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If you’re interested in building a bootstrapped startup that works like clockwork (or any productive startup for that matter), you need to listen to our guest today. He’s done it, and he’s done pretty much everything right.
In 2019, he co-founded, bootstrapped, and sold, in just under two years, FeedbackPanda.com, an online teacher productivity SaaS company. Arvid Kahl is an entrepreneur, investor, author, software engineer, and bootstrapped startup expert.
He currently runs The Bootstrapped Founder and authored a book called Zero to Sold: How to Start, Run, and Sell a Bootstrapped Business. He is busy writing a second one entitled Audience First with the direct contribution of his audience! Make sure you subscribe to his newsletter the get a fresh perspective bootstrapping and on the indie founder community.
It’s an episode packed with actionable strategies and tactics, and we cover quite a lot of ground. We talk about:
If by the end of the episode you haven’t figured out that Arvid, just like us, is a big proponent of automation and systems to simplify your startup, you didn’t listen well.
Listen carefully to his advice. Take notes. Check out the list of books and podcasts that he recommends (see below). You’ll learn from his experience, strategies, and his approach to running a bootstrapped startup.
It was such a fun and insightful interview. Thanks Arvid!
Enjoy the show!
We knew that this teacher community was so tribal. It was such a tight knit group of people that by facilitating building community, we knew we would never run out of customers. And we didn't. We had a constant influx of people without having to do any kind of advertising.”
Arvid Kahl Tweet
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Arvid’s background and what he’s been up to since selling his startup – [01:22]
What problem Arvid and his partner faced that led to the launch of FeedbackPanda – [03:36]
The simple marketing strategy that generated a constant influx of customers [07:16]
How Arvid avoided previous product validation mistakes – [10:13]
The resources and frameworks that helped Arvid built an automated and sellable bootstrapped startup – [12:13]
Arvid’s advice to allow engineers to do coding deep work without losing touch with the end users – [15:05]
The automations Arvid put in place to increase effectiveness and productivity – [21:02]
How Arvid made made or buy decisions while developing his product – [28:11]
The biggest hiring mistake Arvid made – [33:06]
Arvid’s secret to hire and get people up and running in a matter of hours – [44:05]
Arvid documented his processes – [44:05]
The habit you need to acquire to – [48:51]
Why Arvid prefers startups who ride a sustainable linear curve instead of a hockey stick – [50:07]
The Bootstrapped Founder and the newsletter.
Arvid’s first book: Zero to Sold: How to Start, Run, and Sell a Bootstrapped Business
Arvid’s upcoming book: Audience First
Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You
Rob Fitzpatrick’s book, The Mom Test
If you’re feeling generous why not spread the words on Twitter.
