Startups For the Rest of Us

By Rob Walling

The original podcast for bootstrapped and mostly bootstrapped startups, this show follow the stories of founders as they start, acquire, and grow SaaS companies. Hear when they fail, struggle, succeed... more

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FAQs about Startups For the Rest of Us:

How many episodes does Startups For the Rest of Us have?

The podcast currently has 801 episodes available.

Startups For the Rest of Us episodes:

April 15, 2025Episode 770 | Revenue vs. Profit, Asking for Permission, and Mike Tyson (A Rob Solo Adventure)
Is it more important for entrepreneurs to focus on revenue or profit?
In episode 770, Rob Walling goes solo to explore the relationship between revenue and profit in SaaS, and the dangers of waiting for permission. He also draws inspiration from Mike Tyson’s work ethic and George Lucas’ visionary mindset to encourage entrepreneurs to push through obstacles and innovate.
Topics we cover:
(2:41) – MRR versus ARR
(8:04) – Don’t ask for permission, don’t give in to defeatism
(14:38) – Inventing to pursue novel visions
(18:48) – Mike Tyson’s training regimen
(20:48) – You don’t need to be the best in the world
Links from the Show:
MicroConf Growth Retreat
Discretion Capital
Email Einar
Rob Walling (@robwalling) | X
Rob Walling | LinkedIn
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
26min
April 08, 2025Episode 769 | Key Insights from MicroConf 2025 in New Orleans
Did you miss out on MicroConf US in New Orleans?
In episode 769, Rob Walling welcomes Derrick Reimer back to share highlights from MicroConf New Orleans. They dive into the event's vibrant atmosphere, standout founder talks, and the energizing mix of new and familiar faces that made this gathering in the Big Easy truly special.
Topics we cover:
(1:40) – MicroConf New Orleans audience breakdown
(5:50) – Upcoming MicroConf events
(9:05) – 5 Lessons That Exits Teach Us About Running Our Business
(12:35) – Anthony Pierri’s talk about homepage positioning
(15:16) – 4 New Orleans excursions
(17:17) – Talks on copywriting, pricing, and LinkedIn outreach
(25:57) – Reviewing attendee feedback
Links from the Show:
MicroConf Connect Applications Open Until April 9th
MicroConf Growth Retreat
MicroConf Europe 2025
MicroConf Remote
Exit Strategy by Sherry Walling, PhD & Rob Walling
Derrick Reimer (@derrickreimer) | X
Derrick Reimer(@derrickreimer.com) | Bluesky
SavvyCal
Episode 737 | Key Takeaways from MicroConf Europe 2024 (With Derrick Reimer)
Anthony Pierri (@apierriPMM) | X
Lianna Patch (@punchlinecopy.com) | Bluesky
Street Pricing by Marcos Rivera
Episode 765 | TinySeed Tales s4e9: Making the hardest decision
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
31min
April 01, 2025Episode 768 | Reacting to Controversial Startup Advice
Do you disagree with any of these controversial takes about bootstrapping?
In episode 768, Rob Walling unpacks a series of semi-controversial beliefs about bootstrapping from ScrapingBee’s Pierre de Wulf. Rob evaluates each point from Pierre's tweet, discussing topics like rebranding your SaaS, the hidden problem of affiliate marketing, and the realities of scaling a SaaS business.
Topics we cover:
(1:21) – Pierre’s semi-controversial bootstrapping beliefs
(4:35) – Don’t waste time on a rebrand
(7:24) – No one cares about your domain extension
(9:06) – Affiliate marketing won’t fix your acquisition issues
(11:51) – There is no silver bullet for growth
(13:42) – Copy what works best
(14:59) – Double down on acquisition channels that work
(16:53) – Hire specialists
(19:34) – Never offer a plan with unlimited features
(20:22) – Don’t offer a cheap plan if you can’t support it
(20:47) – Don’t add social logins to your signup page
(21:27) – Read competitors’ reviews several times a year
(21:59) – $10k MRR doesn’t guarantee $100k MRR
(22:28) – You will get copied if you share success
(23:02) – “Build this feature…”
(24:10) – The Mom Test
(24:56) – Provide value for your target demographic for free
(25:47) – Don’t overthink Product Hunt
(26:00) – You’ll never sell your SaaS for 10x
Links from the Show:
MicroConf Growth Retreat in London
Rob Walling (@robwalling) | X
Pierre de Wulf (@PierreDeWulf) | X
ScrapingBee (@ScrapingBee) | X
ScrapingBee
Pierre’s semi-controversial bootstrapping beliefs
TinySeed
Rob Walling.com
Rob Walling | LinkedIn
SaaS Institute
