Afleveringen

  • Episode 732 | Lessons Learned Bootstrapping to a $615M Exit

    Episode 732 | Lessons Learned Bootstrapping to a $615M Exit

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 732, Rob Walling interviews Jeff, a mostly anonymous and retired founder, about his mostly bootstrapped business and subsequent exits. Jeff shares how he started the company in 2003 and how he persevered in the early, lonely years to achieve traction in the business. They also discuss finding fulfillment after a huge, life-changing exit.

    Topics we cover: 2:17 – Jeff, the retired SaaS founder you haven’t heard of3:32 – Refreshing the bank balance after multiple exits5:26 – ARR multiples across several exits8:11 – “Accidentally” SaaS, growing the business in the early days11:35 – Getting through the toughest moments in the journey16:31 – Why did the business work?20:14 – “Short term generous, long term greedy”24:32 – Staying busy after an exit32:09 – Giving back to foundersLinks from the Show: Purchase The SaaS Launchpad before September 30th to get access to a live Q&A with RobTinySeedRetired Founder (@RetiredFounder) | XContact Retired FounderBeyond The Finish Line

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

  • Episode 731 | How to Delegate as a Perfectionist, SaaS Partnerships, Planning Your Next Quarter, and More Listener Questions (with Derrick Reimer)

    Episode 731 | How to Delegate as a Perfectionist, SaaS Partnerships, Planning Your Next Quarter, and More Listener Questions (with Derrick Reimer)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 731, join Rob Walling and Derrick Reimer as they tackle some more advanced listener questions. They discuss delegation and giving up areas of control as a founder, including examples from their time together at Drip. Derrick describes how he approaches partnering with other SaaS businesses and why planning a full quarter ahead doesn’t work for many bootstrapped founders.

    Episode Sponsor:

    Hiring senior developers can really move the needle in your business, but if you bring on the wrong person, you can quickly burn through your runway. If you need help finding a vetted, senior, results-oriented developer, you should reach out to today’s sponsor, Lemon.io.

    For years, they’ve been helping our audience find high quality, global talent at competitive rates, and they can help you too.

    Longtime listener Chaz Yoon, hired a senior developer from Lemon.io and said his hire ”definitely knew his stuff, provided appropriate feedback and pushback, and had great communication, including very fluent English. He really exceeded my expectations.”

    Chaz said he’d definitely use Lemon.io again when he’s looking for a senior level engineer.

    To learn more and get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups.

    Topics we cover: 1:17 – Delegating as a perfectionist7:19 – Learning to hire those that are better than you in some domains14:50 – Risk vs. certainty19:01 – Finding specialized marketing roles vs. a generalist24:04 – Managing partnerships with other SaaS products31:17 – Reaching out about partnerships32:46 – Quarterly planning for your SaaS34:20 – Planning in smaller time blocks40:58 – Quizzing developers’ on their knowledgeLinks from the Show: Purchase The SaaS LaunchpadTinySeedThe SaaS PlaybookMicroConf YouTube ChannelDerrick Reimer (@derrickreimer) | XSavvyCalFinding Fulfillment by Jason CohenShape Up

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

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  • Episode 730 | The SaaS Launchpad: The Ultimate Course for Launching Your Product

    Episode 730 | The SaaS Launchpad: The Ultimate Course for Launching Your Product

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 730, Craig Hewitt turns the table and interviews Rob Walling about releasing The SaaS Launchpad course. Craig, founder of Castos, asks Rob about the course's purpose and structure, which founders that it’s designed for, and why he made a course as opposed to a new book, or a YouTube series. They also discuss the pricing strategy, hosting platforms, accountability, community, and more.

    If you’re trying to take your SaaS from zero to one, purchase The SaaS Launchpad before September 30th to get access to a live Q&A with Rob.

    Topics we cover: 2:00 – Why a course?4:35 – Who is it for?9:37 – Breaking down the pricing behind the course14:32 – Choosing a platform to host the course17:47 – Enabling action from those who enroll27:33 – Course topics that help founders get early traction30:26 – The biggest problems early-stage founders faceLinks from the Show: The SaaS LaunchpadCraig Hewitt (@TheCraigHewitt) | XCastosThe Rouge Startups podcastCraig’s YouTube ChannelEpisode 606 | The Podcasting Landscape, Keeping Your Saw Sharpened, and Scaling Your Team with Craig HewittThe SaaS PlaybookMicroConf ConnectMicroConf Mastermind MatchingThe MicroConf YouTube channelTinySeedEpisode 726 | Selling 29,000 Copies, Information vs. Motivation, and Making Your First Level Last (A Rob Solo Adventure)Circle.soRuben Gamez (@earthlingworks) | XLianna Patch (@punchlinecopy) | XDerrick Reimer (@derrickreimer) | XRoss Hudgens (@RossHudgens) | XEpisode 628 | The 5 PM Pre-Validation Framework

    If you have questions about starting or scaling a software busines...

