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Bootstrapping to Success: How Johnathan Grzybowski Built Penji Without Investors
Manage episode 485423095 series 3003205
In this episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames sits down with Johnathan Grzybowski, co-founder of Penji, a creative-as-a-service platform that helps businesses access top-tier design talent through a simple subscription model.
Johnathan shares how he bootstrapped Penji from the ground up—with no investors and no safety net—scaling it into an Inc. 5000 company that has served thousands of clients worldwide.
If you're a startup founder, creative entrepreneur, or small business owner looking for bootstrapping tips, branding advice, or scalable business models, this conversation is packed with value.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Johnathan scaled Penji without outside funding
The biggest challenges of bootstrapping a business (and how he overcame them)
What makes customer experience a true differentiator in today’s digital world
How subscription-based services are shaping the future of creative work
Lessons from managing a high-performing creative team and building long-term client trust
Resources & Links Mentioned:
💻 Penji Website: https://penji.co
📲 Follow Penji on Instagram: @penji.co
🎙️ Dear Dads Podcast: Listen Here
💡 Free Ideas Daily: https://freeideas.io
how to bootstrap a startup
bootstrapped business success stories
customer experience strategy
building a creative agency
subscription business model tips
how to start a service-based business
creative team management
small business branding and marketing
💬 Connect with Michelle:
🌐 Website: www.michellethames.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📲 Instagram: @michellelthames
489 episodes
Manage episode 485423095 series 3003205
In this episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames sits down with Johnathan Grzybowski, co-founder of Penji, a creative-as-a-service platform that helps businesses access top-tier design talent through a simple subscription model.
Johnathan shares how he bootstrapped Penji from the ground up—with no investors and no safety net—scaling it into an Inc. 5000 company that has served thousands of clients worldwide.
If you're a startup founder, creative entrepreneur, or small business owner looking for bootstrapping tips, branding advice, or scalable business models, this conversation is packed with value.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Johnathan scaled Penji without outside funding
The biggest challenges of bootstrapping a business (and how he overcame them)
What makes customer experience a true differentiator in today’s digital world
How subscription-based services are shaping the future of creative work
Lessons from managing a high-performing creative team and building long-term client trust
Resources & Links Mentioned:
💻 Penji Website: https://penji.co
📲 Follow Penji on Instagram: @penji.co
🎙️ Dear Dads Podcast: Listen Here
💡 Free Ideas Daily: https://freeideas.io
how to bootstrap a startup
bootstrapped business success stories
customer experience strategy
building a creative agency
subscription business model tips
how to start a service-based business
creative team management
small business branding and marketing
💬 Connect with Michelle:
🌐 Website: www.michellethames.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📲 Instagram: @michellelthames
489 episodes
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