Exit Strategy by Sherry Walling, PhD & Rob Walling
Episode 705 | From Bootstrapped to Mostly Bootstrapped to Venture Backed
The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
Deploy Empathy by Michele Hansen
The SaaS Playbook by Rob Walling
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
30min
March 25, 2025Episode 767 | Finding Your ICP, Prioritizing Feature Requests, Pricing, and More Product-Focused Listener Questions
Is product management more of an art, or a science?
In episode 767, Rob Walling is joined again by Brendan Fortune to answer listener questions focused on product management. They discuss identifying your ideal customer profile, prioritizing feature requests, and positioning against competitors. They also weigh in on how product managers should focus their time.
Topics we cover:
(2:50) – Is your ideal customer always your highest paying one?
(8:11) – Finding just one ICP can be difficult
(14:56) – How do you prioritize feature requests?
(19:24) – Product management is art and science
(26:02) – Competing with competitors on value, not price
(32:21) – How should product managers focus their time?
(37:20) – How do PMs manage roadmaps and user feedback?
Links from the Show:
Invest in TinySeed
MicroConf Mastermind Applications close March 31st
MicroConf Growth Retreat
The SaaS Playbook
Brendan Fortune | LinkedIn
Customer.io
Episode 756 | Why Great Product Management Is Critical for Your Startup
Product Flywheel + Pricing + Org Strategy (Miro)
Savio
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
43min
March 18, 2025Episode 766 | Close.com's Amazing Run to $40M ARR (with Steli Efti)
How do you achieve both success and longevity in SaaS?
In episode 766, Rob chats with Steli Efti about growing Close.com to over $40 million in ARR. Steli shares insights into the importance of maintaining strong co-founder relationships over 12 years, navigating crises, and the importance of emotional resilience in entrepreneurship. They also dive into Close's recent pricing shift to introduce a lower entry-level plan.
Topics we cover:
(2:08) – Reflecting on 12 years of SaaS at Close
(3:50) – Strong co-founder relationships
(11:24) – Longevity and consistently showing up
(20:23) – Surviving moments of crisis
(29:27) – Launching a more affordable pricing tier
(34:40) – Getting back into the content game
Links from the Show:
Exit Strategy by Sherry Walling, PhD & Rob Walling
Close
Close Sales Guides
Episode 498 | Selling During a Pandemic with Steli Efti
The 0 to $30 Million Blueprint
Steli Efti (@Steli) | X
Steli Efti | LinkedIn
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
38min
March 13, 2025Episode 765 | TinySeed Tales s4e9: Making the hardest decision
Is it time to shut down for good?
In this season finale of TinySeed Tales, Rob Walling sits down with Colleen Schnettler, founder of Hello Query, to reflect on her journey over the past few years.
Colleen candidly shares the challenges she faced while trying to grow her SaaS business, including the difficult decision to shut it down after struggling to find traction. Moving past a painful part in her founder journey, Colleen is excited about her new venture where she’s already seeing early success. Join us for this honest look into the final days of Hello Query and to hear Colleen's resilience in the startup world.
Topics we cover:
(1:07) – Difficulty in finding and onboarding customers
(5:32) – Why didn’t it work?
(9:29) – How did the co-founder split affect the business?
(13:11) – Founder regrets
(18:49) – Reflecting on the decision
(22:38) – Anything that you would have done differently?
(25:21) – Moving forward to founder coaching and marketing
Links from the Show:
Join the TinySeed Mailing List
Apply for TinySeed
SaaS Marketing Gym
Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger) | X
Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger.bsky.social) | Bluesky
Hello Query
The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
29min
March 11, 2025Episode 764 | Finding Hockey Stick Growth with an A.I. Wrapper (with Jordan Gal)
How do you build an MVP for an AI-enabled SaaS?
In episode 764, Rob Walling interviews Jordan Gal, co-founder of Rosie, to learn about how he pivoted from Rally to build an AI-driven product for small business owners. Jordan shares insights into the challenges of finding product-market fit, the importance of trial and error, and the rapid growth Rosie has experienced since its launch. They delve into the significance of effective onboarding, and how building an MVP changes in the face of AI.
