Shows
Practical Founders Podcast#171: Lessons from a 9-Year Bootstrap Journey to a Private Equity Exit - Dharshan RangegowdaDharshan Rangegowda, founder of ScaleGrid, left a decade-long engineering career at Microsoft to solve a painful database operations problem he had lived firsthand. After early missteps selling to enterprises, he shifted to helping developers manage MongoDB, Redis, and Postgres on the cloud, bootstrapping the business from scratch. ScaleGrid grew steadily through product depth, technical support, and Dharshan's mastery of SEO—becoming the top organic result for many key searches. The company expanded into multiple database engines, added a distributed engineering team, and reached 20 employees by 2021, serving both SMB developers and some enterprise teams. Dharshan sold a...
2025-11-211h 03
Startups For the Rest of UsEpisode 806 | Bootstrapping Missive to $8M ARR Over 10 YearsCan a small team really bootstrap to $8M ARR in a crowded SaaS market?
In this episode, Rob Walling chats with Philippe Lehoux about how he and his co-founders bootstrapped Missive, a collaborative email and team inbox tool. They deep dive into landing early customers, unique horizontal positioning, content-driven growth, enterprise sales, and how to compete with VC-backed competition.
Episode Sponsor:
Are you a non-technical founder with solid revenue and real traction, but your technology is holding you back? You should check out today's sponsor, Designli.
They specialize in helping founders l...
2025-11-1133 minPractical Founders Podcast#168: These Three Superpowers Set Practical SaaS Founders Apart - Greg HeadIn this episode, the founder of Practical Founders, Greg Head, shares the most powerful insights from over 165 podcast interviews and working with 40+ bootstrapped SaaS founders in his peer groups. Greg breaks down the common but less obvious traits he sees in practical founders who are quietly building valuable software companies without big VC funding. Greg shares how frugality and managed risk-taking coexist to create compounding steady growth, creating massive long-term value fpr practical founders. And independence and doing it your way are not just luxuries but real superpowers that fuel growth. These patterns have emerged across hundreds...
2025-10-3152 minStartups For the Rest of UsEpisode 802 | Marketing Not Scaling, Where to Publish Content, and More Listener Questions (A Rob Solo Adventure)Where’s the best place to publish if you’re starting content from scratch?
In this episode, Rob Walling flies solo, answering your questions on marketing and audience building. He covers what to do when your channels stop scaling, where to publish early on, and the "media company first" approach.
Episode Sponsor:
Are you a non-technical founder with solid revenue and real traction, but your technology is holding you back? You should check out today's sponsor, Designli.
They specialize in helping founders like you who are stuck with messy code, unclear road...
2025-10-1432 minPractical Founders Podcast#165: How to Enjoy Being the CEO as Your SaaS Business Grows Bigger - Brett GillilandBrett Gilliland, founder of Elite Entrepreneurs, joins Greg to discuss how they help ambitious founders navigate the tough leadership journey from $1M to $10M in revenue. Brett shares how co-creating a clear, practical Purpose, Values, and Mission form the foundation of scalable organizations. He explains why moving from founder-led chaos to aligned leadership teams is the critical step that separates $1M experiments from $10M companies. With clear meeting rhythms, disciplined execution, and strong hiring practices, Elite Entrepreneurs has helped hundreds of founders become happy CEOs and build companies that run without constant founder involvement. Brett...
2025-10-101h 01Practical Founders Podcast#162: Practical Investor - What's Working Now in AI-Driven SaaS Growth - Dave YuanDave Yuan is the founder of Tidemark, an active growth equity investor focusing on vertical SaaS companies with outsized advantages that can become "control points" in their markets and grow very big. Dave and Tidemark have invested in successful vertical software companies like Toast, ServiceTitan, Jane, and CCC. Tidemark hosts its annual VSaaS Collective Live Event, featuring experienced speakers for hundreds of vertical SaaS founders, on November 5, 2025. In this episode, we discuss the practical opportunities and risks of AI as it is currently developing in 2025 for vertical SaaS companies. Dave explains several powerful examples of...
