Podcasts about bootstrapped

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Next in Media talked to Dhar Mann, Creator and founder of Dhar Mann Studios, and Sean Atkins, CEO of Dhar Mann Studios, about building one of YouTube's most successful scripted content operations. They discussed creating family-friendly scripted series at scale, working with brands beyond traditional advertising, and expanding their studio model to support other creators.Mann and Atkins also covered why scripted content is breaking through on YouTube, their Samsung TV Plus deal, and positioning as the future of creator-driven media.

In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Sofia Rozhko, founder of The Body School, shares her 10-year journey of growing from a solo nutritionist to building a global wellness business serving over 10,000 clients across 32 markets. She credits her success to a values-driven team, a strong focus on product quality, and fostering community support. By pivoting online before COVID, Sofia positioned her business for explosive growth during the pandemic. Her story highlights resilience, innovation, and the importance of staying true to one's values. This episode is packed with lessons on building sustainable success in the wellness industry. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Sofia Rozhko the hardest thing in growing a small business is being consistent every single day, even when you don't see immediate results. She emphasized focusing on the next step rather than getting overwhelmed by looking too far ahead. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Sofia Rozhko shared that her favorite business book which has helped her the most is “Rework” by the founders of 37signals (Basecamp), as it changed her perspective and showed her that running a small, flexible business can be just as successful as scaling big. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Sofia Rozhko shared that she mostly listens to podcasts about nutrition and science, and one of her favorites is the Huberman Lab Podcast. She admires not only the scientific insights but also how Andrew Huberman has built his podcast into a strong business, which she sees as an inspiring entrepreneurial model. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Sofia Rozhko shared that she would recommend using any tool that helps organize tasks and bring clarity, whether it's a simple calendar, notes app, or a task management system, because without structure, running a business can quickly feel chaotic. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Sofia Rozhko shared that the advice she would give herself on day one of starting out in business is to not be afraid of being judged by others, especially by close family and friends. She explained that people may doubt or criticize not because they're bad, but because they fear change in the relationship when you grow. Her lesson is: don't listen to those without expertise in your field, even if you love them as people. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Consistency in small steps matters more than chasing big leaps – Sofia Rozhko Hire people who align with your values, not just their skills – Sofia Rozhko Don't let the fear of being judged stop you from building your dream – Sofia Rozhko      

Itay Elgazar didn't wait years to find his exit. He launched Superdev in early 2025, an AI tool that let developers build full-stack apps in minutes. Within months, it went viral, gained hundreds of paying users, and just two weeks after listing on Acquire.com, it was acquired in a life-changing exit.In this episode, Itay shares how he built, listed, and closed his exit faster than most founders think possible.You'll hear:Why starting lean and focusing on real developer pain points accelerated tractionHow viral influencer content replaced paid ads and fueled growthWhat clean documentation and constant communication did to speed due diligenceWhy timing matters more than chasing the “perfect” deal3 lessons from Itay's exit:Preparation builds credibilityDifferentiation attracts real buyersSelling while growth is visible creates leverageWhether you're building to scale or preparing for a future acquisition, Superdev's story shows that the right mix of timing, preparation, and traction can lead to a fast, clean deal.Follow Itay's journey:LinkedInTwitterSuperdev

Allegra Shaw built Uncle Studios into a seven-figure fashion brand through ethical practices, organic growth, and community trust.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Said Korkmax and Esra Sinmaz built Appify Mobile, lean and bootstrapped. Without ad spend, they focused on App Store Optimization (ASO) to grow AI apps that caught fire in crowded app stores.Small tests soon turned into real traction. Their AI apps in beauty and effects gained organic installs, reviews confirmed demand, and revenue doubled in months. With momentum strong, they decided it was the right time to sell.Listing on Acquire.com brought buyers fast. By the second week, serious conversations were underway. Clean documentation, clear differentiation, and organic growth positioned Appify Mobile as a low-risk, high-potential acquisition. The exit gave Said and Esra both freedom and resources to focus on new projects.In this episode, you'll learn:How ASO can drive traction without ad spendWhy documentation builds buyer trustHow timing can turn growth into a clean exit3 lessons from Said & Esra's exit:Preparation and clarity build credibilityDifferentiation makes products stand outTiming your exit is everythingWhether you're building to keep or selling to move on, Said & Esra's story shows that preparation, clarity, and timing make all the difference.Follow our guests:► Esra Sinmaz – LinkedIn► Said Korkmax – LinkedIn► Appify Mobile

In this episode, Sophie Vo sits down with indie game developer and studio Filipina co-founder Danni Ann Taylor to explore the realities of starting and running a game studio—while raising a family—without outside funding.Dani shares her journey from early gaming passion to launching Yang Yang Mobile with her husband in the Philippines, building a reputation for high-quality visual novels like The Letter, and developing their latest title, High Time.From risky leaps of faith to strategic pivots, Danni discusses the balance between creative vision and business realities, the challenges of working with your life partner, and how to grow a team without losing the joy of making games.She also opens up about her unconventional daily schedule , the role of her support system, and how she handles founder guilt while raising three children.Key LearningsStarting Before 30 & Bootstrapping* Danni and her husband started their studio shortly after she gave birth, believing it was better to “fail early” than wait until later in life.* Bootstrapped the business using life savings, layoff packages, and small family loans—no investors, to keep creative freedom.Finding Success By Pivoting To What You Love* Initially aimed for hyper-casual mobile games but shifted to visual novels after realizing mobile required heavy UA spending.* Created The Letter and used Kickstarter to secure funding, leveraging her own passion and understanding of the VN audience.Indie Studios Success: Standing Out in a Niche* Elevated the standard for indie visual novels: full English voice acting, animated backgrounds, branching storylines that impact the journey—not just the ending.* Added minigames and interactivity to make titles more engaging for streamers and viewers.Sustainable Growth vs Scale* Grew from a 7-person team to around 20—deliberately staying small to balance creative work and manageable leadership.* Avoided scaling too fast after seeing the strain of expansion.Balancing Family & Business* Relies on family and trusted help for childcare and household management.* Embraces a night-owl schedule with split work blocks to balance deep focus time, family moments, and personal space.Top Quality Is The Best Marketing* Focus on making a “really darn good game” so fans and streamers want to share it.* Built a small but loyal fanbase who amplify launches and sustain visibility.Links & Resources* Yang Yang Mobile Website* Wishlist High Time on Steam: Steam Page Link* Rise and Play Leadership coachingThanks for reading Rise and Play! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

