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Practical Founders Podcast

#107: Brothers Sold Their Bootstrapped Software Company for $40 Million – David and Chris Sinkinson

Aug 23, 2024
David and Chris Sinkinson, co-founders of the successful mobile safety app AppArmor, share their entrepreneurial journey from college campus to a $30 million acquisition. They discuss the innovative features that set their app apart and the challenges of scaling without outside investment. Insightful reflections on ignoring detractors resonate as they emphasize market validation over peer approval. The brothers also introduce their book, 'Startup Different,' aiming to debunk common startup myths and inspire future founders.
01:09:20

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The idea for AppArmor emerged from a specific campus safety concern, evolving into a widely-used mobile safety platform across universities.
  • The founders' decision to bootstrap their company allowed for greater control and a profitable growth model without outside investor pressure.

Deep dives

Founding App Armor and Its Unique Offering

The origins of App Armor stem from a safety app idea conceived by David Sinkenson while working at a university audit committee. The app aimed to enhance public safety by allowing users to send their real-time locations to campus security, evolving from a simple emergency dialing concept to a comprehensive platform utilized by numerous educational institutions. This innovation significantly improved upon traditional blue light emergency poles, offering universities a cost-effective safety solution with extensive features like emergency notifications and location tracking. At peak operation, App Armor serviced around 350 organizations, emphasizing its appeal and effectiveness in the market.

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