2025-09-191h 00
Fully ManagedOutbound Sales & Marketing: Data, Personalization & ConsistencyHere are three things you’ll learn in this episode: 1. Leveraging Diverse Experiences for Sales and Marketing Success: Carlos highlights how his varied professional background, including asset underwriting and performing as a pianist, has equipped him with unique skills for sales. He emphasizes the importance of reading people, thinking on your feet, adapting, and maintaining a human touch in interactions—all learned from his experience in a piano bar—as crucial elements for building trust and connection with clients. 2. Data-Driven Personalization and the Role of AI in Sales: Designly's outbound sales strategy...
2025-06-1132 min
Founderville.vcDesignliKeith and Josh, founders of Designli, discuss their founding journey and why they decided to bootstrap and bypass outside capital. We are experienced founders backing the next generation of founders.
Learn more at founderville.vc
2025-01-2933 min
The Founder FactorEpisode 16 - Stop Guarding the Door: Goeff Wasserman, CEO and Founder of The Brand Leader"We will never sacrifice a person for a dollar." Geoff Wasserman has lived by these words at The Brand Leader for over 24 years. In today's episode, Geoff shares his biggest inside tip to being a sucessful leader: stop guarding the door. For Geoff, this meant being financially tranparent with his staff and giving them permission to make mistakes, change roles, and leave when they are ready. Improving quality of life for a diverse staff community at work ultimately contributed to The Brand Leader's long standing success.
2023-07-0552 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 15 - Relinquishing Control and Leading with Intentionality: Marty Osborn, Managing Director of AccentureLove and business aren't often mentioned in the same sentence. In this episode, Marty Osborn breaks down this stereotype, expressing the love he has for his employees, customers, and company. He reveals that cultivating a caring and considerate culture in the workplace is what ultimately drove the financial sucess of his businesses. In this episode, discover how stepping up as a successful, entrepreneurial leader means understanding who your employees are as individuals, and relinquishing control to let them grow.
2023-06-0739 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 14 - Staying Centered Throughout Change: Brandy Amidon, Co-President of Brains on FireSome people are destined for jobs they never expected to have. With an accounting background, Brandy Amidon never thought she would be a co-president of a creative agency. But year after year, as the company grew, her skillset was just what it needed to adapt to an ever changing market. Amidon discusses her opinion on what being a leader means, how to stay calm and focused during times of change, and how to rely on others to make the whole team better.
2023-05-0330 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 13 - Selling Services instead of Products: Designli Founders Keith Shields & Josh TuckerMany people unconsciously think about startups as a company selling a product... but what if you are selling your time and knowledge? Scaling a service company looks different than commodifying a product. Josh Tucker & Keith Shields of Designli chat through the pros, cons, and paths to growth they experienced while growing their software development business.
2023-04-0540 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 14 - Staying Centered Throughout Change: Brandy Amidon, Co-President of Brains on FireSome people are destined for jobs they never expected to have. With an accounting background, Brandy Amidon never thought she would be a co-president of a creative agency. But year after year, as the company grew, her skillset was just what it needed to adapt to an ever changing market. Amidon discusses her opinion on what being a leader means, how to stay calm and focused during times of change, and how to rely on others to make the whole team better.
2023-04-0330 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 12 - From Neuroscience, to UX, to Entrepreneurship: Caroline Jennings, Founder of Word of WebIn this special episode, you get to learn more about your host, Caroline Jennings. Having studied psychology and neuroscience in school, Caroline never dreamed of starting her own business. But when her web design hobby grew into something bigger, she decided to embrace the entrepreneurial path and launch her business full-time. Discover Caroline's journey with Word of Web – and her successes, challenges, and learnings along the way.
2023-03-0129 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 11 - Professional Cyclist to Entrepreneur: Nicole Johnson, Co-Founder of Boyd CyclingWhen Nicole Johnson and her husband co-founded Boyd Cycling back in 2009, they had no idea it would become as successful as it is today. In this episode, Nicole dives into the importance of leveraging your network, the art of creating a work environment that people enjoy, and the resilience required to navigate big business challenges.
2023-02-0123 min
South Carolina Business ReviewMobile app vs web appNot too long ago, most companies wanted a mobile app for their business. But today, the mobile app vs web app choice is not always a clear decision. If you survey startup founders, you will hear strong opinions on either side. The reason for the disparity is that the answer really depends on your business and the nature of your app. Joining us today to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both choices is Katie Iannace, a business analyst with Designli in Greenville, SC.
