The Bootstrapped Founder

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 …

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 …

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 …

Rob Walling (@robwalling) unpacks the fascinating world of SaaS businesses, touching on topics like scaling, diversification, and the role of AI in …

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 — …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Dickie Bush (@dickiebush) discusses Ship 30 for 30, a movement he started to transform writing from a solitary to a communal activity, now a …

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 …

My guest today, Pieter Levels, claims that "Indie Hacking is dead." Yet, Pieter runs several indie AI startups (and a few traditional ones), …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Unearth the secrets of YouTube monetization and growth in our conversation with YouTube creator Aprilynne Alter. Prepare to be enlightened as …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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: …

Get ready to revolutionize your SaaS product signup process with some unique strategies, insights, and actionable tips from our much-awaited …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Emmet Gibney truly walked the path less taken. Today, you'll hear about an extraordinary journey from customer support to interim CEO of Rewardful. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

"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 …

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, …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

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

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? …

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 …

“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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 / …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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. …

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, …

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

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 …

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 …

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: …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

Arvid talks about how applied kindness builds a brand and an audience.

In a hostile world, many founders isolate themselves, but this isn't …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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

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

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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. …

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

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 …

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

This …

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

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 …

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

This episode …

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

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

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

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

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

…

- 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 …

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

- On Saying No
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash course

This episode is …

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

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

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

This episode …

- Founder Stories are Powerful Assets
- Find your Following, my Twitter course — now with Find your Following Essentials, the 7-day Twitter crash …

- The Forever Transaction
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're thinking about selling a …

- Building in public and Legacy
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're thinking about selling a …

- Parasocial Relationships: Imaginary Friends of the Social Network Age
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by …

- Should Freelancers Offer Free Trials?
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're thinking about …

- Choose Your Own Adventure: Creator, Curator, Commentator, or Connector
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by …

- Scalable Customer Service for Bootstrappers
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're thinking …

- Managing Expectations: Making Good (on) Promises.
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're …

- 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 …

- Why Founders End Up Unemployable
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're thinking about selling …

- Seven Kinds of Entrepreneurial Debt
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're thinking about …

- Entrepreneurial Anti-Patterns — What to Avoid When You're Starting a Business
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by …

- What Founders Can Learn from Professional WoW Gamers
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. 

If you're …

- How I Find Twitter Content Ideas
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. If you want to hear Charlie …

- How I (Fortunately) Failed to Launch an NFT Collection
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire.
If you're …

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 …

- The SaaS Market Maturity Paradox
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an interview with the …

- The Power of the Narrative when Building in Public
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an …

- Building in Public and Negativity
- My Twitter Space appearance
- Find your Following, my Twitter course

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. …

- Purchasing Power Parity Pricing
- Find your Following, my Twitter course
- The Big Mac index

This episode is sponsored by MicroAcquire. Here's an …

- 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.

- The Performative Nature of Building in Public: A View From the Inside

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- Building in Public: Maintaining a Positive Self-Image

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your business could be …

- 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 …

- Twitter: The Gathering.  How and Where to Find the Right Followers

This episode is sponsored by FE International.

Curious about how much your …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- Building in Public: How Radical Transparency Hurts Founders

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider …

- Building in Public: Oversharing
- Black Friday Deal on Gumroad (use `bf21` for 50% discount on checkout)

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If …

- Passive Income and Entrepreneurship

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG …

- Building in Public: What to Share at Which Stage of Your Journey

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers …

- Building in Public: Taking Breaks

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG …

- Building in Public: Balancing Building and Sharing

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq …

- Too Little, Too Much: Advice and How to Take It

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq …

- Burnout

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of low-fidelity wireframing …

- What Founders Can Learn From the Facebook Outage

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq …

- Copycats and Endurance

This episode of the Bootstrapped Founder podcast is sponsored by Balsamiq, makers of Balsamiq Wireframes, the OG of …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- Why Reading Fiction Is Important for Entrepreneurs

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a …

- Consistency, Accountability, and Perseverance

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- What Watching Gamers Fail for Days Can Teach You About Entrepreneurship

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- Say Thank You
- Zero to Sold Audiobook — Anniversary Edition

