Bootstrapped

By Steve McLeod

Running a bootstrapped software company? Looking to start one? Then this is the podcast for you.... more

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FAQs about Bootstrapped:

How many episodes does Bootstrapped have?

The podcast currently has 242 episodes available.

Bootstrapped episodes:

October 18, 2019#111: "Should I apply for TinySeed?" with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos
I'm joined by Craig Hewitt for the first of several episodes in which he is my cohost.
TinySeed is a "startup accelerator designed for bootstrappers." Craig was accepted into TinySeed's first cohort.
To help me answer the question, "Should I apply for TinySeed?", Craig tells me what it has been like for him. We discuss why he applied, how it has changed his business so far, and what unexpected benefits there are have been.
Links:
Castos: podcast hosting and analytics platform: https://castos.com/
Rogue Startups podcast: https://roguestartups.com/. I highly recommend this podcast!
TinySeed: https://tinyseed.com/
The 5 Phases of the Customer Journey comes from this out-of-print book: https://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Advertising-Eugene-M-Schwartz/dp/0887232981
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33min
October 11, 2019#110: "Living the Bootstrapper dream" with Robin Warren, founder of Corrello
Robin and I discuss living the Bootstrapper dream - and how the dream changes over time. We also go off topic and discuss surfing up the Bristol Channel.
Links:
Robin’s company, Corrello: Dashboards for Scrum and Kanban teams using Trello: https://getcorrello.com/
Robin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/robinwarren
Robin's blog post "$0 to $1k MRR in 57 months":
https://getcorrello.com/blog/2016/04/13/0-1k-mrr-57-months/
Britstrapped podcast interview with Robin, From 0 MRR to "Living the Dream":
http://www.britstrapped.com/280d7224
Surfing up the Bristol channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKA39LQOIck
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35min
October 04, 2019#109: Andy Brice - Founder of EasyDataTransform
Andy and I discuss why he's created a new product, even though he already has two successful products.
We also discuss:
how he manages a portfolio of three desktop apps as a one-person team
how to name products
choosing a market
usability testing
choosing to remain a one-person team
the benefits of the founder doing customer support
why many one-person businesses are actually two-people businesses
Links:
Easy Data Transform: https://www.easydatatransform.com/
Andy's blog: https://successfulsoftware.net/
Easy Data Transform's demo video: https://successfulsoftware.net/2019/09/11/easy-data-transform-video/
Andy's other products: https://www.perfecttableplan.com/ and https://www.hyperplan.com/
"Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515
Steve Krug talking about usability at Business of Software: https://businessofsoftware.org/2008/07/steve-krug-to-s/
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42min
September 27, 2019 #108: Hannah Adcock - Owner of Contented Strategy
Hannah and I discuss content strategy for bootstrappers.
Hannah's website: https://contentedstrategy.com/
Hannah's book: "Content Strategy for Solopreneurs, Startups, Charities and Growing Businesses": https://contentedstrategy.com/content_strategy_for_startups.html
How to do a content audit: https://contentedstrategy.com/blog/2019/05/17/startup-content-audit.html
Traction by Gabriel Weinberg: https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Startup-Achieve-Explosive-Customer/dp/1591848369
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30min
September 20, 2019#107: Robert Brandl - Founder of WebsiteToolTester
Robert and I discuss how to hire and manage freelancers. We also discuss how having children forces you to change the way you work.
Robert's 4 tips for a healthy freelancer relationship:
Meet in person from time to time, if possible
Pay at the higher end of their expected rate
Remember the Golden Rule: Treat them they way you expect to be treated
Let them know the positive results of their work
Links:
Robert Brandl's company: https://www.tooltester.net/
Robert on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertBrandl
Pat Flynn on "The Baby Effect": https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-effect-my-kids-have-had-on-my-business/
Zapier for automating repetitive tasks: https://zapier.com
Upwork for hiring and paying Freelancers: https://www.upwork.com/
Domestika: a Spanish site for finding creative freelancers: https://www.domestika.org/en
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37min
September 13, 2019#106: Sylvestre Dupont - Co-founder of Parseur
Sylvestre and I discuss getting those first 10 customers, moving to a new country when your startup earns enough to replace your day job, and the difficulty of supporting customers from a cruise ship.
We also discuss:
Collecting domain names
Leaving consulting to bootstrap a SaaS
Bootstrapping with the generosity of the French government
The tough months before the first sale - and then the elation after the first sale
Using Quora to land the first customers - and to learn the language used by your potential customers
Using Zapier for leads
The difficulty of opening a Dutch business when you don't speak Dutch
Choosing a place to live when you work remotely
The challenges and rewards of bootstrapping from Mauritius
Translating your website for SEO gains
Travelling the world by cargo ship
Supporting customers from a cruise ship via satellite Internet
Links:
Parseur
grandvoyageur.fr
Find Sylvestre on Twitter at @slybridges
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46min
September 13, 2019 #105 - A new iteration of Bootstrapped
A short and special episode in which I share some news about the podcast.
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2min
May 31, 2018 #104 - I Don't Want To Talk About GDPR The Whole Time w/ Natalie Nagele from Wildbit
In this episode we're joined by Natalie Nagele from Wildbit to talk about starting a business vs. consulting, employees with side hustles, how to pick conferences to attend, and yes, GDPR.
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1h 8min
May 22, 2018 #103 - There's No Scarcity On Piñatas
In this episode we discuss conferences & traveling, birthday parties for kids, .app domains, and Andrey's new GDPR-related project Consent Monitor.
...more
55min
April 15, 2018 #102 - I'm Running On Fumes
In this episode we discuss parenting at the park, hiring a plumber, cutting & bulking > marketing, the awesomeness of Peers Conference ⭐, hiring a contractor for Scribbleton, & more.
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1h 1min

FAQs about Bootstrapped:

How many episodes does Bootstrapped have?

The podcast currently has 242 episodes available.