veteran, Pierre's story offers valuable lessons on innovation, growth, and the power of data. Tune in to get inspired and learn from his experiences!

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/pierre-de-wulf-bootstrapping-scrapingbee-to-millions/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/361-pierre-de-wulf-bootstrapping-scrapingbee-to-millions

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

360: Product-Market Fit & Time-to-First-Value

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Imagine standing at a crossroads, juggling countless possibilities yet needing to choose just one path.

That's what most early-stage founders struggle with. And for me, that's picking the right course towards the ever-elusive Product-Market fit.

Today, I'll share how I tackle this challenge and what I do to show my best customers the highest possible value of my product as early as possible.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/product-market-fit-time-to-first-value/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/360-product-market-fit-time-to-first-value

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

359: Connor Turland: Pioneering the Future of Bookkeeping with Ceedar.ai

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Connor Turland (@Entrecurious) is the prototypical software entrepreneur. He found a niche from a "prior life" and is now building an AI bookkeeping SaaS.

Now, many founders struggle with bookkeeping, so this is your opportunity to learn more about the pitfalls and opportunities of that field from someone who speaks both "developer" and "bookkeeper."

Here's Connor and how he is employing cutting-edge AI in an industry that is usually very resistant to change.

Learn more about Connor at https://connorturland.com/
You'll find Ceedar at https://ceedar.ai/

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/connor-turland-pioneering-the-future-of-bookkeeping-with-ceedar-ai/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/359-connor-turland

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

358: Love Is For Those Who Love the Work

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

AI was supposed to do our chores while we write prose and compose symphonies. Why is it composing our music and writing our books now, while WE do the chores?

As software founders, we have a special responsibility — after all, we're the ones crafting a new reality of AI empowerment. But here's the thing: an AI does not love its work. It can't.

And that's a problem. Today, I'll dive into how we can solve this.

Oh, and before you get into it: Podscan is running a 30%-off Black Friday Deal — use "BLACKFRIDAY" during checkout for a full year of discount on any plan.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/love-is-for-those-who-love-the-work/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/358-love-is-for-those-who-love-the-work

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

357: (Free) Trial & Error

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I’ll dive into the difference between a trial user and a trial abuser and what you can do to invite the former and prevent the latter.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/free-trial-error/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/357-free-trial-error

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

356: James Phoenix — Mastering Code & AI for the Modern Developer

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Coding with AI changes everything. It changes how we design, test, and improve our software projects. Today, I’m talking to generative AI expert James Phoenix.

He’s written the book on prompt engineering and shares his hard-earned AI insights freely on the show — including a crash course in developing effectively with the Cursor IDE.

Are developers just AI wranglers now? Technical managers? Will we ever code again?

You’ll find out today.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/james-phoenix-mastering-code-ai-for-the-modern-developer/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/356-james-phoenix-mastering-code-ai-for-the-modern-developer

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

355: The Age of the Gatekeeper Is Over

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

YouTube is both the best and the worst source of information — because we can watch it all, but no one will tell us what's REALLY worth watching.

Here's how the gatekeepers have vanished, and what has taken their place.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-age-of-the-gatekeeper-is-over/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/355-the-age-of-the-gatekeeper-is-over

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

354: The Art of Productive Procrastination

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

The problem with having no boss is that there's no one to stop you from procrastinating.

I'm challenged by this daily, and I have found a few ways to stay accountable. I'll share those with you today.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-art-of-productive-procrastination/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/354-the-art-of-productive-procrastination

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

353: Podscan’s Dream Customer (Acquisition) Strategy

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

I want new prospects to receive the maximum possible value the moment they register for Podscan, so I treat them as customers before they even come to the page for the very first time.

Here's the Podscan Dream Customer strategy — from idea to execution.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podscans-dream-customer-acquisition-strategy/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/353-podscan-s-dream-customer-acquisition-strategy

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

352: Running Lean at Scale

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Yesterday, I shrunk the size of my production database from four terabytes to just under one terabyte.

Something interesting happened last weekend that made me realize I needed to change how I think about scale.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/running-lean-at-scale/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/352-running-lean-at-scale

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

351: From Overload to Opportunity

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

When a Podscan user got a bit "too general" with their keywords, all of a sudden, my email provider stopped sending emails.

Whoops.

Let's talk user error and founder foresight.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/from-overload-to-opportunity/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/351-from-overload-to-opportunity

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

350: Building Your Castle in Someone Else's Kingdom

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

SaaS founders are simultaneously tenants and landlords, renting the tools we need while offering our own services for subscription. It's a world where true ownership seems increasingly elusive, yet understanding its nature is crucial for building lasting value.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/building-your-castle-in-someone-elses-kingdom/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/350-building-your-castle-in-someone-elses-kingdom

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

349: Navigating Constraints as a Bootstrapper

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Bootstrapping is all about dealing with constraints: no money, the day job, lack of experience, and having no distribution. If you want to know how I tackle the restricted resources I am building Podscan on, this one's for you. Today, we'll dive into what drives my priorities and how they find their way into a complex platform that juggles a lot of expensive operations.

This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/navigating-constraints-as-a-bootstrapper/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/349-navigating-constraints-as-a-bootstrapper

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

348: Observability in Software Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

“I didn’t see it coming.” I had to admit that to myself a few times recently.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been experiencing several issues with Podscan that only came to pass because I didn't really have any observability on my system. At least that’s what I know now.

Today, let me share my early-stage learnings about system observability in this distributed, data-centric SaaS of mine. Even if you don't have a software business or don't operate with millions of data feeds every single day, there's still something insightful in here that I will, not just likely, but guaranteed, take into my future business efforts.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/observability-in-software-businesses/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/348-observability-in-software-businesses

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

347: The AI-Powered Solopreneur

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

AI is revolutionizing the way I work as a solopreneur. So why not share exactly how I use it?

You'll hear how I use AI tools for everything from coding to marketing, and how they've become my secret weapon for punching above my weight. I also get into the nitty-gritty of the challenges and limitations of AI, and how I navigate them. If you're curious about how AI can supercharge your solo business, this episode's got you covered.

And stick around for my thoughts on the future of AI in software development - I think you'll find it pretty exciting!

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-ai-powered-solopreneur/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/347-the-ai-powered-solopreneur

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

346: When Podcasts Attack: The Unexpected Challenges of External Data

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

It started with a minor refactoring. It ended with an avalanche that almost caused an infrastructure explosion. From code to collapse — and a few weeks of frantic restoration. That's what Podscan was for the last 2 weeks.

Here's why dealing with external data and its scale can be very dangerous for indie founders.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/when-podcasts-attack-the-unexpected-challenges-of-external-data/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/346-when-podcasts-attack-the-unexpected-challenges-of-external-data

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

345: Scrape or Be Scraped

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the weird world of web scraping in the AI age, where founders have to protect their data from hungry AI companies but also need to collect information from all kinds of (not so) public APIs.

Today, I dive into a particularly confusing situation I am in with Podscan when it comes to scraping and keeping the web free and open.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/crawl-or-be-crawled/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/345-scrape-or-be-scraped

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

344: Andrew Davies — The Power of a Merchant of Record

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Andrew Davies (@andjdavies) runs marketing for Paddle, the payment provider that powers several of my businesses. They also recently ran an AI launchpad accelerator, which massively impacted the trajectory of my business, Podscan. It's about time we chat more about money on the pod.

Today, I get to talk to Andrew about all things payment, why a Merchant of Record is something way too few bootstrappers leverage, and what the future holds for online payments.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/andrew-davies-the-power-of-a-merchant-of-record/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/343-andrew-davies-the-power-of-a-merchant-of-record

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

344: Should Indie Hackers Go to Tech Conferences?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

I gave up going to tech conferences. But that probably is an outdated opinion, particularly since as an entrepreneur, I benefit much more from hanging out with my peers.

Here's what changed and why you should really consider going to these events if you're an indie founder.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/should-indie-hackers-go-to-tech-conferences/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/344-should-indie-hackers-go-to-tech-conferences

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

342: The Evolution of Coding in the AI Era

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, instead of writing code, I delegated it — to AI. I've been doing this a lot lately.

But does that mean I am losing my ability to code? And what about people learning how to code? Is AI serving them, or does it block them from learning the real thing?

Here's what's happening in software development, if it's even worth bothering with, and what new coders should know about AI.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-evolution-of-coding-in-the-ai-era/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/the-evolution-of-coding-in-the-ai-era

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

341: Striking a Balance

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Feeling the weight of success can be just as challenging as the climb to get there. At any point during your journey, you're confronted with having to make choices where the outcome is uncertain.

I'm right in that position.

So let's dive into a balancing act between the grand vision and the minutiae of running a business.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/striking-a-balance/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/341-striking-a-balance

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

340: kerollmops — From Hackathon to Success: The Meilisearch Story

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

@kerollmops, the technical brain behind the open-source search engine Meilisearch, joins me for a nerdy chat about all things search.

I’ve been using this blazing fast tech for my own business, podscan, and kero has helped me through a few challenges over the last few weeks. I really want to dive into the economics of building a business on top of an open-source piece of software.

Let's chat about self-hosted search engines today!

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/kerollmops-from-hackathon-to-success-the-meilisearch-story/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/340-kerollmops-from-hackathon-to-success-the-meilisearch-story

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

339: Does Your SaaS Need a “User Tour?”

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Is it a good idea to guide your users through your app when they sign up? Or does it show that your interface is too convoluted?

The answer is: yes. Both. And it depends on what you're building, who it's for, and what they expect.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/does-your-saas-need-a-user-tour/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/339-does-your-saas-need-a-user-tour

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

338: “Working In” vs “Working On” the Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

I ran into a pretty substantial question this week.

Am I working in my business, or am I working on my business? I've been spending so much time building features, talking to customers, – it's operational work in the trenches. It’s taking small steps, looking at the ground, instead of dreaming of giant leaps while gazing at the stars.

So, what can I do to get out of this?

You'll hear it here today.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/working-in-vs-working-on-the-business/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/working-in-vs-working-on-the-business

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

337: Doing Things that Don’t Scale …Unintentionally

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

What happens when something that was good enough isn't good enough anymore?

Unscalable hands-on experiments work great in the early stages of a business. But what if you run into the scale problem without wanting to? (And what do you do about it when everything explodes while you figure it out?)

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/doing-things-that-dont-scale-unintentionally/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/337-doing-things-that-don-t-scale-unintentionally

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

336: The 7 Deadly Sins of Indie Hacking

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

`Indie Hackers have sinned. They allowed the seven deadly sins into their founder lives. And now we must cast them out.

Well, let's be a little bit less dramatic. We already have enough drama in our busy founder lives.

Still, something about the seven deadly sins translates pretty well into how many indie hackers comport themselves. Here's where we find greed, sloth, pride, wrath, envy, gluttony, and lust in the world of SaaS entrepreneurship. And, more importantly, how we can avoid them all.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-indie-hacking/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/336-the-7-deadly-sins-of-indie-hacking

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

335: Tipping Over

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

These last weeks have been a bit much.

What do they say? “Take a break before the break takes you?”

Well, I got quite close to that this week.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/tipping-over/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/355-tipping-over

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

334: Sincere, not Serious

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Do you want to win the game or keep on playing?

Today, I'll dive into a mentality shift I experienced recently while building Podscan: how about I just get rid of all the "professional posturing?"

Here's to being sincere and not being too serious!

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post :https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/sincere-not-serious/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/334-sincere-not-serious

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

333: Kitze — Juggling Projects, ADHD, and the Indie Hacker Lifestyle

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

@Kitze, a Serial indie hacker and entrepreneur, shares his journey through a landscape filled with multiple projects like Sizzy, a browser for developers, Benji, a productivity app, and a comprehensive full-stack video course.

Kitze opens up about how his ADHD diagnosis has shaped his work ethic and productivity, revealing the personal motivations behind creating tools like Benji. True indie hacker fashion: he built a tool that he needed for himself. And that kickstarted a lot of other things.

His candid anecdotes offer a rare glimpse into the life of a busy founder who constantly balances feature development, user experience design, and the demands of a growing user base.

00:00:00 Building Benji
00:03:42 Juggling Multiple Projects and Responsibilities
00:11:15 Founder's Dilemma
00:20:02 Navigating Founder-Investor Alignment
00:27:57 Marketing Strategies for Aspirational Products
00:33:41 Balancing Work-Life Priorities and Responsibilities

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/kitze-juggling-projects-adhd-and-the-indie-hacker-lifestyle/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/333-kitze-juggling-projects-adhd-and-the-indie-hacker-lifestyle

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

332: Beyond Small Bets — Embracing the Big Play

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

What happens when the 'small bets' strategy leads to a big win, and you're not prepared for it?

Well, you adapt! So that's what I'm working on this week: figuring out a way forward now that circumstances have shifted.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/beyond-small-bets-embracing-the-big-play/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/332-beyond-small-bets-embracing-the-big-play

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

331: Geoff Roberts — Playing the Long Game

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Geoff Roberts (@GeoffTRoberts) is the co-founder of Outseta, and he's halfway there, 7 years in. Outseta —the SaaS starter kit and the business behind it— is built and operated on a multi-decade timeline, and it's not been easy to achieve profitability. Geoff shares the ups and downs of a long and painful story; what it means to think and operate both in the here and now as well as focusing on the birds-eye view when it comes to bootstrapping a SaaS business.

We also dive into Outseta's choose-your-won adventure compensation model: a full-time salary of $210,000 for everyone with massive flexibility and choice.

Enjoy this conversation with a veteran of self-funded software.

00:00:00 Building a Platform for SaaS Businesses
00:11:39 The Journey of Building Outsetta
00:17:47 Founding Team Alignment and Bootstrapping
00:26:01 Revolutionizing Compensation and Company Culture

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/geoff-roberts-playing-the-long-game/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/333-geoff-roberts-playing-the-long-game

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

330: 50% New Users Overnight… and a Burning Server

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:00:25 -0400

This week was a duality of extremes for me. On one hand, I experienced an unprecedented growth spurt in my user numbers, while on the other hand, I stumbled into frustrating scarcity and infrastructure problems. That’s entrepreneurship for you: big wins while struggling to not lose control of the whole thing.

The juxtaposition of these two experiences in a single week was both challenging and enlightening. Today, I want to share the story of navigating the good and the bad simultaneously.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://tbf.fm/episodes/330-50-new-users-overnight-and-a-burning-server

The podcast episode: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/50-percent-new-users-overnight-and-a-burning-server

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

329: "AI For The Rest of Us"

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Generative AI used to be for early adopters. But now, Apple is bringing it to every iPhone. What does this mean for indie founders?

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-for-the-rest-of-us/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/329-ai-for-the-rest-of-us

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

328: Negotiating Bootstrapper Funding with Tyler Tringas

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

A few months ago, I raised a low 6-figure investment for Podscan. Here's the conversation between me and my investor, @tylertringas, that happened just before I signed the contract.

You usually don't get to listen in for one of those. Today, you will.

Tyler and I discuss how the Calm Company Fund navigates the alignment challenge between founders and investors, what makes a business like Podscan investable, and the risks of funding a portfolio of niche bootstrapped businesses.

Tyler on X: https://x.com/tylertringas

00:00:00 Bootstrapper-Compatible Funding
00:06:23 Profit Sharing and Standardizing Investment Agreements
00:12:53 Investor-Founder Alignment & Site Projects
00:22:30 Side Project Management in Investments
00:28:18 Early Stage Financing Investment Considerations
00:40:50 Valuation and Investment Strategy Art
00:48:19 Entrepreneurial Collaboration and Forward Planning

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/negotiating-bootstrapper-funding-with-tyler-tringas/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/328-negotiating-bootstrapper-funding-with-tyler-tringas

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

327: Two (Surprisingly Scary) Tales of Platform Risk

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, I almost lost access to my database, including all its backups. Also, a full-text index brought down my product. Neither were intended —obviously—, but both made me revisit my safety precautions and how I approach depending on platforms like AWS. Here's what happened, how I got out of there, and what there is to prevent this in the future.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/two-surprisingly-scary-tales-of-platform-risk/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/327-two-surprisingly-scary-tales-of-platform-risk

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

326: Zeno Rocha — From Bootstrapping to YCombinator

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Zeno Rocha (@zenorocha) went through YC to build Resend, yet he still acts and thinks like a bootstrapper. In a world of polarized opinions about venture funding and not raising money, Zeno is both "one of us" and "one of them" — for both sides!

Today, we talk about overcoming purism and embracing pragmatic entrepreneurship, starting with picking a niche Zeno truly understands: developers. We dive into how he's building an email platform that makes email fun again, what unexpected challenges a decade-old technology such as email can pose, and how to build a customer-centric business at scale.

Zeno is an indie hacker, and has always been. He embraces venture funding but without all the hype and unicorn-chasing. You'll learn a lot from someone walking the tightrope between worlds that usually collide. Enjoy a friendly conversation about email, extremes, and making your dreams come true.

Zeno on X: https://x.com/zenorocha

00:00:00 Building an Indie Email Company
00:08:48 Attention to Detail in Scaling
00:21:30 Finding the Right Funding Model
00:32:39 Building Developer Ecosystems and Partnerships

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/zeno-rocha-from-bootstrapping-to-ycombinator/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/326-zeno-rocha-from-bootstrapping-to-ycombinator

The video: https://youtu.be/-V6D1lXyVQU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

325: Indie Hackers’ Myopic View of AI

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 31 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

"Everyone and their mother are talking about AI. Every founder releases their 500th GPT wrapper."

"AI is all hype, no substance."

Or is it? What if our collective perspective is really skewed, and our gathering places are to blame? Here's my take on why indie hackers have a dangerously biased view on what AI businesses are and should look like.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/indie-hackers-myopic-view-of-ai/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/325-indie-hackers-myopic-view-of-ai

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

324: Tim Schumacher — The Bootstrapper's Mindset

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 29 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Tim Schumacher (@TimSchu), the mastermind behind SEDO and Adblock Plus, now leads the SaaS Group to new heights. With $60 million ARR, 20 thriving businesses, and 300 employees, Tim shares his incredible journey from a coder to an influential entrepreneur in scaling businesses.

From his strategic focus on developer and online marketing tools to his forward-thinking perspective on the role of AI in reshaping the industry, we dive deep into the bootstrapping mindset and how it empowers founders to build something extremely valuable that SaaS Group can keep running, growing, and creating life-changing exits at the same time.

Oh, and did you know that Tim almost bought my business?

Tim on Twitter: https://x.com/TimSchu

00:00:00 Private Equity and Business Growth Trends
00:12:34 Evaluating Niche Business Acquisitions
00:24:39 Acquisition and Growth Strategies in Business

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/tim-schumacher-the-bootstrappers-mindset/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/324-tim-schumacher-the-bootstrappers-mindset

The video: https://youtu.be/16MQT8hU7wY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Private Equity and Business Growth Trends
(12:34) - Evaluating Niche Business Acquisitions
(24:39) - Acquisition and Growth Strategies in Business

323: The Power of the Dream Customer List

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Today, you get a glimpse into an ongoing marketing experiment for Podscan.fm. What if I can frontload value for my future customers even before they sign up?

Here's why I chose to create a Dream Customer List and how it will help me jumpstart customer acquisition.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-power-of-the-dream-customer-list

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/323-the-power-of-the-dream-customer-list

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

322: Noah Kagan — Early Stage Founder Hurdles & How to Jump Them

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 22 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Noah Kagan (@noahkagan) has made AppSumo a massive success — and he's spilling the beans on how to launch, build, and grow a successful software business. Noah likes to keep things weird, and our conversation is proof of that: from Taco T-shirts to failing at entrepreneurship, we walk through the ups and down of a wild and intriguing founder journey.

If you're looking for guidance that actually helps you find your footing, Noah's your man.

00:00:00 Lessons From Noah Kagan's Entrepreneurial Journey
00:12:54 Overcoming Fear of Asking for Help
00:17:56 Importance of Asking and Repeating Messaging
00:26:25 Business Development and Patience in Entrepreneurship
00:30:26 Entrepreneurial Insights on Book Launches
00:37:07 Building Relationships for Business Growth

Noah on Twitter: https://x.com/noahkagan

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/noah-kagan-early-stage-founder-hurdles-how-to-jump-them

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/322-noah-kagan-early-stage-founder-hurdles-how-to-jump-them

The video: https://youtu.be/MolxsU1csKc

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

321: Unexpected Downtime: Stress as Enhancement vs. Stress as Panic

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

It started as a normal day — but then things started going wrong. And my stress levels rose.

But I recently learned how to use that to my advantage. Here's how I wrangled with a SaaS founder's worst nightmare, what happened, and how I turned the tables.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/unexpected-downtime-stress-as-enhancement-vs-stress-as-panic

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/321-unexpected-downtime-stress-as-enhancement-vs-stress-as-panic

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

320: Dr. Jessica Gold — Emotional Resilience and Self-Care for Founders

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 15 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Dr. Jessica Gold (@blissscience) helps founders live an intentional and passionate life — which ultimately impacts their entrepreneurial success. She wants to put intentional self-care back on the map in a field obsessed with productivity and tracking metrics.

In our conversation, we dive deep into vulnerable places: from romance, passion, and love to dealing with stressful interpersonal conflicts. Dr. Jessica exposes the do-it-(for)-yourself frameworks that can help founders to stay level-headed when challenges seem insurmountable.

Dr. Jessica Gold on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blissscience

(00:00) Navigating Business and Personal Relationships
(12:28) Balancing Work and Pleasure in Founding
(18:04) Balancing Work and Pleasure for Success
(28:00) Importance of Body-Informed Therapy

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dr-jessica-gold-emotional-resilience-and-self-care-for-founders/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/320-dr-jessica-gold-emotional-resilience-and-self-care-for-founders

The video: https://youtu.be/-3MGGrldnIM

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

319: My SaaS Server Exploded (& How I Salvaged It)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Earlier this week, I finally found time to work on a large code change. When I deployed it, things got worse quickly. Here's what happened, why it happened, and how this changed my approach to working on a complicated software project.

One thing became apparent: while it may look like a waste of time to build something and revert back to "yesterday's version", I got massively interesting insights into my product and my process along the way.

So today, we'll talk about setbacks, getting back up again, and how we can judo a failure into making progress.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/my-saas-server-exploded-how-i-salvaged-it/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/319-my-saas-server-exploded-how-i-salvaged-it

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

318: Louie Bacaj — Betting Small to Win Big

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 08 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Louie Bacaj (@LBacaj), once a Walmart engineer, made a bold career shift into the unpredictable world of venture capitalism and entrepreneurship. Now a co-leader of a thriving community for bootstrapped entrepreneurs, Louie reveals how the 'small bets' philosophy guides individuals toward financial freedom and fulfillment. Together with Daniel Vassallo, he has created a unique space that thrives on exclusivity and practicality, challenging the traditional go-big-or-go-home mentality.