Stéphan bootstrapped AODocs to $55M in revenue and 250 employees without taking a dime of VC money—while competing directly with venture-backed competitors. Starting as a services company in 2012, he spotted the cloud migration wave early and built document management for enterprises moving to Google Workspace. In this episode, Stéphan breaks down why doubling every two years beats hypergrowth, how to win enterprise deals with zero funding, and why touching business-critical documents means year-long sales cycles but 10-year retention. This is the anti-Silicon Valley playbook that actually works.Why You Should Listen:Why the founder must personally close every single deal in 0 to 1How doubling every 2 years (not every year) creates a more stable businessThe brutal reality of enterprise POCs: doing it for free before getting paidWhy you can't have both fast customer acquisition and high retentionHow being French/European became an advantage against US competitors KeywordsAODocs, bootstrapping, Stéphan Donzé, enterprise sales, document management, SaaS, Google Workspace, cloud migration, product market fit, B2B00:00:00 Intro00:01:12 Bootstrapping vs VC backed00:03:44 From services to SaaS00:19:08 Landing the first customer 00:20:47 Why they turned down VC money00:25:32 The 997 grind—four days on-site with customers every week00:35:21 Why you can't have fast sales and high retention00:40:33 Product-market fitSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Was passiert, wenn zwei Agenturgründerinnen ihre Erfahrung in Branding und Digitalmarketing nehmen — und statt für Kund:innen eine eigene Marke launchen? In dieser Folge sprechen Laurence Saunier und Marlena Hien über die Gründung von Bears with Benefits, ihr schnelles Wachstum und den Exit 2022. Sie erzählen, wie ein 3.000-Stück-Test auf Amazon zur Bestseller-Kachel wurde, warum Packaging fürs Smartphone entworfen werden muss und weshalb Bootstrapping ihnen in der Krise den Hals rettete.Wir reden über:• Amazon als Launchpad — wie Traffic, Reviews und schnelle Iteration den ersten Product-Market-Fit brachten. • Retail-Hebel: Vom Amazon-Bestseller zur Listung bei Douglas, dm & Rossmann — und wie das Vertrauen in den Handel reingetragen wurde. • Packaging = Content: Design, das auf Instagram funktioniert — und warum die Dose auf Feed & Shelf zugleich performen muss. • Bootstrapped statt VC: Warum Profitabilität in einer späteren Krise zum strategischen Vorteil wurde. • Female-First Brandbuilding: Feminine Leadership, Community-Aufbau und die Rolle von Influencer-Marketing als Performance-Hebel. • Exit & Next Steps: Warum sie verkauft haben, wie sie den Übergang gestaltet haben — und wie sie jetzt als Gründerinnen, Investorinnen und Mentorinnen weitermachen.Ein inspirierendes Gespräch über Mut, Pragmatismus und das Handwerk, aus einem Produkt eine Kulturmarke zu bauen.

Atis Hermanis is the co-founder of HackMotion. With a Ph.D. in electronics, sensor systems, and signal processing, Atis brings a research background to the company's wrist-worn tech for golf swing analysis. HackMotion has bootstrapped to profitability, hitting €7.3M revenue in 2024 (160% growth) and 476% profit increase, while pioneering paying €30K in dividends to employees in H1 2025. Winners of the Baltic E-Commerce Star award, they've scaled globally, partnering with PGA Tour pros and focusing on amateur precision improvement—proving scrappy Baltic innovation can conquer a competitive niche.On this episode we talk about:HackMotion's founding, turning golf swing pain points into wearable techAtis's journey from prototype to serving PGA pros, key milestones like €7.3M revenue in 2024, and balancing B2C e-commerce with global scaling challenges.Exploring AI's role in swing analysis (e.g., real-time feedback), why not all use cases fit AI hype, and staying focused on client value amid tech trends.Atis's strategies for 160% revenue growth without VC, including employee dividends (€30K in H1 2025), efficiency in marketing, and lessons for Baltic founders on sustainable scaling.Visions for AI-driven precision in golf, navigating hardware pitfalls, and scrappy tips for turning technical expertise into a profitable==If you liked this episode or simply want to support the work we do, buy us a coffee or two, or a hundred, with just a few clicks at: https://buymeacoffee.com/pursuitofscrappinessFind all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTAConnect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/===============Support the showSupport the show

Andrew bootstrapped Wrike and grew it from 0 to a $2.2B exit by doing the exact opposite of what every startup book tells you. No pivots. No talking to customers before launch. No narrow niche. Just 17 years of relentless focus on one problem while everyone else was pivoting every 18 months. In this episode, he breaks down exactly why bootstrapping saved his company (and why VC would have killed it), why he ignored customer development and just built in a bunker, and how manning the support phones himself became his secret product development weapon. Now building Zencoder (AI coding agents), he shares why the future isn't about replacing developers but making every human "superhuman" at their job. This is mandatory listening for any founder questioning conventional startup wisdom.Why You Should Listen:Grew to $2.2B with no pivots for 17 years while competitors kept "failing fast"How he doubled revenue every year from $0 to $100M+ ARRWhy manning support phones himself was better than any customer development processWhy copycats helped Wrike grow fasterThe future of AI agentsKeywords:Wrike, Andrew Filev, bootstrapping, 2 billion exit, product market fit, SaaS, Zencoder, AI coding agents, no pivot strategy, collaboration software00:00:00 Intro00:03:30 Moving to Silicon Valley from Russia to build for millions00:10:06 Going all-in after previous side projects failed00:11:27 Why he never pivoted once in 17 years00:18:47 Launching without talking to customers first00:24:12 Manning support phones and discovering the real roadmap00:29:01 When Microsoft Project, Basecamp, and Jira were the competition00:34:31 The only job definition—double the business every year00:54:16 Why Developers won't be replaced, and become superhuman01:01:57 The $2.2B exit and making employees' dreams come true01:04:36 Finding product-market fit at Zencoder vs Wrike01:06:55 Focus on people—everything traces back to themSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Umar Khan didn't plan to sell. Bootstrapped and lean, his AI side project ChatFAI went viral: 1M users in a year and MRR jumping from $500 to $2,000 in two months. Its edge? Long-term memory that kept conversations alive.Despite traction, Umar chose focus over scale. He listed on ⁠Acquire.com⁠, where verified buyers, clear documentation, and fast communication turned the process into a clean, stress-free exit.In this episode, Umar shares:How viral growth shaped a bootstrapped exitWhy focus matters more than chasing scaleHow Acquire.com tools built trust and sped up due diligenceHere are 3 lessons from Umar's exit:Preparation shortens dealsDifferentiation makes buyers move fastTiming your exit is everythingWhether you're scaling for the long run or considering an exit, Umar's journey proves that timing, preparation, and focus define the outcome.Follow Umar's Journey:LinkedIn⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ChatFAI⁠

saas.unbound is a podcast for and about founders who are working on scaling inspiring products that people love, brought to you by https://saas.group/, a serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies. In episode #36 of season 5, Anna Nadeina talks with Vitaly, founder of ReviewsOnMyWebsite & TextNinja.--------------Episode's Chapters----------------0:00 - Introduction2:51 - Building Reviews 5:47 - Target Audience and ICP8:45 - The Story Behind the Brand12:25 - White Label Partnership Strategy17:01 - Building Text Ninja28:19 - Growth Strategy and Marketing Channels33:30 - Implementing AI Features38:35 - Biggest Lessons LearnedVitaly - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitalymotuz/ ReviewsOnMyWebsite - https://reviewsonmywebsite.com/TextNinja - https://textninja.com/Subscribe to our channel to be the first to see the interviews that we publish twice a week - https://www.youtube.com/@saas-groupStay up to date:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaaS_groupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/14790796

