Geoff Roberts, co-founder of Outseta, shares the challenges of bootstrapping a SaaS business on a multi-decade timeline. Topics include founding team alignment, revolutionizing compensation with a $210,000 salary, and building a long-lasting business through dedication and strategic decision-making.
Outseta focuses on core features to avoid scope creep and serve diverse customers efficiently.
Prioritizing essential functionalities like payments and authentication leads to gradual product maturation at Outseta.
Outseta's 'Choose Your Own Adventure' compensation model aligns with intentional smallness and customer-centric approach.
Deep dives
Building a Shopify-Like Platform for SaaS and Membership Businesses
Outsetta aims to simplify the process of building SaaS and membership businesses by providing essential tools like billing systems, authentication tools, CRM, email platforms, and help desk software. The company focused on defining core features early on and avoiding scope creep. By concentrating on universal business needs across various markets, Outsetta serves a diverse range of customers.
Challenges of Growth and Feature Development
Outsetta faced challenges in feature development, with discussions about potentially adding new features like an MPS surveying tool. The company adopted a deliberate approach to prioritizing core functionalities like payments and authentication, focusing on delivering these effectively before expanding further. By considering the order in which customers utilize core functions, Outsetta aimed for gradual product maturation.
Embracing No-Code Principles and No-Code Market Potential
Outsetta founder emphasizes the importance of the no-code market, acknowledging the increased accessibility and empowerment it offers to non-technical individuals. While noting the limitations of no-code tools, the founder highlights their role in enabling people to create solutions they couldn't have built previously. The company's trajectory involves recognizing the value of no-code markets and potential opportunities within them.
Experience in Bootstrapping and Employee Compensation Model
The episode delves into Outsetta's bootstrapping journey, emphasizing the intentional choice to remain bootstrapped and focus on a durable business idea. Unique to the company is a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' compensation model where employees can opt for varying work schedules and equity shares alongside a base salary. This model aligns with Outsetta’s ethos of intentional smallness and self-selection among team members.
Customer-Centric Approach and Product Development Insights
Outsetta's commitment to customer engagement is highlighted, underscoring regular interactions with customers throughout the product development cycle. The company's focus on retaining a close connection to customers ensures alignment between user needs and product enhancements. Through consistent customer dialogue, Outsetta continually refines its product offering and aims to meet evolving market demands effectively.
Geoff Roberts (@GeoffTRoberts) is the co-founder of Outseta, and he's halfway there, 7 years in. Outseta —the SaaS starter kit and the business behind it— is built and operated on a multi-decade timeline, and it's not been easy to achieve profitability. Geoff shares the ups and downs of a long and painful story; what it means to think and operate both in the here and now as well as focusing on the birds-eye view when it comes to bootstrapping a SaaS business.
We also dive into Outseta's choose-your-won adventure compensation model: a full-time salary of $210,000 for everyone with massive flexibility and choice.
Enjoy this conversation with a veteran of self-funded software.
00:00:00 Building a Platform for SaaS Businesses 00:11:39 The Journey of Building Outsetta 00:17:47 Founding Team Alignment and Bootstrapping 00:26:01 Revolutionizing Compensation and Company Culture
