MicroConf On Air

Hiring your first developer or engineer is a huge milestone and it’s easy to make costly mistakes. In this video, Rob Walling shares the seven most common pitfalls founders face when hiring a developer for the first time, plus expert tips to help you build your startup team with confidence. Can’t find a developer, and now you’re frustrated with the hiring process? G2i gives you access to over 8,000 pre-vetted engineers ‍‍ - no AI-generated resumes, just real, experienced candidates ready to join your team. Start your 7-day free trial at https://g2i.co/microconf and mention MicroConf for $1500 off your first invoice! Links in the Pod: Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the Rob Walling YouTube Channel MicroConf Masterminds MicroConf Connect

Rob Walling highlights the perils of building a startup in isolation, emphasizing how it leads to burnout and mistakes. He delves into the three main issues solo founders face: slow progress, analysis paralysis, and emotional strain. The discussion covers the importance of masterminds, likening them to personal advisory boards for accountability and support. With practical tips on forming these groups, including ideal sizes and effective formats, Walling encourages founders to connect locally or online to share experiences and advice.

Harris Kenny, founder of OutboundSync, shares how he transformed a low-code MVP into a thriving SaaS with TinySeed's backing, hitting over $500K ARR in just one year. He discusses the importance of SOC 2 compliance in landing enterprise deals and how he strategically allocated funding for hiring and scaling. Harris emphasizes the value of TinySeed's playbooks for guiding priorities and recruitment. With practical insights and encouragement for aspiring founders, he highlights the power of community and support in the startup journey.

In this discussion, Anthony Pierri, the founder of Fletch PPM and a positioning specialist, unveils the secrets to effective B2B homepage messaging. He emphasizes that poor positioning, not vague copy, is often the problem for confusing websites. By addressing who the product is for and why it stands out, Anthony illustrates how to improve customer trust and conversions. He also shares examples of successful repositioning strategies used by brands like Loom and Twitch, highlighting the importance of workflow segmentation for successful marketing.

Rob Walling shares the key decisions that propelled him to multi-millionaire status through SaaS ventures. He emphasizes the importance of shipping products over constant learning and suggests focusing on the grind of boring tasks like SEO. Walling highlights the value of learning from mistakes, making manageable business bets, and avoiding impulsive choices during crises. He encourages cumulative growth rather than abandoning projects during tough times, proving that consistent effort can lead to great success.

Rob Walling dives into six costly founder regrets that almost derailed his business. He discusses the pitfalls of overconfidence after early wins and how the arrival fallacy can lead to dissatisfaction. Walling shares insights on addressing anxiety, celebrating successes, and the importance of internalizing achievements. He emphasizes the limitations of a solopreneur mindset and the necessity of hiring the right people. Finally, he advises filtering feedback carefully, focusing on trusted sources over random online noise.

Rob Walling dives into data-driven strategies to supercharge your SaaS trial funnels. He highlights the key differences between freemium and free trials, suggesting that most should steer clear of freemium due to its potential to dilute urgency. The fascinating discussion includes insights from thousands of startups, revealing how requiring credit cards can uniquely filter signups and affect growth. Walling encourages experimentation according to business stage, adapting advice based on recent findings to optimize conversions and enhance customer lifetime value.

Plateaus are the death of SaaS; unless you know how to spot and beat them. In this talk from MicroConf New Orleans in 2025, Rob Walling shares real data from 192 startups and reveals how to break through the 7 SaaS growth plateaus- including leaky funnels, high churn, lack of leads, and losing product-market fit.   Links from the Pod MicroConf US 2026 Tickets are on sale! MicroConf Remote Tickets are on Sale | November 5, 2025 Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel  

Discover why targeting consumers in SaaS can be a daunting challenge. Learn about the rare success stories and the common missteps by founders. Rob shares insights into consumer vs. business buying habits and the financial hurdles of B2C models. High churn rates and the need for vast user bases are crucial topics. He debunks myths like the expectation of viral growth and low-price advantages, emphasizing the importance of understanding the market dynamics. A dual-funnel strategy might be the way to navigate these turbulent waters.

Rob read the comments. Every last one of them. 225+ and some were wild. He’s here to break it down, clear the air, and set the story straight. Watch the video that caused all this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rXXRdB3TJI&t=2s   Links from the Pod MicroConf Masterminds Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel TinySeed Portfolio Rob's Books Startups For the Rest of Us Podcast