Nicolai Klemke (@nicolaiklemke ) is an Indie Hacker with a PhD in Physics. Talk about a career change! Nicolai shares his founder journey from learning how to code to making waves in the music industry. We chat about carving out a niche in the bustling AI market, honing in on a customer segment that has a need (and a budget!), and building a team to turn a hobby into a profitable business. Nicolai on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolaiklemke 00:00:00 Indie Hacker Journey to AI Product 00:11:15 ...
Apr 24, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast When you sell access to an API, what should you keep in mind? How would you protect your data but still make it easy to use? What product and legal repercussions does this all have? Those are questions I asked myself this week. And today, you get to listen to the process of exploring them and the answers I found. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/challenges-of-offering-an-api/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/313-challenges-of-...
Apr 19, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Aaron Francis (@aarondfrancis) lost his job and gained a new outlook on life — or rather, he stepped into entrepreneurship for good. Aaron weighed his options, found old friends who were ready for new adventures and finally took the plunge that his supportive audience wanted to see him take. Building his platform in public got him here. The skills he developed along the way keep the customers coming. So, where will this journey take him? Aaron will share his approach, his fears, his hopes, and h...
Apr 17, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I share my journey to finding Ideal Customer Profile — live on air. In this episode, I share my framework for determining who I will build for, market to, and sell to. I have a few candidate, and I work through my steps to find the right one for Podscan.fm. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/finding-my-ideal-customer-profile/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/311-finding-my-ideal-customer-profile Check out Podscan to g...
Apr 12, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jessica Malnik (@jessicamalnik) deeply understands how remote work has changed the world of marketing and running a business. And fortunately, she's sharing her knowledge. In fact, we talk a lot about how to communicate right: with your customers, with your market, and even with your globally distributed remote employees. From preventing coworker burnout to customer engagement strategies and hiring for fractional roles, Jessica shares her valuable insights. And if you ever wondered how an introv...
Apr 10, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Big news! Podscan.fm , my B2B SaaS that alerts you when your keywords or topics are mentioned in any podcast anywhere, has received bootstrapper-aligned funding from Calm Company Fund. Booya! I share why I, ever the solopreneur bootstrapper, said yes to venture money, what that enables, what risks I see, and just exactly how this kind of non-crazy funding works. Calm Company SEAL: https://calmfund.com/shared-earnings-agreement Calm Company 5-year learnings: https://calmfund.com/writing/five-year...
Apr 05, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mike Taylor ( @hammer_mt ) literally wrote the book on Prompt Engineering. He paints a vivid picture of a future where generative AI could make our traditional databases look like ancient relics, and the role of developers shifts dramatically. Instead of crafting code, they could be steering the helm of AI-generated software, potentially dealing with the whims of a virtual 'petulant child.' Our chat pushes us to ponder the changing value of code and the skills that will matter in the face of tec...
Apr 03, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast I’m a pretty okay developer, but when it comes to marketing and sales, I really need help. And for the longest time, I’ve held myself back. That ends today. My current SaaS business, Podscan, is at a point where some very important decisions need to be made. I’ve got something quite big in the works, and I’ll be talking about this next week in much more detail, but it made me think about the long-term needs a business like mine has, how I can personally fulfill them, and where I have skill gaps ...
Mar 29, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Johannes Radig (@joradig) runs a SaaS from the Canary Islands — the most recent stop on a globe-spanning digital nomad trip. Johannes and I chat about building a software business for agencies, how hard it is to find just the right prices, and what traditional marketing efforts can do for indie hackers. We dive into Leadsie, the social media onboarding SaaS he co-founded, and how it is built as a calm and profitable business. Also, we both grew up in the same city. And now we live on opposites s...
Mar 27, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast “If this tech keeps developing as fast as it does right now, will I ever be able to catch up?” is a question on my mind and the minds of many founders I’ve been talking to recently. So, what about AI should we focus on? Where will this tech slow down, where will it speed up even more, and what should we focus on for our businesses? This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-hype-the-straight-line-bias-and-the-fear-of-not-keeping-up/ The podcast ...