In this episode of The Galata Podcast, I'm joined by Suresh Kumar, the founder of Pepul Tech, a privacy-first social network that's reimagining how people connect online. Suresh has an incredible journey: he bootstrapped Pepul from zero to a million users in just three months, built strong relationships that powered growth, and even turned down funding offers to stay true to his vision. In this conversation, we dive into the art of proactive selling, the courage it takes to say ‘no' when everyone expects a ‘yes,' and the deeper philosophy behind building a social platform that's designed to make the internet more human.Resources mentioned in the episode:Books mentioned:As a man thinketh The Secrets by Ronda BryanTough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do! - Robert H. Schuller7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. CoveyZero to Million Dollar by Suresh Kumar G | MacAppStudio at AIC RaiseSteve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement AddressThe making of Girish Mathrubootham - Factor Daily articleMovies Founders - McDonald's moviePadayappaBaashhaShoutouts:Balaji Kalyana RamanGirish MathruboothamVijay Shekar Sharma RajnikanthM. G. Ramachandran

Bootstrapped with $20K, Still Here grew from painted jeans to an eight-figure denim brand through grit, creativity, and discipline.For more on Still Here and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Ever heard of Electric Membranes that are Talking Back? Listen to this!More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Robyn Djelassi, founder of Impact People Solutions. After a 25-year corporate HR career and a top role at Vinomofo, Robyn launched Impact People Solutions in 2022 to give growing Australian businesses access to top-tier people leadership without the full-time cost. Their flagship service, CPO Connect, embeds a fractional Chief People Officer into your business. Bootstrapped from day one, Robyn has grown the business from a solo consultancy into a cash-positive team of eight. This is a story of building a business on clarity, commerciality, and treating adults like adults. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Robyn, the hardest thing in growing a small business is time. Finding enough of it to get everything done, especially when you're wearing multiple hats as a founder. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Robyn's favourite business book is Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. Despite being an oldie, she finds it incredibly relevant and continues to refer to it even today. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? One of Robyn's go-to podcasts for professional development is How I Work by Amantha Imber. She appreciates Amantha's insights on productivity and building habits that stick. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Robyn recommends using Microsoft To Do List as a simple yet powerful tool to manage daily tasks. Despite using more advanced tools like HubSpot, she finds this one still does the best job of helping her stay on track and productive. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? If she could go back to day one of starting her business, Robyn would tell herself: “Be patient.” Success doesn't happen overnight, and learning to breathe and enjoy the journey is key. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Good people help good people. Kindness in business always comes back around – Robyn Djelassi You don't need funding to succeed. You need grit, trust, and a hell of a work ethic! – Robyn Djelassi Success is doing the work you love with people you respect, not just chasing numbers. – Robyn Djelassi      

In this episode, the host interviews Maor, the CEO of Base 44 and discusses the company's recent acquisition by Wix for $80 million. Maor shares his entrepreneurial journey, from founding his first data science company Explo in 2018 to raising $130 million and managing it for six and a half years. Transitioning from Explo, Maor delves into the launch and rapid growth of Base 44, an AI-driven app-building platform. He emphasizes user experience, the importance of community-driven growth, and offers a detailed demo of Base 44's capabilities. Maor also outlines future plans under Wix, including more advanced AI app-building functionalities and a new app catalog for software distribution.Learn more about Base44: https://base44.com

What does success really look like for a beauty entrepreneur? In an industry that often celebrates rapid growth, aggressive fundraising, and influencer-heavy marketing, there's a quieter, more sustainable path – one that values creative control, profitability, and long-term impact over flashy headlines. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica – is joined by Chinelo Chidozie, co-founder of Bolden, a beauty entrepreneur who bootstrapped her brand into over 1,000 Walmart stores across the United States, without any external funding. If you've ever wondered whether you can grow a beauty brand on your own terms, this episode is for you. Tune in now!      Free Resources Free formulation course | Green Beauty Conversations Podcast | Blog | YouTube Socials: Formula Botanica on Instagram | Lorraine Dallmeier on Instagram

In this episode of Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur, Jeff Rudner, host of 5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies, interviews Tom Hunt, Founder and CEO of Fame, to reveal how he built a B2B podcast agency to £4M ARR without external funding. Tom shares lessons from 17 previous business attempts, emphasizing the critical role of financial discipline and the power of hyper-focus on core services. Discover his unique risk assessment framework, practical EOS implementation, and the vital role of culture in scaling. This episode delivers actionable strategies on cash flow, profitability, operational efficiency, and team incentives, demonstrating why doing less exceptionally well is the key to lasting growth.

Summary:In today's episode, Les speaks with Chris Peterson, co-founder and CEO of Radicl, and a pioneer in cybersecurity innovation. Chris shares his inspiring journey from early days at Price Waterhouse to co-founding LogRhythm, and now leading Radicl - a company on a mission to bring military-grade cybersecurity to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), especially those in the defense industrial base (DIB). With humility, vision, and deep industry experience, Chris talks about the challenges of cybersecurity for SMBs, the promise of AI in threat detection, and the principles that drive Radicl's product and culture.Here's a closer look at the episode:1. Chris's Cybersecurity RootsGrew up curious and mischievous - early hacking instincts emerged from pushing boundaries.First tech job at Price Waterhouse, where he was inspired by early internet penetration testing.Mentored by pioneers like George Kurtz (founder of CrowdStrike) and Ron Gula.Early work included database security assessments and automated audit tools.2. Building LogRhythmCo-founded LogRhythm after stints at Counterpane and Tenable.Bootstrapped early development by selling his home and self-funding the venture.Partnered with Phil Villella (nuclear physicist) and Andy Grolnick (CEO) to scale the company.Lessons from early days: founder commitment, frugality, focus on product-market fit.LogRhythm grew to 500 employees before exiting via private equity in 2018.3. The Genesis of RadiclFounded Radicl to address cybersecurity gaps in SMBs within the defense supply chain.Inspired by the SolarWinds hack and national security threats.Assembled a founding team including his brother Matt and a former fighter pilot.Mission: protect under-defended SMBs in DIB against industrial espionage.4. The Opportunity and Market NeedDIB SMBs are often unable to afford or operate traditional cybersecurity solutions.Barriers include tight margins, complex compliance (e.g. CMMC), and lack of in-house talent.Advances in cloud, automation, and AI now make affordable, scalable solutions viable.Radicl addresses both compliance operations and 24/7 security operations via software + human hybrid model.5. Radicl's Product and PlatformDelivers “virtual SOC” capabilities—blending human expertise with AI and automation.Handles CMMC readiness, threat detection, incident response, and vulnerability management.Designed for transparency: customers can engage with Radicl's ops team in-platform.AI-driven agents are increasingly being introduced to reduce cost and improve response times.6. Looking AheadPreparing for a Series A raise in the next 4–6 months to accelerate R&D investment.Focused on doubling down on AI innovation and expanding platform features.Vision: democratize advanced cybersecurity for SMBs while delivering elite protection to the DIB.Chris aims to balance company building with family, health, and meditation—striving for better life integration as a second-time founder.Resources:Website: RADICLhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/radicl-defense/ https://radicl.com/Chris Petersonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispetersen1/ https://radicl.com/bio-chris-petersen 

