Startups For the Rest of Us

Brian and Scottie Elliott, the dynamic duo behind Gather, share their insights on life and business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Living as expats in Mexico, they reveal how the crisis has reshaped their daily lives and financial outlook. While grappling with uncertainties, they've unexpectedly attracted larger clients and enterprise deals, highlighting the surprising shift in the market. From navigating financial anxieties to embracing opportunities amid challenges, their journey is a testament to resilience and adaptation in turbulent times.

Explore the intriguing world of profit sharing, stock options, and equity in bootstrapped startups. Discover how these compensation structures can effectively motivate team members. Get insights on bonuses and which method might best align with your company goals. Delve into the pros and cons of profit sharing versus stock options, and consider their impact on employee engagement and long-term success. Perfect for anyone looking to incentivize their workforce strategically!

Brian and Scottie Elliott, co-founders of Gather, an innovative interior design project management app, dive into their recent surge in monthly recurring revenue, surpassing goals with a current MRR of $8,200. They tackle the psychology of pricing and share insights on raising rates without pushback. The couple also discusses the challenges of transitioning from small firms to enterprise clients, highlighting the ongoing cash burn and the pivotal role of strategic decision-making amidst uncertainty. It's a journey filled with growth, hurdles, and optimism!

In this engaging session, LinkedIn expert Anthony Blatner shares invaluable insights with B2B SaaS founder John Samuelson on leveraging LinkedIn ads effectively. They discuss the importance of targeting specific customer profiles and the optimal company size for Scatterspoke. The conversation highlights strategies for analyzing competitor ads and building successful campaigns, including budget setting and audience size considerations. Listeners learn about the advantages of free trials and educational content to drive conversions and improve customer engagement.

Discover insights from the newly launched 2021 State of Independent SaaS Survey! Dive into the unique traits of bootstrapped SaaS companies and learn why participation matters. Unlock exclusive insights that promise to enhance your understanding of the indie SaaS landscape. This is an essential listen for anyone looking to navigate the world of independent software.

The podcast dives into the emotional rollercoaster of shifting focus from solo practitioners to larger teams. They discuss the anxiety of uncertain growth and the need for a strategic mind shift. The conversation highlights the risks and complexities of increasing prices while adjusting customer outreach strategies. Notably, half of their recent signups stemmed from a cold email campaign. They celebrate recent wins, showcasing impressive progress, and maintain optimism for future growth despite the challenges of scaling.

Join John Samuelson and Colleen Johnson, co-founders of Scatterspoke, a thriving SaaS business that started as a side project. They discuss the exciting journey of transforming a free tool into a successful product, sharing insights on shifting to enterprise customers and the emotional toll of bootstrapping. The duo opens up about the challenges of outsourcing development and the delicate task of re-evaluating pricing strategies, including the tough decision to remove a free tier while maintaining user trust. Their story is both inspiring and educational!

Brian and Scottie Elliott, husband-and-wife co-founders of Gather, share their journey navigating the challenges of building an interior design project management app. They discuss the stress of shifting focus from small teams to larger architecture firms and how customer testimonials play a crucial role in this transition. The duo also unveils their successful cold email strategies that have significantly increased demo bookings. They candidly explore the balancing act between their professional ambitions and personal relationship, emphasizing communication and resilience.

Matt Wensing, founder of Summit and participant in TinySeed Batch 1, discusses pivotal moments in SaaS development. He shares his decision to rewrite his codebase and how to determine the right features to build based on customer feedback. The conversation delves into the challenges of user retention and the importance of financial forecasting for SaaS founders. Additionally, Wensing emphasizes the power of minimalist design in enhancing user engagement and the balance between offering templates and retaining flexibility for users.

Brian and Scottie Elliott, co-founders of Gather, an innovative interior design project management app, discuss their journey as entrepreneurs. They share insights on recent hires that bolster their team and enhance operational efficiency. The couple reflects on the challenges of setting ambitious revenue goals and the emotions that come with this drive. They also candidly address the stress and anxiety tied to managing customer churn, emphasizing the need for resilience and strategic pivots to navigate their startup's evolving landscape.