A Product Market Fit Show | Startup Podcast for Founders He launched a “side-project”— now it’s used by 10% of all restaurants. | Jordan Boesch, Founder of 7Shifts
Apr 28, 2025
Jordan Boesch, founder of 7Shifts, shares his inspiring journey from a teenager solving his dad's restaurant scheduling woes to leading a software used by 50,000 restaurants. He emphasizes the power of customer feedback over funding, revealing how strategic partnerships fueled his growth. Jordan discusses managing near-failure, surviving burnout, and the importance of establishing core values for a resilient company culture. He also offers insights on using SEO effectively and why customer complaints can signal success.
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Early Roots in Dad's Restaurant Pain
- Jordan Boesch started building scheduling software to solve his dad's restaurant problems using early web tools like Flash.
- The first version allowed employees to download schedules from an Excel spreadsheet his dad uploaded, marking the humble start of 7shifts.
First Customer Connection
- The first customer outside his dad was an A&W location who paid and Jordan then called to build rapport.
- He kept a close connection with early customers, as their feedback fueled continuous product improvement.
Smart Leap to Full-Time Founder
- Jordan waited until 7shifts made $35,000 a year to go full time, balancing risk with living expenses.
- Leveraging personal relationships and affordability allowed him to transition confidently into full-time founder mode.