2023-01-2705 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 10 - You Can't Learn to Drive from a Parked Car: Didi Caldwell, President and Founder at GLSIn 2008, Didi Caldwell decided to make an offer to buy out the financial firm she had been working for. To her shock, amazement, and horror, they accepted her offer – and that's how Global Location Strategies was born. In this episode, Didi discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy balance of optimism and delusion and working hard to mitigate risk without being paralyzed by fear. In addition, she explains her team's journey to creating a technology business – Global Location Technologies – to complement their core consulting business.
2023-01-0424 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 9 - Breaking the Mold: Kenzie Biggins, Visionary and Founder/CEO at WorxBeeKenzie Biggins and her business, WorxBee, are living proof that not every company has to be a tech company to be successful and scale. In this episode, Kenzie shares her experiences with raising money as a services business and navigating the double standards she's faced as a black female founder. Additionally, she opens up about learning to leverage her dyslexia as a superpower and getting comfortable sitting in discomfort.
2022-12-0729 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 8 - Finding the Right Kind of Support: Peter Micali, Startup Success Program Manager at NEXTHaving worked with dozens of entrepreneurs throughout his career, Peter Micali has seen all of the peaks and valleys they experience. He even felt a few of them himself as the co-founder of a nutrition company in Boston. In today's episode, Peter offers advice on some of the most common challenges entrepreneurs experience – like finding the right mentors, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning how to leverage your personal story.
2022-10-1225 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 7 - The Entrepreneurial Disease: Michael Mino, Entrepreneurial Ecosystem BuilderAs a serial entrepreneur, NEXT mentor, and Professor at Clemson's MBA program, Michael Mino knows a thing or two about entrepreneurship. Tune in to today's episode of The Founder Factor to hear Michael's perspective on when, if ever, to bring on a business partner, how to get started as a first-time entrepreneur (whether you have an idea or not), and deciding on what kind of business suits your lifestyle and stage of life.
2022-09-2129 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 6 - Building a Human-Based Business: Paige McPheely, Founder and CEO at BaseAs one of the few women in venture-backed tech, Paige McPheely has worked hard to figure out how to stay authentic to who she is and what she cares about while also 'playing the game' effectively. In today's episode, we dig into how Paige has built her remote executive assistant business, Base, in a way that prioritizes 'being human' first. Plus, she offers some tips on fundraising and how to weather a potential recession.
2022-08-3134 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 5 - No Ifs, Ands, or Buts: Scott Millwood, Founder at Yesflow and NEXTScott Millwood knows his way around entrepreneurship: from founding several companies of his own to mentoring up-and-coming entrepreneurs through NEXT. Join us as we dig into Scott's perspective on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and learn his tips on how to plug into South Carolina's entrepreneurial support network.
2022-08-1031 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 4 - Mastering the Science of Growth: Ryan Johnston and Ryan Heafy, Co-Founders of 6AM CityScale is always scary, but that's never stopped Ryan Johnston and Ryan Heafy, Co-Founders of 6AM City. The hyper-local media company expanded from 7 cities to 24 in just nine months, more than tripling the size of its team and subscriber base. In this episode of The Founder Factor, we dive into the growing pains of scaling, and how the Ryans have navigated each new obstacle and opportunity.
2022-07-2046 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 3 - Breaking the Mold: Lelia King, Executive Director at Build CarolinaFour years ago, Lelia King, Executive Director at Build Carolina, didn't even consider herself an entrepreneur because she didn't fit the typical mold. Now, she realizes there is no mold – and that's what makes entrepreneurship so exciting. In this episode, Lelia tells us about how she has learned to overcome Imposter Syndrome, navigate uncertainty, and give herself permission to go and try something new.
2022-06-2934 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 2 - Clarity Creates Confidence: Jenna Spencer, Founder and Visionary at AssistProIt wasn't until Jenna Spencer started taking time away from her virtual assistant company that the business really began to grow. Eight years and $5MM later, she still gives herself the rest and space she needs to guide AssistPro in the right direction. In this episode, we explore Jenna's approach to balancing work satisfaction with personal goals, and resisting the pressure to work around the clock.
