Welcome to the MicroConf Podcast! Every week, we feature the stories and strategies you need to level up your SaaS business. From the visionaries and makers who fuel sustainable, profitable software companies that don’t need to seek venture capital to make a meaningful impact in their lives.
…
continue reading
MicroConf Podcasts
Chris and Christian build some software businesses.
…
continue reading
The original podcast for bootstrapped and mostly bootstrapped startups, this show follow the stories of founders as they start, acquire, and grow SaaS companies. Hear when they fail, struggle, succeed, and take you with them through the tumultuous life of a SaaS founder. If you like Mixergy, This Week in Startups, or SaaStr, you’ll enjoy Startup for the Rest of Us.
…
continue reading
Join us as we share what it's like to build and launch a bootstrapped startup while working for yourself full-time. Benedikt is working on Userlist, and Benedicte is establishing herself as a Gatsby expert and developer advocate for hire.
…
continue reading
Two Brits talking about bootstrapping their businesses and the challenges they face along the way. Occasionally drinking tea but never wearing bowler hats! Tune in and hear about a wide range of topics from software development, validating a software product, and marketing, to when is Nick going to start training for the London marathon ;o). There’ll be thrills and spills along the way. Don’t miss out, subscribe to the podcast feed so you can laugh and cry along with (or at!) us.
…
continue reading
1
MicroConf Tactics: 5 BORING Decisions That Made Me a Multi-Millionaire
13:01
13:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:01After 20 years building and exiting SaaS companies, Rob Walling looks back and pinpoints the 5 choices that made all the difference, from launching his first product to bootstrapping and exiting apps for life-changing money. Links from the Pod Watch this video on YouTube Subscribe to the MicroConf YouTube Channel Join MicroConf Connect Startups for…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 803 | 8 Key Takeaways from MicroConf Europe 2025
34:19
34:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:19What's it really like to attend MicroConf? In this episode, Rob Walling and Laura Sprinkle, founder of Rootabl, recap MicroConf Europe 2025 in Istanbul. They discuss the MicroConf vibe, standout talks on AI, affiliate marketing, and SaaS growth, as well as the value of networking and connecting while getting outside the conference room. Topics we c…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 807 | The "Core Four" SaaS Skills and Knowing When You Should Find a Co-founder (A Rob Solo Adventure)
33:40
33:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:40Is hiring a sales and marketing co-founder the secret sauce for technical SaaS founders? In this solo episode, Rob Walling tackles a fresh batch of listener questions, starting with one of the most common dilemmas for technical founders: should you hire a sales and marketing co-founder or go it alone? He introduces his “Core Four” mental model, the…
…
continue reading
Benedicte and Benedikt talk about daily walks, measuring by proxy, and the challenges of recording short and succinct screencasts. At Userlist, Benedikt’s team launched a Posthog integration and new segment templates to improve onboarding. He’s also experimenting with recording different formats for the video challenge. Benedicte recovers from the …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 806 | Bootstrapping Missive to $8M ARR Over 10 Years
33:54
33:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:54Can a small team really bootstrap to $8M ARR in a crowded SaaS market? In this episode, Rob Walling chats with Philippe Lehoux about how he and his co-founders bootstrapped Missive, a collaborative email and team inbox tool. They deep dive into landing early customers, unique horizontal positioning, content-driven growth, enterprise sales, and how …
…
continue reading
1
MicroConf Tactics: NEVER Make These 6 Mistakes (Lessons from 20 Years in Business)
11:43
11:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:43Rob Walling shares 6 founder regrets that didn’t just cost him money, they nearly derailed his business. From invisible mindset traps to avoidable missteps in hiring and decision-making, each one reveals something most founders don’t realize until it’s too late. Links from the Pod MicroConf Remote MicroConf Events Watch this video on YouTube Subscr…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 805 | Gatekeeping vs. Paying Dues, Raw Material, and Surrounding Yourself with the Right People (A Rob Solo Adventure)
24:47
24:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:47How much does your startup idea matter compared to your execution? In this solo episode, Rob Walling covers several founder-focused topics: the difference between gatekeeping and paying your dues, why raw material beats polish, and why successful people don't mind others winning. He also shares a listener's exit story, discusses optimism in founder…
…
continue reading
Benedikt and the team ship do mini launches for features. Benedicte officially enters the video challenge. Benedikt and the Userlist team are making progress on their Q4 plans, recently shipping new features through mini launches. They also started working on improvements for the message editor. And having recorded 3 videos these past weeks, Benedi…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 804 | Positioning, Inventing a Category, Marketing Globally, and More Listener Questions (A Rob Solo Adventure)
35:30
35:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:30Can bootstrapped founders really invent a new category with AI or is it a trap? In this solo episode, Rob Walling answers a fresh batch of listener questions covering SaaS marketing, global expansion, and strategic positioning. He shares advice on whether inventing a new product category is ever worth it and the nuances of updating your positioning…
…
continue reading
1
MicroConf Tactics: The BEST Sales Funnel For Your SaaS (new data changed my advice)
11:56
11:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:56In this episode, Rob Walling breaks down data-backed strategies to improve your trial funnel and explains why most SaaS founders should rethink freemium vs. free trial. Backed by insights from the nearly 700+ startups who participated in the State of Independent SaaS Report and 200+ of his own investments. Links from the Pod MicroConf US Tickets ar…
…
continue reading
Benedikt and Benedicte share their takeaways from MicroConf Europe 2025. “De-inspired” from the conference, Benedicte decides to focus on Whee and Outseta. Benedikt and the Userlist team are planning mini launches, a revamp of their email marketing, and a friendly video competition.By Benedikt Deicke, Benedicte Raae, and Brian Rhea
…
continue reading
1
Episode 802 | Marketing Not Scaling, Where to Publish Content, and More Listener Questions (A Rob Solo Adventure)
32:59
32:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:59Where’s the best place to publish if you’re starting content from scratch? In this episode, Rob Walling flies solo, answering your questions on marketing and audience building. He covers what to do when your channels stop scaling, where to publish early on, and the "media company first" approach. Episode Sponsor: Are you a non-technical founder wit…
…
continue reading
1
MicroConf Tactics: Break Through the 7 SaaS Plateaus
30:49
30:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:49Plateaus 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 202…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 801 | Competing Against Incumbents, Technical Co-Founders, Trademarks, and More Listener Questions with Derrick Reimer
54:37
54:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:37By Rob Walling
…
continue reading
1
Episode 800 | The 12 Commandments of Startups for the Rest of Us
37:11
37:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:11What if you could get all 15 years of this podcast bundled up into one episode? In episode 800, Rob Walling goes solo for a special milestone installment of Startups For the Rest of Us. He covers the 12 foundational commandments that shape his approach to SaaS, hard-won lessons forged from years of building, investing in, and advising startups. Top…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 799 | TinySeed Tales s5e6: $500k ARR!
29:15
29:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:15What's next for OutboundSync? In the Season 5 finale of TinySeed Tales, Rob Walling talks with Harris Kenny as OutboundSync blows past $500k ARR. Harris shares the wins and struggles of getting here, from choosing not to raise funding (for now), to planning a laser tag event no committee would approve, to what comes next on the road to $1M. Topics …
…
continue reading