Reflecting on our shared transition from engineer to entrepreneur, we explore how small yet strategic side projects, a safety net of real estate investments, and the monetization of expertise can provide a mosaic of possibilities for those on the verge of leaving their day jobs.

Join us as we uncover how integrating AI tools like GPT and Claude Opus helps our community members elevate content creation and make a difference. With inspiration from Sam Walton's step-by-step success, we see how impactful small bets can be. This journey isn't just about building businesses—it's about creating lives that align with our values. Tune in to hear great stories, strategies, and successes!

00:00:00 From Engineer to Entrepreneur

00:11:43 Transition From Engineering to Entrepreneurship

00:20:27 Diverse Business Strategies and AI Implementation

00:25:31 Advancing AI in Business Operations

00:31:25 Building Success Through Small Bets

00:39:48 Supporting Founder's Podcast and Books

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/louie-bacaj-betting-small-to-win-big/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/318-louie-bacaj-betting-small-to-win-big

The video: https://youtu.be/-c_Nh5_RbTg

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

317: Podscan, 2 months and $1k MRR in

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

It's been two months of running Podscan at full speed.

Have I spent 6 figures of money yet? Well, you'll see in this week's update :)

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podscan-2-months-and-1k-mrr-in/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/317-podscan-2-months-and-1k-mrr-in

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

316: Marybeth Alexander — Knowledgebase Secrets

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 01 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Marybeth Alexander is the Chief Executive Owl at KnowledgeOwl, a SaaS that focuses on providing the most impactful knowledgebase you could possibly have. We talk about using knowledge management systems outside their "usual" domain of customer service: Marybeth teaches how you can employ a KB for marketing, sales, and even internal documentation purposes.

We also tackle the topic of AI in knowledge management, how extremely simple pricing can be a growth lever, and we dive into the sustainability practices of a B-corp.

It's a ... knowledge-packed episode!

00:00:00 Tools and Scope in Customer Service

00:09:14 Utilizing AI and Knowledge Bases

00:14:12 Importance of Documentation in Software

00:21:31 The Future of Knowledge Management

00:27:11 AI Tools and Data Compliance Integration

00:35:42 Intentional Growth Strategy and Business Model

00:41:21 Building a Purpose-Driven Business

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/marybeth-alexander-knowledgebase-secrets/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/316-marybeth-alexander-knowledgebase-secrets

The video: https://youtu.be/glMBIhxH-rY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

315: MicroConf Atlanta — My Biggest Learnings

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

I went to MicroConf 2024 in Atlanta — here is what I learned. Literally. My brain just absorbed this. I recorded this episode minutes after waking up the day after the conference.

And if you're wondering why my voice is so deep: I've been yelling SaaS stuff at nerds for 3 days straight.

Enjoy.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/microconf-atlanta-my-biggest-learnings/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/315-microconf-atlanta-my-biggest-learnings

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

314: Nicolai Klemke — Switching Lanes: Physics PhD to Indie Hacker

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Nicolai Klemke (@nicolaiklemke) is an Indie Hacker with a PhD in Physics. Talk about a career change! Nicolai shares his founder journey from learning how to code to making waves in the music industry.

We chat about carving out a niche in the bustling AI market, honing in on a customer segment that has a need (and a budget!), and building a team to turn a hobby into a profitable business.

Nicolai on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolaiklemke

00:00:00 Indie Hacker Journey to AI Product
00:11:15 Impact of Niche Market in AI
00:16:03 Building Teams and Hiring Strategies
00:24:20 Building Business Networks and Support
00:32:20 Building Connections, Micro Features, and Growth
00:40:24 The Future of Synthesizers
00:48:01 Support the Bootstrap Founder Show

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/nicolai-klemke-switching-lanes-physics-phd-to-indie-hacker/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/314-nicolai-klemke

The video: https://youtu.be/s6j3y9SIzXc

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

313: Challenges of Offering an API

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

When you sell access to an API, what should you keep in mind? How would you protect your data but still make it easy to use? What product and legal repercussions does this all have?

Those are questions I asked myself this week. And today, you get to listen to the process of exploring them and the answers I found.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/challenges-of-offering-an-api/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/313-challenges-of-offering-an-api

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

312: Aaron Francis — You're FIRED!

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Aaron Francis (@aarondfrancis) lost his job and gained a new outlook on life — or rather, he stepped into entrepreneurship for good. Aaron weighed his options, found old friends who were ready for new adventures and finally took the plunge that his supportive audience wanted to see him take.

Building his platform in public got him here. The skills he developed along the way keep the customers coming. So, where will this journey take him?

Aaron will share his approach, his fears, his hopes, and his strategy with you here today. And he's trying really hard ;)

Aaron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarondfrancis/

00:00:00 Navigating Layoffs and Entrepreneurship Journey

00:12:06 Building a Genuine Online Community

00:19:48 The Power of Authentic Storytelling

00:28:39 Try Hard Studios Video Production

00:33:01 Navigating the Galaxy Quadrant Theory

00:40:34 Navigating Career Paths Through Exploration

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/aaron-francis-youre-fired/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/312-aaron-francis-youre-fired

The video: https://youtu.be/mzSW6ALsmgY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Navigating Layoffs and Entrepreneurship Journey
(12:06) - Building a Genuine Online Community
(19:48) - The Power of Authentic Storytelling
(28:39) - Try Hard Studios Video Production
(33:01) - Navigating the Galaxy Quadrant Theory
(40:34) - Navigating Career Paths Through Exploration

311: Finding my Ideal Customer Profile

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, I share my journey to finding Ideal Customer Profile — live on air. In this episode, I share my framework for determining who I will build for, market to, and sell to. I have a few candidate, and I work through my steps to find the right one for Podscan.fm.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/finding-my-ideal-customer-profile/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/311-finding-my-ideal-customer-profile

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

310: Jessica Malnik — How to Communicate as an Indie Hacker

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Jessica Malnik (@jessicamalnik) deeply understands how remote work has changed the world of marketing and running a business. And fortunately, she's sharing her knowledge.

In fact, we talk a lot about how to communicate right: with your customers, with your market, and even with your globally distributed remote employees. From preventing coworker burnout to customer engagement strategies and hiring for fractional roles, Jessica shares her valuable insights.

And if you ever wondered how an introvert should approach talking to people (for "fun" and profit), this episode is for you.

Jessica on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessicamalnik

00:00:00 Remote Work Evolution and Fractional Marketing
00:07:24 Hiring Strategy and Writing Insights
00:13:44 Utilizing AI in Writing and SEO
00:17:11 Effective Marketing Strategy for Startups
00:21:17 Customer Conversations and Marketing Strategy
00:32:45 Mental Health in Remote Work
00:37:40 Understanding Cultural Communication in Business

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jessica-malnik-how-to-communicate-as-an-indie-hacker/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/310-jessica-malnik-how-to-communicate-as-an-indie-hacker

The video: https://youtu.be/90B_SWDV0_o

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

309: Funded!

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Big news! Podscan.fm, my B2B SaaS that alerts you when your keywords or topics are mentioned in any podcast anywhere, has received bootstrapper-aligned funding from Calm Company Fund.

Booya!

I share why I, ever the solopreneur bootstrapper, said yes to venture money, what that enables, what risks I see, and just exactly how this kind of non-crazy funding works.

Calm Company SEAL: https://calmfund.com/shared-earnings-agreement
Calm Company 5-year learnings: https://calmfund.com/writing/five-years
Calm Company SAFE: https://calmfund.com/writing/shared-earnings-safe

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/funded/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/309-funded

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

308: Michael Taylor — Prompt Engineering for Fun & Profit

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Mike Taylor (@hammer_mt) literally wrote the book on Prompt Engineering. He paints a vivid picture of a future where generative AI could make our traditional databases look like ancient relics, and the role of developers shifts dramatically. Instead of crafting code, they could be steering the helm of AI-generated software, potentially dealing with the whims of a virtual 'petulant child.'

Our chat pushes us to ponder the changing value of code and the skills that will matter in the face of technology's relentless march forward. What does it mean that we are providing the training data for AI systems with every click and every word we type? Are we working for the machine? Is the machine working for us?

What do authorship and ownership look like in this future? Tune in to learn from someone who has their finger on the digital pulse of an industry that changes every day.

00:00:00 The Future of AI and Coding
00:09:29 Ethical Engineering Certifications and Implications
00:17:44 Testing and Optimizing AI Models
00:27:32 Ethics and Future of AI Development
00:39:14 Future of AI and Writing Books
00:44:19 Approaching AI in Book Writing
00:56:18 Support and Subscribe for More Growth

Mike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hammer_mt
The Complete Prompt Engineering for AI Bootcamp (2024) on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/share/108qiI3@nx4J1RlPgttwJptgsZlaNemKN-wBYhGJmxVa4txcnDmUVgvwNTZKf4TTWimfnTdUvw==/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/michael-taylor-prompt-engineering-for-fun-profit/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/308-michael-taylor-prompt-engineering-for-fun-profit

The video: https://youtu.be/QeMuUjGaSUw

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

307: Addressing my Weaknesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

I’m a pretty okay developer, but when it comes to marketing and sales, I really need help. And for the longest time, I’ve held myself back.

That ends today.

My current SaaS business, Podscan, is at a point where some very important decisions need to be made. I’ve got something quite big in the works, and I’ll be talking about this next week in much more detail, but it made me think about the long-term needs a business like mine has, how I can personally fulfill them, and where I have skill gaps that I will have to work on.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/addressing-my-weaknesses/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/307-addressing-my-weaknesses

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

306: Johannes Radig — Traveling the World and Raising Prices

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Johannes Radig (@joradig) runs a SaaS from the Canary Islands — the most recent stop on a globe-spanning digital nomad trip. Johannes and I chat about building a software business for agencies, how hard it is to find just the right prices, and what traditional marketing efforts can do for indie hackers.

We dive into Leadsie, the social media onboarding SaaS he co-founded, and how it is built as a calm and profitable business.

Also, we both grew up in the same city. And now we live on opposites sides of the world. Here's two indie hackers catching up:

Johannes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/joradig

00:00:00 The Voyage

00:10:34 Entrepreneurial Journey and Startup Shift

00:24:06 Pricing Strategy for Startup Growth

00:29:57 Entrepreneurial Risk Assessment and Platform Stacking

00:40:42 Building Relationships Through Job Needs

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/johannes-radig-traveling-the-world-and-raising-prices/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/306-johannes-radig-traveling-the-world-and-raising-prices

The video: https://youtu.be/QDk2rbr72sk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

305: AI Hype — The Straight Line Bias and the Fear of not Keeping Up

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

“If this tech keeps developing as fast as it does right now, will I ever be able to catch up?” is a question on my mind and the minds of many founders I’ve been talking to recently.

So, what about AI should we focus on? Where will this tech slow down, where will it speed up even more, and what should we focus on for our businesses?

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-hype-the-straight-line-bias-and-the-fear-of-not-keeping-up/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/305-ai-hype-the-straight-line-bias-and-the-fear-of-not-keeping-up

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

304: Tyler Tringas — Investing in Bootstrapped SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Tyler Tringas (@tylertringas) invests in bootstrapped businesses. Wait… Aren't those supposed to NOT take investment money? What's going on here?

Alignment is what's going on. Where traditional VC's often have very different goals from founders, funds like Tyler's Calm Company Fund focus on helping niche software businesses that don't chase hypergrowth. Instead, Tyler supports those who want to build calm and profitable ventures. You know, the regular kind of business. The one that focuses on making money.

In our chat, we dive into how bootstrapping and investment go together, how a fund manager makes investment decisions, why NoCode is a massive business accelerator and how the Calm Fund has adapted over its 5-year history.

Tyler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tylertringas

00:00:00 Sustainable Businesses With Calm Company Fund
00:07:53 Rethinking Valuations and Company Building
00:18:04 Investment Strategy and Sustainability
00:25:33 Challenges and Opportunities in Fund Mentoring
00:29:31 Challenges of Saying No to Founders
00:34:36 Investor Alignment and Profit Sharing
00:44:51 Exploring AI and No-Code Tools
00:51:10 Navigating the Future of Calm Companies

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/tyler-tringas-investing-in-bootstrapped-saas/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/304-tyler-tringas-investing-in-bootstrapped-saas

The video: https://youtu.be/K-TZXmN2kJs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

303: How I Deal with Investment Offers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Ever since I started building Podscan in public, I’ve received a lot of attention.

And it’s been spectacular: I’ve found early users, prospects, customers, and cheerleaders.

Apparently, when people see something get traction, they want to be a part of it. Besides the much welcome support on social media, this has also resulted in a few offers that go beyond monthly subscription revenue. Today, I want to share with you how I think about collaborating with people, taking investment, and growing the team.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-i-deal-with-investment-offers/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/303-how-i-deal-with-investment-offers

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

302: Nick Groeneveld — Speaking the Language of your Customers

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Nick Groeneveld (@ToolboxOfDesign) understands that design isn't about gadgets, widgets, or buttons. For Nick, design is understanding the needs, desires, and expectations of those you aim to serve. We chat about talking to your customers, what common mistakes indie hackers make when thinking about "design", and just how much more UX means than web interfaces.

Nick is ALSO the guy behind my interview videos and thumbnails! He's the producer of The Bootstrapped Founder, really. We talk about how freelancing and working with a media partner works, how he juggles his financials, and what lifestyle he aims for.

Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToolboxOfDesign

00:00:00 Designing for the User Experience

00:09:34 Managing Feature Creep and Simplifying UX

00:16:15 User-Centric Design and Business Growth

00:25:48 Evolving UX Design Services

00:33:12 Limiting Clientele for Meaningful Work

00:36:51 Building a Lifestyle Work Balance

00:50:01 Supporting Bootswap Founder on Multiple Platforms

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/nick-groeneveld-speaking-the-language-of-your-customers/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/302-nick-groeneveld-speaking-the-language-of-your-customers

The video: https://youtu.be/mCH_qEHgK0Y

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Designing for the User Experience
(09:34) - Managing Feature Creep and Simplifying UX
(16:15) - User-Centric Design and Business Growth
(25:48) - Evolving UX Design Services
(33:12) - Limiting Clientele for Meaningful Work
(36:51) - Building a Lifestyle Work Balance
(50:01) - Supporting Bootswap Founder on Multiple Platforms

301: Podscan, One Month In (MRR, Expenses, Marketing Tactics)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Do you like revenue and expense numbers? I've been running my new SaaS podscan.fm for a month now. And today, I share all the facts and figures behind this first four weeks — the good, the undecided, and the bad.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/301-podscan-one-month-in-mrr-expenses-marketing-tactics

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

300: Marc Louvion — Becoming a Product Launch Beast

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Marc Louvion (@marc_louvion) is the Maker of the Year 2023 and the visionary behind the innovative ShipFast. His product development philosophy emphasizes rapid shipping and focusing on feature-specific builds, which has transformed his approach to creating tech products. Utilizing platforms like ProductHunt for launches, Marc highlights the importance of pre-validation and community feedback in fine-tuning his products, illustrating his strategic and responsive methodology to product creation.

In our insightful conversation —that at some point turns into a founder brainstorming session— Marc delves into the emotional nuances of creators who navigate various expressive avenues, from entrepreneurship to writing, and then returning to coding. His journey with ShipFast showcases the blend of strategic foresight and serendipity crucial for digital market success, alongside the continuous process of innovation. The discussion dive into the intricacies of building a community around a product, the challenges of SaaS businesses, and the significance of maintaining a work-life balance that incorporates personal interests, which in turn fosters a lifestyle that integrates personal well-being with technological advancement.

Marc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marc_louvion

00:00:00 Building and Launching

00:07:54 Building Startups, Creating Magic, Finding Success

00:13:41 Building a Community Around a Product

00:26:08 Building a Software Community Platform

00:32:25 Balancing Work and Life as Founders

00:41:43 Sharing Hobbies and Life Reflections

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/marc-louvion-becoming-a-product-launch-beast/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/300-marc-louvion-becoming-a-product-launch-beast

The video: https://youtu.be/yFy1n1TPWNM

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Building and Launching
(07:54) - Building Startups, Creating Magic, Finding Success
(13:41) - Building a Community Around a Product
(26:08) - Building a Software Community Platform
(32:25) - Balancing Work and Life as Founders
(41:43) - Sharing Hobbies and Life Reflections

299: Adversarial Thinking in Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Sometimes, pondering what your worst enemy would do is a good idea. Taking their point of view gives you a fresh perspective on your own work, your business, and the way you are perceived.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/adversarial-thinking-in-entrepreneurship/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/299-adversarial-thinking-in-entrepreneurship

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

298: Sharath Kuruganty — Letting Go Isn't Quitting

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Sharath Kuruganty (@5harath) is not only a successful software entrepreneur and podcast host, but he's also open about the tough times he's faced, like losing his job while buying a home and having a baby. Sharath talks about the importance of being grateful, loving yourself, and understanding that life is short. He tells us how staying humble has helped him through tough times.

Sharath's story is especially powerful if you've ever felt like you had to change who you are to fit in. He explains how the culture in which he grew up made him chase respect and success in ways that weren't always true to himself.

But he learned that being real not only makes you happier but also draws people to you.

Sharath's journey into podcasting shows that even introverts can find their voice and audience in today's digital world. His experiences encourage everyone to be themselves and find their unique place in the podcasting community.

Sharath on Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harath/

00:00:00 Striking a Balance in Entrepreneurship
00:08:13 The Power of Authenticity in Public
00:16:18 Building Skills and Mindset for Success
00:28:08 Improvement, Self-Awareness, and Podcasting for Founders
00:36:02 Building Personal Brands Through Podcasting

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/sharath-kuruganty-letting-go-isnt-quitting/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/298-sharath-kuruganty-letting-go-isnt-quitting

The video: https://youtu.be/99dD-rCLH-s

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Striking a Balance in Entrepreneurship
(08:13) - The Power of Authenticity in Public
(16:18) - Building Skills and Mindset for Success
(28:08) - Improvement, Self-Awareness, and Podcasting for Founders
(36:02) - Building Personal Brands Through Podcasting

297: Payment Platforms for Solopreneurs

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Making money is hard. But even TAKING money takes some careful decision-making. Let's dive into payment platforms for solopreneurs today. Between Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy (and then some), we have plenty of choices. But what matters most to people who already juggle 14 different jobs? I'll share what makes these platforms great, useful, and occasionally problematic for indie founders.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/payment-platforms-for-solopreneurs/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/297-payment-platforms-for-solopreneurs

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

296: Yong-Soo Chung — Surviving Serial Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Yong-Soo Chung (@yongsoochung) is a champion of the Personal Holding Company: he owns several businesses, a media company, eCommerce, and a service provider among them. How does one stay sane with that much work in such diverse fields? He shares his survival framework and much more on the show today.

I talk to Yong-Soo about hiring the right people to operate your business once it's outgrown you, if he would ever sell his money-making assets, and just how important it is to have your own distinct voice in a world full of best practices.

Looking to hire an operator for your business? Start a few more companies? Become better at juggling multiple hats? This one is for you!

Yong-Soo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yongsoochung

00:00:00 Juggling Multiple Passion-Based Businesses

00:14:26 Building and Nurturing Exceptional Talent

00:20:55 Lessons Learned From Starting Projects

00:30:23 Exploring Audio-First and Video Formats

00:35:16 Podcast and Newsletter Strategy Optimization

00:45:47 Navigating Social Media Self-Identity

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/yong-soo-chung-surviving-serial-entrepreneurship/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/296-yong-soo-chung-surviving-serial-entrepreneurship

The video: https://youtu.be/Q9oQdvSxZXs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Juggling Multiple Passion-Based Businesses
(14:26) - Building and Nurturing Exceptional Talent
(20:55) - Lessons Learned From Starting Projects
(30:23) - Exploring Audio-First and Video Formats
(35:16) - Podcast and Newsletter Strategy Optimization
(45:47) - Navigating Social Media Self-Identity

295: Forever Business or Exit?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Many indie hackers and solopreneurs have a big exit as their primary goal. That
might be because of the money, but also because of a business’ limited life
span. But is there something like a ‘forever business’?

If so, what do you have to keep in mind here?

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/forever-business-or-exit/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/295-forever-business-or-exit

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

294: RoxCodes — Building Dreams and Letting Go

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Rox (@RoxCodes) recently sold his SaaS thumbnailtest.com. But he's pretty conflicted about the sale. What was promised to be a moment of joy and celebration quickly turned into doubt, grief, and confusion.

Today, I talk to my friend Rox about the emotional complexity of giving up something you hold dear, how to move forward, and what it means to level up even further after a successful exit. Rox opens up and talks candidly about the weight on his shoulders, the pressure, and the expectations.

"Surrender" is the operative term here. If you ever wondered just how nuanced the sale of a business can be and how a founder has to struggle their way through it, this one's for you.

Rox on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoxCodes

00:00:00 Founder Talks Acquisition and Business Surrender
00:08:07 Choosing Potential in San Francisco
00:13:04 Building Creator-Led Software
00:25:13 Building a Software Entrepreneurship With Creators
00:30:12 Challenges of Building a Public Persona
00:44:41 Emotional Toll of Selling a Business
00:51:42 Navigating Challenges, Building Next Venture

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/roxcodes-building-dreams-and-letting-go/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/294-roxcodes-building-dreams-and-letting-go

The video: https://youtu.be/OG7ExrERbuY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Founder Talks Acquisition and Business Surrender
(08:07) - Choosing Potential in San Francisco
(13:04) - Building Creator-Led Software
(25:13) - Building a Software Entrepreneurship With Creators
(30:12) - Challenges of Building a Public Persona
(44:41) - Emotional Toll of Selling a Business
(51:42) - Navigating Challenges, Building Next Venture

293: Local AI

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Today I discuss how I've developed my own advanced AI, moving away from relying on external platforms. I've managed to evolve the Podscan system from basic alerts to being capable of answering complex questions, all thanks to using llama.cpp and Mistral 7b on my own servers.

This approach has given me complete control over our technology and made our project more attractive to potential buyers. By leveraging open-source tools, I've minimized our dependency on other platforms and improved our competitive position.

And it's because of thousands of people working on this for free that I get to do this. The community support for llama.cpp on GitHub has been a testament to the collaborative effort behind this advancement. This episode celebrates the bold initiatives taken by these awesome developers and entrepreneurs in the AI space, and you'll learn how managing AI in-house can revolutionize a small but powerful software venture.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/local-ai-for-software-founders/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/293-local-ai

Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm
Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

292: Josh Pigford — The Open-Source Transformation of Maybe

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Josh Pigford (@shpigford), who created Maybe and Baremetrics, talks about bringing his financial tool back to life by making it open-source!

This has sparked surprisingly high levels of interest and even investment.

Within two weeks.