  • Episode 729 | 9 Things I've Learned Investing in 170+ SaaS Companies

    Episode 729 | 9 Things I've Learned Investing in 170+ SaaS Companies

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 729, join Rob Walling as he shares insights from the 170+ SaaS investments he’s made through his B2B SaaS accelerator, TinySeed. Key patterns include the survivability of SaaS, the lucrative value of these companies, and commonalities across the ones that grow the fastest. To see even more patterns that didn’t make this episode, be sure to check out the MicroConf YouTube channel.

    Episode Sponsor:

    Hiring senior developers can really move the needle in your business, but if you bring on the wrong person, you can quickly burn through your runway. If you need help finding a vetted, senior, results-oriented developer, you should reach out to today’s sponsor, Lemon.io.

    For years, they’ve been helping our audience find high quality, global talent at competitive rates, and they can help you too.

    Longtime listener Chaz Yoon, hired a senior developer from Lemon.io and said his hire ”definitely knew his stuff, provided appropriate feedback and pushback, and had great communication, including very fluent English. He really exceeded my expectations.”

    Chaz said he’d definitely use Lemon.io again when he’s looking for a senior level engineer.

    To learn more and get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups.

    Topics we cover: 2:24 – Survivability of B2B SaaS in TinySeed4:09 – SaaS is extremely valuable8:26 – Vertical and orthogonal SaaS face fewer headwinds 12:36 – A supermajority of TinySeed companies want a big exit15:51 – TinySeed founder count aligns with the broader MicroConf ecosystem17:04 – Ruined cap tables have prevented deals19:35 – A quarter of TinySeed companies raise subsequent fundraising21:17 – Common advisory topics: pricing, plateaus, cofounders, funding, sellingLinks from the Show: Apply for TinySeedInvest in TinySeedMicroConf YouTube: 6 Lessons From My Most Successful Investments (B2B SaaS)Episode 727 | Gymdesk Sells for More than $32.5 million, Hiring Gets Easier, and More Hot Take Tuesday TopicsEpisode 728 | Bootstrapping Gymdesk to a More Than $32.5M ExitState of Independent SaaS Report

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes |

  • Episode 728 | Bootstrapping Gymdesk to a More Than $32.5M Exit

    Episode 728 | Bootstrapping Gymdesk to a More Than $32.5M Exit

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 728, Rob Walling interviews Eran Galperin, founder of Gymdesk, about his incredible exit. Eran shares his journey of transforming Gymdesk from "Martial Arts on Rails" into a successful gym management software company. He discusses how they succeeded in a competitive market, the role of TinySeed in their growth, and how feelings of burnout eventually led to a majority buyout for the company.

    Topics we cover: 2:02 – Gymdesk Announces a $32.5 Million Strategic Growth Investment5:13 – How the investment will be used6:38 – Eran’s projects before Gymdesk9:21 – Sticking with one idea long enough to see success12:45 – Entering a competitive market16:37 – Rapid growth as a marketing leader20:54 – Dealing with burnout and entertaining an acquisition26:45 – Handling a stressful sales process32:19 – The future of GymdeskLinks from the Show: Apply for TinySeedGymdesk Announces a $32.5 Million Strategic Growth Investment from Five Elms CapitalEpisode 727 | Gymdesk Sells for More than $32.5 million, Hiring Gets Easier, and More Hot Take Tuesday TopicsGymdesk.comEran Galperin (@erangalperin) | XEran Galperin | LinkedInEran’s WebsiteFinancial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) Explained: How It WorksDiscretion Capital

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

  • Episode 727 | Gymdesk Sells for More than $32.5 million, Hiring Gets Easier, and More Hot Take Tuesday Topics

    Episode 727 | Gymdesk Sells for More than $32.5 million, Hiring Gets Easier, and More Hot Take Tuesday Topics

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 727, Rob Walling is joined by Tracy Osborn and Einar Vollset to give their hot takes on some recent news. First they celebrate Gymdesk’s recent funding and evaluate what that means for TinySeed companies. Then, they weigh in on bootstrapper hiring, grappling with new challenges as MRR grows, and how to really move the needle in your business.

    Episode Sponsor:

    Hiring senior developers can really move the needle in your business, but if you bring on the wrong person, you can quickly burn through your runway. If you need help finding a vetted, senior, results-oriented developer, you should reach out to today’s sponsor, Lemon.io.