2022-06-0620 minThe Founder FactorEpisode 1 - Zigging When Everybody's Zagging: Austin Jones, Co-Founder at Daedalus IndustrialYou don't hear about many entrepreneurs who were kicked out of college. But that's exactly what instilled Austin Jones, Co-Founder of Daedalus Industrial, with one of his biggest superpowers: being okay with failing big and knowing how to come back from it. In this episode, we explore Austin's unconventional path to success and learn how some pretty crazy risks made all the difference – in his life and his business.
2022-05-1826 minThe Founder FactorWelcome to The Founder FactorWelcome to The Founder Factor, where we’ll take you behind the scenes with South Carolina's most impactful entrepreneurs so that you can discover the strategies, ideas, and mindsets you need to unlock your next business breakthrough.
Brought to you by Designli (South Carolina's top-rated app development firm) and Word of Web (your partner in website strategy and design).
2022-05-0500 min
RE:SOURCEKeith Shields - Season 2, Episode 6In this episode I speak with Keith Shields, Co-Founder and CEO of Designli. Keith's entrepreneurial journey started at the early age of 10. I also have him do some freestyle beat box in this episode.... you’re welcome! Keith is a servant leader. Check out his Entrepreneurial Insights blog on his website (App Development & Software Tips - Designli Blog).About RE: SOURCE Podcast..... SOURCE stands for Serving Our Upstate Region Community Entrepreneurs. In each episode, Jeff Wilson...
2021-11-3028 min
What's Your Ask? with Stephanie SimsIntroduction to Psychological SecurityToday, I’m excited to talk to Zachary Eikenberry, a CoFounder, Director and CEO of Hook Security, which uses Psychological Security, or PsySec™, to teach employees how to spot and avoid phishing attacks and create a healthy security-aware culture company wide. Before Hook, Zach was a Founder and the CEO of The NEXT Schools in Greenville, SC. These schools provided entrepreneurial experiences for over 900 students between 2 high schools and a middle school. Zach has over 14 years of startup experience since graduating from Purdue University with degrees in Philosophy and Economics, including the successful launch of a Saa...
2021-06-0235 min
Invest LocalEp. 25 Greenville, SC: How Designli Is Bringing Certainty And Transparency To App DevelopmentNarrowing in on a nicheStaying true to course (in terms of goals)App development shop talkHow Greenville is the right community for DesignliAnd more!
2020-11-1126 min
A TABLE AT THE BACKS3. E4. - Ethics in product design and UX writingEthics in product design and UX writing.
It's a pretty heavy topic today pals. But we make it fun ;)
We're talking:
- the addictiveness of apps
- moral dilemmas with projects or companies we’ve worked for and with
- where does the responsibility lie?
- how we do things a little differently now that we have more experience under our belts
- why traditional influence techniques are great to know, but it's how you use them
Here are our recommendations:
• How tech hijacks people's minds (the list we run through by Tristan Harris, design ethicist): https://medium.com/thrive-global/how-te...
2020-03-1157 min
The Businessology ShowBuilding a Software Development Business with Keith Shields of DesignliJason Blumer and Keith Shields discuss a number of topics including:how Designli is able to build custom apps with fixed pricingwhy customer education is so important from the beginning of the relationshipDesignli's modular approachthe two types of clients Designli serveswhy Keith believes the freelance model breaks down quicklywhy hiring the right people is so important in a service based company
2017-12-1336 min
The Businessology ShowBuilding a Software Development Business with Keith Shields of DesignliJason Blumer and Keith Shields discuss a number of topics including:how Designli is able to build custom apps with fixed pricingwhy customer education is so important from the beginning of the relationshipDesignli's modular approachthe two types of clients Designli serveswhy Keith believes the freelance model breaks down quicklywhy hiring the right people is so important in a service based company
2017-12-1336 min
UCYP: Uphill Conversations Young Professionals6: YP Perspective – Agility, Flexibility and Looking AheadFounders of DesignLi, Keith Shields and Joshua Tucker, join us for a conversation on agility and flexibility as young professional entrepreneurs and leaders.
Show Notes:
What led them to change directions from education to app development
Value of strong relationship in launching and leading a business
“Fair” is relative – life is what you make of it and everyone adds own individual perspectives and values
Importance of constantly improving yourself and learning through failure
Challenges of young entrepreneurs and leaders
Evolution and shifts in starting a business
Stereotypes around age in the digital industry and working across genera...
2017-07-2649 min