How to Build a $25M+ Business Without Raising a Dime (Jesse Pujji’s Playbook) - The Shopify Growth Show (#14)

What if you could build a $25M+ business without raising a single dime?

Jesse Pujji has done it - multiple times. From bootstrapping his first agency to launching Gateway X and scaling productized services in the DTC world, Jesse has a blueprint for founders who want to build big without giving away equity. In this episode, he shares how you can do the same.

 
In this episode, Jim sits down with Jesse Pujji (Founder of Gateway X, Co-Founder of Ampush) to break down how he’s built, scaled, and exited businesses without venture capital. Jesse reveals his “Bootstrap Advantage” framework, why he believes most founders overcomplicate their growth strategy, and the exact levers he focuses on to grow companies from zero to eight figures.

This isn’t a theory session - it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the systems, mindset, and tactics Jesse uses to build bootstrapped giants.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Bootstrap Advantage: Why it’s the best path for most founders
• How Jesse validates new business ideas (quickly and cheaply)
• The difference between “Productized Services” and traditional agencies
• Growth levers bootstrapped founders must focus on
• The psychology of staying lean while scaling big
• Jesse’s personal workflow for launching multiple businesses at once

 
If you’re a Shopify founder, DTC marketer, or just someone tired of the VC hamster wheel, this episode is your blueprint.

Resources:

• Jesse Pujji Twitter / X
• Bootstrapped Giants
• GatewayX
• Jim Huffman website
• Jim's Twitter
• GrowthHit
• The Growth Marketer's Playbook
• The Shopify Growth School

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

• Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)
• Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)
• How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)
• Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)
• How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)