Reading List
The most recent articles from a list of feeds I subscribe to.
TinyPilot: Month 19
Highlights
- I published my fourth annual retrospective about being a bootstrapped founder.
- TinyPilot sales continue running strong despite a delay in launching our next product.
- I analyze how I’m spending my time and figure out ways to allocate my hours better.
Goal grades
At the start of each month, I declare what I’d like to accomplish. Here’s how I did against those goals:
Launch Voyager 2: PoE Edition
- Result: Delayed the launch a few weeks due to a manufacturing issue
- Grade: D
I had to delay the launch because we discovered that the first manufactured batch of PoE hardware is behaving differently than our prototypes. We should be able to fix the boards, but it’s going to take a few weeks.
My Fourth Year as a Bootstrapped Founder
Four years ago, I quit my job as a developer at Google to create my own self-funded software company.
For the first few years, all of my businesses flopped. They all operated at a loss, and none of them earned more than a few hundred dollars per month in revenue.
Halfway through my third year, I created a network administration device called TinyPilot. It quickly caught on, and it’s been my main focus ever since. TinyPilot generated $460k in 2021, its first full year in operation.
My Fourth Year as a Bootstrapped Founder
Four years ago, I quit my job as a developer at Google to create my own self-funded software company.
For the first few years, all of my businesses flopped. They all operated at a loss, and none of them earned more than a few hundred dollars per month in revenue.
Halfway through my third year, I created a network administration device called TinyPilot. It quickly caught on, and it’s been my main focus ever since. TinyPilot generated $460k in 2021, its first full year in operation.
TinyPilot: Month 18
Highlights
- I’ve launched a new TinyPilot product and debuted a new logo.
- TinyPilot’s revenue finished the year strong at $55k for December.
- I’ve learned to manage design projects more aggressively.
Goal grades
At the start of each month, I declare what I’d like to accomplish. Here’s how I did against those goals:
Launch the Voyager 2
- Result: Launched the Voyager 2
- Grade: A
After many months of hard work, I finally launched the Voyager 2 last month.
TinyPilot: Month 17
Highlights
- TinyPilot’s sales jumped to $57k, and it might be sustainable.
- I’m just about to launch TinyPilot’s new product and branding.
- I reduced Google Cloud Platform fees by 90% on my side projects.
Goal grades
At the start of each month, I declare what I’d like to accomplish. Here’s how I did against those goals:
Complete TinyPilot’s website rebrand
- Result: The rebrand is 95% done, but we haven’t published it yet.
- Grade: B
I’ve finalized a logo concept and color scheme with the design firm, but we’re still working out some fine details before we pull the trigger on the new branding.