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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
Email Marketing
Property Management
Homeowners Associations
Customer Feedback
Idea Validation
Software Development
Freemium Model
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes329Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEntrepreneurshipMarketing

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Artwork for Startups For the Rest of Us

Latest Episodes

Is founder-led marketing right for your SaaS, or just a distraction?

In this episode, Rob Walling sits down with Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science, to explore founder-led marketing. They dig into how Jay overcame his own limiting beliefs about ... more

YouTube

When do you finally quit your day job and go all-in on your startup?

In this solo episode, Rob Walling answers listener questions about when it’s worth taking funding to speed up your path to full-time, how to think about equity when a co-founder jo... more

YouTube

Could your business structure quietly cost you millions when you sell?

In this solo episode, Rob Walling answers listener questions about when QSBS might justify a C Corp (vs. staying an S Corp or LLC), why SaaS exits are often discussed in ARR mult... more

YouTube

Is perfectionism quietly sabotaging your career or startup dreams?

In this episode, Rob Walling talks with his brother, Russ Walling, about the mindset and habits that shape long-term success from overcoming perfectionism to building resilience and ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

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
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

Host

Rob Walling
Host and founder known for his insights on bootstrapped startups and software development. He shares personal experiences and actionable advice gleaned from years in the industry.

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 Statesa month 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
    Italy5 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
    Australia6 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 States7 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

Listeners Say

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

Feedback indicates that the show fosters a strong sense of community among bootstrapped entrepreneurs.
The honest discussions of both successes and failures resonate well with the audience's experiences as founders.
Criticism includes occasional feelings of excessive promotion in some episodes, which detracts from the main content.
Many find the show to be a crucial source of inspiration and practical strategies for building their SaaS companies.
Listeners appreciate the down-to-earth, realistic advice provided on entrepreneurship.

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 820 | When to Quit Your Day Job, A.I. Feasibility Risk, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)
Q: Should I drop my lowest priced plan, keep it as a paying marketing channel, or convert it to a freemium plan?
Keep it if it feeds into higher plans. If not, consider dropping it due to high churn risks, as it can negatively impact metrics and company evaluation.
Episode 820 | When to Quit Your Day Job, A.I. Feasibility Risk, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)
Q: How do founders think about equity and when do they start thinking about it?
Founders should discuss equity early on, but it depends on what they each bring to the startup. Clear conversations about contributions are important to avoid misaligned expectations.
Episode 820 | When to Quit Your Day Job, A.I. Feasibility Risk, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)
Q: At what point do we just dive in 100% and say, we're doing this no matter what?
It depends on balancing your financial runway, emotional runway, and risk tolerance. If you have early traction, consider raising funding to focus on your startup sooner.
Episode 821 | How to Do Founder-Led Marketing (with Jay Clouse)
Q: What types of niches do you see in your community?
Jay Clouse shared examples of various niche educators, including a fiddle teacher and a world champion pole dancer, showing the diversity in niches within his community.
Episode 821 | How to Do Founder-Led Marketing (with Jay Clouse)
Q: How did you get past the belief that you're not creative?
Jay Clouse discussed working with a coach and the exercise in which he challenged himself to write every day for a year to create evidence of his creativity.

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?

The content focuses on the challenges and successes faced by bootstrapped and independent startup founders as they navigate the often tumultuous world of Software as a Service (SaaS). Episodes frequently highlight personal stories and real-world experiences, providing listeners with insights into effective strategies for starting, acquiring, and growing SaaS companies. Noteworthy discussions delve into topics such as fundraising dilemmas, strategic marketing, product positioning, and key entrepreneurial skills necessary for success. In addition to expert guest insights, the relatable, candid style encourages a community-focused approach, reinforcing values of perseverance throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

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. This Week in Startups
4. The a16z Show
5. The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

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?

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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?

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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. Jay Clouse
2. Jason Cohen
3. Craig Hewitt
4. Philippe Lehoux
5. Laura Sprinkle
6. Colin Bartlett
7. Zamir Khan
8. Yaniv Bernstein

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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