Topics we cover:
(2:38) – From CartHook to Rally to Rosie
(6:28) – Deciding to pivot and feeling product-market fit
(12:55) – Coming up with a feature set
(16:50) – Building an MVP quickly
(19:29) – Competition when developing with AI
(24:52) – Removing features and flexibility in software
(29:59) – Incredibly fast onboarding
(33:22) – Balancing a “better business” with a “faster business”
Links from the Show:
Applications for MicroConf Mastermind Matching are Open through March 31st
SaaS Institute
Rosie
Jordan Gal (@JordanGal) | X
Rosie (@heyrosieai) | X
Episode 549 | Hiring vs. Outsourcing, E-commerce SaaS, and More Listener Questions with Jordan Gal
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
40min
March 06, 2025Episode 763 | TinySeed Tales s4e8: One Last Pivot
Is it time to set a deadline for when to quit your startup?
In this episode of TinySeed Tales, Rob Walling reconnects with Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hello Query, as she tries to achieve product-market fit on a deadline.
Colleen reveals the struggles of cold outreach and the overwhelming data landscape while testing a potential solution. With a clearer vision and two paying customers, she reflects on the importance of defining her value proposition, and the critical timeline she has set for herself to gain traction before her runway ends.
Topics we cover:
(1:43) – Debating becoming a data aggregator
(6:30) – Finding a new direction
(8:21) – Running out of runway
(10:39) – When is it time to quit?
Links from the Show:
The SaaS Launchpad
Quit by Annie Duke
TinySeed
Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger) | X
Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger.bsky.social) | Bluesky
Hello Query
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
16min
March 04, 2025Episode 762 | Doing Great Work, Hierarchy of SaaS Skills, and Public Deadlines (A Rob Solo Adventure)
Are public deadlines a double-edged sword for startup founders?
In episode 762, join Rob Walling for a solo adventure where he covers several topics. Rob breaks down Paul Graham's essay, "Doing Great Work" and focuses on how the steps apply to building real businesses for real customers. He also discusses the hierarchy of skills necessary for success in the SaaS space, sharing his thoughts on the critical roles of marketing, product development, engineering, and effective team management.
Topics we cover:
(2:07) Doing great work
(5:20) Identify the gaps
(11:51) The SaaS skillset hierarchy
(18:28) Publicly committing to a feature release
(23:05) Maintaining enough rigor to hit deadlines
Links from the Show:
MicroConf Connect Applications are open now through March 5th
How to Do Great Work by Paul Graham
Start Small Stay Small by Rob Walling
Episode 756 | Why Great Product Management Is Critical for Your Startup
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
26min
February 27, 2025Episode 761 | TinySeed Tales s4e7: Identifying Pain Points
In this episode of TinySeed Tales, Rob Walling checks in with Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hello Query, as she discusses finding customer pain points.
Colleen, now solo, navigates the challenge of refining her product vision. After a period of introspection, Colleen shares her decision to pivot from targeting engineering managers to focusing on marketing data analysts. She discusses the insights gained from hiring a marketing coach and the excitement of landing her first paying customer, despite some critical feedback on her product's UI.
Topics we cover:
(1:50) – Early product excitement fizzles out
(5:14) – When is it time to move on from an idea?
(8:57) – Helping marketers build better reports
(13:03) – Setting early pricing
(14:02) – Determining how much to polish an MVP
(17:36) – Predicting what’s ahead
Links from the Show:
SaaS Institute
TinySeed
Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger) | X
Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger.bsky.social) | Bluesky
Hello Query
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify
...more
21min

FAQs about Startups For the Rest of Us:

How many episodes does Startups For the Rest of Us have?

The podcast currently has 801 episodes available.

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