    For years, they’ve been helping our audience find high quality, global talent at competitive rates, and they can help you too.

    Longtime listener Chaz Yoon, hired a senior developer from Lemon.io and said his hire ”definitely knew his stuff, provided appropriate feedback and pushback, and had great communication, including very fluent English. He really exceeded my expectations.”

    Chaz said he’d definitely use Lemon.io again when he’s looking for a senior level engineer.

    To learn more and get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups.

    Topics we cover: 2:19 – Gymdesk Announces a $32.5 Million Strategic Growth Investment9:06 – Is it getting easier for bootstrappers to hire?12:22 – Facing different challenges as MRR grows 19:37 – Identifying what really moves the needle23:56 – Listen to those who have built businesses before youLinks from the Show: Subscribe to the Startups For the Rest of Us Email ListTinySeedThe SaaS PlaybookDiscretion CapitalTracy Osborn (@tracymakes) | XEinar Vollset (@einarvollset) | XTinySeed (@tinyseedfund) | XGymdesk Announces a $32.5 Million Strategic Growth Investment from Five Elms CapitalEran Galperin (@erangalperin) | XEpisode 697 | 7 Predictions for SaaS Bootstrappers in 2024State of Independent SaaS ReportThe Elephant in the room: The myth of exponential hypergrowth
  • Episode 726 | Selling 29,000 Copies, Information vs. Motivation, and Making Your First Level Last (A Rob Solo Adventure)

    Episode 726 | Selling 29,000 Copies, Information vs. Motivation, and Making Your First Level Last (A Rob Solo Adventure)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 726, join Rob Walling for a solo adventure where he covers several topics. In this episode he reveals the sales details around “The SaaS Playbook” by sharing the volume and sales channel data. He explores the importance of motivation over mere access to information, particularly for developers, with the introduction of AI. Rob also previews several exciting projects to be released in the near future.

    Topics we cover: 2:49 – The SaaS Playbook sales channel breakdown8:20 – Learnings from the book launch9:51 – Upcoming books and courses12:07 – ”Teach them how to run fast, better”16:04 – Access to information vs. motivation19:40 – Creating your onboarding lastLinks from the Show: Discretion CapitalEinar Vollset (@einarvollset) | XEpisode 707 | Once.com, Open Source to FT Income, and More (Hot Take Tuesday)TinySeedThe SaaS PlaybookThe SaaS Launchpad video courseSherry Walling (@sherrywalling) | XNetflix’s SprintJohn Romero (@romero) | XMasters of Doom by David KushnerDoom Guy by John Romero

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

  • Episode 725 | SEO in the Age of AI, Freemium, When Brand Becomes Important, and More Advanced Listener Questions (with Ruben Gamez)

    Episode 725 | SEO in the Age of AI, Freemium, When Brand Becomes Important, and More Advanced Listener Questions (with Ruben Gamez)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 725, join Rob Walling and Ruben Gamez as they answer several more advanced listener questions. They discuss the challenges of pursuing freemium as a bootstrapper and make a suggestion that might surprise you. Rob and Ruben also talk about why building your business as a SaaS founder is usually the best way to build your brand indirectly.

    Episode Sponsor:

    Hiring senior developers can really move the needle in your business, but if you bring on the wrong person, you can quickly burn through your runway. If you need help finding a vetted, senior, results-oriented developer, you should reach out to today’s sponsor, Lemon.io.

    For years, they’ve been helping our audience find high quality, global talent at competitive rates, and they can help you too.

    Longtime listener Chaz Yoon, hired a senior developer from Lemon.io and said his hire ”definitely knew his stuff, provided appropriate feedback and pushback, and had great communication, including very fluent English. He really exceeded my expectations.”

    Chaz said he’d definitely use Lemon.io again when he’s looking for a senior level engineer.

    To learn more and get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups.

    Topics we cover: 2:31 – Considering a freemium plan as a bootstrapper9:52 – Freemium, but without the intent to convert free users12:24 – Raising prices as an alternative to starting a freemium plan18:32 – When to start caring about your “brand”25:10 – Investing directly in branding31:00 – Revisiting your marketing funnels34:08 – AI’s impact on SEO38:20 – Google’s search results are already changingLinks from the Show: Get notified about The SaaS LaunchPadAsk a Question on SFTROUEmail a Question on SFTROUMicroConfTinySeedThe SaaS PlaybookRuben Gamez (@earthlingworks) | XSignWellEpisode 724 | Managing Managers, Breaking Through Plateaus, Thoughts on EOS, and More Later-Stage Listener QuestionsEpisode 717 | Bootstrapping to $1.3M ARR and 300,000 Free UsersVal Sopi (@valsopi) | XBlogstatic
  • Episode 724 | Managing Managers, Breaking Through Plateaus, Thoughts on EOS, and More Later-Stage Listener Questions

    Episode 724 | Managing Managers, Breaking Through Plateaus, Thoughts on EOS, and More Later-Stage Listener Questions

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 724, join Rob Walling as he takes on some later-stage listener questions in another solo adventure. He provides several tips for managing managers, how to break through MRR plateaus, and how to think about SaaS versus agency work. Rob also offers his take on how he would talk about his product at conferences, without overselling it.

