Rephonic
Artwork for Startups For the Rest of Us

Startups For the Rest of Us

Rob Walling
Saas
Entrepreneurship
Microconf
B2B Saas
Tinyseed
Marketing
Product Market Fit
Bootstrapping
Startups
Outboundsync
Hello Query
Savvycal
SEO
Product-Market Fit
Saas Companies
Freemium Model
Pricing Strategy
Tiny Seed
Saas Customer Success
Paul Graham

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes329Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MarketingBusinessEntrepreneurship

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Startups For the Rest of Us

Latest Episodes

What were the highlights and takeaways from MicroConf?

In this episode, Rob Walling and Derrick Reimer recap MicroConf US 2026 in Portland, Oregon. They break down the best talks from the event, including Jason Cohen on breaking through growth plate... more

YouTube

Can AI really handle product decisions for your SaaS?

In this solo adventure, Rob Walling revisits the core four SaaS skills and breaks down what AI can and cannot do across Development, Sales, Marketing, and Product. He also reframes Bill Gross's t... more

YouTube

Is your product actually a SaaS?

In this episode, Rob Walling tackles listener questions about what really qualifies as SaaS (and where he disagrees with ChatGPT), how to serve both solopreneurs and enterprise customers with a dual funnel strategy, ... more

YouTube

What would it mean for you to leave 60 or 70% of your company's value on the table when you sell?

In this episode, Rob sits down with Einar Vollset, co-founder of TinySeed and founder of Discretion Capital, to talk about his new book, The Definitive... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Adam Wathan
Co-founder of Tailwind CSS
Tailwind Labs
Episode: Episode 825 | Talking Tailwind CSS and Founder Fitness (with Adam Wathan)
Tracy Osborn
Head of Product of TinySeed and of MicroConf
TinySeed, MicroConf
Episode: Episode 823 | Hot Take Tuesday: Is A.I. Killing B2B SaaS?, ChatGPT Ads, OpenClaw
Einar Vollset
Co-founder at TinySeed and Managing Partner at Discretion Capital
TinySeed, Discretion Capital
Episode: Episode 823 | Hot Take Tuesday: Is A.I. Killing B2B SaaS?, ChatGPT Ads, OpenClaw
Jay Clouse
Founder of Creator Science, an educational media company helping content creators improve
Creator Science
Episode: Episode 821 | How to Do Founder-Led Marketing (with Jay Clouse)
Jason Cohen
Founder of WP Engine and SmartBear
SmartBear
Episode: Episode 817 | Bootstrapping in the Age of AI with Jason Cohen
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

Host

Rob Walling
Host of Startups For the Rest of Us; prominent figure in bootstrapped SaaS and founder community.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • My favorite tech / startup podcast

    Been listening for a couple years. It’s really great. Rob is unassuming, low ego, and a good interviewer. I like the mix of solo episodes and interesting guests. Most other podcasts in this space just seem like one long ad for something.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Murphycj
    United States3 months ago
  • 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
    Italy7 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
    Australia8 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 States9 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
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback notes concern about perceived self-promotion from time to time, but the overall sentiment centers on usefulness and realism.
Listeners value consistent, actionable content and real founder stories.
Audiences appreciate the practical, down-to-earth guidance and the focus on bootstrapped SaaS.

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 828 | Am I Building a SaaS?, Serving Both B2C and B2B, Pricing, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)
Q: Leanna asks about pricing a B2B and B2C hybrid tool (job search management) to balance mission with sustainability.
Rob recommends a blended strategy that may include a free or low-cost option with an honor-system or need-based tier alongside a paid B2B tier. He emphasizes sustainability, the potential for a higher-priced B2B tier, and the importance of ultimately aligning pricing with the value delivered and the ability to fund ongoing development.
Episode 828 | Am I Building a SaaS?, Serving Both B2C and B2B, Pricing, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)
Q: Hi there, my name is Helen from England. I just want to find out exactly what I would be classified as, if indeed I am a SaaS business or not.
Rob explains that if the product is subscription software and delivers most of the value through software, it can be considered SaaS, even with hardware or API components, as long as the software provides the bulk of the value and is delivered on a recurring basis.
Episode 825 | Talking Tailwind CSS and Founder Fitness (with Adam Wathan)
Q: What controversial design decision did Tailwind embrace that early critics objected to?
The adoption of utility-first classes and heavy use of presentational classes in HTML markup, rather than semantic CSS with separate files, was criticized as messy and less maintainable, though it enabled rapid, consistent UI development.
Episode 825 | Talking Tailwind CSS and Founder Fitness (with Adam Wathan)
Q: What directive is used inside a CSS file to inject base styles, components and utilities?
The directive is @tailwind base, @tailwind components, and @tailwind utilities, though in newer versions the specifics can differ with the Just-In-Time engine and updated tooling.
Episode 825 | Talking Tailwind CSS and Founder Fitness (with Adam Wathan)
Q: What would an enterprise-tier product look like for Tailwind, and would that have reduced churn?
An enterprise tier (e.g., higher-priced, longer-term contracts with added support and governance) could have reduced churn by locking in larger teams, but it would involve complex sales cycles and procurement. The guests also discuss the potential of a partner program to scale enterprise-like engagements without heavy sales friction.

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?

A pragmatic, founder-focused show that concentrates on bootstrapped and indie SaaS businesses. Episodes frequently cover how to build, market, and scale software products without heavy VC funding, including founder-led marketing, product strategy, and practical growth tactics. Listeners tend to value realistic, down-to-earth guidance, actionable frameworks, and long-form conversations with practitioners who are actively running and growing SaaS companies. A notable strength is its consistency and emphasis on sustainable bootstrapping, community, and practical experimentation, making it useful for current and aspiring solo founders and small teams seeking proven approaches over hype.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Startups For the Rest of Us, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Startups For the Rest of Us, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. REWORK
5. The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Startups For the Rest of Us?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Startups For the Rest of Us from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Startups For the Rest of Us?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Startups For the Rest of Us. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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

Recent guests on Startups For the Rest of Us include:

1. Adam Wathan
2. Tracy Osborn
3. Einar Vollset
4. Jay Clouse
5. Jason Cohen
6. Craig Hewitt
7. Philippe Lehoux
8. Laura Sprinkle

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days