founder interviews

Spencer Patterson (@SpencePatterson) is a former financial advisor turned tech entrepreneur, who transformed his non-technical background into a $3.5 million SaaS triumph. Spencer shares his journey from navigating failed ideas to creating a platform generating $140K in monthly revenue with 6 million users. His experience offers a blueprint for marketing MVPs, team-building on a budget, and balancing tech with customer service in a startup.

Spencer also reveals his plans to build a YouTube community for founders, sharing knowledge and insights on AI, avoiding common pitfalls, and supporting indie hackers. Don't miss this episode, where Spencer's story serves as both a lesson in startup growth and a vision for future SaaS community development.

Spencer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpencePatterson

00:00:00 Founder's Journey to Building Successful SaaS
00:07:21 Marketing and Hiring Challenges for Startups
00:14:14 Customer Service and Time Management
00:23:42 Founders Helping Each Other on YouTube
00:27:08 Discussing Startup Strategies and Media Impact
00:37:10 Evaluating AI Advice and Avoiding Replication
00:48:32 Building a Community for Indie Hackers

This episode is sponsored by Acquire.com

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/spencer-patterson-mastering-market-niches-and-startup-growth/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/290-spencer-patterson-mastering-market-niches-and-startup-growth

The video: https://youtu.be/ncACSAapc_c

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com

Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast

Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/

My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/

My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Here are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.
- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx
- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid
- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid
- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60
- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ
- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q
- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

• (00:00) - Founder's Journey to Building Successful SaaS
• (07:21) - Marketing and Hiring Challenges for Startups
• (14:14) - Customer Service and Time Management
• (23:42) - Founders Helping Each Other on YouTube
• (27:08) - Discussing Startup Strategies and Media Impact
• (37:10) - Evaluating AI Advice and Avoiding Replication
• (48:32) - Building a Community for Indie Hackers

#56: Mir Hwang is the CEO and Co-Founder of GigFinesse, a platform that connects music artists with venues to the benefit of both parties. Mir is an NYU alumni who utilized their extensive entrepreneurial support system to build the startup into what it is today.

In this episode we dive into:

• Going from app to desktop due to consumer demand
• The choice to move from New York to Austin during the pandemic
• Leaving medical school to pursue entrepreneurship

GigFinesse Links: 

• https://www.gigfinesse.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigfinesse/
• https://www.instagram.com/gigfinesse/

Startup Savant Links: 

• https://startupsavant.com/podcast
• https://www.instagram.com/startupsavantpodcast/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-savant/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@startupsavantpodcast

#34. Fran Maier  is the CEO and founder of BabyQuip, the "Airbnb of baby rental equipment." Having been a co-founder for Match.com, Fran is no stranger to the startup world. In fact, Fran has been involved in starting numerous enterprises and continues to invest in other startups. Fran encourages founders to differentiate their business from the market and talk with customers in order to establish a successful brand.

In this episode we dive into:

• Why building brand trust is important
• Co-founding Match.com, TrustE, and BabyQuip
• BabyQuip's unique Shark Tank experience
• Fran's tips for navigating your board of directors

#30:  John Salzinger and Seungah Jeong join Annaka and Ethan to talk about MPOWERD, a B Corp whose signature product, the solar-powered Luci Light, aims to help create a more sustainable future while providing light to those without access to electricity. John and Seungah share their story building MPOWERD and how to use business as a tool for change.

This episode we dive into: 

• The importance Trademarks and patents 
• How creating an impact can be a powerful motivator
• Using corporate social responsibility (CSR) to form partnerships

For a full episode summary and transcript, visit startupsavant.com/podcast!

In this episode, we speak with Nancy Floyd, the founder and managing director of the venture capital firm Nth Power and a new member of Hannon Armstrong’s Board of Directors. Throughout the conversation, Nancy offers several insights on the past, present, and future of the clean energy venture space. She also provides plainspoken advice on effective board service, what makes a good pitch, and a good business plan from the perspective of someone who reads thousands a year. Additionally, Nancy talked with Gil about her time in the political spotlight, how the traits she developed in competitive ski racing and tennis help her in the venture world, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation with one of the true pioneers of climate tech investing.

