Build Your SaaS

This week, Justin catches up with Simon Bennett of Snapshooter:Every once in a while, we highlight one of our listeners who are building their own SaaS.This week: Simon Bennett, comes back to tell us what's happened since he left his full-time job 7 months ago.Looking for automatic backups for Digital Ocean, AWS, WordPress, or Laravel? Check out https://snapshooter.io.Simon had just put his kids to bed (he's in the UK) and sat down in his office to have a chat with Justin.What should we talk about next?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbuda, @MrSimonBennettLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fmThanks to our monthly supporters:Take It EV podcastEthan GundersonAnton ZorinBill CondoChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SasseNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comShane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Justin is joined by everybody's favorite Twitter Uncle: Ian Landsman (founder of HelpSpot).Ian's encounter with his internet hero Joel SpolskyDo you get worried that this all going to go away?How scared should we be of the competition?How do you hedge your bets?We prognosticate about what our bootstrapper friends' blind spots are. 🤣We both ask for investors live, on air.How founders should manage their personal finances.How our past experience can make us blind to opportunities.How can devs connect with marketers?Which startups would we invest in.What should we talk about next?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbuda, @ianlandsmanLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fmThanks to our monthly supporters:Take It EV podcastEthan GundersonHelmut IrleColt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SasseNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back! Justin's voice sounds terrible (sorry!)When is the next wave of economic despair going to happen?The maker/creator market is on 🔥 right now. How long will it last?How "soft" is the prosumer market? How fragile is it?A BUNCH OF NEW TRANSISTOR FEATURES:Zapier integrationPodcast:lockedEasily submit your podcast to the major podcast directories.Podcast distribution checklistHow do you work on your startup when you're feeling down?"There were weeks when I got almost nothing done because I was stressed out about the state of the world.""It's hard to force yourself to do creative work if you're not feeling good emotionally."What should we talk about next?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbudaLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fmThanks to our monthly supporters:Take It EV podcastEthan GundersonHelmut IrleColt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SasseNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We have a bonus episode for you this week!Justin was on the Framework podcast.Check out the other Spec.fm showsSubscribe to Framework in OvercastWant to reply to something we said?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbuda, @tomcreighton, @therobhayesLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fmThanks to our monthly supporters:Take It EV podcastEthan GundersonHelmut IrleColt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SasseNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jon and Justin talk about "optionality" in bootstrapping. (Justin is concerned, Jon thinks we should just enjoy the moment).DHH: "Part of what gave us the confidence to turn down the whole world of venture capital was a small sale of equity to Jeff Bezos. That gave our personal bank accounts just enough ballast that the big numbers touted by VCs and acquisition hunters lost their lure."Are we at peak podcasting? Things are good right now - will they be good for 10 years? 20 years? Fred Wilson: "Taking money off the table."How much did the founders of Buffer, Robinhood, etc. take off the table? Article.Des Traynor: "A founder is spending 60 months of their best years in their startup (instead of their career). That is a substantial upfront investment; it's like a seed round, but instead of money, it's your life."How much richer than us is Jeff Bezos?Want to reply to something we said?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbudaLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fmThanks to our monthly supporters:Helmut IrleColt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SasseNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Late-summer update! This week on the program, we bring you a super spicy interview that Justin did on the TechZing podcast.Do you really need to build an audience before you build your product?Justin's tweetThere's this idea that you need to grow an audience, talk to an audience, and then build something they want. Is that really necessary?IndieHackers interview with Vincent Woojustinjackson.ca/surfingTweet: what do we mean when we say "audience?"Want to reply to something we said?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbuda, @justinvincentLeave a comment on the TechZing episode page.Leave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fmThanks to our monthly supporters:Helmut IrleColt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SasseNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mid-summer update! This week on the program, Justin and Jon talk about:If you're bootstrapping SaaS, how many monthly trials do you need?Tweet: "You probably need more trials than you think."Breaking out of your own way of thinking"All it took was someone talking to me to have a different way of thinking about it."Want to reply to something we said?