In our chat, we delve into the challenge of building a platform that simplifies financial data, similar to how Zapier simplifies automation, all under public scrutiny. The goal? A community-supported plugin system and a customizable personal finance operating system for every life stage. Josh also discusses considering changing the technology behind his project to Rails, weighing the pros and cons of different tech choices, and the reasons people contribute to open-source projects.

Josh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shpigford

00:00:00 Building Maybe
00:10:44 Standardizing Financial Data Integration
00:16:40 Choosing Tech for a Development Project
00:24:37 Bootstrapping and Funding Open-Source Projects
00:33:13 Motivation and Fulfillment in Helping Others
00:38:04 Open Source Software and Long-Term Goals

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/josh-pigford-the-open-source-transformation-of-maybe/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/292-josh-pigford-the-open-source-transformation-of-maybe

The video: https://youtu.be/wq1qYUxUxag

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

291: To Pivot or Not to Pivot

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Join me as I dive into a crucial choice every entrepreneur faces, balancing what excites us with what makes sense. This week, a voicemail made me deeply think about my projects, Podline and Podscan. One's a service for podcast voicemails, and the other scans podcast content.

The message brought up a common challenge for founders: the pull towards starting something new versus sticking with what you've already built. Together, let's explore how I deal with staying focused, the lure of new chances, and often, what guides many of our choices in business: the chance to make money.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/to-pivot-or-not-to-pivot/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/291-to-pivot-or-not-to-pivot

Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

290: Spencer Patterson — Mastering Market Niches and Startup Growth

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Spencer Patterson (@SpencePatterson) is a former financial advisor turned tech entrepreneur, who transformed his non-technical background into a $3.5 million SaaS triumph. Spencer shares his journey from navigating failed ideas to creating a platform generating $140K in monthly revenue with 6 million users. His experience offers a blueprint for marketing MVPs, team-building on a budget, and balancing tech with customer service in a startup.

Spencer also reveals his plans to build a YouTube community for founders, sharing knowledge and insights on AI, avoiding common pitfalls, and supporting indie hackers. Don't miss this episode, where Spencer's story serves as both a lesson in startup growth and a vision for future SaaS community development.

Spencer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpencePatterson

00:00:00 Founder's Journey to Building Successful SaaS
00:07:21 Marketing and Hiring Challenges for Startups
00:14:14 Customer Service and Time Management
00:23:42 Founders Helping Each Other on YouTube
00:27:08 Discussing Startup Strategies and Media Impact
00:37:10 Evaluating AI Advice and Avoiding Replication
00:48:32 Building a Community for Indie Hackers

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/spencer-patterson-mastering-market-niches-and-startup-growth/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/290-spencer-patterson-mastering-market-niches-and-startup-growth

The video: https://youtu.be/ncACSAapc_c

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Founder's Journey to Building Successful SaaS
(07:21) - Marketing and Hiring Challenges for Startups
(14:14) - Customer Service and Time Management
(23:42) - Founders Helping Each Other on YouTube
(27:08) - Discussing Startup Strategies and Media Impact
(37:10) - Evaluating AI Advice and Avoiding Replication
(48:32) - Building a Community for Indie Hackers

289: Rethinking the Creator Economy

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

The "creator economy" is a dream of self-fulfillment and freedom for many. But once you're in it, it can quickly look bleak.

Today, I dive into a world where everyone tells you to be consistent and trust the process. Let's examine the tension between creativity and attention.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/rethinking-the-creator-economy/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/289-rethinking-the-creator-economy

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

288: Thibault Louis-Lucas — Selling a $10M SaaS and Building Another One

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Thibault Louis-Lucas (@tibo_maker), or Tibo for short, is the indie hacker and innovator behind successful ventures like TweetHunter and Taplio — which he sold for over $10M!

In this episode, we unravel Thibault's thrilling journey from the joys of product creation to the intricacies of selling a business on the global stage. He shares his strategies for tripling revenue post-acquisition, the pivotal role of community engagement, and his candid insights on AI risks, nomadic lifestyles, and the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned developer, join us for an enlightening conversation that's as much a masterclass in the art of SaaS as it is a celebration of community and adaptability in the digital age.

Tibo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tibo_maker

00:00:00 Building Products
00:17:22 Building Stable Efficient Software Product
00:24:59 AI Risks and Nomadic Lifestyle Discussion
00:33:52 Video Content for Indie Hackers
00:41:31 Building in Public, Power of Feedback

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/thibault-louis-lucas-selling-a-10m-saas-and-building-another-one/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/288-thibault-louis-lucas-selling-a-10m-saas-and-building-another-one

The video: https://youtu.be/csp6vI8lKt4

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Building Products
(17:22) - Building Stable Efficient Software Product
(24:59) - AI Risks and Nomadic Lifestyle Discussion
(33:52) - Video Content for Indie Hackers
(41:31) - Building in Public, Power of Feedback

287: White Glove Onboarding

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

How can you provide white-glove customer service if you don't even know what it looks like? That —and a few very exciting development with my recent SaaS project(s?!)— will be what I want to share with you today.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/white-glove-onboarding/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/287-white-glove-onboarding

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

286: Asia Orangio — Crafting a Growth Blueprint for Emerging Startups

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Asia Orangio (@AsiaOrangio), CEO of Demand Maven, joins me as we dive into the world of customer discovery and (go-to) market strategies. We'll discuss real-life examples, like a Gantt chart tool maker who grew their business through customer feedback. This episode is a practical guide on balancing passion with profit and tackling early-stage marketing and growth challenges.

And if you kinda suck at surveys, this one is for you.

In our conversation, Asia and I unravel the importance of customer interviews and debunk the myth that customers aren't willing to share their thoughts. We also explore key decisions in scaling a business, from expanding your audience to smart hiring choices. Whether you're just starting or already on your entrepreneurial journey, this episode offers valuable insights into maintaining a consistent customer base and steering your business's marketing strategy.

Asia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsiaOrangio
Asia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asiaorangio/

00:00:00 Early Stage Marketing and Growth Challenges
00:12:37 Overcoming Inhibition to Conduct Customer Interviews
00:18:21 Considering Go-to Market and Freemium Strategies
00:30:17 Navigating Audience Expansion and Maintaining Consistency
00:36:24 Hiring and Building a Team
00:46:19 First Hire Selection and Fractional Hires

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/asia-orangio-crafting-a-growth-blueprint-for-emerging-startups/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/286-asia-orangio-crafting-a-growth-blueprint-for-emerging-startups

The video: https://youtu.be/tQaf64794lw

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Early Stage Marketing and Growth Challenges
(12:37) - Overcoming Inhibition to Conduct Customer Interviews
(18:21) - Considering Go-to Market and Freemium Strategies
(30:17) - Navigating Audience Expansion and Maintaining Consistency
(36:24) - Hiring and Building a Team
(46:19) - First Hire Selection and Fractional Hires

285: Voices of Influence: How Expert Feedback Shapes SaaS Success

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

What's more important? Impact or Influence? Or does one facilitate the other?

You'll learn what makes niche influence so valuable in an episode where I am briefly joined by a founder celebrity who has an opinion about a question I asked last week.

Throughout their reply, you'll find out just why influencing has very little to do with taking selfies.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/voices-of-influence-how-expert-feedback-shapes-saas-success/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/285-voices-of-influence-how-expert-feedback-shapes-saas-success

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

284: Kasey Jones — The Art of Strategic Self-Revelation in the Digital Age

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Kasey Jones (@ABetterJones) is a maven in the realm of authentic online identity.

As an entrepreneur who has weathered the storm of digital exposure, Kasey joins me to dismantle the barriers of vulnerability and self-doubt that so often plague professionals as they carve their space in the social media landscape.

In a world where sharing too little leaves you invisible and sharing too much can overwhelm, Kasey walks me through the art of strategic self-revelation. If you're grappling with imposter syndrome or hesitant to share your personal journey for professional impact, this conversation is for you. Kasey opens up about her own highs and lows, including a failed NFT project, to showcase the transformative power of embracing our entire narrative online.

Tune in for an episode that promises to embolden you to craft a personal brand that resonates with authenticity, fosters community, and propels personal growth.

Kasey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ABetterJones

00:00:00 Overcoming Fear, Building Personal Platform
00:07:42 Social Media
00:19:18 Sharing Lessons and Vulnerability on Social Media
00:29:11 Recognizing Failure, Healing, and Vulnerability
00:36:49 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Growth
00:41:12 Building Relationships and Sharing Unique Experiences

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/kasey-jones-the-art-of-strategic-self-revelation-in-the-digital-age/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/284-kasey-jones-the-art-of-strategic-self-revelation-in-the-digital-age

The video: https://youtu.be/ILpRrH0bpHo

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

283: Business Validation Traps

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Founders often listen to the wrong signals when validating their businesses. Let's dive into common validation traps today.

I see three major traps indie hackers have to face: 1) confusing users with customers, 2) getting a bit too much support from our founder peers, and 3) listening to the wrong segments of our user base.

Why do we listen to the wrong people? Founder optimism! We have a built-in confirmation bias — otherwise, we'd never do something as stupid as building our own business... Here's why we fall prey to it, how it works, and how we can escape the trap.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/business-validation-traps/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/283-business-validation-traps

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

282: Kevon Cheung — Embracing Vulnerability in Startup Culture

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Kevon Cheung (@MeetKevon) is an expert builder-in-public. The moment his life pivoted with the birth of his daughter is where our conversation begins, and it's a profound one. As we traverse Kevon's journey, we uncover the raw intricacies of aligning one's personal mission with one's entrepreneurial spirit. He bares the soul of his SaaS venture, giving us a real-world look at the trials of founding a company while emphasizing the critical role of a financial safety net. This is a story about authenticity, sharing the highs and lows of business creation and the impactful legacy that transparency can bring.

Kevon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeetKevon

00:00:00 Building in Public
00:13:59 Course Creation and Building Community Challenges
00:19:55 Building in Public Challenges and Misconceptions
00:28:52 Defining and Exploring Building in Public
00:32:30 Building in Public — again and again
00:41:44 Building Authentic Self Representation

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/kevon-cheung-embracing-vulnerability-in-startup-culture/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/282-kevon-cheung-embracing-vulnerability-in-startup-culture

The video: https://youtu.be/UDRD66f_fQ4

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

281: AI and the Future of SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

2023 saw an explosion of AI. 2024 will make 2023 look like cheap fireworks next to the Death Star's superlaser.

SaaS founders either go with the flow or are swept away. Here's where I see AI tooling going, how software founders can adapt and adopt these technologies, and what consumer expectations around conversational AI will mean for your marketing, customer service, and feature roadmaps.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-and-the-future-of-saas/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/281-ai-and-the-future-of-saas

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

280: Dominic Monn — Crafting a Thriving Online Mentorship Community

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Dominic Monn (@dqmonn), the pioneering founder of MentorCruise, shares the secrets behind building a flourishing online mentorship community that transcends the traditional face-to-face model. Dominic reveals how MentorCruise fosters authentic relationships between mentors and mentees through a rigorous verification process, ensuring a trusted and effective learning environment. Whether you're a mentor, a mentee, or just curious about the virtual mentorship space, this episode offers a wealth of insights into creating genuine connections and a thriving platform for growth.

Dominic Monn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dqmonn

00:00:00 Building and Scaling a Vetted Marketplace
00:13:05 Startups, Hiring, and Building a Marketplace
00:20:29 Pricing and Evolution of Mentorship Platform
00:29:48 Metrics and Tools for Marketplace Growth
00:41:13 Building a Business in Switzerland

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dominic-monn-crafting-a-thriving-online-mentorship-community/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/280-dominic-monn-crafting-a-thriving-online-mentorship-community

The video: https://youtu.be/U80K_1sw3lc

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Building and Scaling a Vetted Marketplace
(13:05) - Startups, Hiring, and Building a Marketplace
(20:29) - Pricing and Evolution of Mentorship Platform
(29:48) - Metrics and Tools for Marketplace Growth
(41:13) - Building a Business in Switzerland

279: Fear-Setting my SaaS: What’s Enough?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

The holidays are a season when our priorities clash particularly often. And for me, Christmas is also a time for re-evaluating choices, making long-term plans, and preparing for another year of building a legacy.

So, let's do some fear-setting: what can go wrong? What would I do? How can I prevent it?

Today, you'll hear me go through this very important exercise for my new SaaS Podline. Peek behind the curtain of a serial entrepreneur and how I approach building something worth building.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/fear-setting-my-saas-whats-enough/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/279-fear-setting-my-saas-what-s-enough

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

278: Nicolas Cole — Harnessing the Written Word for Profit

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Nicolas Cole (@Nicolascole77), co-founder of Ship30for30, will teach you why indie hackers should embrace writing as a transformative tool in their arsenal. He sheds light on the common misconception that writing pales compared to coding for developers, but illustrates how writing can be a vehicle for desirable outcomes like zero-cost customer acquisition and recognition within the industry. Listen in as he shares the secret of building a timeless library of content, emphasizing how past writings can continue to serve us without the need to create new material constantly.

Nicolas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nicolascole77

00:00:00 Writing's Importance for Indie Hackers
00:09:10 World of Warcraft and Writing Connection
00:12:07 Writing, Books, and Their Value
00:25:29 Finding Voice
00:28:01 The Power of Writing and Community
00:34:05 Writing for Readers
00:47:21 Ghostwriting and Its Benefits Explored

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/nicolas-cole-harnessing-the-written-word-for-profit/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/278-nicolas-cole-harnessing-the-written-word-for-profit

The video: https://youtu.be/sX-CaJHf9cM

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Writing's Importance for Indie Hackers
(09:10) - World of Warcraft and Writing Connection
(12:07) - Writing, Books, and Their Value
(25:29) - Finding Voice
(28:01) - The Power of Writing and Community
(34:05) - Writing for Readers
(47:21) - Ghostwriting and Its Benefits Explored

277: NoCode, AI, and the Future of Software Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0500

I've always been a fan of no-code tools. But recently, I stumbled into AI-assisted coding. And that has changed everything for me. Initially, I considered leveraging no-code for Podline but I soon realized they didn't quite meet my unique needs. This led me to discover the transformative power of AI-assisted coding, which has dramatically accelerated the development process. The fabled 10x developer? We all thought it was a person, but it's really a language model.

In this exploration, I've come to appreciate the immense potential of AI-assisted coding. It's not just about keeping pace with the promises of no-code tools; it's about potentially outstripping them. Join me in this fascinating discussion where I illuminate the significant strides and transformations in software development, particularly through the lens of AI's impact. You won't want to miss this conversation, especially if you're intrigued by the future of tech and coding.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/nocode-ai-and-the-future-of-software-entrepreneurship/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/277-nocode-ai-and-the-future-of-software-entrepreneurship

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

276: Khe Hy — Breaking Free from the Rat Race

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Khe Hy (@khemaridh), the brilliant mind behind Rad Reads and the Examined Life podcast, shares his introspective journey through the multifaceted world of perceived success, happiness, and self-imposed barriers. We talk about the emotional toll of public scrutiny, and we dive deep into our personal narratives, examining the cost of chasing success and the true value of contentment.

This episode also delves into the subject of mental health, authenticity in the digital age, and the unique experiences of first-generation Asians. Khe introduces us to the empowering concept of "having enough," and we reflect on how our own lifestyle designs can pave the way for a genuinely fulfilling life. Get ready for a transformative conversation that will prompt you to reconsider your definitions of success and happiness and possibly break free from the self-created prisons of your own stories.

Khe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/khemaridh

00:00:00 The Journey to Finding Contentment

00:07:40 Reevaluating Success and Money's Limitations

00:15:26 Navigating Personal Worth and Validation

00:28:22 Mental Health and Authenticity Online

00:34:26 Lifestyle Design and Playing the Game

00:45:38 Overcoming Self-Created Prisons and Envy

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post:

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/276-khe-hy-breaking-free-from-the-rat-race

The video: https://youtu.be/eJIj7qy98NA

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

275: I’m starting a new SaaS Journey

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

I'm working on a new SaaS, and I'm sharing the journey from day one.

Today, I'll introduce you to my market, early tech stack choices, the financials of the business, and how I am setting deadlines to make sure I don't over-engineer the whole thing.

Say hello to https://podline.fm, my newest project! A voice messaging system that focuses on podcasters who need to manage significant amounts of audio messages.

Step by step, I'll take you along the journey of idea, market validation, budget analysis, tech selection, and early implementation challenges. If you want to follow a seasoned developer along the path of building a profitable software business, this is a great place to start. Oh, and I'll share just how impactful AI tooling has been for my first week of prototyping!

If you want to check it out and actively help me make it better, please leave a voice message at https://podline.fm/arvid 🥰

00:00:00 Building a SaaS Business
00:07:44 AI Integration for Coding and Transcription
00:14:14 Server-Side Services With Whisper and Laravel
00:20:57 Laravel Ecosystem and Monetization Exploration
00:31:04 Setting Deadlines and Gathering Feedback

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/im-starting-a-new-saas-journey/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/275-i-m-starting-a-new-saas-journey

The video: no video this week, I recorded this on the road!

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Building a SaaS Business
(07:44) - AI Integration for Coding and Transcription
(14:14) - Server-Side Services With Whisper and Laravel
(20:57) - Laravel Ecosystem and Monetization Exploration
(31:04) - Setting Deadlines and Gathering Feedback

274: Amanda Natividad — Mastering Content Creation and Audience Engagement

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Amanda Natividad (@amandanat) is an expert in marketing and writing. She talks about using humor and strong marketing skills to understand what people on social media like — and what resonates strongly enough to make them do things. We discuss making content that's not just different, but interesting and true to your audience. Among many intriguing stories, one cool thing she mentions is how Rand Fishkin started following her (and how she overreacted to it!). But it worked out. She quickly found herself working with Rand on SparkToro. Amanda even shares a few tips on using tools like SparkToro to better understand what people want to see, who they interact with, and where they are.

We talk about the future of making content, including using AI for new ideas. Amanda believes in growing your audience by being liked, not just being the best. She's planning to grow her marketing course and talks about how a fractional marketing director can help small businesses and solo workers. This chat with Amanda is full of easy-to-use advice for improving your marketing. Enjoy!

Amanda on Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandanat

00:00:00 Creating Unique and Engaging Content
00:14:20 Refresh vs Different in Content Creation
00:26:01 Advice on Using Social Media Platforms
00:36:45 AI in Ideation and Meal Planning
00:44:06 Future Audience Growth and Marketing Exploration
00:52:50 Fractional Marketing Director's Importance

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/amanda-natividad-mastering-content-creation-and-audience-engagement/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/274-amanda-natividad-mastering-content-creation-and-audience-engagement

The video: https://youtu.be/h94Hu8Ngr5c

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Creating Unique and Engaging Content
(14:20) - Refresh vs Different in Content Creation
(26:01) - Advice on Using Social Media Platforms
(36:45) - AI in Ideation and Meal Planning
(44:06) - Future Audience Growth and Marketing Exploration
(52:50) - Fractional Marketing Director's Importance

273: Freedom vs. Autonomy

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Let's dive headfirst into the crazy world of starting your own business. We're going to chat about how "running your own show" can be freeing, but also comes with its own set of challenges. We'll explore what it really means to be your own boss – making your own rules and calling the shots in your business. But, let's not forget, the journey of an entrepreneur is all about grabbing those chances and trying out different things to hit it big.

Join me as I share my own stories and draw inspiration from people who live life like I do. I'll talk about folks who've nailed the whole work-life balance thing, juggling family, personal time, and their business dreams. We'll also dive into why it's so important to take advice from people who get your lifestyle, instead of just those who've made it big in a totally different way.

Today, we talk about freedom, agency, and autonomy.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/freedom-vs-autonomy/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/273-freedom-vs-autonomy

The video: https://youtu.be/X8m2A3JDiLQ

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

272: Andrew Hodson — A Mechanic's Leap into Tech Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Andrew Hudson (@MyBuddyAndrew) is an indie hacker who has taken an unconventional journey. From getting his hands dirty as an auto mechanic to now paving the way as a software entrepreneur, Andrew shares how skills honed in the garage fuel his tech ventures, Hauling Buddies and WrenchRadar. We get under the hood of his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and triumphs of running a two-sided marketplace for pet transportation and how his knack for logical thinking and compartmentalization drives his businesses forward.

We explore how a simple Facebook group grew into a booming business, with Andrew shedding light on his strategies to harness social media and tap into niche markets. We also discuss Andrew's exciting book project inspired by his son's love for space. This episode is a deep dive into the world of independent hacking, entrepreneurship, and the power of passion projects that all started with an auto mechanic's love for problem-solving.

Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyBuddyAndrew

00:00:00 From Auto Mechanic to Software Entrepreneur
00:09:53 Building Facebook Groups for Hauling Services
00:19:44 Running a Marketplace Challenges and Solutions
00:29:07 Business Idea Development With AI and Automotive Data
00:36:16 Challenges With Car Software Updates
00:46:53 Learning, Building, and Sharing

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/andrew-hodson-a-mechanics-leap-into-tech-entrepreneurship/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/272-andrew-hodson-a-mechanics-leap-into-tech-entrepreneurship

The video: https://youtu.be/UK9nhk9zGR0

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - From Auto Mechanic to Software Entrepreneur
(09:53) - Building Facebook Groups for Hauling Services
(19:44) - Running a Marketplace Challenges and Solutions
(29:07) - Business Idea Development With AI and Automotive Data
(36:16) - Challenges With Car Software Updates
(46:53) - Learning, Building, and Sharing

271: Arvid's Top 15 Book Recommendations for Founders

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

If you’re shopping for books this Black Friday, here are the 15 most impactful books I read before and during my SaaS founder journey. From entrepreneurship to marketing and customer interaction, you’ll have a lot to put on your Black Friday shopping list.

My own work is available for 50% off on Gumroad for a few days, too. Use the code BFF for Zero to Sold, The Embedded Entrepreneur, and Find your Following.

And now, let’s grow your library with the likes of Rob Walling, John Warrillow, Michele Hansen, and many more:

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/arvids-top-15-book-recommendations-for-founders/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/271-arvids-top-15-book-recommendations-for-founders

The video: https://youtu.be/F9iIxqtvNUI

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

270: Rob Walling — Stair-Stepping into SaaS Success

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Rob Walling (@robwalling) unpacks the fascinating world of SaaS businesses, touching on topics like scaling, diversification, and the role of AI in SaaS projects. Rob shares his unique stair-step approach to building a SaaS business and paints a realistic picture of the challenges faced by a SaaS founder and the potential rewards of running a successful SaaS company.

The man has released almost 700 podcast episodes about bootstrapping SaaS businesses. He knows how that works, from the birds-eye perspective down to the nitty gritty.

We dive into the misconception around building a ChatGPT wrapper as a long-term business, the trend of AI-centric startups using one-time payments or yearly subscriptions, and the risk of overindexing on AI as a competitive advantage. We also examine common pitfalls in the software business and the impact of sales models on customers. Rob offers insights on white labeling, cautioning against doing it too early and advising on setting a minimum commitment from potential partners.

