n this episode of the Scale Up Valley podcast, Aytekin Tank, founder and CEO of JotForm, shares his incredible journey of building a successful bootstrapped company from the ground up. Over 18 years, JotForm has grown from a solo venture to a team of 700 employees, all while adhering to two fundamental rules that prioritize sustainable growth. Aytekin discusses the complexities of scaling a business, the importance of cross-functional teams, and how to maintain a focus on priorities amidst rapid growth. He emphasizes the significance of leadership development and the balance between reinvesting in the business and managing expenses. In this conversation, Aytekin Tank shares his insights on leadership, team management, and the evolution of JotForm. He emphasizes the importance of empowering teams with independence while maintaining oversight through regular reviews. Aytekin discusses his journey of delegation and automation to focus on product development, transitioning from a CEO to a founder mindset, and identifying key opportunities and bottlenecks for growth. He highlights the shift from customer acquisition to retention and the challenges of building a successful sales team, ultimately sharing valuable lessons learned about prioritization and focus. Takeaways Aytekin Tank bootstrapped JotForm to 700 employees over 18 years. He emphasizes the importance of having one year of salaries in reserve before hiring. Slow growth allows for better management and learning. Maintaining a 25% gross margin is crucial for sustainability. The complexity of managing a larger team increases as the company grows. Cross-functional teams enhance creativity and productivity. Independence within teams fosters innovation and decision-making. Leadership development is essential for scaling successfully. Prioritizing tasks is key to avoiding bureaucracy and inefficiency. Aytekin is currently focused on developing an AI product for JotForm. Empowering teams with independence fosters creativity and innovation. Regular reviews help align team efforts with company priorities. Delegation and automation are crucial for focusing on product development. Transitioning from a CEO to a founder mindset can reignite passion for work. Identifying the biggest opportunities and bottlenecks is essential for growth. The shift from customer acquisition to retention is vital for scaling. Building a successful sales team requires patience and the right hires. Learning from past mistakes is key to improving leadership skills. Prioritization is critical in addressing the most impactful challenges. Finding the crux of problems leads to more effective solutions. titles Two Rules for Bootstrapping Success Maintaining Focus Amidst Rapid Growth Empowering Teams for Success The Art of Delegation in Leadership Sound Bites "From zero to 700 employees in 18 years." "I hate taking risks." "Slow growth is good." "Give the teams independence, give teams the creativity." "I automated many things about the way I processed emails." "I felt like I was this glorified administrator."