Ben Chestnut, co-founder of Mailchimp joins Rob Walling on the stage at MicroConf US 2024 in Atlanta. They discuss Mailchimp's origin as a side project from a web consulting firm, its accidental yet pivotal adoption of the freemium model, and the company's growth to a $12 billion exit.

Ben shares insights on scaling the business, emphasizing the importance of operational excellence and fostering a creative culture. He also reflects on the challenges of serving small businesses versus enterprise clients and the decision not to develop a customer success team.

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This Is How Apple Rolls

Intuit to Acquire Mailchimp

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If you're a programmer, your skillset in coding can open the door to entrepreneurship. Whether you dream of building products, teaching others, or starting a SaaS, here are 12 ways that you can start making money. Following the Stair Step Method of Bootstrapping can help you turn your side income into a full-blown business over time.

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75+ SaaS Marketplaces

The Stair Step Method of Bootstrapping

TinySeed

Startups For the Rest of Us Episode 688

Programming With Mosh

Theo - t3․gg

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If you operate a B2B SaaS company, you typically fit into one of two categories: vertical SaaS or horizontal SaaS. But which category is superior? For those in the early stages of a SaaS venture and unfamiliar with these distinctions, this video will help you decide which direction to go with your SaaS business.

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This week’s podcast was sponsored by Lemon.io. Cut down on hiring time by working with vetted devs at competitive rates. Get 15% off your first 4 weeks working with their engineers. https://lemon.io/microconf

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The SaaS Playbook

TinySeed

Start Small, Stay Small

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I asked SaaS founders on X, "What's your most controversial opinion about building startups?"... Watch as I dig through the responses and respond to the wildest ones. Some are spot on, some are, well.... you'll see ;)

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Last Chance to Apply for MicroConf Masterminds!

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MicroConf Scholarship Program

Controversial Startup Opinions

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If you're an aspiring founder with a startup idea, learn the precise steps to validate your product effectively and avoid wasting time on the wrong things. By following this proven startup validation framework, you'll ensure that your efforts are focused on building a SaaS product that meets market needs and resonates with your target audience.

Episode Sponsor:

This week’s podcast was sponsored by Lemon.io. Cut down on hiring time by working with vetted devs at competitive rates. Get 15% off your first 4 weeks working with their engineers. https://lemon.io/microconf

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SFTROU Episode 628

SFTROU Episode 589

How To Create An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) Step by Step

MicroConf Connect

Start Small Stay Small by Rob Walling

Deploy Empathy by Michele Hansen

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You've got a SaaS product idea — what's next? How do you turn that idea into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)? This is our step by step roadmap for how to build an MVP, including a unique MVP example that eventually led to a billion-dollar SaaS exit.

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Will these micro SaaS ideas become your next big SaaS project? I just found some unexplored niches and solutions that have a lot of potential so today I’m sharing 5 of my recent favorites with you. Plus find out how you can stay ahead in the SaaS world with the help of monday.com!

Episode Sponsor:

This week’s podcast was sponsored by Lemon.io. Cut down on hiring time by working with vetted devs at competitive rates. Get 15% off your first 4 weeks working with their engineers. https://lemon.io/microconf

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monday app marketplace

Developer Documentation

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Apps Developer Community

App Ideas Directory

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If you're considering building a no-code solution for your business, you won't want to miss this insightful interview! Join Chad Sakonchick, the visionary founder of Better Legal, as he shares the remarkable journey of achieving over $1,000,000 in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) with a no-code SaaS platform.

Episode Sponsor:

This week’s podcast was sponsored by Lemon.io. Cut down on hiring time by working with vetted devs at competitive rates. Get 15% off your first 4 weeks working with their engineers. https://lemon.io/microconf

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BetterLegal

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Bubble

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Software as a service (SaaS) stands out as one of the most lucrative business models today. If you're aiming to venture into SaaS and establish your startup, it's crucial to avoid these six common mistakes that can hinder your success.

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The SaaS Playbook

The Startups For the Rest of Us Podcast

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TinySeed

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Are you trying to choose a name for your business, startup, brand, or product? Naming your business can be challenging because you want something that will not only stand the test of time, but also that you can legally protect!

In this video, I'm diving into essential best practices for business naming to ensure you get it right on the first try. Whether you're seeking SaaS name ideas, brand, domain and trademark tips, or product naming help, this video covers it all, along with the most common naming mistakes.

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TinySeed

The SaaS Playbook

MicroConf

Lean Domain Search

Hello, My Name Is Awesome

How I Nabbed The .Com for My Bootstrapped Startup Without Spending a Million Bucks

Startups For the Rest of Us Podcast

SFTROU Ep. 614

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