Rob shares his personal experiences, discussing the difficulties of setting investment terms and overcoming setbacks. We address the concept of the "solo founder funk" and offer solutions such as finding a co-founder, joining mastermind groups, and attending in-person events. Lastly, we delve into the importance of building an audience in the world of SaaS and discuss the topic of hiring in early-stage startups. So tune in, learn, and get inspired by Rob's journey and insights in the SaaS industry.

Rob Walling on Twitter: https://twitter.com/robwalling

00:00:00 Scaling SaaS Businesses With Diversification
00:12:56 Building on AI and Subscription Fatigue
00:21:58 Sales Model and Customer Requests
00:33:29 Founder Strategies
00:40:10 Building an Audience in SaaS Marketing
00:46:11 Founders Discuss Hiring and Growth

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/rob-walling-stair-stepping-into-saas-success/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/270-rob-walling-stair-stepping-into-saas-success

The video: https://youtu.be/GjmvLv-4YtY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Scaling SaaS Businesses With Diversification
(12:56) - Building on AI and Subscription Fatigue
(21:58) - Sales Model and Customer Requests
(33:29) - Founder Strategies
(40:10) - Building an Audience in SaaS Marketing
(46:11) - Founders Discuss Hiring and Growth

269: Embracing Obstacles for Opportunity

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

How can we master the art of managing constraints and turning obstacles into opportunities?

With intentional choices.

Join me as I candidly share my experiences of juggling a media business and several SaaS businesses — while still making time for a life beyond business. You'll discover the techniques I use to stay focused, consistent, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. It's about setting boundaries, creating one-to-many processes, and being intentional with your time.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/embracing-obstacles-for-opportunity/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/98bf7cab

The video: https://youtu.be/PWzODzmXKhs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

268: Channing Allen — Myths and Realities of the Indie Hacking Scene

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Channing Allen (@channingallen) is the co-founder of Indie Hackers. Today, Channing and I uncover the secrets of thriving in the indie hacking scene from someone who is wrangling thousands of Indie Hackers every day. We delve into intriguing discussions that debunk the myth of the 'death of indie hacking' and guide you through the complexities of building a robust community where collaboration and competition coexist. Learn how constraints can inspire creative problem-solving, and the effects of social media on authentic communication. Discover the impact of minimalism and maximalism on indie hacking, and the choices Channing and his co-founder (and twin) Courtland need to make when building a media company.

Prepare for an enlightening conversation that scrutinizes the significance of fostering a trustworthy online community. We also ponder over the concept of long-term optimism achieved through short-term pessimism and explore how intentional relationship-building within the indie hacker community can shape your success.

You'll discover a whole new perspective on the indie hacking scene.

00:00:00 The State of Indie Hacking Today
00:14:12 Technology's Impact on Authentic Communication
00:20:05 Build Authentic Relationships in Indie Hackers
00:33:16 Long-Term Optimism Through Short-Term Pessimism
00:46:41 Constraints and Maximizing Potential
00:55:39 Building a Media Company's Decisions
01:04:25 Building a Trustworthy Online Community

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/channing-allen-myths-and-realities-of-the-indie-hacking-scene/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/aeeeb832

The video: https://youtu.be/kHV27GjsfuE

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - The State of Indie Hacking Today
(14:12) - Technology's Impact on Authentic Communication
(20:05) - Build Authentic Relationships in Indie Hackers
(33:16) - Long-Term Optimism Through Short-Term Pessimism
(46:41) - Constraints and Maximizing Potential
(55:39) - Building a Media Company's Decisions
(01:04:25) - Building a Trustworthy Online Community

267: Risks and Rewards of Building on OpenAI

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Should you build an indie business on top of OpenAI? Absolutely. It's not in OpenAI's interest to build niche solutions that compete with indie hacker startups. It's in their interest to enable them.

Today, we dispel a myth about building AI startups.

The community is caught up in a strange back-and-forth between “look at all these amazing opportunities” and “don’t build, OpenAI is just going to make your startup evaporate.” If you’re an indie hacker and you wonder which of these is actually helpful for your journey, I’ll try to help clear things up.

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/risks-and-rewards-of-building-on-openai/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/3dacbb27

The video: https://youtu.be/kbnjbG2yfj4

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

266: Sakshi Shukla — Understanding Identity and Being the Only One

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Do you truly know yourself? Have you ever wondered about your multidimensional identity —the many layers of who we are and to whom— and the role it plays in finding your purpose? Well, Sakshi Shukla knows, and she's going to take you on her journey of self-discovery. Today, I delve into a profound conversation with Sakshi about her transformation from a medical professional to a successful content strategist, and the pivotal role self-awareness played in this journey. And of course, how she found purpose in all of this.

Sakshi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesakshishukla

00:00:00 Kevin Kelly's Impact on Identity

00:08:11 The Problem With Following Best Practices

00:14:51 Discovering Identity and Building Confidence

00:21:54 Forgiveness and Embracing Uncertainty Importance

00:33:55 Navigating Identity and Education Choices

00:39:18 Accepting Different Dimensions of Identity

00:44:35 Finding Support and Empowering Women

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/sakshi-shukla-understanding-identity-and-being-the-only-one/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/23b7e7e3

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oe_qJBMkOY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Kevin Kelly's Impact on Identity
(08:11) - The Problem With Following Best Practices
(14:51) - Discovering Identity and Building Confidence
(21:54) - Forgiveness and Embracing Uncertainty Importance
(33:55) - Navigating Identity and Education Choices
(39:18) - Accepting Different Dimensions of Identity
(44:35) - Finding Support and Empowering Women

265: "Authenticity" in the Digital Age

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

What does it even mean to be "authentic" online? Just posting things you want other people to see? Sharing everything, treating people like friends? Or maybe it's being extremely professional at all times. With audiences in the hundreds, 1000s, and millions, the old rules of what it means to be yourself in front of others don't apply anymore.

We have to recontextualize our self-presentation online, to be able to both feel like we are ourselves and to make our audiences feel that they get to see the real us. Unfortunately, this does not work with our traditional approach.

When it comes to authenticity, the size of virtual audiences we can quickly build creates the need for a new and slightly different way of thinking about what it means to be our true selves in front of people who only get to see the surface. Here is how you can be authentic in a digital world.

Here's the conversation with @dickiebush I reference: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dickie-bush-the-power-of-digital-writing/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/authenticity-in-the-digital-age/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ac0bd48a

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn1xXU0J3gU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

264: Dickie Bush — Harness the Power of Digital Writing

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Dickie Bush (@dickiebush) discusses Ship 30 for 30, a movement he started to transform writing from a solitary to a communal activity, now a structured course.

Along with Nicholas Cole, their partnership propelled Ship 30 to new heights. They emphasize the role of community and social media like Twitter in refining ideas and building credibility. Our discussion contrasts digital and traditional writing, explores content creation challenges like imposter syndrome, and shares tips for resonating content creation. We dive into the software and media realms, highlighting the value of small iterations and immediate feedback in product creation.

We touch on the promise of dictation software and delve into Dickie's personal inspiration, his mom, who's not only influenced his journey but also become a cherished figure in the Ship 30 community.

Dickie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dickiebush
Ship 30 for 30: https://www.ship30for30.com/

00:00:00 Modern Writing

00:05:37 Start Writing Community, Overcome Challenges

00:12:56 Test and Refine Ideas With Twitter

00:16:59 Content Creation and Imposter Syndrome

00:26:53 Writing for Personal Growth and Teaching

00:37:29 Building Software for Publishing Atomic Essays

00:40:58 Ship30 and Writing Ventures

00:51:21 Discussion on Writing and Publishing Books

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dickie-bush-the-power-of-digital-writing/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f6d25fb5

The video: https://youtu.be/GiDmVoHwE-Q

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Modern Writing
(05:37) - Start Writing Community, Overcome Challenges
(12:56) - Test and Refine Ideas With Twitter
(16:59) - Content Creation and Imposter Syndrome
(26:53) - Writing for Personal Growth and Teaching
(37:29) - Building Software for Publishing Atomic Essays
(40:58) - Ship30 and Writing Ventures
(51:21) - Discussion on Writing and Publishing Books

263: Indie Hacking Isn't Dead — It's Just Less Hacky

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Indie Hacking Isn't Dead — It's Just Less Hacky. The transformation of Indie Hacking over the years creates new challenges and opportunities for Indie Hackers in today's competitive landscape.

The shift from community-driven collaboration to a more competitive environment makes distribution and expertise more relevant than ever. Indie Hacking has evolved into a lifestyle that requires skill and strategic distribution.

Discover the strategies and approaches reshaping the Indie Hacking landscape, and gain inspiration from seasoned entrepreneurs like Pieter Levels, who have successfully navigated these changes.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/indie-hacking-isnt-dead-its-just-less-hacky/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/c70bfc66

The video: https://youtu.be/_9IBEXsUUaU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

262: Pieter Levels — The Indie Hacker’s Guide to AI Startups

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

My guest today, Pieter Levels, claims that "Indie Hacking is dead." Yet, Pieter runs several indie AI startups (and a few traditional ones), totaling $250,000 in revenue every month. So, how can he be a successful indie hacker while dismissing the foundations of his work?

It turns out that Indie Hacking is very much alive. But it has changed significantly. And Pieter has been there from the early days.

Today, Pieter and I talk about what it means to be an Indie Hacker in the age of AI tools, platforms, and businesses. From dependency risk to preparing software businesses for a potential exit, we tackle a wide variety of topics that every Indie Hacker has to deal with. We also dive deep into Pieter's personal journey: from digital nomadism through thoughts of teaming up with fellow makers. You'll get the full picture of an entrepreneur who tells it the way he sees it — which, as you will find, has made the world of social media a very interesting place for him to work in.

With insights into the meme of bad coding, the Lindy Effect, the importance of social proof, and the generational divide regarding AI, this conversation with Pieter Levels is a must-listen for anyone interested in AI startups, indie hacking, and the future of digital entrepreneurship.

Pieter on Twitter: https://twitter.com/levelsio/
Pieter's projects: https://levels.io/projects/

00:00:00 - Indie Hacking and AI Startups Evolution
00:07:17 - Dependency on Suppliers and Finding Alternatives
00:16:37 - Prioritizing Speed in Entrepreneurship Execution
00:27:11 - Future of AI With Positive Outlooks
00:40:11 - AI Business Challenges and Potential
00:44:52 - Future Work and Travel With AI
00:52:56 - Twitter Changes and the Need to Adapt
00:57:50 - Attention Economy and Communication Impact
01:01:39 - Navigating Controversy and Authenticity on Twitter

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/pieter-levels-the-indie-hackers-guide-to-ai-startups/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/db7c1d51

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wjec3wh4p8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Here are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.

- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid
- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60
- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ
- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q
- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

(00:00) - - Indie Hacking and AI Startups Evolution
(07:17) - - Dependency on Suppliers and Finding Alternatives
(16:37) - - Prioritizing Speed in Entrepreneurship Execution
(27:11) - - Future of AI With Positive Outlooks
(40:11) - - AI Business Challenges and Potential
(44:52) - - Future Work and Travel With AI
(52:56) - - Twitter Changes and the Need to Adapt
(57:50) - - Attention Economy and Communication Impact
(01:01:39) - - Navigating Controversy and Authenticity on Twitter

261: Accessibility for Profit

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Accessibility is one of the most overlooked aspects of being a creator, but it is an incredibly powerful tool to make long-term friends and, ultimately, more money.

Today, we’ll dive into how creators can leverage being accessible as a driver for growth.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/accessibility-for-profit/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/3179a05c

The video: https://youtu.be/IJlgfUQFTFo

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

260: Milly Tamati — The Power and Potential of Generalists

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

We hire specialists. Deep knowledge in one field, not many skills in all the others. We value and celebrate specialists with promising career paths, titles, and promotions.

Can generalists exist in a world of such intricate and complex work requirements?

The person who made me realize that it's possible is Milly Tamati, a staunch defender and empoweress of generalists all over the world. I chatted with Milly about the employability of people who don’t fit into a category, why generalists are the puzzle pieces that allow organizations to destroy knowledge silos, and how incredibly powerful a community of generalists can be.

Join me on The Bootstrapped Founder this week as I talk to Milly Tamati about The Generalists’ World.

00:00:00 The Rise of Generalists
00:07:55 Generalists in Workforce Diversity
00:18:49 Building and Cultivating a Generalist Community
00:30:42 Building a Community and Evaluating Opportunities
00:40:12 Community and Success in Unconventional Paths
00:45:49 Announcing the Launch of a Podcast

Milly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillyTamati
Generalist World: https://www.generalist.world/
The Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/generallycurious/

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/milly-tamati-the-power-and-potential-of-generalists/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bef7a764

The video: https://youtu.be/Cll1GMGzLNQ

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - The Rise of Generalists
(07:55) - Generalists in Workforce Diversity
(18:49) - Building and Cultivating a Generalist Community
(30:42) - Building a Community and Evaluating Opportunities
(40:12) - Community and Success in Unconventional Paths
(45:49) - Announcing the Launch of a Podcast

259: Monetizing Micro-Communities

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Today, I explore the world of microcommunities - small, but incredibly lucrative communities. I examine how microcommunities are different from general online communities, and how they offer valuable opportunities for creators to distribute and monetize their work. I discuss the income-generating potential of being part of, or even starting, these microcommunities, and how the key lies in their single-minded focus on a specific topic. With an interaction between members and progress that is much more visible, micro-communities inspire and educate new members more quickly and create a meaningful exchange.

I dive into the close-knit nature of micro-communities and how this creates a powerful bond between members. I examine how monetization opportunities exist for both the creator and members of the community, and how these opportunities can be used to create a successful business. There's a deep-dive into the potential risks of micro-communities, too, such as the potential for echo chambers and exclusion of certain demographics.

00:00:00 The Power of Micro-communities for Creators
00:04:21 Micro Communities and Monetization

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/monetizing-micro-communities/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2a070357

The video: https://youtu.be/OyYflYH2a5Y

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

258: Aaron Francis — The Power of Sharing Expertise

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Journey with me as we dive deep into Aaron Francis' transformation from a coder to a teacher. Discover the intricate dance of building in the open. Aaron lays bare his path, detailing how he crafted his screencasting masterclass and managed to balance his day job, side hustle, and family life, all while forging his unique brand.

In this episode, we unpack the looming shadow of criticism and how the mere thought of being ridiculed can paralyze many of us. The paradox? Embracing this very fear might open doors you never imagined. Aaron shares his first-hand experiences, launching courses, the strategies that amplified his voice, and the seismic shift in public sharing from the days before social media to now. And if you've been itching to share your know-how through video or sound, we've got a trove of tips to boost your confidence. Dive in.

Aaron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarondfrancis
Aaron's Screencasting course: https://screencasting.com/ (non-affiliate) & https://screencasting.com?aff=PXErZ (affiliate)

00:00:01 Master Screen Casting and Build Publicly
00:05:03 Building in Public
00:12:57 Overcoming Fear of Criticism
00:19:02 Sharing Expertise Through Video and Audio
00:25:39 Video Content
00:30:26 Improving Screencasting Techniques
00:43:18 Balancing Sacrifices and Pursuing Passion

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/aaron-francis-the-power-of-sharing-expertise/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d97a24b9

The video: https://youtu.be/QQwfzO42X9g

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:01) - Master Screen Casting and Build Publicly
(05:03) - Building in Public
(12:57) - Overcoming Fear of Criticism
(19:02) - Sharing Expertise Through Video and Audio
(25:39) - Video Content
(30:26) - Improving Screencasting Techniques
(43:18) - Balancing Sacrifices and Pursuing Passion

257: Proof of Work: How Indie Founders Build Defensible Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Ever felt annoyed seeing someone else selling a copy of something you made? It's a problem many small business owners face. Today, I'm diving into how to protect your ideas and keep others from copying them. It's not just about having a great product. I'll show you how to strengthen your business by reaching more people and making a name for yourself. Being active online and sharing your work can make a big difference.

Also, having a business isn't just about protecting your ideas, but making smart decisions. Building real connections can help spread the word about your products. I'll talk about the importance of helping others and how it benefits you in return. By the end of this episode, you'll know how to protect your work and make it stand out in the community. This will help you learn how to grow a business that's both safe from copycats and gets attention. It's not just about selling things, but sharing your ideas and being known.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/proof-of-work-how-indie-founders-build-defensible-businesses

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a6ed07df

The video: https://youtu.be/Tcc1AwkWwww

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

256: Brennan Dunn — This Is Personal

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This is a masterclass in personalized marketing. Brennan even convinces me to ramp up my own efforts!

Listen in as I uncover the power of personalized marketing with Brennan Dunn, author of 'This is Personal.' Brennan offers valuable insights into how indie hackers and solopreneurs can best learn about their customers and utilize that knowledge for revenue generation. He explores why personalization works, how audience segmentation should be done, and where data collection should start, providing you with a wealth of knowledge to transform your marketing strategies.

Brennan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brennandunn

00:00:00 Personalized Marketing for Indie Hackers
00:05:02 Segmenting Audience for Better Marketing
00:10:19 Importance of Personalized Questions in Data Collection
00:20:35 Segmentation and Survey Funnels in Marketing
00:32:10 AI's Role in Personalized Marketing Future
00:37:59 ChatGPT for Data Analysis and Writing
00:47:02 Personalization and E-Commerce Recommendations
00:52:04 Personalized Book Recommendations for Marketing

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/brennan-dunn-this-is-personal/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/3f36312e

The video: https://youtu.be/oPNhJvcvb0A

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - Personalized Marketing for Indie Hackers
(05:02) - Segmenting Audience for Better Marketing
(10:19) - Importance of Personalized Questions in Data Collection
(20:35) - Segmentation and Survey Funnels in Marketing
(32:10) - AI's Role in Personalized Marketing Future
(37:59) - ChatGPT for Data Analysis and Writing
(47:02) - Personalization and E-Commerce Recommendations
(52:04) - Personalized Book Recommendations for Marketing

255: Pet Rock Projects (And Why They… Rock)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Are you tired of the mainstream narrative that success as a software developer can only be pegged to the scale of your projects or the economic output of your code? This episode of Bootstrap Founder challenges that perception. With a focus on the inspiring journey of indie hacker Tony Dinh, we delve into the beauty of simple, practical solutions. Rather than grandeur and disruption, we explore the significance of niche appeal and how meaningful success can be achieved outside the realms of billion-dollar businesses.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/pet-rock-projects-and-why-they-rock

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/37a91c4d

The video: https://youtu.be/bpeazTXh6uA

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

254: Aprilynne Alter — Behind the Scenes of a Successful YouTuber

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Unearth the secrets of YouTube monetization and growth in our conversation with YouTube creator Aprilynne Alter. Prepare to be enlightened as Aprilynne reveals her journey, from retaking control of her editing process to experimenting with an array of content styles and formats. We dive into her daring exploration of NFTs and the groundbreaking transformation that led her to focus her content on educating others about YouTube.

We'll take you on a journey through the strategies that make YouTube an effective distribution platform. From carefully curating topics, titles, and thumbnails to creating your own monetizing product, we discuss the art of packaging videos for optimal appeal. Gain insights from Aprilynne's experience as she transitioned from producing multiple average-quality videos to focusing on crafting one high-quality video per week. We talk about the striking balance between content quality and quantity, and the crucial role of consistency for content creators.

Rounding up, we explore the vital aspects of mental health and productivity in the life of a creator. Aprilynne candidly shares her personal experience of moving to San Francisco, and how it impacted her productivity and overall well-being. We highlight the importance of creating an ideal workspace to foster creativity. Aprilynne gives us a glimpse of her creative space, her morning routine, and how an inspiring city view plays a role in maintaining her creativity. It's an engaging and insightful episode packed with practical tips and lessons from Aprilynne's journey as a YouTube creator. Don't miss it!

Aprilynne on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AprilynneAlter
Aprilynne on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprilynneAlter

00:00:00 YouTube Editing and Experimentation Insights
00:13:32 Understanding YouTube Monetization and Content Strategy
00:26:45 Navigating Titles and Thumbnails on YouTube
00:38:58 Finding the Balance
00:49:39 Creating a Productive and Creative Workspace

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/aprilynne-alter-behind-the-scenes-of-a-successful-youtuber/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/55e1e979

The video: https://youtu.be/wFJEQKvaXRc

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

253: Focusing on Customer Retention Features

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Buckle up for a voyage into the intricate world of software feature decision-making! Promising to equip you with insights from my journey, this episode helps you navigate the choppy waters of determining which attributes to include in your software business and which ones to abandon. We'll unravel my personal blueprint for assessing feature requests and enhancements, with a particular focus on the crucial understanding of 'the job to be done.' Together, we'll dissect the correlation between feature alignment and customer retention, and you'll gain clarity on the two critical factors that weigh in when assessing the importance of a feature - workflow inputs and workflow outputs.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/focusing-on-customer-retention-features/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a1f7ff7f

The video: https://youtu.be/llsICCu2Af8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

252: Erica Schneider — Build Your Personal Platform (And Not Just a Brand)

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Getting started often brings valuable lessons that shape our paths in life; my chat with Erica Schneider, an expert in building authentic personal platforms, is a testament to this. We navigated the terrain of creating an authentic personal brand, focusing on the courage it takes to do so and the power of authenticity in the digital realm. Erica's journey from persona to person, the struggles with online negativity, and her triumphant return to authenticity offer profound insights for anyone aspiring to cultivate a genuine online presence.

We dove into the fascinating world of audience building, stressing the importance of resilience amidst criticism. With Erica’s rich wisdom on the subject, we discussed practical strategies to engage audiences and maintain personal authenticity online. Erica’s knack for writing shone through as we discussed how well-crafted words can create connections and open doors.

Erica on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericasmyname/

00:00:00 Building an Authentic Personal Platform
00:09:50 Authenticity Journey and Tackling Trolls
00:17:08 Building an Audience Through Writing
00:26:46 Social Media
00:33:13 Authentic Online Platforms
00:40:58 Planning a Cohort and Future Learnings
00:52:00 Writing Insights

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/erica-schneider-build-your-personal-platform-and-not-just-a-brand/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/8bf956a0

The video: https://youtu.be/imLa8gJJuhs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - Building an Authentic Personal Platform
(09:50) - Authenticity Journey and Tackling Trolls
(17:08) - Building an Audience Through Writing
(26:46) - Social Media
(33:13) - Authentic Online Platforms
(40:58) - Planning a Cohort and Future Learnings
(52:00) - Writing Insights

251: What I Learned From 250 Podcast Episodes

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

It's time to celebrate! This podcast has just reached 250 episodes, and I have a few lessons to share from along the way.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/what-i-learned-from-250-podcast-episodes/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/657e0da2

The video: https://youtu.be/9KTS-bJx5R0

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

250: Amanda Goetz — The Antidote to Hustle Culture

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

I finally got to talk to Amanda Goetz, a marketer-turned-full-time-creator, who's generously poured out her wisdom on navigating the creator economy. Amanda's journey from corporate life to the creator economy is filled with valuable lessons about embracing awkward self-promotion, overcoming 'Cringe Valley', and the journey of (maybe?) writing a book. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to carve out a calm niche in a world full of "hustle culture," or just for those curious about the behind-the-scenes of a first-time author getting into book publishing.

