how to start a startup

In this episode of The Venture-Scale SaaS Operator, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Lindsay Liu, founder of Super. Super is a productivity software for property managers. Lindsay shares the story behind Super, from her pivotal shift towards monetization and customer-driven development to her take on hiring developers as an early-stage startup.

Tune in to learn more about:

~ When to start charging as an early-stage startup.

~ An incredible way to A/B test your messaging on a low budget.

~ How to start hiring developers as a non-technical founder? – Agency vs In-house team.

Timestamps:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:28) - How Super got its name and domain
• (01:19) - What Super is and who it's for.
• (02:43) - Origin of the idea for Super.
• (04:44) - Company size and revenue.
• (06:02) - Shift from beta phase to monetization.
• (12:30) - Hiring technical team as a non-technical founder.
• (18:53) - Lindsay's marketing background and its influence on building Super.
• (24:49) - Marketing tactics and specifics for early-stage startups.
• (28:55) - Long-term vision for Super.
• (30:33) - Outro

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Follow Lindsay Liu:

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayliu/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindsayliu

Mentioned In The Episode

Super - A Productivity software for property managers.

ReactSquad.io - React.js Agency for Startups

Nikolas Chapoupis

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikolas_chap

On LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-chapoupis

EarlyNode

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earlynode

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyNode

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlynode_crew/

On Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/earlynode

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earlynode

On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlynode

Pony Express Studio is a company built by makers, for makers. That concept has driven their success, to the tune of $3.5M in annual recurring revenue. Founder Thibault Louis-Lucas shares insider insights on how to launch a startup with this kind of potential in today’s episode. 

Thibault didn’t hit on this 7-figure startup idea right away. He launched 9 other products that failed before he found success with Pony Express Studio. He’s also worked as a web developer and the CTO of a marketing automation company. He’ll share how these past experiences (and failures) helped him find success with tools like Tweet Hunter, Taplio, and ProductLift.

As an active maker, Thibault is an expert in how to launch a product. We’ll find out how he designs and builds the products for Pony Express, how he markets them once they’re launched, and the metrics he tracks after launch to gauge its success. Anyone who wants to bring a new product to market the right way will want to hear Thibault’s story and advice!

Resources:

• Pony Express Studio - Learn more about Pony Express Studio on their website
• Twitter.com/tibo_maker - Connect with Tibo on X
• UpFlip HUB - Get knowledge and tools to succeed as a business owner  
• From Content Agency to $70K+/Month SaaS Company - UpFlip podcast episode 65 with the founder of Workello
• Tweet Hunter - Tool to build and monetize a following on X
• Taplio -  AI-driven platform to grow engagement on LinkedIn
• The Mom Test - Book by Rob Fitzpatrick on how to tell if your business is a good idea

Connect with UpFlip:

• On Facebook
• On Instagram
• @UpFlipOfficial on Twitter

For more insights to start, build, or grow a business, check out the resources on UpFlip.com or head to the UpFlip YouTube channel to see more interviews with business owners and experts.

Thanks for listening!

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Links from this week's episode: 

• Seed Box Website: www.seedbox.systems
• Order your Seedbox Starter Kit

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• EIAI on Apple:
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Social Media Links: 

• Instagram: @audaciousideas @rhea_naidoo_ 
• ClubHouse: @RheaNaidoo 
• Email: rhea@artfulladder.com

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This week I am excited to celebrate 50 episodes of the podcast and as such, I thought that I would share a little more about my own background. 

I recorded an episode of the podcast - Should I start my own startup and this focuses on what I have learned and I hope that this can help you in your decision making. 

Growing up my Dad ran his own business and I learned quite a lot about business just sitting around the dining room table. My parents would be regularly talking about business - the good, the bad, and often the very ugly. My parents always instilled in me a strong work ethic. My parents worked hard. 

Over the years I have worked in a number of startup businesses and therefore in this episode, I wanted to share what I have learned during that time. The key learnings have been business strategy, business modeling - ie how are you going to make money, product to market fit, testing this fit, trying to limit spending and test as you go, investing in your own learning, and plus a passion for what you do. You will need plenty of this in spades. 

In this episode, I share some stories of the places that I have worked and where they may have gone a bit wrong. I hope you enjoy this episode. 

About me: My name is Samantha McIntyre and after 30 years in business and technology - from starting out on the helpdesk to getting to and staying in the C suite, being on Executive boards, and being a mother and entrepreneur!  I am passionate about helping women in their careers and business. What I have enjoyed the most in my roles is helping those around me succeed - particularly women! 
I have lead technology teams for some of the biggest businesses and brands in Australia and the world such as Tesco, Loreal, Coles, Woolworths, and Sportsgirl. So if you're looking for someone who knows what it is like to be a woman in business and technology plus being a mother and an entrepreneur then you've come to the right place.
Contact: Website: https://www.lady-leadership.com/ LinkedIn: Samantha McIntyre Twitter: sjmcintyre1 Facebook: @Samantha McIntyre Instagram: @sammijmac and @lady.leadership