The original podcast for bootstrapped and mostly bootstrapped startups, this show follow the stories of founders as they start, acquire, and grow SaaS companies. Hear when they fail, struggle, succeed, and take you with them through the tumultuous life of a SaaS founder. If you like Mixergy, This Week in Startups, or SaaStr, you’ll enjoy Startup for the Rest of Us.
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The original podcast for bootstrapped and mostly bootstrapped startups, this show follow the stories of founders as they start, acquire, and grow SaaS companies. Hear when they fail, struggle, succeed, and take you with them through the tumultuous life of a SaaS founder. If you like Mixergy, This Week in Startups, or SaaStr, you’ll enjoy Startup for the Rest of Us.
Episode 800 | The 12 Commandments of Startups for the Rest of Us
Startups For the Rest of Us
37 minutes 11 seconds
3 days ago
Episode 800 | The 12 Commandments of Startups for the Rest of Us
What if you could get all 15 years of this podcast bundled up into one episode?
In episode 800, Rob Walling goes solo for a special milestone installment of Startups For the Rest of Us. He covers the 12 foundational commandments that shape his approach to SaaS, hard-won lessons forged from years of building, investing in, and advising startups.
Topics we cover:
(3:46) – #1: Nuance beats absolutes
(6:52) – #2: Make hard decisions with incomplete information
(9:16) – #3: Avoid the classic traps
(12:22) – #4: Don't build without real evidence
(15:14) – #5: Marketing beats product
(19:08) – #6: Fewer customers, better customers
(21:01) – #7: Respect (and fear) the platform
(24:04) – #8: Build your network, not just your audience
(26:30) – #9: Overnight success takes a decade
(28:45) – #10: Stack small wins
(31:22) – #11: Be careful who you listen to
(33:15) – #12: The hardest battles are in your own head
Links from the Show:
MicroConf US 2026 - Portland, Oregon - Use Promo Code ROB50 for $50 off.
Invest in TinySeed Fund Three
SaaS Playbook
The Entrepreneur's Guide to Keeping Your Sh*t Together
Exit Strategy
Episode 685 | 7 Things You Should Never Do
Episode 700 | Playing the Long Game
Episode 735 | The 8 Levels of SaaS Platform Risk
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!
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Startups For the Rest of Us
The original podcast for bootstrapped and mostly bootstrapped startups, this show follow the stories of founders as they start, acquire, and grow SaaS companies. Hear when they fail, struggle, succeed, and take you with them through the tumultuous life of a SaaS founder. If you like Mixergy, This Week in Startups, or SaaStr, you’ll enjoy Startup for the Rest of Us.
