Ben Holmen, CTO of The Boutique Hub, discusses his journey from programmer to CTO, challenges of using Laravel, and the Pair-amid Scheme for collaboration. Topics include leadership transitions, Shopify integration, and pairing with strangers for growth.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, host Matt Stauffer interviews Aaron Francis, co-founder of Try Hard Studios, beloved Internet personality, Laravel developer, and all-around Internet nice guy. Aaron shares his journey from his days at a property tax company to his bold leap into entrepreneurship, sharing insights into his evolution every step of the way. He discusses moving beyond the "hustle era" to what he terms the "Try Hard era," emphasizing the importance of concerted effort and determination in achieving success. Tune in to learn about Aaron's background, his passion for creating educational content, and the exciting ventures he's currently pursuing in the world of Laravel development.Matt Stauffer Twitter - Matt Stauffer (@stauffermatt) on XTighten Website - Tighten | Software Development for Web + Mobile | Laravel + Vue.jsAaron Francis Twitter - @‌aarondfrancisAaron Francis Website - aaronfrancis.comTry Hard Studios - tryhardstudios.comRadical Candor - https://www.radicalcandor.com/37 Signals - https://37signals.com/books/Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

Caleb Porzio, creator of Livewire & Alpine.js, shares his journey from awful employee to successful entrepreneur. He discusses open-source projects turning into businesses, building an audience through educational content, and strategies for sustainable growth. The podcast covers topics like the dynamics of code ecosystems, the role of luck in entrepreneurship, building a playbook for business success, pricing, scarcity mindset, knowledge sharing, future plans, and the importance of gratitude in entrepreneurial journeys.

Ian Landsman, Founder of HelpSpot, discusses his journey with Laravel, starting HelpSpot 20 years ago, and taking a bet on Taylor Otwell. They talk about bootstrapped startups, Laravel community involvement, and navigating challenges in the software business. Insights on hiring developers, partnership opportunities, and reflections on selling a business are also shared.