Rich J. Yun didn't build Jet Designs to sell it. He built it to solve a real need: on-demand design support for early-stage startups.But once it was running smoothly, he listed it on Acquire.com. No brokers. No outside capital. Just a clean listing and the right buyer.Within days, the deal was done. All cash. No earn-out. No complications.In this episode, Rich explains how he prepared for a fast exit using Acquire.com templates, recording walkthroughs on Loom, and managing multiple buyers without letting things drag.He also shares how to structure your data room, what buyers really look for in service businesses, and how to stay flexible to close faster.You'll learn:How to prep a design services business for acquisitionWhy documentation creates speed and trustHow to juggle multiple buyers with confidenceWhy founders don't need “scale” to sellWhat Rich included in his listing that made it stand out3 lessons from Rich's exit:Clear docs remove 90% of buyer objectionsAcquire's resources (templates + videos) save time and stressIf you're honest and prepared, buyers move fastWhether you're running a solo service or a small SaaS, Rich's exit shows that simplicity, clarity, and preparation are all you need.Follow Rich's journey:→ LinkedIn→ Twitter→ Jet Designs

Amper vijf jaar na de lancering draait de Gentse startup Tally drie miljoen omzet. Toch was de online form builder niet het eerste idee waar Marie Martens en Filip Minev mee speelden. Corona dwong het koppel om hun startup in de reissector te stoppen, waarna ze zich op een nieuw avontuur stortten. Zonder extern kapitaal, en met ChatGPT als bron van nieuwe klanten, slaagt Tally erin om maand na maand te blijven groeien. In Trends podcasts vind je alle podcasts van Trends en Trends Z, netjes geordend volgens publicatie. De redactie van Trends brengt u verschillende podcasts over wat onze wereld en maatschappij beheerst. Vanuit diverse invalshoeken en met een uitgesproken focus op economie en ondernemingen, op business, personal finance en beleggen. Onafhankelijk, relevant, telkens constructief en toekomstgericht.

Send us a textInteresting things about the distillery:Started with whiskey, then limoncello, and last vodka.  Bootstrapped, so didn't have a large bank loan to force them to get out something to start.  They used “Creative aging” to get whiskey done faster.  Natural, not pressurizedMost likely small barrelsHas a second location in Put-in-BayOur Bottle: Dark CherryThis was their very first bottlePipe Pairings:Cocktails:Research Sourceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdbIG8JNsVY&t=405sSupport the showWebsite:www.whiskeychaserspod.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/whiskeychaserspodcastInsta:https://www.instagram.com/whiskeychaserspodcast/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@whiskeychaserspodcastThanks For Listening! Tell a Friend!

GSD Presents: Top Global Startups with Yossi Abraham Bootstrapped and Thriving: The Profitable Growth Mindset Behind Startup Success June 18th, Wednesday

Omar Zouhair didn't build PageCrafter to flip it. He built it to fix a bottleneck in his own team. But once it worked, he listed it on Acquire.com with no expectations.Seven days later, the deal was done. All cash. No earn-out. No back-and-forth.In this episode, Omar breaks down what made the deal so fast: clean documentation, transparency, and flexibility.He also shares the exact files he created, how he managed buyer calls, and why being clear about handoff terms makes everything easier.You'll learn:How to prep a SaaS for acquisition, even if it's tinyWhy good documentation can 10x buyer trustWhat makes a buyer skip the earn-outHow to list even if your product isn't “done”What founders should do before they scale3 lessons from Omar's exit:Buyers don't always need scale, they need clarityA simple Figma file can make diligence frictionlessThe right timing beats the perfect productWhether you're running a side project or a small SaaS, Omar's story proves that speed comes from preparation.Follow Omar's journey:→ LinkedIn→ Twitter→ PageCrafter

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Sarah Vilenskiy, founder of Blossom Essentials. She has taken her skincare brand from direct-to-consumer roots to the shelves of major retailers like Walmart. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: From marketing to skincare: Sarah's founder journeyLearning from agency experiences: good and badNavigating the impact of iOS 14 on Meta AdsTransitioning from DTC to retailAdapting to economic uncertainty and changing consumer behaviorRetail profitability vs. digital acquisition costsBuilding brand trust through education and transparencyLeveraging direct mail and retention strategiesFinding and owning your niche in a crowded marketThe importance of aligning brand voice with founder authenticityFind more episodes on our website.--This episode is brought to you by BSR Digital.BSR Digital helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, visit their website or book a call here.

Today I am so excited to be speaking to a woman who feels as passionately about the power of food as I do. Danielle Duboise is the co-founder of Sakara Life, a company providing the highest quality, whole food nutrition and supplements for body, skin and mind. We talk about building a body you can feel good in, and how as someone in the wellness space, she navigates its complexities. Full disclaimer, she and I both agree that the answers to a lot of health issues may be more simple than we are sometimes led to believe! But before I tell you a bit more about Danielle, but first I just want to say a quick merci to our sponsor today - Ergopouch. ErgoPouch makes premium swaddles, sleep sacks, sleep suits and pajamas of certified organic cotton and are skin friendly as reviewed by the Eczema Association of Australia. Our head of marketing, Taylor, recently had her second daughter and swears by ergopouch for all of her baby's sleep wear. As we are talking so much about conscious parenting with Danielle today, it's great to be working with a brand that cares so much about children's exposure to harmful chemicals and makes sure all their products are natural, healthy and safe for sleeping.Visit ergopouch, spelt out with .com, to learn more!And as we are speaking all about food with Danielle today, I want to take this opportunity to talk a little about an issue that I feel personally very strongly about which is food waste. The United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 120 billion pounds every year. That's estimated to be almost 40 percent of the entire US food supply, and equates to 325 pounds of waste per person. That's like every person in America throwing 975 apples right into the garbage — or rather right into landfills, as most discarded food ends up there. In fact, food is the single largest component taking up space inside US landfills, making up 22 percent of municipal solid waste. So we clearly need a solution, and I am thrilled to have one for you in the form of Mill, an at home food recycler that I am truly thrilled to be working with and that I am using at my own house now. Mill is your kitchen's new best friend. A simple, odor-free food recycler that turns leftovers and scraps into nutrient-rich grounds with no effort. Mill prevents food waste without smells, flies, or chores. It works while you sleep and you can keep filling it for weeks. You can use the grounds in your garden, add them to your curbside compost, or let Mill pick them up and deliver them to a small farm for you - which I completely love for my city friends. I can attest to using them in our organic vegetable garden here in Maine and being thrilled with the results. Give it a try for yourself -- it's risk-free and you can get $75 off at mill.com/rev.So now just a little more about Danielle and the story of her starting Sakara.Bootstrapped from just $700, Danielle and co-founder Whitney Tingle raised at a dinner party, Sakara Life is a whole-body wellness company on a mission to nourish your body's innate power. They put clients in the driver's seat of their own health with their proprietary plant-based nutrition program, functional snacks and supplements.With a Masters of Science in Functional Medicine and Human Nutrition from University of Western States, Danielle combines her expertise in science-backed nutrition with her passion for holistic wellness to inspire others to nourish their bodies and live their most vibrant lives. Today we speak about the importance of reframing our thoughts around food - how we can embrace food instead of fear it. We also speak about her personal experiences with eating, but also how she is navigating the world of pregnancy, post partum and motherhood with both consciousness and grace when it comes to her family's health.