    Topics we cover: 3:48 – Three tips for managing other managers8:42 – Schedule “skip level” meetings9:50 – Attending a conference without overselling15:00 – Breaking out of the $20k-$30k MRR plateau19:57 – How to keep your self-serve SaaS from becoming an agency23:58 – Scaling management through company growthLinks from the Show: Get tickets for MicroConf Europe in Dubrovnik, Croatia (before August 15th)TinySeedChristopher Gimmer (@cgimmer) | XEpisode 480 | Stairstepping Your Way to SaaS with Christopher GimmerSeeking Scale

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

  • Episode 723 | How to Be a Supercommunicator (and Why it Matters as a Bootstrapper) with Charles Duhigg

    Episode 723 | How to Be a Supercommunicator (and Why it Matters as a Bootstrapper) with Charles Duhigg

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 723, Rob Walling interviews Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author, about the significance of effective communication for founders. They discuss practical advice on recognizing different types of conversations, techniques for understanding and transitioning conversations, and how to quickly move past small talk in a conference setting.

    Episode Sponsor:

    Hiring senior developers can really move the needle in your business, but if you bring on the wrong person, you can quickly burn through your runway. If you need help finding a vetted, senior, results-oriented developer, you should reach out to today’s sponsor, Lemon.io.

    For years, they’ve been helping our audience find high quality, global talent at competitive rates, and they can help you too.

    Longtime listener Chaz Yoon, hired a senior developer from Lemon.io and said his hire ”definitely knew his stuff, provided appropriate feedback and pushback, and had great communication, including very fluent English. He really exceeded my expectations.”

    Chaz said he’d definitely use Lemon.io again when he’s looking for a senior level engineer.

    To learn more and get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups.

    Topics we cover: 2:42 – What’s a “super communicator?”4:35 – Getting better at being a great communicator8:10 – Identifying the types of conversations you are having11:31 – Transitioning between different types of conversations16:51 – Advice for introverts engaging in deep conversations with new people22:01 – How to quickly improve small talk27:22 – Non-verbal communication has slightly different rulesLinks from the Show: MicroConf ConnectCharles Duhigg (@cduhigg) | XCharles Duhigg’s websiteSupercommunicators by Charles DuhiggThe Power of Habit by Charles DuhiggSmarter, Faster, Better by Charles DuhiggCrucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny et. al

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

  • Episode 722 | Bootstrapping a Vertical SaaS to 7-Figures in 18 Months

    Episode 722 | Bootstrapping a Vertical SaaS to 7-Figures in 18 Months

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 722, Rob Walling interviews James Mooring, co-founder of Astalty, a SaaS serving Australia's NDIS market. James reveals how they bootstrapped from zero to seven figures in just 18 months and then they explore the strategic decisions, clever pricing, and deep industry knowledge that propelled Astalty's remarkable growth, proving their success was far more than just a lucky break.

    Episode Sponsor:

    If you need help hiring great talent from Latin America and the Philippines, but don’t want to pay ongoing recruitment fees, check out Outwork Staffing.

    Outwork Staffing can help you hire customer support, virtual assistants, developers - or whoever you need! You pay a one-time hiring fee after they find your ideal candidate, and that’s it- there’s no additional costs, even if your new hire stays for years.

    If your new hire doesn’t work out, Outwork Staffing will find you a replacement, free of charge within the first 6 months of their employment.

    They also provide coaching to help you find, manage, and grow your global team efficiently.

    Visit outworkstaffing.com/startups to book a call and get $500 off your first placement by mentioning Startups For the Rest of Us.

