The Story of How Squadcast.fm Blew Past $100K MRR - Zach Moreno and Rock Felder - MicroConf Remote

[Music] [Music] our next keynote our next keynote our next keynote is from the co-founders of squadcast is from the co-founders of squadcast is from the co-founders of squadcast squadcast.fm is podcast it's remote squadcast.fm is podcast it's remote squadcast.fm is podcast it's remote podcast recording software so you log podcast recording software so you log podcast recording software so you log into a web browser into a web browser into a web browser you send a link to a guest up to three you send a link to a guest up to three you send a link to a guest up to three guests and you can all guests and you can all guests and you can all just get in and instantly record local just get in and instantly record local just get in and instantly record local audio audio audio super high quality it's what i use to super high quality it's what i use to super high quality it's what i use to record all three of my podcasts record all three of my podcasts record all three of my podcasts so zach moreno and rock felder they've so zach moreno and rock felder they've so zach moreno and rock felder they've been friends for most of their lives and been friends for most of their lives and been friends for most of their lives and they're lucky to have maintained that they're lucky to have maintained that they're lucky to have maintained that friendship friendship friendship as they built squad cast into a company as they built squad cast into a company as they built squad cast into a company that has blown past that has blown past that has blown past 100k mrr they've blown past that mark in 100k mrr they've blown past that mark in 100k mrr they've blown past that mark in the past year the past year the past year with that let's welcome rock and zach to with that let's welcome rock and zach to with that let's welcome rock and zach to the show thank you gentlemen so much the show thank you gentlemen so much the show thank you gentlemen so much hi thanks rob can you hear us guys yep can you hear us guys yep all right well hello to our friends of all right well hello to our friends of all right well hello to our friends of microcom thank you all for your time microcom thank you all for your time microcom thank you all for your time today today today we're super excited maybe even a little we're super excited maybe even a little we're super excited maybe even a little nervous about sharing our story with you nervous about sharing our story with you nervous about sharing our story with you on how we blew past 100k mrr just a on how we blew past 100k mrr just a on how we blew past 100k mrr just a warning warning warning uh it happened a little bit different uh it happened a little bit different uh it happened a little bit different than we expected and we think it can for than we expected and we think it can for than we expected and we think it can for you too you too you too uh before we do get started with uh the uh before we do get started with uh the uh before we do get started with uh the presentation though we would like to presentation though we would like to presentation though we would like to introduce ourselves so zach say hi and introduce ourselves so zach say hi and introduce ourselves so zach say hi and uh tell them a little something about uh tell them a little something about uh tell them a little something about what you do at squad cast yeah hey what you do at squad cast yeah hey what you do at squad cast yeah hey everyone i'm the co-founder and ceo of everyone i'm the co-founder and ceo of everyone i'm the co-founder and ceo of squad cast with my good friend rock squad cast with my good friend rock squad cast with my good friend rock yeah and i'm rock and i'm the co-founder yeah and i'm rock and i'm the co-founder yeah and i'm rock and i'm the co-founder and cfo so kind of handle and cfo so kind of handle and cfo so kind of handle uh more of the business sales side of uh more of the business sales side of uh more of the business sales side of things okay things okay things okay so a little bit about our back story

