The Business of Laravel

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer chats with Jack McDade, creator of Statamic, a CMS built on Laravel. Jack shares the story behind Statamic, from its early days to its deep Laravel integration, and the technical hurdles along the way. They explore his journey from developer to business owner, his approach to hiring, and how he thinks about AI in development.Matt Stauffer Twitter - Matt Stauffer (@stauffermatt) on XTighten Website - Tighten | Software Development for Web and Mobile | Laravel, Livewire, Vue.js, and ReactJack McDade TwitterJack McDade WebsiteStatamic WebsiteAustin Kleon BooksThe Obstacle is the Way by Ryan HolidayRecovery Mode Podcast-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer interviews Kenny Meyers, CEO of Sweet, a company working to improve the comic industry through technology. They discuss the unique challenges of building a digital comic store, the importance of team dynamics, and why Sweet chooses not to use AI in order to protect artists and their work. Kenny also shares his journey in the comic world, the power of networking, and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Matt Stauffer Twitter - Matt Stauffer (@stauffermatt) on XTighten Website - Tighten | Software Development for Web and Mobile | Laravel, Livewire, Vue.js, and ReactKenny Meyers on Bluesky Kenny Meyers on Instagram Sweet WebsiteSweet Shop -----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer sits down with Patrick O’Meara and Steven Quayle, co-founders of Maintainly, a CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) company built on Laravel. They dive into the evolution of Maintainly, the challenges of building and scaling software, and the unique role Laravel plays in their operations.The conversation explores how industry expertise, thoughtful hiring, and a strong remote culture have shaped their company. Patrick and Steven also share the personal influences behind their journey and their vision for the future of Maintainly.Matt Stauffer TwitterTighten WebsiteMaintainly WebsiteSteven Quayle on LinkedIn Patrick O’Meara TwitterPatrick O’Meara on BlueSkyPatrick O’Meara on GitHubPatrick O’Meara on LinkedInNever Write Another Loop Again by Adam WathanHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieGood to Great by Jim CollinsEditing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of The Business of Laravel, Matt Stauffer chats with Alison Gianotto, Founder of Snipe-IT. They explore Alison’s path in PHP development, how Snipe-IT grew from a side project into a thriving open-source IT asset management platform, and the challenges along the way. The conversation touches on user experience, hiring, remote team management, and leading with empathy. Alison also reflects on lessons learned from her career and shares her vision for Snipe-IT’s future.Matt Stauffer Twitter - https://twitter.com/stauffermattTighten Website - https://tighten.com/Alison’s WebsiteAlison on BlueskyLaravel Podcast with Alison GianottoGreat Tighten Experiment Blog Post-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer chats with Branick Weix, CEO of Diagonal. They discuss Branick's journey from building a successful startup, Aryeo, to launching Diagonal, a company focused on personalized software for small businesses. Branick shares insights on hiring strategies, the importance of sticking to Laravel standards, and the role of AI in software development. He also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Matt Stauffer Twitter Tighten Website Branick Weix Twitter Diagnoal WebsiteBranick Weix GitHub Branick Weix LinkedIn LaraJobs Zero to One by Peter Thiel Devin AI -----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

David Watson, founder of RiskAdvisor, shares his inspiring journey from a non-technical background to launching a SaaS platform for insurance agents. He emphasizes the critical role of marketing and strong team-building in entrepreneurship. The discussion highlights the challenges of transitioning from no-code to coded solutions and practical sales strategies for growth. David also delves into leveraging AI for sales in the insurance industry and offers insights on strategic hiring for startups, balancing skill and charisma in potential candidates.

Gilbert Pellegrom, Engineering Manager at Stripe and co-founder of Lemon Squeezy, shares his inspiring journey from a self-taught developer to a leading entrepreneur. He discusses the challenges of simplifying digital goods sales and the technical hurdles of payment processing and tax compliance. Gilbert emphasizes the importance of community, branding in hiring, and the bootstrap mindset that led to their success. He reflects on how personal passions, like vintage car restoration, fuel his professional drive and love for innovative projects.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer talks with Alex Millar, CTO and founder of GovAI, about his journey from selling his previous venture, Bonfire, to adopting Laravel for his latest project. Alex shares how Laravel improved his two-man team’s efficiency and his experience as a newcomer to the framework. They discuss challenges in adopting new tools, the importance of documentation, architecture testing, and strategies for entrepreneurial success. Alex also offers insights on leadership, communication, and how small, well-executed details can drive significant growth.Matt Stauffer TwitterTighten WebsiteAlex Millar’s WebsiteAlex Millar TwitterGovAI WebsiteMinMaxing Software Costs TalkRandall Stutman: The Essence of Leadership [The Knowledge Project Ep. #96] "‌")Jim Dethmer: Leading Above the Line [The Knowledge Project Ep. #60]TED: Speaking so People Want to ListenAlex’s READMEYou can email Alex at alexander.millar@gmail.com.-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

Jason Johnson, CIO at Sweetwater Sound, shares his expertise in leadership and company culture at a leading music equipment retailer. He discusses Sweetwater's impressive growth and the strategic role Laravel plays in their operations. Johnson emphasizes the importance of building agile teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and respect. He also explores the power of vulnerability in leadership, advocates for continuous learning, and highlights the significance of passion and authenticity in the workplace. His insights make for an inspiring and informative discussion.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer interviews Jason McCreary, the founder of Shift. They discuss Jason's role and journey in the Laravel community, the functionality of Laravel Shift as an automation tool for upgrading Laravel versions, and the importance of keeping Laravel applications up to date. Jason shares his experience in building a successful SaaS product for developers, offers advice for aspiring founders and business owners, and discusses the unique challenges and rewards of being a solo founder.Matt Stauffer TwitterTighten WebsiteJason McCreary TwitterShiftJason’s Twitter ThreadJason’s Video on Adding an SMS Admin Action to Download LogsJason’s Article on SMS admin in 8 lines of codeOrigin story of Shift-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.