    Topics we cover: 2:44 – NDIS software for providers of disability care4:23 – Astalty’s rapid growth6:34 – Finding success with a strong co-founder pairing8:39 – Deciding to tailor the Astalty MVP12:25 – Building a free Chrome extension, smart or lucky?17:18 – Launching a paid plan and nailing the pricing21:57 – Explosive word of mouth growth25:19 – Selling at in-person events and in Facebook groups31:02 – A clever way of raising prices35:00 – Learning from fast iterationLinks from the Show: The SaaS PlaybookTinySeedJames Mooring | LinkedInAstaltyHow Ben Chestnut Bootstrapped Mailchimp to a $12 Billion ExitQuestion & Answer with Jason Fried, Co-Founder, Basecamp – MicroConf Growth 2019

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

  • Episode 721 | 7 Key Takeaways from the 2024 State of Independent SaaS Report

    Episode 721 | 7 Key Takeaways from the 2024 State of Independent SaaS Report

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 721, Rob Walling and Asia Orangio analyze the results of MicroConf’s 2024 State of Independent SaaS Report. They share their key takeaways including the impact of business models on growth, requiring credit cards for free trials, and how the number of founders affects performance. Additionally, they delve into growth by target markets and the data behind bootstrapped SaaS companies taking funding.

    To get your copy of the full report, head to stateofindiesaas.com.

    Topics we cover: 2:03 – The State of Independent SaaS Report7:36 – Requiring a credit card upfront10:27 – Three founders perform best14:31 – Free trials and credit cards19:11 – Average growth by target market22:46 – Plans for outside funding25:10 – Credit cards, trials, and churn 32:10 – Advertising channels that are workingLinks from the Show: Download the State of Independent SaaS ReportSubscribe to the MicroConf YouTube channelTinySeedRob Walling (@RobWalling) | XAsia Orangio (@AsiaOrangio) | XDemandMaven

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

  • Episode 720 | How to Prioritize Your Focus (In Both Your Startup and Personal Life)

    Episode 720 | How to Prioritize Your Focus (In Both Your Startup and Personal Life)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 720, Rob Walling is joined by Craig Hewitt to discuss the intricacies of prioritization in both business and in life. In addition to running Castos, Craig has started coaching founders in sales and marketing, and describes how he strives to focus on the right things. They talk about buying back their time, creating family-focused time, and share their solo podcasting experience after previously having co-hosts.

    Episode Sponsor:

    If you need help hiring great talent from Latin America and the Philippines, but don’t want to pay ongoing recruitment fees, check out Outwork Staffing.

    Outwork Staffing can help you hire customer support, virtual assistants, developers - or whoever you need! You pay a one-time hiring fee after they find your ideal candidate, and that’s it- there’s no additional costs, even if your new hire stays for years.

    If your new hire doesn’t work out, Outwork Staffing will find you a replacement, free of charge within the first 6 months of their employment.

    They also provide coaching to help you find, manage, and grow your global team efficiently.

    Visit outworkstaffing.com/startups to book a call and get $500 off your first placement by mentioning Startups For the Rest of Us.

    Topics we cover: 3:34 – Prioritizing marketing growth and work-life balance outside of work7:07 – Buying back your time and optimizing for convenience10:08 – Identifying the right things to work on with coaches and masterminds19:42 – Making fewer, bigger decisions as a founder22:01 – Making intentional family-focused time30:03 – How Craig started his coaching36:11 – Podcasting with co-hosts vs. podcasting soloLinks from the Show: MicroConf ConnectTinySeedCraig Hewitt (@TheCraigHewitt) | XCastosRogue StartupsCraig’s Founder Insights Newsletter718 | When to Give Up, Open Source Competition, Painful Features, and More (with Derrick Reimer)Episode 644 | Buying Back Your Time with Dan MartellBuy Back Your Time by Dan MartellZirtualBuying The Future by Craig HewittThe MicroConf YouTube ChannelW...
  • Episode 719 | How to Test Pricing, Lifetime Deals, and Building Something for Everyone (A Rob Solo Adventure)

    Episode 719 | How to Test Pricing, Lifetime Deals, and Building Something for Everyone (A Rob Solo Adventure)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 719, join Rob Walling as he embarks on another solo adventure, tackling listener questions. He discusses how to test pricing, addresses the pitfalls of one-time payments vs. SaaS, and he reflects on “building something for everyone.” He wraps up with advice on making better recommendations.

    Episode Sponsor:

    We have been partnering with Lemon.io for several years, and they’ve proven to be a great choice when it comes to hiring for a highly skilled developer to work on your project.

    Here are five reasons why you should consider working with Lemon.io.

    The time from your request to getting a candidate is just 48 hours.Developers have previously worked with tech giants such as Apple, Google, Netflix, Airbnb, Intel, and LEGO. They only provide senior devs, with an average of 7 years' experience.Their talent pool covers more than 300 dev languages & frameworks.Your hire comes with a zero-risk, replacement guarantee.

    Customers of Lemon.io typically stick around for at least a year, proving they know how to gain your trust by delivering consistent results.

    Quit wasting time searching for a solid developer at a great price. Get in touch with Lemon.io.