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Lisa: Refusing to give up.Too many families face overwhelming challenges when trying to access life-saving benefits, often giving up before receiving the help they need. Lisa Marino, Founder and CEO of Dopple, has made it her mission to simplify the process.Lisa's personal experience navigating the welfare system while earning her MBA at Stanford inspired her to create Dopple. She explained, “We built for others what we did for ourselves to get our own family through.” Her platform connects families to an array of funding sources—government benefits, philanthropic programs, and contributions from friends and family—by streamlining the process into a simple, AI-driven solution.In today's episode, Lisa highlighted a staggering statistic: “40% of families eligible for SNAP are so overwhelmed by the application process that many just drop out.” She's determined to eliminate this friction, helping families secure critical funding for essentials like childcare, diapers, and even college savings.Dopple's approach begins with a 12-month budget, encouraging families to think comprehensively about their needs. The platform then leverages AI to match families with available resources and funding opportunities. Lisa shared, “We've taken this budget that maybe started at $25,000 and start whacking away at it… shifting $20,000 plus from being out of pocket to the family to the village that wants to support them.”Dopple's innovative model also addresses the philanthropic side. By fractionalizing gifting, Dopple enables friends, family, and organizations to contribute directly to a family's needs. Additionally, the company generates revenue through subscription-based kids' clothing and essential products like diapers and formula.Lisa's commitment to making a difference extends beyond her platform's services. Dopple is currently raising funds on Wefunder, inviting everyday individuals to invest in the company's vision. Lisa explained, “I believe in being egalitarian… If we're trying to help families fund the basics, we need to walk the walk.”By tackling the bureaucratic hurdles that prevent families from accessing critical support, Lisa and Dopple are making an extraordinary impact. Learn more about their mission and investment opportunity at thedopple.com/invest.tl;dr:Lisa Marino, CEO of Dopple, shares her journey navigating welfare systems during her MBA at Stanford.Dopple simplifies access to critical benefits, combining AI and a comprehensive family budgeting platform.The platform connects families to funding sources, reducing out-of-pocket expenses by leveraging their community.Lisa emphasizes Dopple's egalitarian approach, inviting individuals to invest via a Wefunder campaign.Her superpower, refusing to give up, drives her to tackle challenges with persistence and grit.How to Develop Refusing to Give Up As a SuperpowerLisa Marino's superpower is her unrelenting tenacity to overcome obstacles. She described it simply: “The hard part was sitting down and figuring it out.” Whether navigating complex welfare systems during her pregnancy or guiding her company through challenges, Lisa defines success as persistence. As she told her kids, “People who put on the big kid pants clean it up… and move forward.”Lisa's determination was tested during her time as CEO of Rocky. She inherited a company with a $400 million preference stack and declining revenue. Despite being advised against taking the role, she worked tirelessly to restructure the business, rebuild profitability, and grow through acquisitions. Years of difficult conversations and strategic moves eventually led to success—an exemplary display of perseverance.Tips for Developing This Superpower:Set Realistic Expectations: Focus on achieving small wins, even when faced with overwhelming challenges.Embrace the Grind: Accept that progress takes time and effort, and remain committed to the vision.Allow Yourself Breaks: Give yourself permission to recharge when needed, such as Lisa's “quarterly pity party.”Take Control: Address challenges proactively rather than waiting for them to escalate.By following Lisa's example and advice, you can make refusing to give up a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileLisa Marino (she/her):Founder and CEO, DoppleAbout Dopple: Two thirds of all families live paycheck to paycheck yet billions of federal and philanthropic dollars earmarked for these families go unused each year. The system is opaque, inefficient, and requires an advanced degree to navigate. I know this because at one point, before I became a successful operator, I was forced to navigate it for my family. Dopple is the platform to bring transparency and efficiency to the flow of funds in this market. We are the qualification engine and payment rails in the middle. Dopple launches in July in New Jersey, and I am looking for a famly foundation with an aligned vision to be a design and beta partner with us. Use of funds will be to cover needs such as diapers, childcare and tuition for mid to low income families in NJ.Website: thedopple.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/thedoppleOther URL: thedopple.com/investBiographical Information: - First person in my immigrant Mexican family to go to college, which I paid for myself. BS Wharton, MBA Stanford GSB, MA Latin American Studies, Stanford.- Reformed tech M&A banker and 3rd time entrepreneur who gets it done while a single mom. - Bootstrapped my last company and sold it to McClatchy in January 2024.- Designed with my daughter and then GC'd my home build during 2022-2023 in Big Sky, MT while simultaneously running a company. Every piece of trim in my house I stained myself. - At 54, there's still no friends on powder days.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lisa-marino-b520545Instagram Handle: @thedopple Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, DealMaker, DNA, Rancho Affordable Housing (Proactive). Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear |  Matthew Mead, Hempitecture |  Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on August 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, August 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on "Your Portal, Your Future: How to Choose the Right Reg CF Platform." With so many investment crowdfunding portals available today, selecting the right one can be overwhelming for both founders and investors. In this session, Devin will break down the critical factors to consider—such as platform fees, audience demographics, compliance support, industry focus, and overall user experience. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or an investor exploring where to put your dollars to work, you'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to evaluate and choose the platform that best aligns with your goals. Don't miss this practical, insight-packed hour designed to help you take your next step in the Reg CF ecosystem with confidence.SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Apply for the Live Pitch here. VIPs get access to our better-than-in-person networking, including backstage passes, VIP networking and an exclusive VIP webinar! Get your VIP access for just $25. A select group of affordable sponsorship opportunities is still available. Learn more here.Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com's monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.Future Forward Summit: San Francisco, Wednesday, June 25 · 3:30 - 8:30 pm PDT.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Impact Accelerator Summit is a live in-person event taking place in Austin, Texas, from October 23–25, 2025. This exclusive gathering brings together 100 heart-centered, conscious entrepreneurs generating $1M+ in revenue with 20–30 family offices and venture funds actively seeking to invest in world-changing businesses. Referred by Michael Dash, participants can expect an inspiring, high-impact experience focused on capital connection, growth, and global impact.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

