Ask IH: Do I still qualify as an indie hacker if we've raised $$ and taken part in an accelerator?
This question's been hovering in my head for a while now.
Since 2017, I've been an indie hacker. Learning to code, building a mobile app while working as a PM in the Bay Area, to eventually having a profitable, bootstrapped business.
Now my second startup's backed by YC and we've raised a seed round on SAFE. Technically, we haven't raised a price round. There's no board (other than myself as the solo founder). We do have employees but many of them are contractors and 100% of us working remotely.
So, can I still call myself an indie hacker? Do I still qualify?
Absolutely not. You're in YC.
I'd say no, if you have employees and investors you're probably not an indie hacker. Doesn't mean you can't hang out here though!
What's SAFE?
I think @csallen wrote a post recently about how they'd like the indiehackers community to consider all types of entrepreneur, and not be limited to bootstrappers - but I can't find it! Maybe he will share the link for you :)