    As a bonus for our podcast listeners, you’ll get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups. That’s lemon.io/startups

    Topics we cover: 0:58 – Testing different prices for your product8:12 – One-time or lifetime payments 15:02 – Horizontal products, building something for everyone21:43 – Making descriptive recommendationsLinks from the Show: 718 | When to Give Up, Open Source Competition, Painful Features, and More (with Derrick Reimer)TinySeedBuilding & Scaling Products: Lessons Learned from Four Years and 8,000 Customers – Des TraynorShoe Dog by Phil KnightSid Meier's Memoir! by Sid Meier Masters of Doom by David KushnerDoom Guy by John RomeroThe Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes |

  • Episode 718 | When to Give Up, Open Source Competition, Painful Features, and More (with Derrick Reimer)

    Episode 718 | When to Give Up, Open Source Competition, Painful Features, and More (with Derrick Reimer)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 718, Rob Walling and Derrick Reimer tackle listener questions about giving up on ideas, competing in crowded markets, and developing painful features. They also chat about SavvyCal’s recent design refresh, finding founder-market fit, and whether Derrick has retired from podcasting.

    Episode Sponsor:

    Is your outsourced development team dropping the ball?

    Maybe you’ve worked with a team that just couldn't grasp your vision and needed constant oversight because they weren’t thinking strategically. Or maybe you ended up wasting hours micromanaging, often needing to jump on late-night calls across massive time zone differences to get alignment. And in the end, they delivered a sluggish app with a frustrating UI that didn’t come close to the solution you had envisioned. If any of that sounds familiar, you need to reach out to our sponsor - DevSquad.

    DevSquad provides an entire development team packed with top talent from Latin America.

    Your elite squad will include between 2 to 6 Full Stack Developers, a technical product manager, plus experts in product strategy, UI/UX design, DevOps, and QA - all working together to make your SaaS Product a success.

    You can ramp up an entire product team fast, in your timezone, and at rates 75% cheaper than a comparable US-based team. And with DevSquad, you pay month to month with no long-term contracts.

    Get the committed, responsive development team that your business deserves.

    Visit DevSquad.com/startups and get 10% off the first three months of your engagement.

    Topics we cover: 3:59 – Which feature felt harder and took longer than imagined?9:14 – When is time to give up on a SaaS idea and move on?17:51 – Finding customers in crowded markets with large incumbents23:32 – Has Derrick officially retired from podcasting?25:57 – Handling competitors that are copying differentiating product features28:48 – Evaluating SavvyCal’s refreshed design31:10 – Considering vertical vs. horizontal SaaS for SavvyCal34:05 – Why did Derrick decide to pursue the idea for SavvyCal?40:19 – Finding “founder-fit”Links from the Show: The SaaS Playbook by Rob WallingTinySeedDerrick Remier (​​@derrickreimer) | XSavvyCalGroup scheduling modeThe Build In Public PodcastThe Art of Product Podcast8 B2B Marketing Strategies That Got My Startup to $10 Million (and 1 that FAILED)Finding My Next Bootstrapped Business Idea

    If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please

  • Episode 717 | Bootstrapping to $1.3M ARR and 300,000 Free Users

    Episode 717 | Bootstrapping to $1.3M ARR and 300,000 Free Users

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 717, Rob Walling interviews Marie Martin, co-founder of Tally. They discuss the company’s journey to $1.3M ARR and the unusual pricing strategy that got them there. Marie details how they keep their support volume low, how they differentiate Tally from other form builders, and how they grew to over 300,000 free users.

    Episode Sponsor:

    We have been partnering with Lemon.io for several years, and they’ve proven to be a great choice when it comes to hiring for a highly skilled developer to work on your project.

    Here are five reasons why you should consider working with Lemon.io.

    The time from your request to getting a candidate is just 48 hours.Developers have previously worked with tech giants such as Apple, Google, Netflix, Airbnb, Intel, and LEGO. They only provide senior devs, with an average of 7 years' experience.Their talent pool covers more than 300 dev languages & frameworks.Your hire comes with a zero-risk, replacement guarantee.

    Customers of Lemon.io typically stick around for at least a year, proving they know how to gain your trust by delivering consistent results.

    Quit wasting time searching for a solid developer at a great price. Get in touch with Lemon.io.

    As a bonus for our podcast listeners, you’ll get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups. That’s lemon.io/startups

    Topics we cover: 2:22 – Where Tally is today3:53 – Keeping customer support volume low7:12 – Differentiating Tally from other form builders10:55 – The ingredients needed to make “free” work18:31 – ”Shrinking a Market”24:27 – Growing to 300,000+ free users26:47 – Dealing with bad actors29:37 – Applying the learnings from Tally’s successLinks from the Show: Tickets for MicroConf Europe | Oct 6 - 8, 2024, Dubrovnik, CroatiaApply for MicroConf Masterminds before June 12th 2024Marie Martens (@MarieMartens) | XTally No-Code FranceTinySeed

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify | Google<...