Josh Sebo (COO of OfferVault), Adam Young (CEO of Ringba), industry legend Harrison Gevirtz and special guest Haiphie Hua (Head of Strategic Partnerships at CodeClouds) discuss:- A Legacy of Resilience: How Haiphie's Parents Escaped Vietnam- From Day One to VP: Haiphie's Ascent from the Bottom to the Top- Offer Creation Over Branding: The Importance of Backend Operations- Bootstrapped Expertise: Learning in the Trenches- CodeClouds & Consulting: How to Build Profitable Offers, Funnels & Custom Software- Affiliates as Offer Owners: How Affiliates Should be Thinking- The Evolving Landscape: Major Shifts and What's Next- Scaling Starts After The Sale: Focus on LTV, Retention & Backend FlowsFollow Us:OfferVault:WEBSITE: https://www.offervault.com/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/offervaultINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/offervaultmarketing/TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/offervaultLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/offer-vault/Adam Young: RINGBA: https://www.ringba.comRINGBA's INNER CIRCLE: https://try.ringba.com/inner-circle/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ringbaINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/adamyoung/TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/arbitrageLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/capitalistHarrison Gevirtz:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/affiliate/LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisongevirtz/Haiphie Hua:CODECLOUDS: https://www.codeclouds.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/haiphiehua/LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haiphiehua/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Keilian Knudsen and Prags Mugunthan, co-founders of Pangea.ai. Keilian and Prags explored their journey from university roommates in Scotland to building a global tech talent platform. Keilian described how growing up in Switzerland with an American mother and Norwegian father gave him a multicultural view of the world and a drive to create something of his own. Prags shared how moving from Sri Lanka to Norway at a young age gave him access to education and opportunity, which shaped his path toward entrepreneurship. Their first ventures included a sandblasting startup and a digital memory bank, both of which failed but pushed them to solve the problem they encountered firsthand—how hard it was to find and hire reliable software developers.That problem led to the birth of Digital Knights, a service-based business that eventually became Pangea. Keilian and Prags candidly shared about the tough early days, including running out of money, borrowing from friends and family, and nearly walking away from it all. What kept them going was their shared vision and complementary strengths. They also emphasized the importance of building repeatable systems and processes, especially after realizing that excessive hustle without structure could limit their growth.Discover how missed hires, borrowed savings, and unwavering conviction led Keilian and Prags to build Pangea in this episode of The First Customer!Guest Info:Pangea.aihttps://www.pangea.aiKeilian Knudsen's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/keilian/Prags Mugunthan's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/pragsm/Connect with Jay on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/The First Customer Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcastThe First Customer podcast websitehttps://www.firstcustomerpodcast.comFollow The First Customer on LinkedInhttp://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

Most SaaS companies treat onboarding like a checklist Rocketlane turns it into a competitive edge.In this episode of SaaS Fuel, Jeff Mains welcomes Srikrishnan Ganesan , co-founder and CEO of Rocketlane. Sri shares how strategic onboarding builds trust, boosts expansion revenue, and drives customer success from Day 1.They explore how AI is transforming service delivery from reactive to proactive, and why onboarding is the second sale that most founders overlook. Whether you're scaling a SaaS product, leading a customer success team, or building from zero, this episode is packed with frameworks, strategies, and insight.

In this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino speaks with Ryan Duey, co-founder and co-CEO of Plunge, the cold therapy and sauna brand that has quietly scaled to $80M+ in annual sales with minimal outside funding. Ryan breaks down how a garage-built idea during COVID turned into a high-growth wellness hardware business with over 40,000 customers, including a fast-growing B2B channel. Founders will appreciate his transparency about scaling manufacturing, solving shipping nightmares, and building technical moats through operational execution. If you're in DTC, hardware, health & wellness, or considering community rounds, this is a must-listen.Highlights include…Founding story: From brick-and-mortar wellness to e-comm hardware (2:01)Shark Tank ROI and national brand awareness (5:00)Market sizing: Comparing cold plunge to hot tubs & sauna categories (6:33)Expanding product lines to drive retention & cross-sell (8:55)B2B growth: Cold plunges entering hotels, gyms & commercial spaces (9:00)Solving hard problems: Damage-in-transit, demand planning, and support infrastructure (11:39, 14:45)Bootstrapped to $80M+: Smart cash management, customer pre-orders, and debt usage (17:57)Manufacturing capacity & scaling challenges (20:18)Moat = execution: Why hard ops are the defensible layer (14:45, 22:17)Acquisition potential: PE, wellness tech, or DTC conglomerates (23:35)

Vicky Pasche is the founder and CEO at Dapper Boi, a gender-less body-inclusive apparel line. Selling via their Shopify store. Founded in 2015 in 2024 they hit $1.36million. Hit PLAY to hear: How one viral video turned a year of no sales into $30K in 3 weeks

Maor Shlomo is the founder of Base44, an AI-powered app builder that he bootstrapped to an over $80 million acquisition by Wix in just six months. As a solo founder (with severe ADHD), he hit $1 million ARR just three weeks after launch and grew the product to more than 400,000 users, all while navigating two wars in Israel and never raising a dollar of outside funding.What you'll learn:1. The growth playbook that took Base44 from three friends to 400,000 users without spending any money on marketing2. How he hasn't written a single line of front-end code in three months—and how to structure your code repository to make it easier for AI to write your code3. His AI productivity stack that allowed him to compete against heavily funded competitors4. Why being a solo founder in AI might be the ultimate advantage (and the wedding story that almost killed the business)5. The story of signing the $80M acquisition deal while war broke out with Iran6. How to identify when to sell vs. stay independent (and why Maor chose acquisition despite being highly profitable)7. The counterintuitive product decision that tripled activation by removing a “helpful” feature8. How building in public on LinkedIn drove more growth than any paid channel—Brought to you by:Sauce—Turn customer pain into product revenue: https://sauce.app/lennyDscout—The UX platform to capture insights at every stage: from ideation to production: https://www.dscout.com/Contentsquare—Create better digital experiences: https://contentsquare.com/lenny/—Transcript: ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-base44-bootstrapped-startup-success-story-maor-shlomo⁠—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/167384119/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Maor Shlomo:• X: https://x.com/ms_base44• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maor-shlomo-1088b4144/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Maor and Base44(08:16) The origin story: how Base44 came to be(14:55) Bootstrapping and solo founding: challenges and insights(22:52) Productivity hacks and tech stack for solo founders(27:23) How to get started using Base44(28:47) Thoughts on raising money(34:05) Distribution in the age of AI(36:09) Ambition and goals(40:05) Growth strategies: from first users to thousands(51:32) Building in public(57:42) The solo founder journey(01:00:23) Community support(01:03:23) Hackathons and partnerships(01:06:42) The importance of velocity in product development(01:08:20) Technical stack and infrastructure insights(01:15:24) Activation lessons(01:18:19) The acquisition journey with Wix(01:25:14) Final thoughts and advice for founders—Referenced:• Base44: https://base44.com/• Retool: https://retool.com/• Tzofim: https://www.israelscouts.org/• Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/• RescueTime: https://www.rescuetime.com/• Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/• Wix: https://www.wix.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Inside Bolt: From near-death to ~$40m ARR in 5 months—one of the fastest-growing products in history | Eric Simons (founder and CEO of StackBlitz): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-bolt-eric-simons• Behind the product: Replit | Amjad Masad (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-product-replit-amjad-masad• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder and CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com• Yoav Orlev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoav-orlev-4a044b72• WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/• Google: https://about.google/• MongoDB: https://www.mongodb.com/• Deloitte: https://www.deloitte.com/• Render: Render.com• Claude 4: https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-4• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app• Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

"It's not a brute force approach. It's a cleverness-based approach. It's a new kind of information that lets us do new things." Host Jon Chee sits down with Ivan Liachko, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics, to unpack how clever, constraint-driven science turned a scrappy, bootstrapped lab into a genomics powerhouse. Ivan explains how their breakthrough technology—capturing the physical proximity of DNA—opened new frontiers in genome assembly, microbiome discovery, and cancer diagnostics, all propelled by a lean, scientist-led team and organic growth. The episode dives into Phase's evolution into a data-driven research leader, its focus on non-dilutive funding over venture capital, and its vision for clinical impact and therapeutic spinouts—all fueled by a passion for unlocking powerful new biological information.