I didn't set out to chat about writing books, but it was too exciting an opportunity: Amanda announced that she's writing a book! Amanda has walked the tightrope of maintaining authenticity while engaging with the book publishing industry's commercial demands, and she shares this experience with us. We get into the nitty-gritty of dealing with Imposter Syndrome, understanding the angle publishers are looking for, and using hype effectively. It's a deep-dive into the business side of books, the choices of self-publishing or seeking an agent, and the journey towards finding validation in our creative endeavors.

But it's not all hustle and bustle; we also touch on the vital importance of rest and self-care in our lives. Amanda talks about how crucial it is for creators to set boundaries on social media, carefully choosing what aspects of their lives to share. We learn about the balance between sharing personal and private moments, with invaluable insights from Amanda's own experience, including the trauma of a social media hack and the importance of diversifying platforms. So, tune in for a candid, comprehensive, and genuinely helpful discussion on thriving in the creator economy.

Amanda on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AmandaMGoetz
Amanda's Newsletter:https://www.amandagoetz.com/
Amanda's Instagram: http://instagram.com/goetzam

00:00:01 Finding Balance in the Creator Economy
00:11:45 Exploring Niche Markets and Writing Books
00:17:40 Imposter Syndrome in the Publishing Business
00:25:28 The Importance of Rest and Self
00:41:02 Boundaries and Authenticity on Social Media
00:49:07 Creator's Social Media Hack Lessons

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/amanda-goetz-the-antidote-to-hustle-culture/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2af3083c

The video: https://youtu.be/DKFBGozqz_c

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:01) - Finding Balance in the Creator Economy
(11:45) - Exploring Niche Markets and Writing Books
(17:40) - Imposter Syndrome in the Publishing Business
(25:28) - The Importance of Rest and Self-Care
(41:02) - Boundaries and Authenticity on Social Media
(49:07) - Creator's Social Media Hack Lessons

249: Avoiding the Entrepreneurial Planning Trap

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Three mistakes are common when early-stage founders plan their strategy: scoping, revenue sources, and lack of validation. Let's dive into why we trip up on these issues and what to do about it.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/avoiding-the-entrepreneurial-planning-trap/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e2bb7424

The video: https://youtu.be/oGLf5YqXdA8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

248: Ruben Gamez — Cracking the E-Signature Market

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Get ready to revolutionize your SaaS product signup process with some unique strategies, insights, and actionable tips from our much-awaited conversation with Ruben Gamez. We delve into Ruben’s innovative practices — temporary changes to the signup process, leveraging surveys for data collection, and dealing with competitors in the e-signature business. We dissect the world of customer segmentation, the merits and demerits of freemium, and effective ways to solicit customer feedback. Listen closely as we unravel how Ruben sprinkles just the right dose of friction in the signup process to maximize conversions.

In the latter half of our chat, we grapple with the recurring challenge in SaaS: revenue vs. customer acquisition. We underscore the importance of decoding customer needs and use cases early on and the hurdles in churning income in the initial stages of software launches. Hear it from Ruben, as he shares his vast experience in the field, making this conversation a treasure trove for anyone, from early-stage startups to established companies, intrigued by the world of SaaS. So why wait? Tune in to this conversation and prepare to take your SaaS game to a whole new level.

Ruben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/earthlingworks

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:38 Alternating Low-Touch & High-Touch
00:06:18 When to start surveying customers
00:12:40 Cancellation interviews
00:16:25 Finding insights from interviews
00:22:36 JTBD
00:26:08 Running two SaaS businesses
00:30:08 Competing in the e-Signature market
00:34:46 Word-of-mouth marketing
00:40:33 Book recommendations for indie hackers
00:49:33 Managing a small team

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/248-ruben-gamez-cracking-the-e-signature-market/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/74b243f9

The video: https://youtu.be/BSf_M2US1o4

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

247: You’re Not “Too Late”: Capitalizing on Pre-Validated Ideas

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Have you ever felt deflated upon discovering that your brilliant business idea already exists in the market? Well, you're not alone. I'm Arvid Kahl, and I argue that this should be viewed as a robust validation signal rather than a reason to abandon your idea. We delve into how competition indicates interest and a potential market for your product. We'll also discuss how this presents a unique opportunity, especially for solopreneurs and indie hackers, to make different choices that appeal to unsatisfied customers.

On the path of entrepreneurship, we often face a myriad of choices. In this episode, we unpack the concept of path dependency and how it locks existing businesses into specific niches or ways of problem-solving. We delve into how this provides an opportunity for you, the indie hacker, to identify unmet needs in the market and create a better solution tailored to those needs. We further explore the importance of setting aside your ego and focusing on satisfying unfulfilled demands rather than chasing the over-glorified founder dream. So, take a seat, open your mind, and join us as we explore the power of validation and path dependency. Don't chase the dream, chase validation!

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/youre-not-too-late-capitalizing-on-pre-validated-ideas/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/77cbb759

The video: https://youtu.be/G8RJ2l5AyFM

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

246: Corey Haines — Mastering Product Marketing

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Get ready to learn everything about product marketing from our guest today, Corey Haines. Corey is a marketing pro who knows a lot about selling the right products to the right people. He talks about problems that indie hackers often face and gives helpful tips to solve them. He also invites us behind the scenes of his new business, Conversion Factory, which helps young companies with their marketing.

We chat about how Corey went from doing freelance work to starting his own company with two friends. He shares how they came up with the idea for Conversion Factory, their special way of (product) marketing, and how they make products really popular. We also look at new ways of doing business, comparing old and new methods — using subscription payments in an agency is pretty new ground. Corey's thoughts on this are really interesting and could change how you think about business.

We end our talk with Corey's views on how software and starting a business have shaped his career. He talks about why selling a product might be easier than creating software. We also discuss the benefits of having a business that makes steady money, which can help start other projects. Corey's experience in running a marketing company and the importance of being an expert in your field offer great advice. This conversation is full of useful tips for anyone interested in starting a business. So let's dive in and learn from Corey's experience!

Corey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coreyhainesco
Conversion Factory: https://www.conversionfactory.co/

00:00:00 Indie Hackers' Struggles With Product Marketing
00:11:53 Hire Marketer, Launch Conversion Factory
00:17:56 Starting an Agency
00:30:36 Company Size and Service Needs Correlation
00:42:12 The Role of Software and Entrepreneurship
00:46:56 Website Design and Product Marketing
00:57:50 Product Marketing and Building Service Subscription

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/corey-haines-mastering-product-marketing/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/30c61a32

The video: https://youtu.be/WG6qrEnWNxA

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

245: Take a Break

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Instead of writing a lengthy article this week, I pointed my iPhone at my face, clipped on a wireless mic, put the puppy in the background of the shot, and hit record. I share my thoughts about forcing yourself to take breaks, even when you feel like you shouldn’t. I dive into the times in my life when that sentiment caused me massive mental health issues, and I point out a few misconceptions that contributed to that self-delusion.

If you’re having trouble taking breaks, this is for you.

And if you’re good at taking breaks, please tell me how to do it ;)

Here’s my “take the break or the break takes you” moment.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/take-a-break/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/218285c3

The video: https://youtu.be/lmPE0ZT37L8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

244: Emmet Gibney — Referred Into the Role of CEO

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Emmet Gibney truly walked the path less taken. Today, you'll hear about an extraordinary journey from customer support to interim CEO of Rewardful. You'll gain insights into how Emmett skillfully braved the transition following the company's acquisition by a private equity group. This episode will acquaint you with the power of referral and affiliate programs, and how they can provide the much-needed edge to entrepreneurs in their quest for growth.

This conversation with Emmett is a goldmine of subject-matter expert insights. We discuss the lucky turn of events that propelled him to the position of interim CEO at Rewardful, and his role in the growth trajectory of the SaaS Group. You'll learn about the intricate management processes this Private Equity company has woven for its portfolio companies. Understand the distinction between customer referral programs and affiliate marketing programs, and the art of setting them up. Emmett's experiences serve as a testament to the potential personal growth and career trajectory that can be achieved by working your way up — or being referred, as we find out.

We also delve deep into the art of building successful referral and affiliate systems. Listen to the success stories of two indie hackers and explore the strategies to build trust with affiliates and identify the right people for your affiliate system. Embrace the wisdom of the long-standing community members and learn how to attract the right newcomers to your work. This episode is not just about strategies but also about the nuances of human relationships in business – a true masterclass for entrepreneurs and those in the SaaS industry.

00:00:00 Journey to Interim CEO at Rewardful
00:11:47 Transitioning to Private Equity
00:22:16 Referral and Affiliate Programs for SaaS Businesses
00:35:41 Building Affiliate Systems for SaaS Businesses
00:39:11 Finding and Building Affiliate Partnerships
00:44:43 Community-Centric Approach in Business

Emmet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmetgibney

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/emmet-gibney-referred-into-the-role-of-ceo/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a68eab7b

The video: https://youtu.be/FpymMil-3Ks

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - Journey to Interim CEO at Rewardful
(11:47) - Transitioning to Private Equity
(22:16) - Referral and Affiliate Programs for SaaS Businesses
(35:41) - Building Affiliate Systems for SaaS Businesses
(39:11) - Finding and Building Affiliate Partnerships
(44:43) - Community-Centric Approach in Business

243: Bootstrapped SaaS Exit Planning

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Get ready to unlock the secret to enhancing your business's value — whether you plan to sell or not. This episode will guide you through the concept of sellability and its crucial role in your business. Inspired by a riveting conversation with Kevin McArdle, a seasoned investor who shared valuable insights from his SaaS business acquisition experience, and the wisdom of John Warrillow's book, Built to Sell, I illuminate good business practices that can boost your business's sellability and value.

But it doesn't stop there. I'll equip you with practical strategies for exit planning that will make your business not only sellable but also ready for a smooth transition. Ready to build a sellable business?

00:00:00 The Importance of Sellability in Business
00:09:00 Practical Tips for Exit Planning
00:17:18 Assessing Alignment and Exit Planning

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/bootstrapped-saas-exit-planning/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/c4d259eb

The video: https://youtu.be/9cqVjugSsAs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - The Importance of Sellability in Business
(09:00) - Practical Tips for Exit Planning
(17:18) - Assessing Alignment and Exit Planning

242: Louis Pereira — When an Indie Hacker Strikes Gold

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Ever wonder how to build a successful start-up from scratch? This week, I'm joined by Louis Pereira, an indie founder who has done just that. Creator of the successful audio transcription product, AudioPen, Louis sheds light on his journey and the calculated risks he took with pricing and subscriptions to validate demand early on. He's a firm believer in building and launching products in public, a practice that he believes played a critical role in growing his audience and gaining traction — and it paid off mightily.

This isn't just a conversation about entrepreneurial success; it's a deep dive into the inner workings of a product, from handling customer conversations to managing bug reports and feature requests. Enjoy the inside view of a successful business on the rise.

00:00:01 Indie Founder Discusses Building Successful Startup
00:10:30 Building Features and Handling Customer Conversations
00:18:38 Building Business Trust
00:26:38 Building in Public and Unexpected Success
00:38:36 "Hackathon Launch Strategies and Productivity Mindset"
00:43:55 The Value of Reading and Accessibility
00:53:41 The Impact of Writing Tools

Louis on Twitter: https://twitter.com/louispereira/
Louis' website: https://louispereira.xyz/
AudioPen: https://tbf.link/audiopen

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/louis-pereira-when-an-indie-hacker-strikes-gold/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ad81b535

The video: https://youtu.be/y0GbP43xtpo

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:01) - Indie Founder Discusses Building Successful Startup
(10:30) - Building Features and Handling Customer Conversations
(18:38) - Building Business Trust
(26:38) - Building in Public and Unexpected Success
(38:36) - "Hackathon Launch Strategies and Productivity Mindset"
(43:55) - The Value of Reading and Accessibility
(53:41) - The Impact of Writing Tools

241: Human Creativity Amidst AI Dominance

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Battle lines have been drawn. Human writers versus artificial intelligence - who will come out on top? I'm Arvid Kahl, your guide through the minefield of writing in a world where machines such as ChatGPT are generating content at a phenomenal rate. Can human authors still hold their own? Absolutely! Tune in as I reveal why the human touch and authenticity inherent in our content is irreplaceable, no matter how advanced AI becomes.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/human-creativity-amidst-ai-dominance/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b3d424cc

The video: https://youtu.be/MqWEGSjnAlA

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

240: Danny Postma — An Indie Hacker's Business Evolution

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Ever wondered how to handle the competitive world of AI products and copycats while running a global business? Well, you're in luck. This episode of The Bootstrapped Founder features a heart-to-heart with indie hacker and global entrepreneur, Danny Postma. Danny takes us behind the scenes of his entrepreneurial journey, sharing priceless insights on transitioning from a solopreneur to a team leader, cleverly leveraging SEO, and the fascinating world of domain acquisitions.

Picture this: You're living the digital nomad lifestyle, working across time zones while experiencing new cultures. How do you make it all work? Danny Postma gives us a peek into his life as a digital nomad, the cultural differences that affect his way of work, and how he deals with the 12-hour time difference with grace. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the value of a good domain name and how it can be a game-changer for any business. Join us on this exciting journey and tap into the world of a successful global entrepreneur.

Danny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dannypostmaa/

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/danny-postma-an-indie-hackers-business-evolution/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/1fbba06a

The video: https://youtu.be/X36_7wRC_WI

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - Successful Global Business Building
(10:05) - Solopreneur to Team Building Transition
(17:09) - Dealing With Copycats in Business
(25:10) - Competition and Evolution of AI Products
(35:09) - Discovery of B2C and Acquisition Strategies
(38:59) - Importance of SEO for Indie Hackers
(50:12) - Building a Network, Avoiding Fame
(56:10) - Digital Life, Remote Work, Cultural Differences

239: Things That Kill The Village

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

We delve deep into the world of online communities, exploring their growth, evolution, and the disruptive elements that can lead to their downfall. Drawing compelling parallels with traditional villages, we seek to understand the role of trust, shared culture, and considerate interaction in these digital spaces.

We touch on the dynamics that can lead to the erosion of online communities, such as inconsiderate self-promotion and the mass influx of new members who lack a shared understanding of the community's values. Drawing inspiration from Immanuel Kant's teachings, we discuss how short-term gains can often lead to long-term reputation costs.

The podcast episode offers insights on how to contribute positively and build a reputation as a valued member of these virtual communities. It serves as a guide to navigating the complex dynamics of online spaces, focusing on their enrichment rather than erosion.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/things-that-kill-the-village/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f317d6bb

The video: https://youtu.be/gakz2PeCYGY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

238: Brian Sierakowski — Leading an Acquired Business

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 of Bearmetrics, a company that he had not founded, but was handed over to him after an acquisition by a private equity firm. Entering an existing team, dealing with the weight of expectations, and managing an already functioning business with its own culture and values, Brian's journey is a roller coaster of challenges and learnings that he’s eager to share with you today.

Brian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsierakowski/

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/brian-sierakowski-leading-an-acquired-business/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2ec803d1

The video: https://youtu.be/XWjC4w_cD7g

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - From Indie Hacking to Acquired Businesses
(06:39) - Taking Over an Acquired Business Challenges
(12:09) - Improvements and Changes in the Business
(26:14) - Cancelling Subscriptions and Learning From Feedback
(34:33) - Managing Expectations in Public Settings
(42:24) - Career Transition Options and Considerations
(53:27) - Dual Perspective in Building a Business
(01:05:23) - Selling Your Business

237: Eventual Reciprocity

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Learn about the power of eventual reciprocity and how it can benefit your business. Discover how giving without expecting anything in return can lead to long-term success, and find out how to strike the perfect balance between offering free content and monetizing your trade secrets. Don't miss out on this valuable lesson in entrepreneurship and audience building.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/eventual-reciprocity/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb7d24fb

The video: https://youtu.be/6T_fRdQukMo

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Step into the world of Tony Dinh, an accomplished indie hacker famed for his ability to craft products with show-stopping aesthetics while keeping them public on Twitter. Tony, who holds the helm in the product design world, made waves with his browser extension, Blackmagic, and his unique pricing and revenue model approach. Our chat offers a deep dive into Tony's journey and his decision-making process during the Twitter API price increase, eventually leading to the sale of Blackmagic to HypeFury. His insights on product design and experiences as a front-end engineer are worth their weight in gold.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:24 How do you get good at design?

00:07:50 Working in enterprise businesses first.

00:13:08 Selling as an indie hacker.

00:18:18 How to complete the sale?

00:23:02 Transitioning the ownership.

00:28:31 Running into platform risk.

00:34:13 The launch of the product.

00:38:42 Do you have a process for internal documentation?

00:47:22 How do you deal with clones?

00:51:19 The importance of having a ProductHunt-compatible audience.

00:55:39 What’s your current software portfolio like?

01:01:09 What to do when you’re stuck?

Tony on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tdinh_me

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/tony-dinh-ups-and-downs-of-an-indie-hacker-journey/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ee414120

The video: https://youtu.be/i99OHAacxbk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com! Go to http://try.acquire.com/arvid/ to get started with making sure you run a sellable business.

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:24) - How do you get good at design?
(07:50) - Working in enterprise businesses first.
(13:08) - Selling as an indie hacker.
(18:18) - How to complete the sale?
(23:02) - Transitioning the ownership.
(28:31) - Running into platform risk.
(34:13) - The launch of the product.
(38:42) - Do you have a process for internal documentation?
(47:22) - How do you deal with clones?
(51:19) - The importance of having a ProductHunt-compatible audience.
(55:39) - What’s your current software portfolio like?
(01:01:09) - What to do when you’re stuck?

235: The Bad Kind of Attention

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Here the three common pitfalls that can sabotage your efforts to build a Twitter audience: transactional interactions, focusing on “free,” and a tonal mismatch. Learn how chasing virality, relying on transactional attention, and curating a negative tone can all backfire in the long run. Find out what kind of attention you should be seeking to build lasting relationships with your followers and grow your personal brand.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-bad-kind-of-attention/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/74843be8

The video: https://youtu.be/BGVSA1-B4AU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

234: Jason Cohen — Two Exits & Two Unicorns

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 business without that extra cash infusion. Either way, Jason Cohen's journey from bootstrapping to raising millions will give you a fresh perspective on the funding debate.

Jason discusses his personal discovery of wanting a different journey with WP Engine, which led to raising money after two years of bootstrapping. We also uncover the importance of understanding your competitors instead of demonizing them, in order to develop a unique strategy for your own business.

Jason has seen and done a lot as a founder. No matter what stage of this journey you’re on, you will learn something today.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:27 Raising money for bootstrapped companies.
00:09:16 When is it bad to sell your business?
00:15:31 The problem with self-imposed ignorance.
00:19:11 Founder mental health issues
00:23:04 How to hire people who are better than you.
00:27:26 The importance of having a consistent strategy.
00:31:20 The reality distortion field of a software business.
00:34:59 Do you ever consider building a solopreneur business again?
00:40:37 Do you ever consider not being a founder anymore?
00:45:12 The value of building a public network.
00:54:12 The importance of building public.
01:01:03 The importance of social media.

Jason on Twitter: @asmartbear

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jason-cohen-two-exits-two-unicorns/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b349aec5

The video: https://youtu.be/fMniLsLl5nc

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com! Go to http://try.acquire.com/arvid/ to get started with making sure you run a sellable business.

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:27) - Raising money for bootstrapped companies.
(09:16) - When is it bad to sell your business?
(15:31) - The problem with self-imposed ignorance.
(19:11) - Founder mental health issues
(23:04) - How to hire people who are better than you.
(27:26) - The importance of having a consistent strategy.
(31:20) - The reality distortion field of a software business.
(34:59) - Do you ever consider building a solopreneur business again?
(40:37) - Do you ever consider not being a founder anymore?
(45:12) - The value of building a public network.
(54:12) - The importance of building public.
(01:01:03) - The importance of social media.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Are entrepreneurs born or made? Find out as we explore the profound impact of nature and nurture on the development of an entrepreneurial spirit. Discover how family stories, socioeconomic status, and exposure to diverse narratives shape your perspectives and behaviors. Uncover what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur in the digital age.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/entrepreneurship-isnt-genetic-its-memetic/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f85b818b

The video: https://youtu.be/vm4c4KQSKu0

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

232: Andrew McIntosh — First-Generation Entrepreneurs

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 for first-gen entrepreneurs to discussing the power of business coaching and growth mindset, you'll gain valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship without a safety net. Learn from a successful underdog's story and get inspired to take your own entrepreneurial journey to the next level. No matter what your parents say.

Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrew_drives

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/andrew-mcintosh-first-generation-entrepreneurs/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e49eaaa6

The video: https://youtu.be/Iez5Qcz6JOs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com! Go to http://try.acquire.com/arvid/ to get started with making sure you run a sellable business.

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:08) - Learning by doing by making mistakes.
(06:04) - The importance of having a support network.
(10:43) - Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster.
(14:07) - Have you always been crazy or is this a new development?
(20:41) - Coaching vs. coaching.
(24:28) - Building a digital community that is asynchronous.
(28:19) - Community building and accountability in business.
(32:47) - Entrepreneurship starts with a community.
(37:35) - Share your wins and losses.
(42:20) - Entrepreneurship as a vehicle for freedom.
(49:35) - Getting people to the point where they graduate.
(52:41) - The importance of sharing your story and building a community.

231: Responding Fast to Customers — A Good Idea?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 price. Today, I will share my experience with the pros and cons of super-quick customer service responses, the role of software tooling, and how to balance response speed with good business sense. Discover the layered approach to customer service that will help you have your speedy cake and eat it, too.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/responding-fast-to-customers-a-good-idea/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/5d404f4d

The video: https://youtu.be/J8qbNR3rz0w

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:01) - Intro
(01:38) - Customer service response times
(03:42) - Proving that I’m the real deal
(05:13) - The importance of prioritizing customer service and productivity
(06:55) - How to embrace the bots
(09:32) - Don’t act like your bots are people
(11:12) - Optimizing for response speed

230: Moritz Dausinger — Serial Indie Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Today, I’m talking to Moritz Dausinger, a serial indie hacker with several exits under his belt. Moritz most recently pivoted his software business Refiner after 18 months of trying to figure out a way forward. Well, now he’s found it. We will chat about figuring out how to structure sales, how and who to hire, and if he wants to sell this business again, for a third time.