  • Episode 716 | Positioning Against Incumbents, Changing Your H1, How Tech Stack Affects Valuation, and More Listener Questions

    Episode 716 | Positioning Against Incumbents, Changing Your H1, How Tech Stack Affects Valuation, and More Listener Questions

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 716, join Rob Walling for another solo adventure where he answers listener questions. He shares how he would position against incumbents, when to change an H1, and how choosing a tech stack affects your business valuation. Rob also weighs whether to skip a “Step 1” or “Step 2” business and start directly with a standalone SaaS in the Stair Step Method of Bootstrapping.

    Episode Sponsor:

    Is your outsourced development team dropping the ball?

    Maybe you’ve worked with a team that just couldn't grasp your vision and needed constant oversight because they weren’t thinking strategically. Or maybe you ended up wasting hours micromanaging, often needing to jump on late-night calls across massive time zone differences to get alignment. And in the end, they delivered a sluggish app with a frustrating UI that didn’t come close to the solution you had envisioned. If any of that sounds familiar, you need to reach out to our sponsor - DevSquad.

    DevSquad provides an entire development team packed with top talent from Latin America.

    Your elite squad will include between 2 to 6 Full Stack Developers, a technical product manager, plus experts in product strategy, UI/UX design, DevOps, and QA - all working together to make your SaaS Product a success.

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    Get the committed, responsive development team that your business deserves.

    Visit DevSquad.com/startups and get 10% off the first three months of your engagement.

    Topics we cover: 4:07 – How directly should I position my product against incumbents?8:25 – Making and testing changes to your H112:22 – Identifying and qualifying niches based on traffic18:07 – Should I skip a “Step 1” or “Step 2” business to start a SaaS?20:16 – How a tech stack affects valuations27:29 – Differentiating between B2B and B2CLinks from the Show: Apply for MicroConf Masterminds before June 12th 2024Ask a Question on SFTROUEpisode 673 | Lifetime Plans vs Subscriptions, Testing an Idea With a Landing Page, and More Listener QuestionsStart Small Stay Small by Rob WallingThe SaaS Playbook by Rob WallingThe Stair Step Method of BootstrappingSimilarwebVertical SaaS vs Horizontal SaaS - Which is More Profitable?

    If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please

  • Episode 715 | Best Uses of the Internet, a Book about Selling Your Company, and a Circus Show

    Episode 715 | Best Uses of the Internet, a Book about Selling Your Company, and a Circus Show

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 715, Rob Walling is joined by Dr. Sherry Walling to discuss a variety of topics. They chat about two recent and meaningful interactions made possible by the Internet, the motivations behind organizing and performing a circus show, and they chat about upcoming launches on the horizon – new books and courses for SaaS founders.

    Episode Sponsor:

    We have been partnering with Lemon.io for several years, and they’ve proven to be a great choice when it comes to hiring for a highly skilled developer to work on your project.

    Here are five reasons why you should consider working with Lemon.io.

    The time from your request to getting a candidate is just 48 hours.Developers have previously worked with tech giants such as Apple, Google, Netflix, Airbnb, Intel, and LEGO. They only provide senior devs, with an average of 7 years' experience.Their talent pool covers more than 300 dev languages & frameworks.Your hire comes with a zero-risk, replacement guarantee.

    Customers of Lemon.io typically stick around for at least a year, proving they know how to gain your trust by delivering consistent results.

    Quit wasting time searching for a solid developer at a great price. Get in touch with Lemon.io.

    As a bonus for our podcast listeners, you’ll get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups. That’s lemon.io/startups

    Topics we cover: 4:00 – Examples of thoughtful, nuanced Internet interactions8:12 – Impacting people you otherwise couldn’t online15:12 – Dr. Sherry Walling’s circus show motivation21:53 – The psychology of business exits25:27 – Commonalities across founders considering exits31:11 – Speaking to the whole lifecycle of a SaaS businessLinks from the Show: Apply for MicroConf Masterminds before June 12th 2024Sherry Walling (@sherrywalling) | XSherry Walling (@dr.sherrywalling) | InstagramTinySeedDiscretion CapitalBefore The Exit by Dan AndrewsEpisode 532 | The Art of Selling Your Business with John WarrillowThe Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Sh*t Together by Sherry Walling, PhD and Rob WallingEnter your email at Robwalling.comSign up for the Zen Founder newsletter

    If you have questions ab...