Whether you're a one-man shop dreaming bigger, or a multi-bay owner stuck in neutral, Elijah's hard-won lessons on pricing, scheduling, and customer trust will help you shift from survival mode to booming business.Tune in to learn how a pole-barn passion project became a high-growth auto-repair force—and why your location, lift count, or local economy no longer have to cap your potential.

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsey Carter, the Founder and CEO of SET ACTIVE, a brand that has reshaped how women experience athleisure—not just in terms of function, but also in terms of feeling.  Lindsey shares her raw and powerful journey, from bootstrapping the brand at 25 with zero funding to building a movement rooted in authenticity, storytelling, and unmatched community connection. Her story is one of resilience, vision, and redefining what it means to be “active.” What I love about this conversation is how candid Lindsey is about the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship—what it truly takes to persevere when everything feels uncertain.  We explore the magic of creating products that resonate on an emotional level, how community drives every decision, and what it's like to grow a company without paid ads, outside investment, or compromise. Here are some key takeaways from the episode: * How Lindsey bootstrapped a brand that's done millions in sales with zero paid media   * The power of building for the “everyday girl” who just wants to feel confident and comfortable   * Why community isn't just a buzzword—it's the foundation of everything SET ACTIVE does   * The real-life challenges of being a solo founder—and how Lindsey reframes hard days   * What's next for the brand: new fabrics, potential men's drops, and continued innovation   Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to how Lindsey Carter is rewriting the rules of modern activewear—one intentional, community-led decision at a time. Whether you're a founder, fashion lover, or someone seeking inspiration, this story will move you. For more on SET ACTIVE, visit:  https://setactive.co/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they've generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year. Use code "STORY OF A BRAND” and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning. 

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Ryan Carey, founder of Better On — a platform that helps leaders enhance their communication skills through asynchronous video. Carey recounts his path from working at YouTube to establishing his own venture in 2019. He underscores the importance of self-care and mental health, sharing how his company has achieved consistent 15% year-over-year growth and now employs seven full-time team members, all without external investment. Carey highlights the power of video in marketing, the ongoing challenge of balancing sales efforts with product development, and the critical roles of trust, exercise, and sound financial management. He also reflects on the value of mentorship and the courage required to navigate the uncertainties of growing a business. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Ryan Carey believes the hardest part of growing a small business is facing the unknown — never knowing what tomorrow might bring, how you'll feel, or what changes could come in the market or industry—which means having the courage to move forward despite constant uncertainty. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Ryan Carey said his favorite business book that has helped him the most is Blue Ocean Strategy, explaining that it opened his eyes to how to approach markets differently. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Ryan Carey shared that he doesn't listen to many podcasts, but he did highlight his use of tools like Loom, an asynchronous video recorder, as a valuable resource. While not a traditional learning tool, he uses video heavily to communicate more effectively and save time — something he considers essential for running and growing a small business. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Ryan Carey recommended QuickBooks as a key tool to help grow a small business. He stressed the importance of getting your “money house in order,” noting that having clean, organized financials makes running and growing a business much easier. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Ryan Carey said that if he could give himself advice on day one of starting out, it would be: “It's going to be hard as shit, but it's going to be so great.” Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Take care of your body first — it's the only temple you've got — Ryan Carey Success is helping the most people, making the most money, while hiring the fewest — Ryan Carey Trust your people, make them feel seen, and you'll build a culture that lasts — Ryan Carey      

What if building a healthy cereal brand wasn't just about clean ingredients—but redefining performance nutrition from the ground up?In this episode, Eoin Carroll, founder of Truely Cereal and former pro bodybuilder, shares his journey from competitive sports to pioneering a high-protein cereal brand that puts quality before hype. Learn how his obsession with nutrition and performance shaped a company focused on clean ingredients, vertical integration, and bold packaging. Eion opens up about bootstrapping the business, balancing fatherhood, and pushing boundaries in the crowded CPG space. If you're an entrepreneur, health nut, or someone looking to fuel smarter, this conversation is packed with takeaways on building resilience—both personally and professionally.Subscribe now for raw insights into brand-building, discipline, and innovation from someone who's lived it.

Want to start, grow, and monetize your own podcast? Watch ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Success Secrets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Welcome to the optYOUmize Podcast where we help entrepreneurs build the business AND life of their dreams. Get tips, tactics, stories, and inspiration from interviews with business and personal development experts and lessons from my own successes and failures so you can make more, work less, and live better. You don't have to go it alone--we're here to support and motivate you, and encourage you to keep going until you reach your goals. Follow optYOUmize Podcast with Brett Ingram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Summary Brett Ingram interviews Justin Snyder, the founder of Forest Super Foods, who shares his journey from starting with just $100 to building a successful superfoods business. Justin discusses the importance of quality in products, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the significance of customer service and feedback. He emphasizes the need for constant growth and adaptation in business, as well as effective marketing strategies for bootstrapped entrepreneurs. The conversation highlights the shift towards natural health solutions and the importance of understanding product quality in the superfood industry. ⁠Visit https://forestsuperfoods.com.au to order super foods with world wide delivery. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Entrepreneurship 03:20 Bootstrapping and Building a Brand 05:57 Quality Over Price: A Business Philosophy 09:04 Navigating Challenges and Financial Management 11:52 The Importance of Customer Service 15:12 The Shift Towards Natural Health 18:03 The Future of Superfoods and Personal Experience 22:18 Optimizing Health Through Nutrition and Sleep 23:07 Understanding Quality in Superfoods 28:01 The Importance of Transparency in Supplements 31:12 Marketing Strategies for Business Growth 36:55 The Journey of Business Growth and Improvement 42:16 Connecting with Forest Super Foods #superfoods #businessgrowth #bootstrap #digitalmarketing #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #entrepreneurship #optyoumize #brettingram #entrepreneurpodcast #podmatch

What does it take to build a multi-million dollar AI startup from scratch, without raising a cent?In this episode of Liftoff, we sit down with Ricardo Ghekiere, the founder of BetterPic, the viral AI platform creating professional headshots in minutes. Bootstrapped from $0 to $4 million in just 15 months, Ricardo shares the real story behind BetterPic's explosive growth from Belgium to the global stage.

Bootstrapping vs VC: John Rush on Building 25 Successful Products

Alan de Souza built Reachbox.ai (Zapmail), an AI-powered cold email outreach platform offering email warmups, campaign automation, and lead enrichment. He scaled from zero revenue to $6 million ARR in just 18 months, serving 4,500 paying customers at $110 average revenue per user while growing 25% month-over-month with only 7.5% churn rate. His 27-person team generates $230,000 in revenue per employee, with 280 active affiliates driving 35% of all customers through a 20% lifetime commission program that pays out over $50,000 monthly. In this episode, Alan reveals how he added $5 million ARR in just 6 months using systematic customer feedback from 1,500+ conversations, why he still does 10 customer calls every day, and the exact affiliate strategy that turned his customers into a revenue-generating army earning lifetime commissions.