Moritz on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mdausinger

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/moritz-dausinger-serial-indie-entrepreneurship/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/215b9c09

The video: https://youtu.be/8jiwJZyMjEI

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com!

(00:00) - Introduction to today’s episode.
(03:04) - How did you get involved with the indie hackers podcast?
(10:11) - It’s never just about execution.
(16:40) - The importance of bootstrapping.
(20:16) - Getting funding for Refiner.
(24:47) - How to outsource your technical work.
(29:29) - How did you decide to sell your company?
(35:47) - The importance of building a good relationship with the seller.
(38:38) - Sharing your story in public.
(42:23) - The importance of sharing your story.
(47:50) - Bridging the gap between sales and customer service.
(51:56) - Pricing structure for dual models.
(57:43) - How expensive is it to run a database server?
(01:03:08) - What is the perfect sellable business?

229: Utility, Pricing, and Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Are you struggling to find the balance between the utility of your product and its perceived value? Let’s explore the biggest misconception in entrepreneurship and discover how to create a high-utility business at the intersection of your fields of interest. Find out what Swiss Army knives have to do with it, too!

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/utility-pricing-and-entrepreneurship/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d8b22900

The video: https://youtu.be/G4KZWbYutEs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 annual exit planning for startup founders, we explore the mindset and framework necessary for building a successful and sellable business, as well as the benefits of stepping outside of your normal workplace to think strategically. With practical advice and personal anecdotes, this conversation is a must-watch for any entrepreneur looking to achieve long-term success — and a big life-changing check at the end.

Kevin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kevin_McArdle

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/kevin-mcardle-the-man-who-changed-my-life-and-could-change-yours/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d938c4ce

The video: https://youtu.be/Wx0hEK0zNPU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

227: Self-Censorship on Twitter

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Join me on a thought-provoking journey as I explore the challenge of balancing authenticity and public opinion on social media. Discover the struggle faced by an entrepreneur and creator who wants to build a Twitter audience while staying true to themselves. Yours truly. I'll ask the tough question: how much of my "true self" should I reveal in the public domain?

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/self-censorship-on-twitter/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9216f800

The video: https://youtu.be/6Hk5qbjXZJk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn

226: Paul Millerd — Walking The Pathless Path

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed by societal expectations?

Today, I’m talking to Paul Millerd, author of “The Pathless Path.” We talk about hustle traps, the stories we tell ourselves about success, and our obsession with productivity. Learn how to connect with yourself, rediscover leisure as a positive force in your life, and find "the others."

Discover how to expand your horizons and find your own way in life, all while building and teaching in public.

Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_millerd/

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/paul-millerd-walking-the-pathless-path/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/14e38471

The video: https://youtu.be/fqAN89v8DQ4

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Introduction.
(00:52) - Finding the pathless path.
(07:04) - Taking action will lead to more action.
(11:01) - Goals and aspirations.
(17:08) - Leisure and Laziness.
(24:09) - Generosity and not focusing on numbers.
(27:57) - Why money doesn’t matter
(33:44) - How writing helped me make sense of life.
(38:28) - How to avoid bullshitting yourself.
(43:08) - How to live your life.
(50:34) - Finding Paul

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Discover how to make your Twitter profile a promise of a fruitful long-term relationship with your future followers. Today,. let’s explore the biggest misconceptions surrounding Twitter profiles and how optimizing your profile can turn visitors into followers. From the purpose of your profile to the importance of using real estate wisely, you’ll find the common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/twitter-teardowns-3-low-hanging-fruit-to-massively-improve-your-twitter-presence/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/20b5a449

The video: https://youtu.be/_Ia8dnuXOg8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn

224: Dr. Julie Gurner — Founder Mental Health 101

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

"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 first place."

This week, Dr. Julie Gurner shares with me how high performers combat the challenges founders commonly face. She’s a performance coach and Doctor of Psychology. We’ll talk about dealing with imposter syndrome, burnout, how to deal with the avalanche of advice on Twitter, and why it is so hard for founders to cope with stress.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dr-julie-gurner-founder-mental-health-101/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb3e42ca

The video: https://youtu.be/RjIZ8g0sxZw

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - How common is Impostor Syndrome?
(02:42) - How social media can impact your business
(08:00) - Vulnerability is not just a means of sharing negative feedback
(13:33) - Diversity & Building in Public
(17:54) - How to avoid falling into the Impostor Syndrome
(22:35) - The importance of taking incremental steps
(26:29) - Optimizing your business
(32:18) - The importance of meditation
(37:15) - The importance of having a routine that you enjoy
(44:02) - The problem with the word "expertise"
(47:43) - The importance of confidence in entrepreneurship
(51:07) - Incorporating philosophy into your own life

223: How to Build in Public Without Revealing Too Much

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 the difference between sharing business insights and trade secrets, and construct a Share/Don't Share list to help you decide what to share with your audience.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-to-build-in-public-without-revealing-too-much/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ed43fa8

The video: https://youtu.be/iq_DetrM-DE

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Joe Masilotti is the founder of RailsDev —a reverse job board— and a Turbo Native consultant. In this conversation, we explore Joe Masilotti's philosophy on entrepreneurship and his focus on empowering software developers to find work. Joe's approach to monetizing Open Source is particularly interesting: he gives away his product for free with an eventual revenue share. We delve into the various marketing strategies that Joe uses for his different business ventures, including cold emailing, content marketing, and live coding.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/joe-masilotti-building-in-public-and-monetizing-open-source

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ebd473b8

The video: https://youtu.be/uxfUZ31QYGY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - Introduction
(04:00) - B2B vs. B2C
(08:12) - How to monetize?
(14:24) - Reverse job boards
(19:27) - Coding in public.
(25:06) - Transparency
(32:23) - Monetizing open source projects
(37:57) - Selling the business
(44:48) - The ideal future
(49:25) - Overlap between marketing and cold email marketing
(56:30) - Building in public and empowering people

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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, pursuing this approach can be dangerous. Today, you'll learn how to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of digital entrepreneurship, build successful businesses that serve your customers and owners, and avoid the pitfalls of pursuing a "forever business" from day one.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/why-entrepreneurs-are-choosing-short-lived-businesses-over-forever-businesses

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e1eb3929

The video: https://youtu.be/lzYc5ArzTsw

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 31 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I interviewSimon Høiberg, an active software engineer, founder, and YouTuber. Simon shares his strategies for balancing his roles as a creator and maker, and discusses the importance of incorporating personal experience into his content. He also delves into the power of intrinsic motivation and joy in entrepreneurship, and how he gamifies his life to prioritize these elements. The conversation touches on topics such as productivity, mental health, team management, and burnout prevention.

Join me and Simon for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, content creation, and personal growth. Be inspired by Simon's passion for empowering entrepreneurs, and learn how you can incorporate joy and intrinsic motivation into your own entrepreneurial journey.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/simon-hoiberg-building-a-saas-that-works-for-you

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/05f2d837

The video: https://youtu.be/U0cUsvxHtn0

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - On not burning out
(04:53) - Coding mindset for entrepreneurs
(09:38) - How to pick the right social media management tool.
(14:14) - THe power of community
(21:18) - What does a good lifetime deal look like?
(24:53) - Allow customers to leave your product.
(31:58) - The funnel and the web.
(37:24) - Sharing your journey and success.
(42:07) - How long does it take to build a youtube channel?
(45:38) - A day in the life of an entrepreneur without burning out.
(50:52) - The importance of having an empty calendar.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 fallacy of wishful reasoning and the importance of picking a niche. Discover why building a successful product means addressing a specific set of needs for a particular group of customers, and why a well-defined niche is the best place to start.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-dangerous-misconception-founders-have-about-their-market/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e22791e5

The video: https://youtu.be/jRc37k7I46s

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 24 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 evolve —you might call it “grow up”— over time. Here’s Evelyn.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

Evelyn's Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynJStarr

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/evelyn-j-starr-the-evolution-of-a-brand/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/69cc34f4

The video: https://youtu.be/CTKESAugLP8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

(00:00) - What’s the biggest misconception about building brands?
(01:44) - Do other brands influence the perception of your brand?
(06:26) - What is the core of your business’s brand?
(10:11) - How to pick a niche that is just right.
(16:34) - What is too big of a niche to start a business?
(21:46) - The evolution of a brand over time.
(27:53) - What’s the difference between a serious brand and an adult brand?
(33:19) - Tips on how to find your fans.
(37:30) - The importance of having a differentiator in the space.
(40:26) - Most people want to help. Most of the time you’re going to get a yes.
(47:13) - The importance of being relatable to your audience.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Building in public is a popular trend in entrepreneurship. However, it may not always be the best approach. Entrepreneurs should consider their personality traits, the nature of their business, and their competitive advantages before deciding whether to adopt this approach. Building in public is about generosity, transparency, and community, and can be a powerful way to gain customers' trust, build a brand, and grow a business if these values align with the business model and personal style — but not always.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-flip-side-when-not-to-build-in-public/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/815ae514

The video: https://youtu.be/GoJB6ngrS1M

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

216: Jack Ellis — Taking on Google as a Bootstrapper

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 17 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 web properties. The company that Jack co-founded with Paul Jarvis competes directly with Google on their linchpin advertising product. That’s a pretty high order. We chat about Jack's role in a growing successful software business and just how much he hesitates to go from coder to manager. We dive into choosing reliable dependencies to power an always-on SaaS business and how to deal with migrating customers from Google to Fathom.

Here’s a deep dive into a successful technical SaaS business. Here’s Jack Ellis.

Jack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackEllis

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jack-ellis-taking-on-google-as-a-bootstrapper/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/cda46335

The video: https://youtu.be/oGjrUs0JB8w

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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

The shift towards trust-based advertising is a wake-up call for founders and creators when crafting their marketing strategy, as honesty, integrity, and trust are now essential components of a successful approach to outreach.

Here are the steps that you need to take to keep up with this development.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/in-pod-we-trust-how-creators-can-best-juggle-credibility-and-sponsored-content/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7ff5761e

The video: https://youtu.be/AZFbKUSmq_I

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

214: Fatih Kadir Akın — Selling a Global Sticker Business

Arvid Kahl — Tue, 09 May 2023 13:51:37 -0400

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

Today, I'm talking to my dear old friend Fatih Kadir Akın — or fka for short. We discuss his unexpected journey of building a successful business out of a simple idea. Fatih shares his experience with building Stikkernet and how he grew his audience through community building. We chat about the challenges of logistics when shipping internationally and how Fatih found solutions that worked so well it lead to an exit.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/fatih-kadir-akin-selling-a-global-sticker-business/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/155fff77

The video: https://youtu.be/ijU4vYrBDwo

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:51) - Stikkernet
(10:05) - How Fatih became a sticker expert in Turkey
(18:28) - The perfect product for community-based marketing.
(29:02) - Sticker Mule
(33:03) - What is developer relations?
(38:17) - Do you still get to code?
(41:52) - Community-building
(47:54) - The pressure of starting a business.

213: The Rubber Band Effect

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 it impacts both journalists and entrepreneurs alike. Learn how to build products that fit seamlessly into your customers' workflows and how to effectively communicate the results your product can achieve, without overwhelming them with the complexity of the underlying technology.

The Ai researcher's video "The A.I. Dilemma": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQ

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-rubber-band-effect/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ad970e30

The video: https://youtu.be/iHxd1iKI970

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

212: Dagobert Renouf — The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 03 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

“As an entrepreneur, you need someone you’ve been through shit with already” — and that’s exactly why Dagobert and Lucie are the perfect power couple co-founders. I chatted with @dagobertrenouf about overcoming struggle, growing a business together, and dealing with the lack of motivation when things get complicated.

We discuss the power of Twitter and building an audience before creating a product. Dagobert shares his personal journey with Logology and how he lost motivation before finding inspiration from his Twitter community. He also talks about the importance of understanding customers' problems before building a product and how he plans to apply this lesson to Logology 2.

Hope you’re ready for an emotional journey of entrepreneurship.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dagobert-renouf-the-emotional-journey-of-entrepreneurship/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2b57060d

The video: https://youtu.be/4aOLgJC8CKU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 counterpoints and can detect emotional subtext, highlight missing pieces of the argument, and suggest better examples. This adversarial writing approach with generative AI results in writing that is both in the author's voice and accessible to a wider readership.

00:00:14 Intro

00:01:33 ChatGPT as a writing buddy

00:03:13 Bias-busting with a Devil's Advocate

00:04:48 Other uses of ChatGPT

00:06:13 Fact-checking

00:07:22 Emotional arcs

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/writing-with-a-nemesis-using-chatgpt-to-strengthen-your-arguments/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/562c4b5f

The video: https://youtu.be/3Rk17om7crU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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, imposter syndrome, and stress among founders. Sherry explained the need for mental health professionals who understand the unique challenges of entrepreneurship and shared that burnout is a diagnosable issue.

While entrepreneurs have more control over their work, long hours and hustle culture can still lead to burnout. Her book, "The Entrepreneur's Guide to Keeping Your Shit Together," helped me during a period of burnout while selling my business.

Now, you get to learn from her and her deeply actionable insights into founder psychology.

00:00:00 Introduction to Sherry Walling

00:03:13 Mental health in the entrepreneur community.

00:09:17 Do entrepreneurs have control over their destiny?

00:15:22 How do you find good mastermind groups?

00:21:52 Mental health is not always called mental health

00:28:20 Grief is the emotional reaction to loss

00:34:06 You can have relationships with people who don’t get it.

00:40:24 Mental health apps are not a replacement for therapy.

00:45:59 Why aren’t more people talking about mental health?

The WIRED article about mental health apps: https://www.wired.com/story/are-mental-health-apps-worth-trying/

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dr-sherry-walling-the-reality-of-burnout-for-entrepreneurs/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/dc436cce

The video: https://youtu.be/hIwaExsScWk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 with 250 other bootstrapped SaaS founders is one of the nerdiest things you can do. And it was as enlightening as it was nerdy. I just arrived back home in Canada a few hours ago, so I took the opportunity to share my insights from the conference on my podcast. Enjoy!

00:00:14 Intro

00:02:26 What is MicroConf?

00:08:42 STIR

00:11:21 The talks

00:16:34 The speaksessionsers

00:19:19 My session on mental health

00:25:43 Feeling isolated

00:28:31 How to start a conversation about your own experience.

00:34:37 Mental health as a founder is paramount.

00:37:25 MicroConf is more than just a conference

00:43:28 Things outside the conference hall

My MicroConf EU 2019 attendee talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TheiytjsZoY
MicroConf Connect: https://microconf.com/connect

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/microconf-us-23-recap-what-happens-when-250-saas-founders-meet/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9d12dbc0

The video: https://youtu.be/8ty4NNbVnMo

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

208: Louis Nicholls — Growing Your Newsletter

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 monetize a list, how to grow it reliably, and why cold emails are often done spectacularly wrong.

Louis will show you how to do email right.

00:00:00 Why did you choose to build SparkLoop?

00:05:23 Grow an audience, monetize a list

00:09:07 How do you maintain customer quality in a network?

00:14:55 Advice on how to cross-link your knowledge with other channels.

00:18:48 How much is too much in terms of "buying" subscribers?

00:21:59 What makes a newsletter word of mouth-worthy?

00:27:48 Struggling with self-promotion

00:31:51 What makes a good or a really bad cold email?

00:36:44 Why all cold emails look the same

00:42:57 Why a good message is never cold

00:48:57 Borrowed audiences always have risk

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/louis-nicholls-growing-your-newsletter/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/8e4bcbf9

The video: https://youtu.be/FNolzZtXjLI

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

207: ChatGPT: Goldmine or Minefield for Indie Hackers?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 is ubiquitous.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/chatgpt-goldmine-or-minefield-for-indie-hackers/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/efd69983

The video: https://youtu.be/J4eNi1uqxUI

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

206: Marie Poulin & Benjamin Borowski — Digital Permaculture

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Marie and Ben are a power couple. Together, they run Notion Mastery, an intense workshop for people who want to use Notion professionally and productively. In our conversation, we'll dive into platform risk, building a sustainable educational business, how to work together as a couple, and why social media distribution matters a lot to educational founders. Enjoy!

00:00:00 What can we learn from permaculture?
00:04:55 How do you make it profitable?
00:10:57 Building an info product on top of a shifting platform?
00:13:28 How do you keep your courses relevant in the future?
00:19:14 Perfectionism is a huge problem
00:22:12 How do you speak to an audience that is so diverse?
00:27:33 Are you a user or are you a builder?
00:29:52 Channels that have worked the best.
00:33:55 Partnerships
00:37:16 How to build a business with yout partner.
00:43:08 What is needed to keep a long-term event like this running?
00:46:34 The breathing business

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/marie-poulin-benjamin-borowski-digital-permaculture/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/faf48b60

The video: https://youtu.be/Dr0Uty8heyo

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

205: Artificial Scarcity Damages the Creator Economy

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Artificial scarcity, a marketing tactic that fosters urgency in customers, can lead to short-term financial gains but raises ethical concerns and negative consequences in the creator economy. Drawbacks include damaging relationships, promoting impulsive purchases, and exacerbating global inequality. While there are exceptions, such as outcome-oriented communities and front-loading financial gains, adopting an abundance mindset and cultivating genuine relationships is a more sustainable long-term strategy in the digital realm.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/artificial-scarcity-damages-the-creator-economy/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/37d137db

The video: https://youtu.be/0ypM30tG1Mg

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

204: Josh Spector — Saying Less and Making More

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 emails. In our conversation, you will learn why brevity is so attractive, how to make sure you're telling the right stories to the right people, and how to build systems that keep people coming back for more.

00:00:00 How to think about scarcity

00:04:16 Josh's newsletter(s)

00:08:49 Ads that feel less like ads

00:12:21 Why you need to know what you want to sell

00:16:20 How Josh got started

00:22:02 Advertising is just another way for people to connect

00:26:32 Maintain and improve the quality of your audience

00:30:51 How to get people to subscribe to your newsletter

00:34:54 Why you need to shorten your email newsletter

00:39:28 How to use video as part of your content strategy

00:48:12 Empathy with the needs of your audience

00:51:31 Helping your reader

00:57:16 Having an audience centric approach to business

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/josh-spector-saying-less-and-making-more/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/6bbf0f6e

The video: https://youtu.be/AND8f7I_Tr0

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

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

Arvid Kahl — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 episode.

Kudos to @YongSooChung for putting his money where his mic is. He spent a lot of time, money, and energy to make this episode happen. This is a great ep, and if want to learn about my whole founder journey, I recommend a listen.

Here's the original show: https://www.firstclassfounders.com/life-changing-wisdom-with-arvid-kahl-from-selling-a-saas-business-to-becoming-a-creator/

Yong-Soo Chung on Twitter: https://twitter.com/YongSooChung

203: The Art of Naming Your Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 into the linguistic and cultural considerations of choosing a business name, including avoiding potentially offensive or negative connotations in various markets.

I also emphasize the importance of trademarking the business name and domain to protect from infringement and legal disputes. Future-proofing a business name involves securing social media handles and reevaluating and possibly undertaking a rebranding process if the business's direction changes significantly or the target audience's preferences shift over time.

This podcast episode offers practical insights and tips on choosing a fitting business name that represents your brand's identity and promise.

https://namemesh.pro/ : Generates domain name suggestions based on your keywords.

https://www.shopify.com/tools/business-name-generator Offers a variety of business name ideas based on your input.

Lean Domain Search: Matches your keyword with thousands of potential domain names. Namium is great, too.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-art-of-naming-your-business/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9c485402

The video: https://youtu.be/HDGSrHBrLtk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Localazy! use the coupon ARVID for 25% off.

202: Peter Askew — Domain Expertise

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 to monetizing domains as well as purchasing them on the cheap side. Peter's been building online marketplaces for a while, and he'll teach you how he approaches setting up profitable businesses.

00:00:00 Peter’s unique approach to building a business.

00:02:59 The right mindset to become an entrepreneur.

00:05:46 Getting into domain name investing.

00:11:11 The domain name investing path.

00:16:20 The importance of having a domain first.

00:20:08 What’s a directory marketplace like?

00:26:43 The domain-first approach is genius.

00:30:00 The importance of no-brainer pricing.

00:33:37 How to use a domain portfolio to build your business

00:39:22 Peter is not afraid of going into a new industry.

00:44:21 The importance of having a good domain name.

00:52:13 Industries to avoid

00:58:48 Peter's world

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/peter-askew-domain-expertise/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/da30dbce

The video: https://youtu.be/vGN8fPLg4Nw

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

201: How I Stay Consistent

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Here are my personal strategies for achieving consistency in content creation, which encompass implementing accountability systems, connecting with my audience, and reaping financial and lifestyle rewards. Additionally, I explore the difficulties of maintaining motivation and the vital role of community in this process.

I recount my own story, beginning with the launch of a blog and ultimately leading to the development of a self-perpetuating content creation cycle. Throughout this journey, I've expanded my income sources by securing sponsorships and authoring books. By highlighting the significance of consistency, I aim to inspire others to adopt it as a guiding principle in their own creative endeavors.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-i-stay-consistent/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7bd407f4

The video: https://youtu.be/K3qSwVT1Sh0

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Justin Jackson has been successfully bootstrapping Transistor.fm with a small team throughout the ups and downs of a shifting economy. He even rejected massive clients to be able to keep running a calm and self-funded business. Find out just how important it is to stay independent, resilient, and nimble, and what building on open standards has to do with that.

00:00:00 Justin Jackson

00:01:24 The world of ideas

00:10:32 Understanding the context of advice.

00:15:58 The importance of attribution

00:20:49 What’s the most important metric?

00:25:29 What’s your company for?

00:29:56 Having a team that can execute at the highest level

00:35:34 The repercussions of decisions

00:40:41 Simple things are more resilient than complicated things

00:45:26 Platform risk

00:51:22 The problem with centralized discoverability

01:00:53 The importance of open standards

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/justin-jackson-bootstrapping-transistor-fm-on-open-standards/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/1740724b

The video: https://youtu.be/y0yIZ-O8nNQ

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

199: The SaaS Solution-Workflow Fit

Arvid Kahl — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 element to consider for success. Discover why the medium in which your solution is implemented and the workflow of your customers matter just as much as the technical side of your solution. See real-life examples and learn how to research your target industry's existing workflows, design your solution to fit between existing tools, and adapt your solution to fit your customers' needs. Achieving solution-workflow fit is key to creating a successful SaaS business that truly helps and empowers your customers.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-saas-solution-workflow-fit

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f9bf24a1

The video: https://youtu.be/eb5cS5Z1vBk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

198: Rob Fitzpatrick — Tinkerers, Thinkers, and Teachers

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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 complicated business, the world of self-publishing, what AI tools can and will do for humanity, and how to build communities that can run by themselves.

