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Artwork for Startups For the Rest of Us

Startups For the Rest of Us

Rob Walling
Saas
Microconf
Product-Market Fit
Boot.dev
Remote Team Engagement
Bootstrapping
Backend Development
UX Design
Sales and Marketing
Saas Playbook
Company Culture
Asynchronous Communication
Customer Feedback
Property Management
Email Marketing
Homeowners Associations
Software Development
Freemium Model
Idea Validation
Competition

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes329Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessMarketing

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Artwork for Startups For the Rest of Us

Latest Episodes

How much design polish is really enough?

In this episode, Rob Walling is joined by fan favorite Derrick Reimer for a new round of listener questions. They dig into the best AI coding stacks right now, how to ship fast without losing polish, whether ... more

What are the can't-miss AI tools for SaaS founders?

In this episode, Rob Walling sits down with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, to dive deep into Craig’s “100 Days of AI” YouTube series. They discuss the lessons learned from exploring the latest AI... more

YouTube

Is it time to sell, autopilot, or double down on your plateaued SaaS business?

In this episode, Rob Walling tackles listener questions and shares practical frameworks for what to do when your product hits a plateau, explains why “autopilot” often le... more

YouTube

Is 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 ... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Recent Guests

Craig Hewitt
Founder of Castos and experienced in AI-driven tools.
Castos
Episode: Episode 809 | What I Learned Diving into A.I. for 100 Days (with Craig Hewitt)
Philippe Lehoux
Co-founder of Missive and expert in email collaboration solutions
Missive
Episode: Episode 806 | Bootstrapping Missive to $8M ARR Over 10 Years
Laura Sprinkle
Founder of Rootabl, specializing in affiliate management
Rootabl
Episode: Episode 803 | 8 Key Takeaways from MicroConf Europe 2025
Colin Bartlett
Co-founder of StatusGator
StatusGator
Episode: Episode 798 | Lessons From 10 Years of SaaS Growth Without a Hockey Stick
Zamir Khan
Founder of VidHug, a video compilation service
VidHug
Episode: Episode 794 | From Struggling Side Project to Life-Changing SaaS Exit
Yaniv Bernstein
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Violet, former VP of Engineering and COO
Violet
Episode: Episode 790 | From Scrappy to Scalable: Evolving Your Role as a Founder
Harris Kenny
Founder of OutboundSync, an integration product between sales engagement platforms and CRMs.
OutboundSync
Episode: Episode 789 | TinySeed Tales s5e1: From Agency to SaaS
Nick Maggiulli
Author of The Wealth Ladder and COO of Ritholtz Wealth Management
Of Dollars and Data, Ritholtz Wealth Management
Episode: Episode 784 | The Wealth Ladder: Six Levels of Financial Freedom
Marc Thomas
Growth consultant and speaker at Microconf Europe, with experience in SaaS
SaaS Institute and Former Head of Growth at Powered by Search and Podia
Episode: Episode 779 | 10 Myths Most SaaS Founders Believe

Host

Rob Walling
Host of various SaaS-focused content and founder experienced in the startup landscape, including investments and mentorship.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Great content

    I am a solopreneur with a small business and Rob’s podcast is so helpful and inspiring and empathic. 5 stars.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MicXXCCC
    Italy2 months ago
  • I don’t want to give it 5 stars

    I rather gate keep this and keep all this info goodness to myself, only reason i am giving it 5 stars and writing this review is because i feel i need to repay them for all the no bs down to earth realistic info on how to build a SaaS. Even in the age of AI this podcast is very valuable. Keep it up! I look forward to every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sashogs
    Australia3 months ago
  • I've been a listener for several years now. Rob Walling produces an amazingly informative and brilliant podcast discussing startups, bootstrapping a startup, and the journey of others who have bootstrapped their companies. He and guests are transparent about mistakes they made and will discuss options in realtime to weigh pros and cons. Listener question episodes and "Rob solo adventure" episodes are an excellent. I can't believe this doesn't have hundreds of 5 star reviews tbh. Highly recommend... more

    Audible
    5
    Anonymous
    United States4 months ago
  • Lol. You got me.