so a little bit about our back story so a little bit about our back story we're we're we're long-time friends as we shared and we long-time friends as we shared and we long-time friends as we shared and we are are are avid podcast listeners rock actually avid podcast listeners rock actually avid podcast listeners rock actually introduced me introduced me introduced me to podcasts and i've always loved to podcasts and i've always loved to podcasts and i've always loved listening because we have listening because we have listening because we have we have a love for for learning new we have a love for for learning new we have a love for for learning new things and podcasts are a fantastic way things and podcasts are a fantastic way things and podcasts are a fantastic way to go to go to go really deep into a niche topic uh very really deep into a niche topic uh very really deep into a niche topic uh very quickly quickly quickly and um from there we decided to make the and um from there we decided to make the and um from there we decided to make the the transition over the course of a the transition over the course of a the transition over the course of a couple years later decided to make the couple years later decided to make the couple years later decided to make the jump from being a jump from being a jump from being a passive listener to a lot of podcasts passive listener to a lot of podcasts passive listener to a lot of podcasts and really and really and really make the jump into being an active make the jump into being an active make the jump into being an active creator and participate in making our creator and participate in making our creator and participate in making our own show own show own show we wanted to do a science fiction audio we wanted to do a science fiction audio we wanted to do a science fiction audio drama drama drama so um that's a relatively new category so um that's a relatively new category so um that's a relatively new category within podcasting within podcasting within podcasting and uh just fell in love with that right and uh just fell in love with that right and uh just fell in love with that right away so uh away so uh away so uh once we started that journey we had a we once we started that journey we had a we once we started that journey we had a we had a constraint had a constraint had a constraint of being a remote team and um of being a remote team and um of being a remote team and um you know like like we are today so uh we you know like like we are today so uh we you know like like we are today so uh we we didn't want to sacrifice the we didn't want to sacrifice the we didn't want to sacrifice the the audio quality of our production uh the audio quality of our production uh the audio quality of our production uh with with with uh with that constraint of having a uh with that constraint of having a uh with that constraint of having a remote producer and remote producer and remote producer and voice actors and um authors and all of voice actors and um authors and all of voice actors and um authors and all of those things we we needed to have high those things we we needed to have high those things we we needed to have high quality production quality production quality production while having a distributed team to have while having a distributed team to have while having a distributed team to have any kind of regular cadence which is any kind of regular cadence which is any kind of regular cadence which is super important to podcast super important to podcast super important to podcast audience growth so we we found that audience growth so we we found that audience growth so we we found that problem of of audio quality problem of of audio quality problem of of audio quality wasn't really there with the state of wasn't really there with the state of wasn't really there with the state of the art in in the the art in in the the art in in the industry and really saw that as a industry and really saw that as a industry and really saw that as a as a challenge kind of accepted that

as a challenge kind of accepted that as a challenge kind of accepted that challenge and pivoted then challenge and pivoted then challenge and pivoted then from doing this sci-fi audio drama from doing this sci-fi audio drama from doing this sci-fi audio drama podcast podcast podcast to uh to a sas startup which uh which is to uh to a sas startup which uh which is to uh to a sas startup which uh which is a first for us a first for us a first for us so what we do like rob shared we help so what we do like rob shared we help so what we do like rob shared we help professional podcasters record professional podcasters record professional podcasters record remote interviews in studio quality remote interviews in studio quality remote interviews in studio quality so we help with recording thousands of so we help with recording thousands of so we help with recording thousands of hours each month hours each month hours each month in over 120 countries around the world in over 120 countries around the world in over 120 countries around the world and uh in the graphic you can see there and uh in the graphic you can see there and uh in the graphic you can see there on the right on the right on the right the uh up clicker the uh up clicker the uh up clicker ah there we go sorry about that ah there we go sorry about that ah there we go sorry about that cool there we go that's the graphic all cool there we go that's the graphic all cool there we go that's the graphic all right so right so right so um we help podcasters we do it a lot and um we help podcasters we do it a lot and um we help podcasters we do it a lot and um um um and that ux is uh very similar to other and that ux is uh very similar to other and that ux is uh very similar to other video apps and conferencing apps that video apps and conferencing apps that video apps and conferencing apps that you may have used except you may have used except you may have used except that we record studio quality audio um that we record studio quality audio um that we record studio quality audio um and we have two patents pending on our and we have two patents pending on our and we have two patents pending on our technology solutions for technology solutions for technology solutions for how we empower that style of recording how we empower that style of recording how we empower that style of recording and and and we've been bootstrapped and working on we've been bootstrapped and working on we've been bootstrapped and working on this for around four years now all right and uh on this next slide all right and uh on this next slide you'll see some of the companies that you'll see some of the companies that you'll see some of the companies that we're honored to work with but we also we're honored to work with but we also we're honored to work with but we also get to work with get to work with get to work with a lot of amazing podcasters like pat a lot of amazing podcasters like pat a lot of amazing podcasters like pat flynn flynn flynn kara swisher people at the spotify kara swisher people at the spotify kara swisher people at the spotify gimlet teams and so many of those other gimlet teams and so many of those other gimlet teams and so many of those other companies that you see companies that you see companies that you see oh excuse me and the great rob walling oh excuse me and the great rob walling oh excuse me and the great rob walling too like he mentioned so it's truly an

