AI has an image problem among founders, particularly indie hackers and within the online communities that we frequent. In the builder community, we are constantly inundated with shallow copies of the same kinds of tools. There are GPT wrappers, social media auto repliers, AI starter kits, boilerplates, AI search, AI coding tools, AI, AI, AI… … Continue reading Indie Hackers’ Myopic View of AI
Category: Bootstrapping
Unexpected Downtime: Stress as Enhancement vs. Stress as Panic
My therapist recently introduced me to the concept of stress as enhancement in exposure therapy. The basic idea is that a little bit of stress can focus you to a point where you make new neural connections and realize new (and beneficial) insights that help you change for the better. Well, I was able to … Continue reading Unexpected Downtime: Stress as Enhancement vs. Stress as Panic
Challenges of Offering an API
Last week, I dove into my ideal customer. Now that I have chosen that elusive ideal customer profile, there are consequences. I have found the right people to build for, but what do they need? I’ll walk you through my product challenges today. Let’s recap. I decided to turn Podscan into the most comprehensive podcast … Continue reading Challenges of Offering an API
Finding my Ideal Customer Profile
Who is Podscan’s ideal customer? Who should I sell and market to? And how can I find out who could be ideal, and what choices do I have to make when whittling down that list? Today, I’ll dive into the Ideal Customer Profile for my recently-funded yet still very-much owner-operated software business Podscan. Let’s start … Continue reading Finding my Ideal Customer Profile
Funded!
Two months ago, I started tinkering on a new business. A few weeks ago, I created a company for it. A few days ago, I signed a document. And yesterday, a massive wire arrived in a (less-than-a-day-old) bank account. Podscan is now a real company that has been funded by the Calm Company fund — … Continue reading Funded!
Addressing my Weaknesses
I’m a pretty okay developer, but when it comes to marketing and sales, I really need help. And for the longest time, I’ve held myself back. That ends today. My current SaaS business, Podscan, is at a point where some very important decisions need to be made. I’ve got something quite big in the works, … Continue reading Addressing my Weaknesses
How I Deal with Investment Offers
Ever since I started building Podscan in public, I’ve received a lot of attention. And it’s been spectacular: I’ve found early users, prospects, customers, and cheerleaders. Apparently, when people see something get traction, they want to be a part of it. Besides the much welcome support on social media, this has also resulted in a … Continue reading How I Deal with Investment Offers
Podscan, One Month in
It’s been a month since I started my latest business adventure. And today, I’ll share with you what happened in a month, how I approach talking about it, what that gets me, and where I’ll go from here. Let’s start with the numbers: within this first month, Podscan has attracted over 400 users, of which … Continue reading Podscan, One Month in
Adversarial Thinking in Entrepreneurship
Earlier this week, I was inspired by a clip from an interview with Rick Rubin. He discussed that art should be created primarily for the artist's satisfaction, placing the audience second. Art truly resonates with others only when it authentically represents the creator's best effort. He contrasted this with commerce, often prioritizing the audience's needs … Continue reading Adversarial Thinking in Entrepreneurship
Payment Platforms for Solopreneurs
Making money is hard, and for solo founders, even taking money is hard. Let’s look at how to best handle payments today. We’ll talk about the impact of payment providers during your acquisition later, too. Let’s dive into the selection of the right payment system for solopreneurs, with a focus on those who are building … Continue reading Payment Platforms for Solopreneurs