  • Episode 714 | TRM not TAM, Acquiring a Competitor, and Finding a Developer Co-founder (A Rob Solo Adventure)

    Episode 714 | TRM not TAM, Acquiring a Competitor, and Finding a Developer Co-founder (A Rob Solo Adventure)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 714, join Rob Walling for another solo adventure where he answers listener questions. He talks about what to expect when acquiring a competitor and how he might integrate their business. Rob also covers navigating HIPAA compliance as a bootstrapper, how to find a developer co-founder, and he explores the concept of Total Reachable Market (TRM).

    Episode Sponsor:

    Is your outsourced development team dropping the ball?

    Maybe you’ve worked with a team that just couldn't grasp your vision and needed constant oversight because they weren’t thinking strategically. Or maybe you ended up wasting hours micromanaging, often needing to jump on late-night calls across massive time zone differences to get alignment. And in the end, they delivered a sluggish app with a frustrating UI that didn’t come close to the solution you had envisioned. If any of that sounds familiar, you need to reach out to our sponsor - DevSquad.

    DevSquad provides an entire development team packed with top talent from Latin America.

    Your elite squad will include between 2 to 6 Full Stack Developers, a technical product manager, plus experts in product strategy, UI/UX design, DevOps, and QA - all working together to make your SaaS Product a success.

    You can ramp up an entire product team fast, in your timezone, and at rates 75% cheaper than a comparable US-based team. And with DevSquad, you pay month to month with no long-term contracts.

    Get the committed, responsive development team that your business deserves.

    Visit DevSquad.com/startups and get 10% off the first three months of your engagement.

    Topics we cover: 3:45 – How to navigate acquiring a competitor6:34 – How to transition the newly acquired customers into your product9:58 – HIPAA compliance for a bootstrapped MVP13:07 – Total Addressable Market (TAM) vs. Total Reachable Market (TRM)19:01 – How do I find a developer co-founder?28:03 – Can I find data on SaaS app store spending?Links from the Show: MicroConf Mastermind ProgramTinySeedMicroConf ConnectThe SaaS Playbook by Rob WallingStart Small Stay Small by Rob Walling

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

    Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify | Google

  • Episode 713 | Our Top 5 Takeaways from MicroConf US 2024 (with Arvid Kahl)

    Episode 713 | Our Top 5 Takeaways from MicroConf US 2024 (with Arvid Kahl)

    · Startups For the Rest of Us

    In episode 713, Rob Walling is joined by Arvid Kahl to share their experience from MicroConf US 2024 in Atlanta. They each discuss their top 5 moments, ranging from Dr. Sherry Walling’s talk on motivation to Ben Chestnut’s chat with Rob onstage. They agree that there’s nothing quite like being in the room with everyone and soaking in all the interactions outside of the official talks.

    If you missed the event and had some MicroConf FOMO, make sure to sign up for our email list to be notified when the tickets for our next event go on sale.!

    Click here to watch Rob’s Fireside Chat with Ben Chestnut!

    Episode Sponsor:

    We have been partnering with Lemon.io for several years, and they’ve proven to be a great choice when it comes to hiring for a highly skilled developer to work on your project.

    Here are five reasons why you should consider working with Lemon.io.

    The time from your request to getting a candidate is just 48 hours.Developers have previously worked with tech giants such as Apple, Google, Netflix, Airbnb, Intel, and LEGO. They only provide senior devs, with an average of 7 years' experience.Their talent pool covers more than 300 dev languages & frameworks.Your hire comes with a zero-risk, replacement guarantee.

    Customers of Lemon.io typically stick around for at least a year, proving they know how to gain your trust by delivering consistent results.

    Quit wasting time searching for a solid developer at a great price. Get in touch with Lemon.io.

    As a bonus for our podcast listeners, you’ll get a 15% discount on your first four weeks of working with a developer at lemon.io/startups. That’s lemon.io/startups

    Topics we cover: 1:05 – Key takeaways from MicroConf 20243:45 – Dr. Sherry Walling’s talk on motivation7:02 – Stephen Steer’s sales scripts talk9:25 – Live valuation of a business by Quiet Light Brokerage12:23 – Micro excursions that allow founders to connect with one another14:09 – The hallway track outside of the venue15:53 – ”Nothing beats being in a room”19:22 – Lack of hierarchy among founders22:38 – Lianna Patch’s copywriting swipe file23:50 – Ben Chestnut is just like one of us29:50 – Don’t get stuck with MicroConf FOMOLinks from the Show: MicroConf Europe | Dubrovnik - October 6 - 8, 2024MicroConf US 2025 Waiting ListArvid Kahl (@arvidkahl) | XThe Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Sh*t Together by Sherry Walling, PhD and Rob WallingSherry Walling (@sherrywalling) | X
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