In this conversation, the founder and COO of FishingBooker, Vukan and Dino, share their journey of building a successful international startup in the fishing tourism industry. They discuss the challenges of bootstrapping, the importance of sustainable growth, and their marketing and sales strategies. The conversation also delves into the complexities of managing a two-sided marketplace, learning from mistakes, and balancing user feedback with business goals. They also shared news about launching a new business - Boat Booker.

Takeaways

• Investors should provide money and step back.
• Bootstrapping can lead to sustainable growth.
• User feedback should be balanced with business goals.
• Not all user feedback is valuable; know your audience. User feedback is crucial for understanding edge cases.
• Sales strategies should focus on creating urgency and clarity.
• Startups should prioritize customer acquisition over retention in early stages.
• Failing fast allows startups to learn and adapt quickly.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Fishing Booker
03:05 The Journey of Building a Startup
05:59 Bootstrapping and Sustainable Growth
08:46 Marketing and Sales Strategies
12:08 Navigating Challenges in a Two-Sided Marketplace
15:09 Learning from Mistakes and User Feedback
17:54 Balancing User Feedback with Business Goals
20:50 The Importance of Persistence and Adaptability
38:32 Understanding User Feedback and Edge Cases
43:15 Sales Strategies and Entrepreneurial Mindset
48:18 The Importance of Complementary Skills in Founding
53:37 Navigating Co-Founder Relationships and Equity
56:02 Launching New Ventures: Lessons from Experience
01:01:09 Marketing and Sales Approaches in Established Businesses
01:07:23 The Balance Between Strategy and Tactics in Startups