The Bootstrapped Founder

Apr 11 2025 388 ep. 28 mins 363

The Bootstrapped Founder Podcast artwork

Arvid Kahl talks about starting and bootstrapping businesses, how to build an audience, and how to build in public.

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385: The Balancing Act: Free Trials, Value Demonstration, and Business Sustainability

Apr 11 2025 15 mins

Just how much of your service should a trial user be allowed to "try"? When it costs you real money to supply your product, when and how do you apply limits so that people have to upgrade?That's my challenge this week, and I'll share a concrete example from my journey with Podscan.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-balancing-act-free-trials-value-demonstration-an

384: Podscan's Profitability Milestone: What's Next?

Apr 04 2025 21 mins

Podscan is profitable. Wild. A great success, a year after starting the business, and a fun opportunity to look at the options that lay before me. What will be my next milestone? What's the ultimate goal here?Well, you'll hear all about it today.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podscans-profitability-milestone-whats-next/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episode

383: Repositioning Podscan: From Monitoring to Data Platform

Mar 28 2025 18 mins

Last week, in my hotel room just after MicroConf, I got excited about repositioning. I have had some time to think about the steps forward since then, and here's what I've come up with. This week, I dive into what I have already done, what needs to be done next, and where this is going.The blog post: https://tbf.fm/episodes/383-repositioning-podscan-from-monitoring-to-data-platform

382: I went to MicroConf in New Orleans

Mar 21 2025 16 mins

And I have a few things to say.In one of my rare directly-from-the-hotel-room-to-you episodes, I'll dive right into the many wonderful experiences of this uniquely amazing conference, and I'll share my biggest learnings with you right here.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/i-went-to-microconf-in-new-orleans/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/382-i-went-to

381: How AI Changes Famous Laws in Software and Entrepreneurship

Mar 14 2025 24 mins

The rise of AI is fundamentally changing and challenging the classic laws and principles of software development and entrepreneurship. Drawing from my experience building Podscan.fm with AI assistance, I dive into how laws like Conway's Law, Brooks' Law, and Postel's Law are being transformed in this new era of AI-assisted development, while sharing practical insights for founders

380: Experiment Report: Trying New Things

Mar 07 2025 23 mins

When I talked to Anne-Laure Le Cunff earlier this week, we get into experiments and how to run them effectively. That made me think that I've been running quite a few of those recently, and here's how that has worked out for me.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/experiment-report-trying-new-things/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/380-experiment-report-tr

379: Anne-Laure Le Cunff — Tiny Experiments

Mar 05 2025 32 mins

Anne-Laure Le Cunff (@neuranne) is a neuroscientist and author of the book Tiny Experiments, where she shines a scientific light on how we set goals, what experiments we should think about, and how we can deal with uncertainty in a high-stress world.We chat about goals, reprogramming your own subconscious, and how learning in public can benefit anyone on any journey.The blog post:

378: Think with AI, Do with People

Feb 28 2025 19 mins

I'm not usually trying to create FOMO in other founders — I know all too well that we're busy enough with what we're building.But if you're not using chat-based AI to collaborate with (both in your business and outside of it), you're playing the game on hard mode.I'll share a few stories today of why this particular kind of virtual collaborator helps me so much in my business.The

377: Virality is Poisonous

Feb 21 2025 11 mins

The most insidious consequence of chasing virality isn't that it makes you look foolish; it's that you're actively poisoning your precious audience.Here's what "playing the algorithm" might do to (instead of for) your personal and professional brand.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/virality-is-poisonous/The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/377-virality-is-p

376: Justin Moore — Becoming a Sponsor Magnet

Feb 19 2025 37 mins

Justin Moore (@justinmooretfam) knows a thing or two about sponsors. He's responsible for dozens of episodes of this very podcast to be sponsored! And what he taught me, he'll teach you.I was VERY hesitant when I started looking at sponsors. I thought that would dilute my brand. Make me a sellout. But that's a self-limiting belief — and Justin will give you the tools to profitabl