00:00:00 Rob Fitzpatrick
00:03:38 The challenges of building the Useful Books business
00:10:01 A rare breed
00:14:47 The passion discount
00:21:12 What’s changed in self-publishing?
00:26:43 What’s your pet peeve of the publishing industry?
00:32:48 Knowledge production
00:39:06 Short-term wins are not going to be around for long
00:42:21 Different voices for the same content
00:47:39 Prose be gone
00:54:26 Staying accountable in an accountability community
00:57:45 Late-stage communities
01:02:26 Rob’s passion and the purpose of communities

Brandon Sanderson's class on Indie Publishing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHdYX418PaA

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/rob-fitzpatrick-tinkerers-thinkers-and-teachers/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/fd014e11
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqPF3a0px68

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

197: Securing your SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/securing-your-saas/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/6c645953

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNOr7BheIz8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

196: Troy Hunt — Securing Your SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Troy Hunt (of HaveIBeenPwned fame) is a cybersecurity expert who has been around long enough to be able to give actionable and pragmatic security advice without complicating things.

In our conversation, we chat about best practices for securing your SaaS business, how to get your family to be more secure, what it means to vet your vendors, if you should build your own authentication and why passwords just won't die.

After this conversation, you will know how to adequately secure your SaaS business without having to spend thousands of dollars.

00:00:00 Troy Hunt
00:00:59 The 1 thing SaaS founders get wrong
00:05:14 Why you shouldn’t build your own authentication
00:09:17 Library update management
00:13:42 Using third-party services
00:19:08 Data breaches and security expectations
00:26:39 Browser extensions
00:31:53 What is the right amount of security?
00:37:11 Giving your customers security options
00:42:13 The Have I Been Pwned + 1Password deal
00:48:18 Password managers

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/securing-your-saas-with-troy-hunt/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d2244c65
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRM-UrS440s

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

195: Don't Fall for the Follower Count Trap

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 meet that target, which can lead to unintended consequences. You'll see examples of this law in action, including in education and social media, and learn the negative consequences of over-optimizing for follower count. But I won't let you go without prevention methods and tips for building a quality audience on social media.

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:51 Goodhart's Law
00:03:28 The Pitfalls of Focusing on Follower Count
00:07:32 The Negative Consequences of Over-Optimizing for Follower Count
00:09:18 Prevention Methods
00:12:16 How to Build a Quality Audience on Social Media

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dont-fall-for-the-follower-count-trap

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/33be4469

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1HtIy5JyHI

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Fathom Analytics.

194: Matt Wensing — Publish Your Juicy Thoughts

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I’m talking to Matt Wensing — the founder behind Summit and tweeter of many often controversial things. We talk about bootstrapping a financial SaaS, how to deal with integrations, and when to take funding. Here’s Matt.

00:00:00 An exchange of stories
00:04:54 What’s your strategy?
00:09:31 Writing long-form
00:15:05 Bridging the gap between invention and commercialization.
00:19:56 Creators and salespeople.
00:25:58 How a little bit of cash can change the trajectory of your business.
00:34:34 Bootstrapping is not a shot in the dark
00:41:48 The importance of trust (in the crypto space.)
00:47:55 Centralization has to occur for other people to benefit
00:54:58 How not to leave people behind
00:59:29 How do you look at platform risk from both sides?
00:1:05:06 The nature of platforms

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/matt-wensing-publish-your-juicy-thoughts/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f7deea33
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pBYsl1UxeY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Stair-stepping into software entrepreneurship is a great way for developers to start their own businesses without taking on massive risks. Building a plugin on an established platform allows developers to leverage existing user bases and traffic to grow their business quickly, while also being aware of the risks associated with platform dependency, profit-sharing, and limited flexibility.

My interview with Collen Schnettler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpcYTO5x3cY
Rob Walling's Stair-Stepping: https://robwalling.com/2015/03/26/the-stair-step-method-of-bootstrapping/
Preetham Nath: https://www.preetamnath.com/blog/grow-shopify-micro-saas-to-25k-mrr-in-14-months

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/stair-stepping-with-plugins-platforms-to-build-on/

The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/51643e63

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjOHqn4PJZM

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Drata.

192: Colleen Schnettler — Stair-Stepping into SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I’m talking to Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hammerstone and build-in-public podcaster. We talk about getting bootstrapper-compatible funding, juggling way too many projects, and selling a business when you know it’s time to move on. Here’s Colleen.

00:00:00 A lot of podcasts
00:06:01 Building on Heroku
00:12:25 Building on Marketplaces
00:16:59 Dealing with support requests
00:21:49 Pressure to sell?
00:26:27 Hammerstone
00:31:24 Business Value
00:35:46 Value of value
00:41:11 The risks of having just a few big customers
00:46:12 Getting bootstrapper funding

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/colleen-schnettler-stair-stepping-into-saas/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/281dbe46
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpcYTO5x3cY

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

191: Writing for Founders

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 communicate ideas and thoughts clearly, attract attention, foster relationships, and build a personal brand.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/writing-for-founders/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/735924e4
The video: https://youtu.be/1R5scFwM5Xw

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Drata.

190: Hassan Osman — Writing on the Side

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 (and keep selling), self-publishing on Amazon, and how to write while having a full-time job. Here’s Hassan!

00:00:00 Introduction to Hassan Osman
00:05:59 Slowly shifting your perspective
00:10:48 Do you update your books that you have written?
00:17:24 How short-sighted publishers can be
00:24:29 The importance of the time component in your book
00:29:12 The ROI if a diverse range of topics
00:34:47 Pick topics that are intersectional, not generic
00:41:43 You don’t need to write a big book to be successful
00:47:03 Using a marketplace vs doing it on your own
00:52:15 Investing in yourself and your public brand
00:56:22 Selling on Amazon and Udemy

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/writing-on-the-side-with-hassan-osman/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b67953c3
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsx78OkIiEk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

189: Be The Kindest Person in the Room

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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. Kindness changes the world, so be honest when self-promoting and set boundaries with hostility. Kindness can be seen in every aspect of life, creating a cycle of positive change.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/be-the-kindest-person-in-the-room/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0f9109d5
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY3xrnn82Qg

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

188: KP — Building an Authentic Personal Brand

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 guy. KP has been a pillar of the indie hacker community, and we talk about how to involve yourself, empower others, and eventually build a community around your personal brand and the things you care about. Here’s KP.

00:00:00 KP’s founder hotline
00:04:32 The struggle beneath success
00:12:11 The connection between teacher and student
00:16:26 Sharing what you know
00:19:18 The importance of staying in the community
00:23:28 Serial entrepreneurship is severely misunderstood
00:29:46 An iterative approach to learning
00:33:38 Removing yourself from your ask
00:37:14 Sales and trust
00:42:21 The fear of losing your market
00:49:23 The importance of having a mindset of “I’m not the XYZ guy”
00:55:12 Quality doesn't matter as much as we think

- Building an Authentic Personal Brand with KP
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now including Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

187: Negative Reviews are Good for You

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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

Reviews can be a source of frustration for founders, as they may not reflect the quality of the work, but rather the disconnect between the customer's expectation and the reality of the product.

It is important for creators to stay mindful of how they position their products in the marketplace and ensure that their messaging aligns with the customer's experience.

00:00:00 Negative Reviews
00:01:11 Reality vs Expectation
00:02:43 Positioning Errors

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/negative-reviews-are-good-for-you/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/46b3421d
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fulkEU1JAVU

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Drata.

186: Brennan Dunn — Mastering Email Marketing

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Brennan shares the secrets to using emails to build relationships and increase your revenue.

Today, I’m talking to Brennan Dunn, the founder of Palladio, co-founder of RightMessage, and general email expert. As a newsletter author myself, I took to this opportunity to learn as much as possible about personalizing and optimizing my email strategy. You’ll also hear what most people get wrong in email marketing. Here’s Brennan.

00:00:00 Brennan Dunn

00:00:48 What is up with email clients?

00:05:05 Integrating with large platforms

00:08:34 Maybe build a competitor?

00:12:12 Emails and metadata

00:16:20 Email personalization and how it works

00:22:07 How do you get started with this?

00:25:28 Focusing time and effort on certain platforms

00:31:24 The difference between an email list and a newsletter

00:36:30 The importance of segmentation

00:41:06 Use segmentation to increase your list

00:48:56 Customer centric marketing

00:54:24 Is email the right medium to de-risk?

00:59:20 Don’t over-saturate

- Mastering Email Marketing with Brennan Dunn
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

185: The Monkey and the Pedestal

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

To increase your chances of success as an entrepreneur, think outside the box and expand your opportunity surface. This can be achieved by embracing activities that don't scale, diversifying inputs, and taking small steps toward achieving your goals. These strategies will help you create valuable connections, build strong relationships and gain valuable insights that will lead to success.

00:00:00 Laura's journey

00:01:10 The parable of the monkey and the pedestal.

00:02:28 A cultural problem

00:03:36 Reflecting on the monkey

- The Monkey and the Pedestal
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

If you're interested in Descript, go and check it out here.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 about outsourcing, trust, and building an audience around your business. Here’s Laura!

00:00:00 Laura Elizabeth

00:02:10 Running a non-technical founder podcast

00:09:28 Hiring the right people

00:12:14 Hiring people who can do something you can't

00:17:27 Being able to do everything is both awesome and frightening

00:20:13 Experimenting with different modes of delegating

00:25:45 Establishing an internal process for your business

00:30:00 On Phrasing

00:36:30 The importance of having a mentor

00:42:04 Providing the fertile ground for luck to strike

00:45:04 The hardest part is overcoming your inner demon

00:52:56 Why it's good to have an expert for website personalization

00:56:33 Where you can follow Laura

- Building Software Products As a Non-Technical Founder With Laura Elizabeth
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

183: Expanding Your Opportunity Surface

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

- Expanding Your Opportunity Surface
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

If you're interested in Descript, go and check it out here.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 the right vertical to get started, how to do things that don’t scale, and what choices need to be made to get a business to 7 figures.

00:00:00 Daniel Fayle

00:05:35 Getting started with Chekkit

00:09:00 Local marketing & picking verticals

00:12:05 When to hire a team?

00:17:25 Integrations

00:22:33 Pricing choices

00:25:32 How to be inspired by competition?

00:29:54 The importance of customer support

00:36:31 Setting limits on free trials

00:41:55 Use the tech that your customers use

00:47:15 How to stay on top of your game

- Door-to-door to $2M ARR with Daniel Fayle
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

181: The Role of Trust in Remote Work

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 businesses. At the center of any successful remote work relationship lies trust.

And surprisingly, many businesses have a tough time trusting anyone once they can't see them at their desk in the office. Remote work is throwing a wrench in the time-honored tradition of butt-in-seat-hands-on-keyboard that so many managers consider to be the pinnacle of productivity.

Remote work does away with this.

00:00:00 Remote Work is Here to Stay
00:01:28 Async is the New Default
00:04:42 The Deep Work Zone
00:06:17 Trust and Having Nowhere to Hide

- The Role of Trust in Remote Work
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

180: Marissa Goldberg — Running a Remote-First Business

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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’ll talk about productivity, best practices for going remote, and setting up a remote team of all sizes. Here’s Marissa.

00:00:00 Remote Work and Future Proof Workplaces
00:02:03 What is Remote Work Prep?
00:06:54 The right approach to go about remote work.
00:11:00 Traditional hiring doesn’t work for remote teams.
00:17:29 Integrating rest into your work.
00:23:10 The perversion of productivity & responsiveness policies.
00:27:27 Issues with video calls.
00:31:02 The difference between a conversation and a phone call.
00:37:12 How to transition from pandemic remote to normal remote.
00:41:10 The culture of control and top-down decision-making.
00:45:29 There’s no place to hide with remote work.
00:51:58 How do you keep doing what you do?
00:56:23 What is impostor syndrome? What is it and why does it exist?

- Running a Remote-First Business with Marissa Goldberg
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

179: Founder Mental Health Pitfalls

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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 experienced during that conversation was hearing Patrick tell me that he feels he needs to build something else to prove that his exit -$200 million- was not just a fluke.

I did not expect that, but I should have because I feel the same way all the time. And the more founders I talk to, whatever stage of their journey they might be on, I hear them tell me the same story too. Whether they just started out or sold their business for millions a few years ago, they still struggle with who they are, what they should be doing, and proving themselves and their worth to others.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:29 Sponsor
00:01:44 Introduction
00:02:50 Balancing Parenting & Business
00:04:58 Overthinking
00:06:22 Addictions
00:08:03 Dealing with Failure
00:09:45 Not delegating can lead to anxiety
00:11:13 Burnout & Dreading Loss
00:12:49 Navigating imposter syndrome when others appear successful
00:14:44 Second-guessing decisions and dealing with incomplete data
00:16:29 Underestimating and Judging Yourself
00:18:14 Debilitating Shiny Object Syndrome
00:19:54 Feeling guilty for taking a break
00:21:09 Underwhelming Sales
00:24:03 Outro

- Founder Mental Health Pitfalls
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by Senja.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

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

I talked to Patrick about getting acquired for 9 figures, finding your footing as a founder after such an incredible exit, where the online payment industry is heading, and how mental health challenges follow us wherever we go.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:04 Patrick's entrepreneurial journey
00:03:10 A different approach to marketing
00:06:23 Help Sells: providing free value and then selling
00:13:53 Dealing with a $200mil exit
00:15:55 Filming a documentary while exiting
00:19:03 Keeping the company running during the sale
00:24:42 Anxiety during the sale
00:28:08 Anxiety AFTER the sale
00:34:12 Jumping right back into work
00:37:28 Building trust with your team
00:41:49 Defining your role in a deal
00:45:05 Will Patrick ever take a vacation?
00:49:38 It never ends: mental health for founders
00:54:05 The future of the payment industry

- Life After a $200mil Exit with Patrick Campbell
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

177: Diversify Your Creator Portfolio

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

As a creative entrepreneur, it is important to diversify your portfolio and have multiple projects in progress in order to reach a wider audience, stabilize income streams, and protect yourself from the risks associated with relying on any one platform. In order to do this, it is essential to own the means of communication with your audience, such as through a newsletter or blog, and to repurpose content for different formats. Additionally, it is important to collaborate with other creators, use social media to drive traffic to your own platform, and focus on building a community rather than just an audience. Finally, it is essential to regularly back up your work and data in order to protect yourself from being de-platformed.

- Diversify Your Creator Portfolio
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

176: Jay Clouse — Creative Commitments

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 solo creator, what makes a personal brand work, and how important authenticity is in building an audience.

00:00:00 What to do about all the attention-grabbing out there
00:05:00 A trust-based paradigm for your work
00:12:15 The importance of being a human being and not a brand
00:18:11 Challenges of aligning all of your projects under one umbrella.
00:23:02 Can you even find good names at the start?
00:28:57 The importance of having a backlog of ideas.
00:32:37 Will I ever get to this level of quality?
00:37:05 Choosing priorities
00:43:11 The mechanics of building community & building relationships with people
00:46:15 Teaching sentient beings to do things that are good for them (and good for you)
00:50:42 An audience is like an insurance policy

- Creative Commitments with Jay Clouse
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

175: Realistic Building in Public for Introverted Founders

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Sharing your work and process in public can be difficult for introverted entrepreneurs and creators, but it can help build credibility and trust with your audience, gather valuable feedback and insights, and even lead to new opportunities. Tips for sharing in public include reframing why you do it, taking it slow and steady, breaking it into small chunks, scheduling posts, and engaging in conversations. Setting specific goals for the amount of sharing you want to do each week or month can help you stay on track.

- Realistic Building in Public for Introverted Founders
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

174: Ana Bibikova — The Introvert Superpower

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 and salesy marketing tactics. They might work great for extroverts, but not so much for the quiet types. Today, we’ll talk about how you can build a public-facing brand without resorting to all the obnoxious and much-too in-your-face tactics. We’ll talk about being introverted, working with introverts, and serving introverts. Here’s Ana.

00:00:00 Entrepreneurship and Introversion
00:10:13 Growing up being introverted without knowing what it is
00:16:57 A History of Introversion
00:22:49 The loud and shouty approach to social media
00:27:33 How do you stay quiet when you’re selling?
00:34:07 You’re the magnet for signals from the people around you
00:42:45 How to do self-promotion as an introvert vs. an extrovert
00:49:03 You attract what you put out, not what you say

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

[Bonus] Sahil Lavingia — Gumroad’s Pricing Disaster

Arvid Kahl — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:35:08 -0500

Yesterday, the creator economy learned that Gumroad, a platform where creators have been building their businesses by selling their services and products, increased their prices significantly. That caused a lot of backlash in the community, with people threatening to switch to other platforms and criticizing how the price hike was communicated. It’s been an intense topic of community discussion.

Today, I am talking to Sahil, the CEO of Gumroad, about what prompted this change, what happened to cause such a stir, and where Gumroad is heading in the future. Here’s Sahil.

You can find this conversation on YouTube.

173: Build a Defensible Indie Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

When it comes to selling a small indie business, defensibility is a key factor that potential buyers will consider. A unique moat, or competitive advantage, lets your business stands out from the competition and is seen as a valuable acquisition.

Many small founders sell their businesses because they want to get rid of them, and that attracts bargain hunters. It’s easy to negotiate a founder down when they feel pressure to sell a business that’s not very stable or profitable in the first place.

Being able to show that potential competitors have to climb a rather sizeable barrier to entry into your market will net you a significant premium when it’s valuation time. The absence of such a moat around your entrepreneurial castle will push down the price you can ask for. While buyers will still acquire profitable businesses without an oversized advantage, it’s a good idea to consider how you can set up a moat around your business. It will make things much easier.

- Build a Defensible Indie Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

172: Andrew Gazdecki — Building a Sellable Business

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Today, I am talking to Andrew Gazdecki, a pillar of the founder community and himself founder of the acquisition platform formerly known as MicroAcquire — but we’ll learn more about that on the show. Besides organizing millions of dollars worth of acquisitions every month, Andrew is a true teacher. His content on building software businesses is spectacularly useful. And fortunately, he will share a lot of it with us today.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:54 Founder and personality

00:04:19 MicroAcquire: the first venture

00:09:51 On being relatable

00:13:42 From B2B to Human2Humman

00:20:10 What was missing in the market?

00:27:07 What makes a business more sellable?

00:32:14 Tips for selling your business

00:39:07 Working in the business vs. working on the business

00:46:47 You can’t succeed without failure

00:52:59 Any exit, no matter how small, is a good step

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

171: Avoid Vanity Metrics

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 likes. But this is a false notion that doesn't accurately reflect what success looks like for creators — or what “success” is about in the first place.

The truth is that success for creators comes in many different forms, and it usually doesn’t depend on reaching the top of the platform. There are many creators who have found success by building a loyal and engaged audience in a very specific niche, even if they “only” have a few thousand followers. These creators have found ways to meaningfully connect with their audience and provide value to them, which is what ultimately leads to success.

- Avoid Vanity Metrics
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

170: Rosie Sherry — Building Profitable Communities

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

I am talking to Rosie Sherry, proprietor of Rosieland and community empowerment expert. She runs her own communities, monetizing a few of them, and has been managing the IndieHackers community in the past. Rosie is an expert all things community and education. And that's precisely what we'll talk about today.

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

169: Paying the Bills While Building Your First Indie Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 significant changes in your life. Requirements change, and so does our lifestyle to make our dreams possible.

Ideally, we have a master plan on how to get there.

But in reality, we have to pay bills, take care of our family, and deal with the often unexpected hardships of life.

And while everyone's situation is unique, many entrepreneurs have found ways to finance their business-building journeys and make ends meet. That's what we'll be talking about today.

- Paying the Bills With Your First Indie Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

168: Jakob Greenfeld — Writing Your Way to Clarity

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 not a single post on there that feels unfinished. That’s quite impressive. Well, I think we’ll figure out why that is during our conversation. We’ll also chat about how to unlock critical thinking by writing and what it means to give yourself permission to do things your way.

Here’s Jakob Greenfeld.

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

167: Find Business Ideas on Social Media

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

In my conversation with Daniel Vassallo this week, I learned that Daniel uses social media —Twitter in particular— to find inspiration for his own work as a teacher and content creator. Intentionally doomscrolling Twitter to come up with writing prompts and business ideas? Why not!

If we consider this a strategic effort, not just wasting our time on social media, let's develop a few frameworks that lead to more tangible results.

Today, I want to talk about finding ideas, problems, and points of tension that hint at practical business opportunities on social media.

- Find Business Ideas on Social Media
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

166: Daniel Vassallo — Building a Portfolio of Small Bets

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 Twitter. I will talk to him about the importance of making money in diversified ways, how to structure your life around being a founder, and how to figure out which business ideas might actually work.

Here is Daniel Vassallo.

What is the lifetime value of a subscription business? 1:12

Different kinds of software fit different pricing models. 5:04

What is a portfolio of small bets? 9:30

Business is unpredictable. You need to radically reduce the input. 13:48

What common things do you share with other entrepreneurs? 17:46

Don’t try to be too novel. 21:31

What’s a good approach to spreading out your experiments? 26:14

What is the best price for your business? 40:08

How Pieter Levels’ portfolio has changed over time. 45:58

How you can use social media to get new ideas. 51:26

Sometimes it’s something seemingly unrelated that opens your eyes to a new way of doing things. 55:01

Links:
- Daniel's Revenue/Days on Market graph.

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

165: Why You Shouldn’t Sell Your Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 selling his business just yet. Maybe even never.
That got me thinking.

While we all want to build sellable businesses, is there such a thing as selling too early? How can we determine when that phase ends and when it’s time to get acquired? Should we even do that, ever?

Let’s look into why we might want to hold on to our business even when acquirers come knocking.

And by the way, if you’re just starting out on your founder journey and you think that this would be a nice champagne problem to have, don’t underestimate having these things figured out in advance.

- Why You Shouldn’t Sell Your Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 revenue. Now that’s extremely impressive, particularly considering that Damon got it there all by himself.

So, let’s just ask him how this family man accomplished such growth while living in one of the most expensive places you could build a business in. Here’s Damon Chen.

LonelyDev is a community that I built to solve my own problem. 1:01

Lonely Dev turned into IndieLog. 4:09

How to get out of a full-time job to start a business. 12:55

Why you need to be healthy and whole to be able to build a good business. 19:33

Why you need to add video reviews to your landing page. 26:31

Video and authenticity 31:30

There is a point where you reach saturation and you need help. 36:20

What is your exit plan for your business? 42:27

The importance of having a good exit strategy. 47:18

The importance of having a community to support bootstrappers. 51:16

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Earlier this week, I talked to Michele Hansen of Geocodio on The Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Michele co-founded the business with her husband and ran it as a side project for several years. Now, that's a long time to wait before you commit full-time to a project. We also learned during our conversation that there are many ways of determining when the right time is to make that leap: for me, it was reaching a specific revenue figure, and for Michele, it was something else entirely.