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider …

- 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

- Selfish vs. Selfless: Self-Promotion in Communities

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a …

- 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 …

- 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 …

- Audience-Building and Relatable Content
- The ProductHunt Page for The Embedded Entrepreneur

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like …

- Platform Risk and the Three Kinds of Audiences
- The Embedded Entrepreneur

- The Indie Hackers post
- The Launch Tweet

The podcast currently has no …

- 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 …

- Entrepreneurship, Job Security, and Wealth Creation

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a …

- 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

- All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Navigating Bootstrapping Advice

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please …

- 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 …

- Audience Graduation
- Gergely's Book "Building Mobile Apps at Scale"

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please …

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 …

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 …

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.

- 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 …

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.

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 …

- What founders can learn from Twitch streamers about building in public 
- The Embedded Entrepreneur Alpha Reader

The podcast currently has no …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 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.

- 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 …

- Motivation Will Eventually Go Away: Build Accountability Systems Instead

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, …

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 …

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 …

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

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 …

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 …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  When Privacy and Customer Value Clash

The podcast currently has no sponsors. …

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 …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  Sunk Cost Fallacy Engineering

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  https://blog.checklyhq.com/setting-up-ssl-with-letsencrypt-for-saas-customers/

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 …

The podcast currently has no sponsors. If you would like to support me, please consider buying a copy of my book Zero to Sold.

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 can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  Finding an Audience for Your Side Business

The podcast currently has no …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  Priming Your Business for Due Diligence

The podcast currently has no sponsors. …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  Preparing for the Sale From Day One: Getting the Documentation Right

The …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  The Power of Omission: Killing Features for Fun and Profit

The podcast …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  Made to Stick: Shaping an Extensible Product

The podcast currently has no …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  Standard Operating Procedures: Managing Your Future Self

The podcast currently …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️  Roadmaps and You: Building a Future Together

The podcast currently has no …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

You can find articles on the topics discussed in the episode here:

- ✍️ Seller Beware: Pricing Models That Can Break Your Business

Links mentioned in …

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 …

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 …

You can find the promo code provided the sponsor of this show, Balsamiq, right here.

Arvid talks about the kinds of misalignments that can trouble your business.

Arvid explains how to make your service noticeably better for the majority of your users without making the product harder to use.

Arvid talks feature prioritization: Scoring, the Kano Model, and Story Mapping — how and why they work.

Arvid talks about how to create repeatable, reliable, and resilient processes and systems for your business.

Arvid explains the core attributes that make products stick around: focus, simplicity, and extensibility.

You can find the full article at Making Tech Choices: Don’t Add Risk to an Already Risky Business.

Arvid shares an actionable framework for deciding if you should build or buy (and the mistakes he made in the past).

The article for this episode can be found on The Bootstrapped Founder blog.

Arvid explains how to release software effectively and safely.

Arvid talks about how he dealt with anxiety when running FeedbackPanda.

Arvid talks about transparency, open data, and why bootstrappers usually stop sharing information about their businesses.

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.

Arvid explains what an MVP is, how to scope and time it, and what should go into a successful product.

Arvid talks about how you can find out if your potential acquirer is a good candidate, and what the red flags are.

Arvid talks about the kinds of churn founders will encounter, and which ones are actually welcome.

Arvid talks about the FeedbackPanda customer service system allowed them to run the business with 0 employees.

Arvid talks about the weird conversations you will have as a founder, and how to deal with them.

Arvid talks about why software products are never finished, and which kinds of changes you can expect to make.

Arvid explains the kinds of imaginary responsibilities he encountered in his business and how to deal with them.

Arvid talks about how to price aspirationally, underpricing, overpricing, and how much initial prices really matter.

Arvid talks about what to look out for when choosing a co-founder and his experience with his co-founders, good and bad.

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 …

Arvid shows how you can discover the risks your solution poses to the workflow of your prospective customers.

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, …

Arvid talks about the right kinds of markets for bootstrapped businesses, what qualities they should have and how markets can change for better or …

You can find the article for this episode here.

You can find the article for this episode here.

You can find the article for this episode here.

You can find this article on The Bootstrapped Founder blog under the name Problem Validation: Making Sure You’re Talking To The Right People.

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.