Mar 22, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tyler Tringas (@tylertringas) invests in bootstrapped businesses. Wait… Aren't those supposed to NOT take investment money? What's going on here? Alignment is what's going on. Where traditional VC's often have very different goals from founders, funds like Tyler's Calm Company Fund focus on helping niche software businesses that don't chase hypergrowth. Instead, Tyler supports those who want to build calm and profitable ventures. You know, the regular kind of business. The one that focuses on ma...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever since I started building Podscan in public, I’ve received a lot of attention. And it’s been spectacular: I’ve found early users, prospects, customers, and cheerleaders. Apparently, when people see something get traction, they want to be a part of it. Besides the much welcome support on social media, this has also resulted in a few offers that go beyond monthly subscription revenue. Today, I want to share with you how I think about collaborating with people, taking investment, and growing th...
Mar 15, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nick Groeneveld (@ToolboxOfDesign) understands that design isn't about gadgets, widgets, or buttons. For Nick, design is understanding the needs, desires, and expectations of those you aim to serve. We chat about talking to your customers, what common mistakes indie hackers make when thinking about "design", and just how much more UX means than web interfaces. Nick is ALSO the guy behind my interview videos and thumbnails! He's the producer of The Bootstrapped Founder, really. We talk about how ...
Mar 13, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you like revenue and expense numbers? I've been running my new SaaS podscan.fm for a month now. And today, I share all the facts and figures behind this first four weeks — the good, the undecided, and the bad. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/301-podscan-one-month-in-mrr-expenses-marketing-tactics Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm Send me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid Yo...
Mar 08, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Marc Louvion (@marc_louvion) is the Maker of the Year 2023 and the visionary behind the innovative ShipFast. His product development philosophy emphasizes rapid shipping and focusing on feature-specific builds, which has transformed his approach to creating tech products. Utilizing platforms like ProductHunt for launches, Marc highlights the importance of pre-validation and community feedback in fine-tuning his products, illustrating his strategic and responsive methodology to product creation. ...
Mar 06, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sometimes, pondering what your worst enemy would do is a good idea. Taking their point of view gives you a fresh perspective on your own work, your business, and the way you are perceived. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/adversarial-thinking-in-entrepreneurship/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/299-adversarial-thinking-in-entrepreneurship Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fm Se...
Mar 01, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sharath Kuruganty (@5harath) is not only a successful software entrepreneur and podcast host, but he's also open about the tough times he's faced, like losing his job while buying a home and having a baby. Sharath talks about the importance of being grateful, loving yourself, and understanding that life is short. He tells us how staying humble has helped him through tough times. Sharath's story is especially powerful if you've ever felt like you had to change who you are to fit in. He explains h...
Feb 28, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Making money is hard. But even TAKING money takes some careful decision-making. Let's dive into payment platforms for solopreneurs today. Between Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy (and then some), we have plenty of choices. But what matters most to people who already juggle 14 different jobs? I'll share what makes these platforms great, useful, and occasionally problematic for indie founders. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/payment-platf...
Feb 23, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yong-Soo Chung (@yongsoochung) is a champion of the Personal Holding Company: he owns several businesses, a media company, eCommerce, and a service provider among them. How does one stay sane with that much work in such diverse fields? He shares his survival framework and much more on the show today. I talk to Yong-Soo about hiring the right people to operate your business once it's outgrown you, if he would ever sell his money-making assets, and just how important it is to have your own distinc...
Feb 21, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Many indie hackers and solopreneurs have a big exit as their primary goal. That might be because of the money, but also because of a business’ limited life span. But is there something like a ‘forever business’? If so, what do you have to keep in mind here? This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/forever-business-or-exit/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/295-forever-business-or-exit Check out Podscan to get alerts when you're mention...