So let's explore this critical step today. When should you go from side-project to full-time? What are the significant catalysts that speed up this process?

- When Should You Go from Side-Project to Full-Time?
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

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 work, both as a founder and as an active member of the Indie Hacker community for years now.

I followed her journey with the business just as much as her foray into writing her first book, Deploy Empathy. Michelle really gets the founder community, and she's a respected teacher of all things customer development.

In this episode, we chat about finding the right time to commit to a business, learning when to say no, finding your niche, and learning languages. Enjoy!

You can find Michele on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mjwhansen/. Also, check out her book Deploy Empathy.

Here is a short summary of the topics discussed in this episode:

How do you set boundaries with a podcast? 3:08

How do you judge what you say against what someone else would perceive as useful for themselves? 9:23

How do you make sure you serve the right customers? 13:06

Focus on what you already have instead of where you can go. 19:47

Work in progress vs. goals. 23:13

The journey is the interesting part, not the destination. 28:54

The challenge of self-actualization after a big transition. 31:58

What was the sign that it was time to go full-time? 39:14

The financial hurdle of being an entrepreneur in the US. 42:35

Where the fear of losing everything comes from. 48:09

The mean voice in your head speaking. 51:43

Being able to recognize your own growth is a big part of entrepreneurship. 57:38

Low expectations allow you to surprise yourself, which leads to a better result. 1:00:47

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

Here's the blog post for this episode.
You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

161: Calm Business Misconceptions

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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 with people who spend 80 hours a week working in their businesses —publicly boasting about their so-called "grindset"— when you treat your fledgling business as a side project that you only work on in the evenings?

For many entrepreneurs, calmness is a pipe dream—a nice fantasy but impossible to accomplish.

As you can probably imagine, I beg to differ. Running a calm business is definitely possible, and the perception of it being a flawed concept
often lies in a few myths and wrongful assumptions that I want to debunk today.

- Calm Business Misconceptions

- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course
- Zero to Sold & The Embedded Entrepreneur, my books on entrepreneurship

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

160: Operating a Calm SaaS Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

For most founders, running a business is juggling hot coals while riding on a unicycle. It's a stressful occupation, requiring constant vigilance, and offers barely any downtime to recover or relax.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

- Operating a Calm SaaS Business

- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

159: Pricing for Calm SaaS Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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 customers, and even then, you'll need to adjust it over time. Pricing is never done, and often, it doesn't work.

But fortunately, there are a few foundational choices you can make to keep your pricing efforts calm and manageable.

Today, we'll look at what dimensions to price along, what kinds of subscriptions to offer, and which pricing models to avoid.

- Pricing for Calm SaaS Businesses

- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by RailsDevs.com and MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

158: Product Development for Calm SaaS Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Building a software product is both incredibly simple and excruciatingly complicated. You can build a new mind-blowingly helpful feature within hours, sometimes even minutes. But if you make the wrong technology choices, you might be rewarded with several months of additional work a few years later.

Let's talk about building a product that can carry your SaaS business to success calmly and intentionally.

- Product Development for Calm SaaS Businesses
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

157: Solution Exploration for Calm SaaS Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

When you're building an audience-centric and community-first business, you're delaying finding your business idea and building your product for as long as possible. First, you look into your market, validate the existence of a budget, and zero in on a critical problem to which people need a solution.

And even now, we're not talking about the product yet.

But we will talk about solving the problem. And there's a difference.

- Solution Exploration for Calm SaaS Businesses
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

156: The Toxicity of Growth Hacks

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

155: Problem Discovery for Calm SaaS Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

154: Market Analysis for Calm SaaS Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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 Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

152: Infrastructure of a Calm SaaS Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Entrepreneurial Strategies & Anti-Patterns for a Calm SaaS Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

150: Business Models for a Calm SaaS Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

149: Fundamentals of a Calm SaaS Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by The $100 MBA Show and MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

148: Fundamentals of a Calm Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

147: How NOT to Use Twitter DMs

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

145: On Saying "No"

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- On Saying No
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

143: Permission to Follow Up

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Permission to Follow Up: The Difference Between Owned & Borrowed Audiences
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

142: Consulting in Public

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

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

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

141: Founder Stories are Powerful Assets

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Founder Stories are Powerful Assets
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

140: The Forever Transaction

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- The Forever Transaction
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

139: Building in Public and Legacy

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Building in public and Legacy
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

138: Parasocial Relationships

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Parasocial Relationships: Imaginary Friends of the Social Network Age
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

137: Should Freelancers Offer Free Trials?

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Should Freelancers Offer Free Trials?
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also watch this as a video on YouTube.

136: Choose Your Own Adventure: Creator, Curator, Commentator, or Connector

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Choose Your Own Adventure: Creator, Curator, Commentator, or Connector
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also find this as a video episode on YouTube.

135: Scalable Customer Service for Bootstrappers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Scalable Customer Service for Bootstrappers
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

You can also find this as a video episode on YouTube.

134: Managing Expectations: Making Good (on) Promises.

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Managing Expectations: Making Good (on) Promises.
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

133: You Don’t Need to be an Extrovert to Build in Public — an Introvert’s Perspective

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- You Don’t Need to be an Extrovert to Build in Public — an Introvert’s Perspective
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

132: Why Founders End Up Unemployable

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Why Founders End Up Unemployable
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

131: Seven Kinds of Entrepreneurial Debt

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Seven Kinds of Entrepreneurial Debt
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

130: Entrepreneurial Anti-Patterns — What to Avoid When You're Starting a Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- Entrepreneurial Anti-Patterns — What to Avoid When You're Starting a Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

129: What Founders Can Learn from Professional WoW Gamers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- What Founders Can Learn from Professional WoW Gamers
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

128: How I Find Twitter Content Ideas

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

- How I Find Twitter Content Ideas
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. If you want to hear Charlie Joseph’s story, we interviewed him here (12mins long): https://youtu.be/145p-ipgIw0

If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

127: How I (Fortunately) Failed to Launch an NFT Collection

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- How I (Fortunately) Failed to Launch an NFT Collection
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

Bonus: A Conversation with Michele Hansen (on the Software Social Podcast)

Arvid Kahl — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on the Software Social Podcast with Michele Hansen. The episode there is called How to Use Twitter Effectively (feat. Arvid Kahl) and we go way beyond that in the conversation. We touch on building in public, mental health, empowerment, and kindness.

You can find more information on my course here: Find your Following.

126: The SaaS Market Maturity Paradox

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- The SaaS Market Maturity Paradox
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

125: The Power of the Narrative when Building in Public

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- The Power of the Narrative when Building in Public
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

124: Building in Public and Negativity

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- Building in Public and Negativity
- My Twitter Space appearance
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

123: Purchasing Power Parity Pricing

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- Purchasing Power Parity Pricing
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
- The Big Mac index

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the founder featured in this episode.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

122: Being Imperfect in Public

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- Being Imperfect in Public

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're thinking about selling a startup, you'll want to check out MicroAcquire.

121: The Performative Nature of Building in Public: A View From the Inside

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- The Performative Nature of Building in Public: A View From the Inside

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

120: Fear-Setting

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- Fear-Setting

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

119: The Power of Repetition

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- The Power of Repetition

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

118: Building in Public: Maintaining a Positive Self-Image

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

- Building in Public: Maintaining a Positive Self-Image

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

117: What Founders Can Learn From Web3 Community-Building (And What They Can't)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- What Founders Can Learn From Web3 Community-Building (And What They Can't)

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

116: Twitter: The Gathering. How and Where to Find the Right Followers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- Twitter: The Gathering. How and Where to Find the Right Followers

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

115: Make it Easy to Cancel

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- Make it Easy to Cancel

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

114: Building in Public: How to Build a Minipoly

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- Building in Public: How to Build a Minipoly

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be worth and if now is the time to sell? FE International offers free valuations. Go to FEInternational.com to learn more.

113: Building in Public: How Radical Transparency Hurts Founders

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- Building in Public: How Radical Transparency Hurts Founders

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

112: Building in Public: Oversharing

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- Building in Public: Oversharing
- Black Friday Deal on Gumroad (use `bf21` for 50% discount on checkout)

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

111: Passive Income and Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- Passive Income and Entrepreneurship

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

The guest sponsor this week is Cold Email for Interesting People.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

110: Building in Public: What to Share at Which Stage of Your Journey

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

- Building in Public: What to Share at Which Stage of Your Journey

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

The guest sponsor this week is Innowayt.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

109: Building in Public: Taking Breaks

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Building in Public: Taking Breaks

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

The guest sponsor this week is Logology.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

108: Building in Public: Balancing Building and Sharing

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Building in Public: Balancing Building and Sharing

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

The guest sponsor this week is Typesense.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

107: Too Little, Too Much: Advice and How to Take It

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Too Little, Too Much: Advice and How to Take It

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

The guest sponsor this week is Indie Worldwide.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

106: Burnout

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Burnout

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

The guest sponsor this week is Podopi.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

105: What Founders Can Learn From the Facebook Outage

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- What Founders Can Learn From the Facebook Outage

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

The guest sponsor this week is Dawn.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

104: Copycats and Endurance

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Copycats and Endurance

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing tools.

If you want a promo code for Balsamiq, go to balsamiq.com/go/bootstrapped-founder/

103: Audience-building is not Community-Building

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Audience-building is not Community-Building

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

102: Pivoting in Public: Risks and Opportunities

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Pivoting in Public: Risks and Opportunities

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

101: Why Reading Fiction Is Important for Entrepreneurs

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Why Reading Fiction Is Important for Entrepreneurs

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

100: Consistency, Accountability, and Perseverance

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Consistency, Accountability, and Perseverance

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

99: Of Tangibility and Lawnmowers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0400

- Of Tangibility and Lawnmowers

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

98: The Creeping Nature of Stress for a SaaS Founder

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 09:14:40 -0400

- The Creeping Nature of Stress for a SaaS Founder

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

97: Why Competition is Good For Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 01:00:00 -0400

- Why Competition is Good For Business

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

96: Hyrum's Law

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Hyrum's Law

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

95: What Watching Gamers Fail for Days Can Teach You About Entrepreneurship

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- What Watching Gamers Fail for Days Can Teach You About Entrepreneurship

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

94: How to Kill Your Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- How to Kill Your Business

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

93: Conversations are at the Core of Engagement

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Conversations are at the Core of Engagement

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

92: The Myth of the Immediate Payoff

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- The Myth of the Immediate Payoff

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

91: Say Thank You

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Say Thank You
- Zero to Sold Audiobook — Anniversary Edition

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

90: Competition Isn't Always a Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Competition Isn't Always a Business

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

89: Selfish vs. Selfless: Self-Promotion in Communities

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Selfish vs. Selfless: Self-Promotion in Communities

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

88: Properties of an Interesting Problem

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Properties of an Interesting Problem

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

87: The Line Between Stealing and Being Inspired

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- The Line Between Stealing and Being Inspired

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

86: Audience-Building and Relatable Content

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 May 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Audience-Building and Relatable Content
- The ProductHunt Page for The Embedded Entrepreneur

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

85: Platform Risk and the Three Kinds of Audiences

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 May 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Platform Risk and the Three Kinds of Audiences
- The Embedded Entrepreneur

- The Indie Hackers post
- The Launch Tweet

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold or The Embedded Entrepreneur.

84: Impostor Syndrome and Building Capital

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 May 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Impostor Syndrome and Building Capital

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

83: Entrepreneurship, Job Security, and Wealth Creation

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 May 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Entrepreneurship, Job Security, and Wealth Creation

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

82: Accountability Systems for Founders

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Accountability Systems for Founders

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

81: All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Navigating Bootstrapping Advice

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Navigating Bootstrapping Advice

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

80: SaaS, Self-Talk, and Many Small Bets

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- SaaS, Self-Talk, and Many Small Bets

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

79: Audience Graduation

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0400

- Audience Graduation
- Gergely's Book "Building Mobile Apps at Scale"

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

78: Lifetime Deals and SaaS Businesses

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0400

Lifetime Deals and SaaS Businesses

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

77: The Goals of Audience-Building

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0400

The Goals of Audience-Building

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

Bonus: A Conversation Between Michele Hansen, Colleen Schnettler, and Danielle Simpson, Co-Founder of Feedback Panda

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Here are the original show notes, including a transcript of the episode.

Learn more about the Software Social Podcast here.

You can find Danielle on Twitter.

75: The Shape of a Problem in the Wild

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0400

- The Shape of a Problem in the Wild
- Eugene Schwartz's book Breakthrough Advertising

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

74: On Re-Using Content

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0500

On Re-Using Content

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

73: Audience Discovery: The Importance of Budget

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Audience Discovery: The Importance of Budget

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

72: What founders can learn from Twitch streamers about building in public

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0500

- What founders can learn from Twitch streamers about building in public
- The Embedded Entrepreneur Alpha Reader

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

71: Fear of Disappointing Your Customers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Here's the article for this episode.

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

70: When Your Business Gets Cloned

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Here's the article for this episode: When Your Business Gets Cloned.

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

69: Jargon and Community

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Here's the blog post for this episode: Jargon and Community

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

68: The Grief and Loss of Selling a Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Here's the blog post for this episode.

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

67: The Two Goals of Audience-Building

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0500

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

66: How I Use Twitter

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0500

- How I Use Twitter

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

65: On Offering Public APIs for Your SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0500

- On Offering Public APIs for Your SaaS

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

64: Motivation Will Eventually Go Away: Build Accountability Systems Instead

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0500

- Motivation Will Eventually Go Away: Build Accountability Systems Instead

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

63: Audience-Building through Podcasting

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find the article on podcast audience building here.

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

62: Avoiding the Validation Trap

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find the article on Avoiding the Validation Trap here.

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

61: Open-Source and Bootstrapping

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0500

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

60: Tech Stacks and Indie Hacking

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Tech Stacks and Indie Hacking
- One-Person SaaS stack post on Hacker News

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

59: Rewards and Perils of Being Your Own Customer

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0500

As mentioned in the show, the Black Friday 20% discount code for Zero to Sold on Gumroad is `bf20`

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

58: When Privacy and Customer Value Clash

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ When Privacy and Customer Value Clash

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

57: How I Approach Pricing for a Brand New SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ How I Approach Pricing for a Brand New SaaS

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

56: Sunk Cost Fallacy Engineering

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 09:35:35 -0500

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Sunk Cost Fallacy Engineering

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

55: Customer Lock-In and "Insurance Features"

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ https://blog.checklyhq.com/setting-up-ssl-with-letsencrypt-for-saas-customers/

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

54: Limiting Beliefs

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- permanentlink (my new SaaS project)

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

53: Early Tech Choices and Analysis Paralysis

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

52: "Audience-First" Is Not Just "Building an Audience"

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find the link to Audience First here:

- ✍️ Audience First: An Audience-First Book about Audiences

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

51: Finding an Audience for Your Side Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Finding an Audience for Your Side Business

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

50: Priming Your Business for Due Diligence

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Priming Your Business for Due Diligence

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

49: Preparing for the Sale From Day One: Getting the Documentation Right

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Preparing for the Sale From Day One: Getting the Documentation Right

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

48: At a Crossroads: The Different Kinds of Exits

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ At a Crossroads: The Different Kinds of Exits

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

A Unified Voice: Staying Consistent When You Grow

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ A Unified Voice: Staying Consistent When You Grow

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

How I Self-Published Zero to Sold, a Bestselling Book on Bootstrapping

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ How I Self-Published Zero to Sold, a Bestselling Book on Bootstrapping

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

45: Positioning Is Where It's At

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Positioning Is Where It’s At
- April Dunford's Obviously Awesome
- Andy Raskin's Talk on Storytelling

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

44: You Want a Tribe

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ You Want a Tribe

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

43: When You Reach Your Limits: Growing a Company Beyond the Founder(s)

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ When You Reach Your Limits: Growing a Company Beyond the Founder(s)
- My podcast episode on Continuous Validation with Jane Portman
- Kevin McArdle's podcast episode on SureSwift Capital

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

42: The Power of Omission: Killing Features for Fun and Profit

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ The Power of Omission: Killing Features for Fun and Profit

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

41: Made to Stick: Shaping an Extensible Product

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Made to Stick: Shaping an Extensible Product

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

40: Standard Operating Procedures: Managing Your Future Self

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Standard Operating Procedures: Managing Your Future Self

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

39: Roadmaps and You: Building a Future Together

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Roadmaps and You: Building a Future Together

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

38: Customer Retention: How to Keep Them Around / The Zero to Sold Launch

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Customer Retention: How to Keep Them Around

As mentioned in the episode, feel free to check out my book Zero to Sold. Here's the launch tweet.

Undock sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.

37: Customer Exploration: Seeing Through Your Customer’s Eyes

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Customer Exploration: Seeing Through Your Customer’s Eyes

HipSpec sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.

36: Being Small Is a Benefit: How to Leverage Being a Bootstrapper

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Being Small Is a Benefit: How to Leverage Being a Bootstrapper

Outseta sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.

35: Spreading the Word: How to Do Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Spreading the Word: How to Do Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Feature Upvote sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.

34: Seller Beware: Pricing Models That Can Break Your Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Seller Beware: Pricing Models That Can Break Your Business

Links mentioned in part two:

https://untools.co/

https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/the-cognitive-bias-codex-a-visual-of-180-cognitive-biases/

If you want to be inspired by Seth Godin, please read https://seths.blog/2020/05/dancing-with-tech/

Libpixel sponsors this episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Balsamiq provides this sponsored airtime. Please check out both — they're awesome.

33: Offer Yearly Plans from the Start

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 29 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Not All Subscriptions Are Equal: Offer Yearly Plans from the Start

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder Podcast is sponsored by Treendly. This sponsored airtime is provided by Balsamiq. Please check out both — they're awesome.

32. How to Deal with Plans That No Longer Work / Profit Sharing

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 22 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Not All Subscribers Are Equal: How to Deal with Plans That No Longer Work
- ✍️ Profit-Sharing as Employee Compensation for Bootstrappers

This episode of the Bootstrapp ed Founder Podcast is sponsored by DrawSQL. This sponsored airtime is provided by Balsamiq. Please check out both — they're awesome.

31. Price Is Not Set In Stone: Strategies For Increasing Your Revenue

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 15 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find the promo code provided the sponsor of this show, Balsamiq, right here.

30. You May Be Barking Up the Wrong Tree: Re-Evaluating Your Audience

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 08 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid talks about the kinds of misalignments that can trouble your business.

29. Build for Value, Not for Applause: Product Management Under Heavy Constraints

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 01 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid explains how to make your service noticeably better for the majority of your users without making the product harder to use.

28. First Things First: Feature Prioritization Frameworks

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid talks feature prioritization: Scoring, the Kano Model, and Story Mapping — how and why they work.

27. Forget Goals, Create Systems: Foundations of a Sustainable Bootstrapped Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid talks about how to create repeatable, reliable, and resilient processes and systems for your business.

26. The Boring Truth of Successful Products That Survive

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid explains the core attributes that make products stick around: focus, simplicity, and extensibility.

25. Making Tech Choices: Don’t Add Risk to an Already Risky Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

You can find the full article at Making Tech Choices: Don’t Add Risk to an Already Risky Business.

24. Not in House: On Reinventing the Wheel

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Arvid shares an actionable framework for deciding if you should build or buy (and the mistakes he made in the past).

23. Surviving a Recession as a Bootstrapped Business

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400

The article for this episode can be found on The Bootstrapped Founder blog.

22. How to Release as a Bootstrapper: Often, Early, and Safely

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid explains how to release software effectively and safely.

21. Scaling Your SaaS Without Scaling Your Anxiety

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid talks about how he dealt with anxiety when running FeedbackPanda.

20. Too Many Eyes: Why Bootstrapped Companies Stop Being Transparent (Eventually)

Arvid Kahl — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid talks about transparency, open data, and why bootstrappers usually stop sharing information about their businesses.

19. Continuous Validation: Staying in Touch with Your Market

Arvid Kahl — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Arvid talks about how you can make sure you're still solving the right problem for the right people and if you still enjoy it.

18. The Do's and Don'ts of the Minimum Viable Product

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid explains what an MVP is, how to scope and time it, and what should go into a successful product.

17. So You Got an Offer: How to Do Due Diligence on Your Potential Acquirer

Arvid Kahl — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about how you can find out if your potential acquirer is a good candidate, and what the red flags are.

16. Churn, Retention, and Revenue: What Makes Customers Stick Around and Why That's Important

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about the kinds of churn founders will encounter, and which ones are actually welcome.

15. How to Do Maximum Customer Support with Minimum Effort

Arvid Kahl — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about the FeedbackPanda customer service system allowed them to run the business with 0 employees.

14. The Bootstrapper’s Plight: The Social Headaches of Building a Business

Arvid Kahl — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about the weird conversations you will have as a founder, and how to deal with them.

13. The Myth of The Finished Product

Arvid Kahl — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 19:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about why software products are never finished, and which kinds of changes you can expect to make.

12. Real and Imaginary Responsibilities of a Bootstrapped Founder

Arvid Kahl — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid explains the kinds of imaginary responsibilities he encountered in his business and how to deal with them.

11. Your Initial Pricing Will Never Be Right, But Try Anyway

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about how to price aspirationally, underpricing, overpricing, and how much initial prices really matter.

10. Do You Need a Co-Founder?

Arvid Kahl — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about what to look out for when choosing a co-founder and his experience with his co-founders, good and bad.

9. Finding the Most Painful Problem in a Market

Arvid Kahl — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about what makes a problem painful, what kinds of pains there are, and what questions you should be asking your prospective customers to find them.

8. Solution Validation Doesn’t Happen In a Vacuum: How to Talk To Your Future Customers

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid shows how you can discover the risks your solution poses to the workflow of your prospective customers.

7. Determining the Size of a Market

Arvid Kahl — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about how you can find meaningful numbers to help you pick the right market for your bootstrapped SaaS. For B2B, B2BC, and B2C markets, he shows you how you can get the most accurate figures.

6. Finding a Market to Build a SaaS

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Arvid talks about the right kinds of markets for bootstrapped businesses, what qualities they should have and how markets can change for better or worse.

5. The Power of the Niche

Arvid Kahl — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find the article for this episode here.

4. Finding the Critical Problem: How to Work on The Right Things

Arvid Kahl — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find the article for this episode here.

3. Make It Sell Itself: On Referral Systems

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You can find the article for this episode here.

2. Problem Validation: Making Sure You’re Talking To The Right People

Arvid Kahl — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -0500

You can find this article on The Bootstrapped Founder blog under the name Problem Validation: Making Sure You’re Talking To The Right People.

1. The FeedbackPanda Story

Arvid Kahl — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -0500

In the first episode of The Bootstrapped Founder podcast, Arvid talks about starting, running, and selling FeedbackPanda, his crooked career path, and what listeners can expect from future episodes of the podcast.