    But! In fact, it is an excellent exercise to argue and go deep on the opposite of anything you're working on. I think lawyers do this when they're preparing for a trial. It really helps hone your original vision and strategies

    Podcast Addict
    5
    M4int
    a year ago
  • I’m not a saas entrepreneur, but the content is relatable

    So yeah, I’m not a saas entrepreneur, but I find that the content is relatable, insightful, down to earth, and does NOT sound super scripted. 10/1/24 podcast I think would resonate with any entrepreneur, just great content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lsvorn
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the realistic and relatable content that resonates with aspiring entrepreneurs across various stages of their journeys. Ways to bootstrap and build a meaningful business without reliance on venture capital are hard to come by, and the show's emphasis on candidness and actionable advice stands out among other entrepreneurial content. Many find the practical experiences shared by guest entrepreneurs inspiring and motivating. Reviews suggest that the podcast is viewed as essential for anyone in the bootstrapped startup space, although there are some critiques regarding a perceived increase in self-promotion. Overall, it is recognized as a solid source of valuable insights for both seasoned and new SaaS founders.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 808 | A $500k "Step 1" Business, When to Consider SOC2, and More Listener Questions
Q: When do you think startups should start thinking about compliance?
Rob suggests that founders shouldn't worry about compliance until it's necessary, arguing that initiating it too early distracts from building and selling.
Episode 808 | A $500k "Step 1" Business, When to Consider SOC2, and More Listener Questions
Q: What are your thoughts about ideas as far as how I should be thinking about this and questions I should be asking myself?
Rob emphasizes the importance of assessing whether to continue investing in the current business or pursue new ideas, suggesting a focus on motivation and energy for the business.
Episode 807 | The "Core Four" SaaS Skills and Knowing When You Should Find a Co-founder (A Rob Solo Adventure)
Q: How do I deal with big company negotiations when they keep changing the deal?
Acknowledge the tactics that big companies often use, and ensure you are pricing your deals higher to make them worthwhile, even if changes are made.
Episode 807 | The "Core Four" SaaS Skills and Knowing When You Should Find a Co-founder (A Rob Solo Adventure)
Q: Should I find a business co-founder?
If you're willing to learn the core four skills of sales, marketing, product, and development, you may not need a co-founder. Instead, you could handle these areas yourself or hire experts later on.
Episode 804 | Positioning, Inventing a Category, Marketing Globally, and More Listener Questions (A Rob Solo Adventure)
Q: What are the conditions for considering vertical, orthogonal, and horizontal positioning?
This is a case-by-case basis, focusing on how much the product has to change for each option and whether you know how to market/sell in those spaces.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Startups For the Rest of Us

What is Startups For the Rest of Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the journey of bootstrapped startups, the content provides an in-depth look at the experiences of founders as they navigate the complexities of launching and scaling Software as a Service (SaaS) companies. With episodes highlighting both success stories and challenges, listeners can expect a wealth of practical insights and emotional truths from entrepreneurs who are candid about their struggles and victories. This resource is particularly valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs and those looking to grow sustainable businesses without relying heavily on external funding. The podcast likely resonates with listeners who appreciate authentic narratives of entrepreneurship and actionable advice.

Where can I find podcast stats for Startups For the Rest of Us?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Startups For the Rest of Us. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Startups For the Rest of Us and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Startups For the Rest of Us get?

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What are the audience demographics for Startups For the Rest of Us?

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How many subscribers and views does Startups For the Rest of Us have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Startups For the Rest of Us has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Startups For the Rest of Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Startups For the Rest of Us:

1. The Startup Ideas Podcast
2. My First Million
3. Y Combinator Startup Podcast
4. The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
5. REWORK

How many episodes of Startups For the Rest of Us are there?

Startups For the Rest of Us launched 16 years ago and published 329 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Startups For the Rest of Us?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Startups For the Rest of Us?

Recent guests on Startups For the Rest of Us include:

1. Craig Hewitt
2. Philippe Lehoux
3. Laura Sprinkle
4. Colin Bartlett
5. Zamir Khan
6. Yaniv Bernstein
7. Harris Kenny
8. Nick Maggiulli

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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