Feb 16, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rox (@RoxCodes) recently sold his SaaS thumbnailtest.com. But he's pretty conflicted about the sale. What was promised to be a moment of joy and celebration quickly turned into doubt, grief, and confusion. Today, I talk to my friend Rox about the emotional complexity of giving up something you hold dear, how to move forward, and what it means to level up even further after a successful exit. Rox opens up and talks candidly about the weight on his shoulders, the pressure, and the expectations. "S...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today I discuss how I've developed my own advanced AI, moving away from relying on external platforms. I've managed to evolve the Podscan system from basic alerts to being capable of answering complex questions, all thanks to using llama.cpp and Mistral 7b on my own servers. This approach has given me complete control over our technology and made our project more attractive to potential buyers. By leveraging open-source tools, I've minimized our dependency on other platforms and improved our com...
Feb 09, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Pigford (@shpigford) , who created Maybe and Baremetrics, talks about bringing his financial tool back to life by making it open-source! This has sparked surprisingly high levels of interest and even investment. Within two weeks. In our chat, we delve into the challenge of building a platform that simplifies financial data, similar to how Zapier simplifies automation, all under public scrutiny. The goal? A community-supported plugin system and a customizable personal finance operating sys...
Feb 07, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join me as I dive into a crucial choice every entrepreneur faces, balancing what excites us with what makes sense. This week, a voicemail made me deeply think about my projects, Podline and Podscan . One's a service for podcast voicemails, and the other scans podcast content. The message brought up a common challenge for founders: the pull towards starting something new versus sticking with what you've already built. Together, let's explore how I deal with staying focused, the lure of new chance...
Feb 02, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Spencer Patterson (@SpencePatterson) is a former financial advisor turned tech entrepreneur, who transformed his non-technical background into a $3.5 million SaaS triumph. Spencer shares his journey from navigating failed ideas to creating a platform generating $140K in monthly revenue with 6 million users. His experience offers a blueprint for marketing MVPs, team-building on a budget, and balancing tech with customer service in a startup. Spencer also reveals his plans to build a YouTube commu...
Jan 31, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast The "creator economy" is a dream of self-fulfillment and freedom for many. But once you're in it, it can quickly look bleak. Today, I dive into a world where everyone tells you to be consistent and trust the process. Let's examine the tension between creativity and attention. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/rethinking-the-creator-economy/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/289-rethinking-the-creator-economy You'll find my weekl...
Jan 26, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thibault Louis-Lucas (@tibo_maker) , or Tibo for short, is the indie hacker and innovator behind successful ventures like TweetHunter and Taplio — which he sold for over $10M! In this episode, we unravel Thibault's thrilling journey from the joys of product creation to the intricacies of selling a business on the global stage. He shares his strategies for tripling revenue post-acquisition, the pivotal role of community engagement, and his candid insights on AI risks, nomadic lifestyles, and the ...
Jan 24, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can you provide white-glove customer service if you don't even know what it looks like? That —and a few very exciting development with my recent SaaS project(s?!)— will be what I want to share with you today. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/white-glove-onboarding/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/287-white-glove-onboarding You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com Podcast: https://theboo...
Jan 19, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Asia Orangio (@AsiaOrangio ), CEO of Demand Maven, joins me as we dive into the world of customer discovery and (go-to) market strategies. We'll discuss real-life examples, like a Gantt chart tool maker who grew their business through customer feedback. This episode is a practical guide on balancing passion with profit and tackling early-stage marketing and growth challenges. And if you kinda suck at surveys, this one is for you. In our conversation, Asia and I unravel the importance of customer...
Jan 17, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast What's more important? Impact or Influence? Or does one facilitate the other? You'll learn what makes niche influence so valuable in an episode where I am briefly joined by a founder celebrity who has an opinion about a question I asked last week. Throughout their reply, you'll find out just why influencing has very little to do with taking selfies. This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/voices-of-influence-how-expert-feedback-shapes-saas-succe...
Jan 12, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