Dorian Morris built Undefined Beauty into a national retail brand without investors, relying on her industry expertise, community insight, and bold pivots. By staying self-funded and mission-driven, she proved that inclusivity and smart strategy can scale on her own terms.For more on Undefined Beauty and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Cathy Yoder, founder of Empowered Cooks, who shares her inspiring journey from starting a simple blog in 2008 to building a thriving business with seven full-time equivalent team members. Her popular YouTube channel, which focuses on air fryer recipes, has garnered over 752,000 subscribers and has been a key driver of her success. Cathy has sold more than 50,000 cookbooks, achieved over $70,000 in monthly sales, and generates significant revenue from both digital and physical product sales. Throughout the discussion, she highlights the importance of staying authentic, continuously learning, and balancing the demands of family life with entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, Cathy plans to sell her product line and retire, marking the next chapter of her remarkable journey. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Cathy Yoder, the hardest thing in growing a small business is "the grind of working hard without seeing immediate returns." She emphasized the challenge of staying committed during the early phases when results are slow, especially in a culture that expects instant success. Her advice is to trust your gut, keep at it, and be okay with delayed rewards. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Cathy Yoder's favorite business book that helped her the most is Essentialism by Greg McKeown. She shared that it taught her to cut out the fluff, focus on what truly matters, and work more efficiently, especially after experiencing overwhelm from trying to do everything in her earlier business partnerships. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Cathy Yoder recommends several great podcasts and online learning resources to help grow a small business, including the Ed Mylett Podcast and Brendon Burchard for motivation and performance, and Jody Moore's “Better Than Happy” podcast and life coaching membership for mindset and personal development. She also emphasizes the value of joining mastermind groups and hiring business coaches early on, even if it's a small investment, as they helped her build systems and accountability that supported her business growth. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Cathy Yoder recommends YouTube as a powerful tool to grow a small business. She highlights that, while it's a long game and not an instant win, it's a fantastic way to build trust, generate leads, and get paid while doing it. By being authentic and consistently creating content, she was able to grow a loyal audience and convert that engagement into substantial revenue through product sales and memberships. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Cathy Yoder's advice to herself on day one of starting out in business would be: “Trust the process. Keep going.” She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, especially during the early stages when progress feels slow, and believes that staying consistent and trusting your instincts is key to long-term success. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Being okay with being uncomfortable is the key to building habits that lead to success — Cathy Yoder Success is not either family or business—it's being present and impactful in both — Cathy Yoder Authenticity will always set you apart in a world full of automation — Cathy Yoder      

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Dean Mathews, the founder of On The Clock. Dean shares his evolution from a solo software developer in 2004 to leading a team of 23 professionals, supporting 170,000 to 280,000 active users. Originally launched as a time-tracking app, On The Clock has expanded to include employee scheduling and payroll services, with ambitious goals of reaching $10 million in revenue and one million monthly active users. Dean discusses the critical role of consistency, hiring the right talent, and leveraging tools like Asana for effective project management. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and fostering a culture that prioritizes growth and team development. Other Resources:  When should a growing small business have a Board of Directors or Advisors? Get a return from an effective Chairperson of a Board An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it's FREE. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here.   Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.   And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Dean Mathews, the hardest thing in growing a small business is shifting from doing everything yourself to empowering others by building systems and trusting your team. He highlights the importance of moving from working in the business to working on the business, emphasizing that true growth comes from hiring the right people, clearly defining roles, and creating an operating structure that allows others to thrive. You can't scale alone, and recognizing that earlier can make a significant difference. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Dean Mathews' favorite business book that has helped him the most is Scaling People by Claire Hughes Johnson. He found it especially valuable because it offers practical frameworks and structures for growing teams and building an internal operating system. The book resonated with him as it closely aligned with the challenges he faced while scaling OnTheClock, particularly around leadership, processes, and team development. He even conducted a book club at work based on it, applying its lessons to enhance how his company operates. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Dean Mathews recommends several great podcasts and online learning resources to help grow a small business, especially in the SaaS space. His top pick is the SaaStr Podcast, which features insights from successful SaaS founders and is packed with growth strategies. He also expressed strong interest in exploring content by Alex Hormozi, particularly his books $100M Offers and $100M Leads, and his podcast focused on data-driven business scaling. Additionally, Built to Sell Radio by John Warrillow was recommended for its focus on recurring revenue and building sellable businesses, while Nathan Latka's Podcast was noted for its sharp focus on SaaS metrics like ARR, MRR, CAC, and churn—making it a valuable listen for any growth-minded founder. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Dean Mathews recommends using a project management tool like Asana to grow a small business, as it helps teams stay organized, track progress, and manage both projects and processes effectively. He believes every business boils down to three core elements—people, projects, and processes—and Asana helps align them in a structured way. Additionally, he highlights creating an internal operating system (built in tools like Google Slides), which outlines company values, goals, job roles, meeting structures, and key metrics. Together, these tools support scalable growth and team alignment. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Dean Mathews' advice to himself on day one of starting out in business would be to “buckle in, you're in for a ride” and to understand early on that scaling a business is all about people. He emphasizes that success doesn't come from doing everything yourself, but from hiring the right people, trusting them, and building systems that empower them to thrive. He reflects that if he had learned earlier how to let go of control and focus on developing others, his business could have grown even faster. Surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you in their areas is key to building something truly sustainable. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Trusting others with your vision is the first step to real growth — Dean Mathews A strong culture starts with clearly defined and lived values — Dean Mathews Leadership is less about control and more about enabling success  — Dean Mathews  

In this episode, Alex (@AlexHormozi) sits down with Ahnny Truong, founder of EMME Lash & Beauty, to unpack how she bootstrapped her way to millions, sharing the bold moves, early mistakes, and branding breakthroughs that helped her dominate the lash industry.Welcome to The Game w/Alex Hormozi, hosted by entrepreneur, founder, investor, author, public speaker, and content creator Alex Hormozi. On this podcast, you'll hear how to get more customers, make more profit per customer, how to keep them longer, and the many failures and lessons Alex has learned and will learn on his path from $100M to $1B in net worth.Wanna scale your business? Click here.Follow Alex Hormozi's Socials:LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | AcquisitionMentioned in this episode:Get access to the free $100M Scaling Roadmap at www.acquisition.com/roadmap

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fXKVcwl8FS8How a BOGO Deal Bootstrapped Neven Eyewear to MillionsJonathan Strauss lost a $500 pair of sunglasses jet skiing—and turned that wipeout into Neven Eyewear. What began as a desperate liquidation promo turned into a DTC breakthrough. In this episode, Strauss reveals how a buy-one-get-two offer saved his brand, what's changed with Meta ads, and why scaling a bootstrapped Shopify store takes more grit than cash.Learn:Why BOGO x3 worked when nothing else didHow Neven ships worldwide with no VC moneyThe backend tech powering their crazy offerWhat most brands get wrong about Meta adsSponsored by:Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnelsCleverific – Smart order editing for ShopifyAddress Validator – Reduce delivery address errors & costsLinks:Neven Eyewear → neveneyewear.comSight for Sound → neveneyewear.com/pages/sight-for-soundJudge.me Reviews → apps.shopify.com/judgemeGlasson 360 Viewer → apps.shopify.com/glassonShopify → shopify.com