Links: 

Nancy Floyd on LinkedIn

2008 Democratic National Convention speech by Nancy Floyd 

Hannon Armstrong Appoints Clarence D. Armbrister and Nancy C. Floyd to Board of Directors 

What Do Venture Capitalists Need to Hear from Scientists? A Conversation with Nancy Floyd, the Founder of Nth Power 

Episode recorded June 2, 2021. 

Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, and Hilary at climatepositive@hasi.com or tweet them to @ClimatePosiPod. 

Rytis Lauris is the CEO of Omnisend, a marketing automation SaaS that helps e-commerce companies.

Omnisend is bootstrapped, employees +70 people, and has grown past +$11M ARR in only 6 years!

Rytis talks about his founding story, specific marketing strategies that helped Omnisend gain traction early, understanding monetization strategies, leveraging integration partnerships, how he manages a growing team all over the world, and much much more.

Learn how this bootstrapped SaaS is on route to Unicorn status!

One of the biggest opportunities I didn’t take more advantage of while growing a company, is not gathering enough feedback from employees more often. Being the co-founder of the company that started from scratch, I personally did every single role in every department on my own. I was a salesperson, support rep, marketer, graphic designer, onboarding specialist, retention specialist, and billing person- all at the same time. Needless to say, I know every facet of my company very well.

However, as we started to grow the team, and bring in people with different backgrounds and experiences, I quickly realized I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. With diversity, comes new insights, thoughts and ideas that can make some of the biggest impacts in your business. When you start managing, as opposed to being wrapped up in the nitty-gritty daily operations, you can easily lose sight of the processes, procedures and efficiencies within each role. This is when you have to put more trust in your team, and continuously seek feedback and input, no matter how big or small.

We launched Web4Realty back in 2011. A LOT has changed over the last several years. There are so many new tools and apps that have changed the way companies work and operate. For example, the way we did sales and support only two years ago, is very different from the way we do it today. We have different processes, use different apps, and have streamlined operations. As a manager, even though you’re responsible for implementing new procedures in the company, you’ll never see things from the lens of the people actually working in them in the day-to-day.

Here are 3 reasons why employee feedback can change your business for the good:

1. Continually improve your business

If you want to continue improving your business processes and efficiencies, and ensure your team is performing optimally, consistent feedback is imperative. There are no better people to provide information on improvements and opportunities, than the one’s performing the job functions on a daily basis. Although the final decisions usually come from the managers or founders, the feedback from the rest of the team is what drives those decisions. WIthout feedback employees, you’ll essentially be shooting arrows in the dark.

1. Empower your team

There’s nothing I love more than when team members contribute to the greater good of the company. I’m not talking about simply performing their required tasks. I’m talking about providing thoughtful feedback and taking initiative. I always encourage my team to seek opportunities in their processes, and continuously be mindful of ways to be more effective in their roles. This is one of the amazing parts of working for a young lean company in the new-age. Contributions from team members are real and impactful, and there’s no greater feeling than making a true difference in the company.

1. Even though it’s your business, you can always learn

As a founder, you can never stop learning your own business. Although it’s your business, you can’t be naive about knowing everything. You have to really understand that ins-and-outs of every single layer in the company in every department. When you start managing and looking at things from the top layer, it’s tough to get a real glimpse of what’s happening on the ground. The only way to do that is through constant feedback and dialogue from your team. The more you learn and the deeper understanding you have, the better decisions you will make, which should have positive ripples to everyone involved.

Music by sifer2424

This was a very exciting episode. I’m speaking with Thomas Smale, founder of FE International, the hands-down market leader for M&A and advisory services for SaaS and other online businesses. They’ve completed hundreds of millions in acquisitions over the years.

If you own a SaaS or any small business, this is an episode you’re going to want to listen to in full. We talk about what potential buyers look for in companies, how companies can increase their valuation, the acquisition process in detail, and much much more.

Oh, not to mention, FE International is fully 100% bootstrapped, which you know I love. Thomas has an awesome bootstrapping story as well. He basically started buying companies with his credit card believe it or not. You’ll hear more about that in the episode. Enjoy!

Visit feinternational.com to learn more.

Music by sifer2424