MicroConf On Air: Bootstrapping v. Venture Capital - What is the Right Move?

Build a SaaS app!" they said... "It'll be great!" they said...it turns out, running an online service Is a big pain in the SaaS. In this talk I will tell you all about designing, building, selling, scaling, maintaining and supporting balsamiq.cloud, the online version of Balsamiq Wireframes. I'll focus on 'the things they don't tell you' and even give you the dirt about a massive data-loss incident from May 2018. Fasten your seatbelts, there will be turbulence! --- Giacomo 'Peldi' Guilizzoni is a programmer turned entrepreneur, who founded Balsamiq in 2008 and has been learning how to run and grow the company ever since. He has spoken at Microconf a few times along the way, to share his learnings and, mostly, his mistakes. He still loves to code, when he's allowed to by his team. :) Check out Peldi’s MicroConf speakers page for more talks → https://microconf.com/speakers/peldi-... https://microconf.com #microconf #microconfeurope2019 MicroConf Europe 2019 MicroConf Connect → http://microconfconnect.com ...

Staying sane as an entrepreneur is not always easy. In this episode, Rob talks with Sherry Walling to chat about the habits of successful entrepreneurs.   This episode is sponsored by our Alternative Financing Partner, Pipe. Do you need growth capital to scale, ramp up your marketing, and acquire new customers? Pipe turns your recurring revenue into up-front growth capital within as little as 24 hours of being connected. Pipe is a two-sided trading platform for recurring revenue that connects you directly to the capital markets. Simply sign up for free, securely connect your billing, banking, and accounting software with a couple of clicks, and Pipe will provide you with a trading limit in as little as 24hrs. Select the amount of capital you need, click trade, and get cash in your bank instantly. No 30 page business plans or founder due diligence - just growth capital based on the health of your business - perfect for time-strapped bootstrappers. You can use your Piped revenue to grow your sales team, boost ad spend, and scale however you see fit. Pipe is growth on your terms. And right now, MicroConf listeners get trading fees waived for 12 months which could save you tens of thousands of dollars depending on the size of your business and the volume you trade. Sign up at http://www.pipe.com/MicroConf to start trading today.   Topics covered: [3:45] Habit #1: Have a sense of intentionality in how you work [6:45] Habit #2: Focus- avoid Shiny Object Syndrome [7:45] Challenge with focus is the shadow side of a great entrepreneurial strength [10:15] Habit #3: Invest in relationships [13:45] Habit #4: Have something else to care about [15:45] Getting better sleep & ‘turning off’ after a day of work [16:45] Habit #5: Be willing ...

This week, Rob is joined by Jessica Malnik, our MicroConf Community Manager, to talk about the future of MicroConf Connect, the community, and we introduce the MicroConf Accountability Challenge. Join our January Accountability Challenge and get a head start on your 2022 goals. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” This is a quote from James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits. (Good read btw!) The end of December and the beginning of January are a natural time to reflect and set goals. These goals can provide the necessary vision and direction. However, setting goals without a detailed plan for how you will hit them is a recipe for failure. The difference between smashing your goal and falling shot often lies in the tiny habits and wins along the way—the 5, 15, or 60 minutes you are spending each day directly focused on one thing that will help you reach your goal. That’s what inspired the idea behind this community accountability challenge. ...