Arvid discusses the challenges of effectively communicating customer value, especially when a product serves diverse audiences. He explores how the Jobs to Be Done framework can help understand customer needs, and highlights the importance of tailoring the product's presentation to different user categories like journalists, podcast hosts, and marketers. He emphasizes making it easy for users to demonstrate the value of the product to their superiors.
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 ...
Arvid reflects on the first year of Podscan, detailing the tech and business decisions that contributed to its growth and profitability. He discusses the choice of PHP and Laravel, database considerations, external services like MeiliSearch and ScrapingBee, and key business tools like Paddle and Mercury. Arvid emphasizes the importance of reliable technologies and strategic partnerships in bootstrapping a successful business.
Arvid discusses the challenge of balancing value demonstration and business sustainability within Podscan's free trial. He explores issues like AI costs, user abuse, and the need to quickly show value without excessive spending. Arvid proposes a system to provide full functionality up to a result limit, followed by throttling, to encourage upgrades while managing resource expenditure.
Arvid Kahl discusses Podscan's recent profitability milestone and explores strategic options for its future. He considers acquisition, building a larger team, and maintaining a smaller, independent business. The episode outlines the pros and cons of each path, focusing on the need to increase the value and transferability of Podscan while planning to hire a data engineer to scale data infrastructure.
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/ Ch...
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...
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-...
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 voi...
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/episo...
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/ep...
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 voicema...
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 po...
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...
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: htt...
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: http...
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 voi...
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-communicati...
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/arv...
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....
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 ...
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 mention...
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...
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 Po...
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: htt...
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 c...
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...
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 n...
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 ...
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://c...