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbudaLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fmThanks to our monthly supporters:Colt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SassePradyumna Shembekar (PD), pradyumna.devNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaSammy SchuckertMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week on the program, Justin and Jon talk about:Updates on Transistor: new API is almost done, static site generator, growth slowed in June?Questioning whether we should slow down for the summerTalking about the Simplecast acquisitionWhat would sell for? Mike: “Anything that’s a life-changing amount.”Want to reply to something we said?Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbudaLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fm★ Bootstrapper shout-out of the week:Nusiihttps://nusii.comProfessional proposal templatesThanks to our monthly supporters:Colt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroDiogoChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SassePradyumna Shembekar (PD), pradyumna.devNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comIvan CurkovicBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaSammy SchuckertMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week on the program, Justin and Jon talk about:A friend, whose SaaS has grown 300% since the beginning of the quarantine. They just hit $6k in MRR.At that stage, he's in the "almost but not yet."You're either:Brainstorming how to make money fasterBrainstorming how to work lessDifferent stages:Pre-launch stage: you're working on your product on the side. It's fun! There's nothing stealing your time and attention because you don't have customers yet.The beta stage: still pretty fun! You have a few customers who are using your product, and maybe paying you money.The "launched" stage: now, you have way more users. Now you're doing way more customer support, responding to feature requests.How much did we work when we were building Transistor?Jon figures we spent 45 to 60 hours a week (each).Jason Calacanis’ tweet: "It takes 100 hours per week to build a business!"“Good businesses have margin."Josh Wood: "At Honeybadger, we work 30 hours per week."Margin gives you the opportunity, as a founder, to live beyond your keyboard. To engage with the world.Sandy Hudson (Sandra & Nora podcast): "The quarantine gave people the time and space to wrestle with the current moment."The Dept of Veteran Affairs"As your little baby Rails app grows up, you can't just run everything on the same service.""The whole internet is just patchwork of pipes and duct tape." You can reply to this podcast here:Twitter: @buildyoursaas, @mijustin, @jonbudaLeave a comment on PodHunt; it's like Reddit, but for podcasts.Email us: mail@transistor.fm★ Bootstrapper shout-out of the week:LessAccountinghttps://www.lessaccounting.com/Cloud base accounting software and services for non-accountants. This used to be owned by Allan Branch (Paul Kogan owns it now). It’s specifically designed for small businesses with 1-25 employees and contractorsThanks to our monthly supporters:Colt BorgMarc BeinderAnton ZorinBill CondoSofia QuinteroDiogoChris WillowMason HensleyBorja Soler teami.ioWard from MemberSpace.comTravis FischerMatt Buckley, from NiceThings.io Russell BrownEvandro SassePradyumna Shembekar (PD), pradyumna.devNoah Prail, eventOneHQ.comRobert Simplicio, Simplicio.comColin Gray alitu.comJosh Smith, hellosift.comIvan CurkovicBrian Rhea (Pronounced “Ray”)Shane Smith, dev.transistor.fmAustin LovelessMichael Sitver, letterjoy.coPaul Jarvis and Jack Ellis, usefathom.com Dan Buda danbuda.comDarby FreySamori Augusto, thebicrowd.comBrad from CanadaSammy SchuckertMike WalkerAdam DuVanderDave Giunta (JOOnta)Kyle Fox GetRewardful.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Structural racism affects every part of the economic system. It affects bootstrappers too! It defines:Who we hireWho we invest inWho we promoteWho we chat withWho sees our numbersWho we invite to speakWho gets access to our platform"It's not just about being oppressed or being an oppressor, it's about resisting oppression and resisting being an oppressor; being an ally, being an advocate for social justice." – Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum (clip)Right now, in cities across America, people are protesting systemic violence and oppression against Black people.We (Jon and Justin) are waking up to how complicit we are in the system. We're seeing our privilege. We're humbled and motivated by the words of Dr. Erin Thomas:"You can directly impact the extent to which your organization counters historical inequity, inequality & injustice."The bootstrapping, SaaS, and startup ecosystems need to wrestle with these issues."How can you help? By working to dismantle a system of racism from which you reap the benefits. If you are not working to do that then you don’t actually want to help." – Kristina DanielsInstead of Patreon shout outs, we're shouting out these causes:The Loveland Foundation's therapy fund. Diversity in Tech PatreonThe Great Unlearning PatreonPodcasts in Color PatreonWant to take the next step?Abadesi Osunsade is offering How to be pro-Black at workRachel Rodgers is running Reimagining Small BusinessKim Crayton is doing an event called Introduction to Being an AntiracistThings to read, listen to, and watch:Peggy McIntosh's "Knapsack of Privilege"The podcast series, Seeing WhiteSo You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma OluoBernice King on MSNBCDocumentary: A time for burning, 1966This podcast was recorded on June 4, 2020. Thanks to our monthly supporters Pascal from sharpen.page Rewardful.com Greg Park Mitchell Davis from RecruitKit.com.au Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af Bill Condo (@mavrck) Ward from MemberSpace.com Evandro Sasse Austin Loveless Michael Sitver Colin Gray Dave Giunta 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.📺 Learn how to start your own podcast! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★