Awesome interview and product. @csallen, I've noticed that a lot of podcast episodes never link to the product. Sometimes it's in the transcript, but that's annoying to dig through and isn't a real link. Can you add a link to the product in the podcast's description? I like to check out the product before listening.
I really like the IH podcast in general, but this episode in particular resonated with me. A genuine bootstrapper with no connection to SF/YC/VC money.
Thanks for the great episode, Courtland. I'd love to see (hear?) more like this in the future!
3
I'd love to have more like this! Companies like Christy's aren't easy to find.
3
Someone should build a community where people like her can hang out and learn from each other!
Two I can think of right now are Joshua, founder of Wild Zora who bootstrapped a food Ecom business and the Koplins — scientist husband wife team who built Costa Rico guide. Both are doing million+ arr.
Paul House built My Food Data from barely being able to cover rent in Beijing in 2010 to a million uniques and 10k USD a month just from adsense. Then after moving to SF, it scaled much larger, moved to Google DFP and eventually became what it is now.
David Lancashire taught himself to code in Beijing as an English teacher, made a free annotation tool and database for readings and translations of Chinese phrases, built a profitable language learning site (Popup Chinese, built a two-sided marketplace on the WeChat platform (WeSecretary) and is now building a VC-funded blockchain tech company (Saito).
John Pasden built AllSetLearning as a quasi-technical manager of tech teams and content producers into a premier provider of both in person Chinese language instruction in Shanghai and published resources.
None of the three bootstrapped with no connection to SF VC, all three were earning under 1k/month for a time in their 20s and none had technical skills when starting out (though David in particular became a formidable engineer).
4
This is not only a great startup story but a story of human determination to succeed. I love it!
4
Christy is SO nice and "human". I loved this episode.
1
Nawwww; thanks Pablo! Confirming I’m a real person hehe 🙃
3
Really great episode. Best I've listened to so far. Thanks a lot
2
Hey @csallen great interview. How do you record these. She's really crisp!
2
Awesome story! Especially knowing the service is built for the social network which still (what a shame) does not have API for publishing (except the private beta which is still barely available to few)
1
Absolutely! They denied my first attempt and now closed applications for BETA partners. Cannot wait until it’s open I’ve had to strip back the product slightly to accomodate.
However in saying that. There are many bugs in the new API and we get heaps of people coming to us for that reason.
Fingers crossed they sort themselves out soon!
2
Please provide a link to the product or company! Thanks!
2
Awesome interview. Even as former software engineer (now MD) I still get intimidated by the technical aspect of building a software product- impressive to see a non-technical founder with so much hustle will her idea into existence.
1
Thank you Gerald, it was a very eye opening experience and I take my hat off to you - working in tech is much harder than I ever thought!
1
Wonderful! Is there a link for Ella Varco? Is it spelt right?
1
Hey Kirsten, hmm you’re right not quite. Elevacao.org
1
Thanks Christy. I loved your story!
1
Instantly my favorite episode.
1
Is this revenue number verified some how ?
1
The app is ranked in the top 1100 grossing apps of the world if you need anything tangible, would be silly of me to not tell the truth on something so public as this podcast 🙃
1
Great Interview and Christy seem like a great Founder.
I Wish Courtland Asked her about revenue split between Android and iOS during the interview. Wouldn't that be a good question for App Founders?
1
It’s definitely skewed much higher towards iOS!
1
Thank you for response. Congrats on your success. I am sure you will do even greater things in future with your Zeal and smarts.
Awesome interview and product. @csallen, I've noticed that a lot of podcast episodes never link to the product. Sometimes it's in the transcript, but that's annoying to dig through and isn't a real link. Can you add a link to the product in the podcast's description? I like to check out the product before listening.
Hello! You can find out more about Plann at www.plannthat.com
Thanks for your lovely comments!
Added a link!
nice
I really like the IH podcast in general, but this episode in particular resonated with me. A genuine bootstrapper with no connection to SF/YC/VC money.
Thanks for the great episode, Courtland. I'd love to see (hear?) more like this in the future!
I'd love to have more like this! Companies like Christy's aren't easy to find.
Someone should build a community where people like her can hang out and learn from each other!
I’ve got a few intros to make for you @csallen!
Two I can think of right now are Joshua, founder of Wild Zora who bootstrapped a food Ecom business and the Koplins — scientist husband wife team who built Costa Rico guide. Both are doing million+ arr.
That's awesome! Feel free to make intros whenever :-D I'm courtland@indiehackers.com
Here are three for you, then:
Paul House built My Food Data from barely being able to cover rent in Beijing in 2010 to a million uniques and 10k USD a month just from adsense. Then after moving to SF, it scaled much larger, moved to Google DFP and eventually became what it is now.
David Lancashire taught himself to code in Beijing as an English teacher, made a free annotation tool and database for readings and translations of Chinese phrases, built a profitable language learning site (Popup Chinese, built a two-sided marketplace on the WeChat platform (WeSecretary) and is now building a VC-funded blockchain tech company (Saito).
John Pasden built AllSetLearning as a quasi-technical manager of tech teams and content producers into a premier provider of both in person Chinese language instruction in Shanghai and published resources.
None of the three bootstrapped with no connection to SF VC, all three were earning under 1k/month for a time in their 20s and none had technical skills when starting out (though David in particular became a formidable engineer).
This is not only a great startup story but a story of human determination to succeed. I love it!
Christy is SO nice and "human". I loved this episode.
Nawwww; thanks Pablo! Confirming I’m a real person hehe 🙃
Really great episode. Best I've listened to so far. Thanks a lot
Hey @csallen great interview. How do you record these. She's really crisp!
Awesome story! Especially knowing the service is built for the social network which still (what a shame) does not have API for publishing (except the private beta which is still barely available to few)
Absolutely! They denied my first attempt and now closed applications for BETA partners. Cannot wait until it’s open I’ve had to strip back the product slightly to accomodate.
However in saying that. There are many bugs in the new API and we get heaps of people coming to us for that reason.
Fingers crossed they sort themselves out soon!
Please provide a link to the product or company! Thanks!
Awesome interview. Even as former software engineer (now MD) I still get intimidated by the technical aspect of building a software product- impressive to see a non-technical founder with so much hustle will her idea into existence.
Thank you Gerald, it was a very eye opening experience and I take my hat off to you - working in tech is much harder than I ever thought!
Wonderful! Is there a link for Ella Varco? Is it spelt right?
Hey Kirsten, hmm you’re right not quite. Elevacao.org
Thanks Christy. I loved your story!
Instantly my favorite episode.
Is this revenue number verified some how ?
The app is ranked in the top 1100 grossing apps of the world if you need anything tangible, would be silly of me to not tell the truth on something so public as this podcast 🙃
Great Interview and Christy seem like a great Founder.
I Wish Courtland Asked her about revenue split between Android and iOS during the interview. Wouldn't that be a good question for App Founders?
It’s definitely skewed much higher towards iOS!
Thank you for response. Congrats on your success. I am sure you will do even greater things in future with your Zeal and smarts.
Is it 70/30 or even higher than that?
Higher!
Thank you Christy.