too like he mentioned so it's truly an too like he mentioned so it's truly an honor honor honor yeah it's truly an honor to help that yeah it's truly an honor to help that yeah it's truly an honor to help that and so many other podcasters and so many other podcasters and so many other podcasters in various uh places in their journey in various uh places in their journey in various uh places in their journey whether they're just starting off whether they're just starting off whether they're just starting off or they're uh you know a pro working for or they're uh you know a pro working for or they're uh you know a pro working for a big corporation a big corporation a big corporation uh and these creatives really define the uh and these creatives really define the uh and these creatives really define the standard for audio quality in our standard for audio quality in our standard for audio quality in our industry industry industry and will really help them to achieve it and will really help them to achieve it and will really help them to achieve it at scale all right but because we have such deep all right but because we have such deep respect respect respect for the work that you all are doing we for the work that you all are doing we for the work that you all are doing we need to be real with our fellow need to be real with our fellow need to be real with our fellow bootstrappers bootstrappers bootstrappers it honestly felt like it took forever it honestly felt like it took forever it honestly felt like it took forever for us to reach 10k mrr for us to reach 10k mrr for us to reach 10k mrr and um that wasn't very long ago yeah so um we've never done any of this yeah so um we've never done any of this before before before and like rock said we respect all of you and like rock said we respect all of you and like rock said we respect all of you for going on on a similar journey for going on on a similar journey for going on on a similar journey and our founding team have all had day and our founding team have all had day and our founding team have all had day jobs for jobs for jobs for for years into this experience together for years into this experience together for years into this experience together and uh and when we finally did reach 10k and uh and when we finally did reach 10k and uh and when we finally did reach 10k mrr mrr mrr um 100k just seemed like um 100k just seemed like um 100k just seemed like light years in the future from that light years in the future from that light years in the future from that and uh rock and i finally started paying and uh rock and i finally started paying and uh rock and i finally started paying ourselves in ourselves in ourselves in january of this year so still 2020 january of this year so still 2020 january of this year so still 2020 even though it has been kind of a even though it has been kind of a even though it has been kind of a dumpster fire in lots of ways uh dumpster fire in lots of ways uh dumpster fire in lots of ways uh that was a big milestone for us uh so we that was a big milestone for us uh so we that was a big milestone for us uh so we suspect that uh this may sound familiar suspect that uh this may sound familiar suspect that uh this may sound familiar to the to the journey that you're on to the to the journey that you're on to the to the journey that you're on all right so we're going to go back all right so we're going to go back all right so we're going to go back about a year when we did finally reach

about a year when we did finally reach about a year when we did finally reach that 10k that 10k that 10k mrr um milestone and you remember how mrr um milestone and you remember how mrr um milestone and you remember how good that felt man like how good that felt man like how good that felt man like how i mean we felt like we made it we felt i mean we felt like we made it we felt i mean we felt like we made it we felt like we were balling and we weren't like we were balling and we weren't like we were balling and we weren't paying ourselves we were paying ourselves we were paying ourselves we were still operating on pretty minimal still operating on pretty minimal still operating on pretty minimal resources but resources but resources but it was a big moment yeah it felt like it it was a big moment yeah it felt like it it was a big moment yeah it felt like it it took forever uh to get there and then it took forever uh to get there and then it took forever uh to get there and then lots of tweaks and listening and lots of tweaks and listening and lots of tweaks and listening and conversations conversations conversations uh to even have a shot at doing that and uh to even have a shot at doing that and uh to even have a shot at doing that and yeah that that was a huge milestone for yeah that that was a huge milestone for yeah that that was a huge milestone for us so us so us so and it started to feel validating and it started to feel validating and it started to feel validating because like more uh because like more uh because like more uh other companies entrepreneurs fellow other companies entrepreneurs fellow other companies entrepreneurs fellow founders that we talked to like founders that we talked to like founders that we talked to like it was like oh okay 10k like you know it was like oh okay 10k like you know it was like oh okay 10k like you know good job boys finally good job boys finally good job boys finally yeah later felt like we were clawing our yeah later felt like we were clawing our yeah later felt like we were clawing our ways there ways there ways there on our way there so uh fast forward to on our way there so uh fast forward to on our way there so uh fast forward to uh about a year uh about a year uh about a year so a year later may 2020 we hit so a year later may 2020 we hit so a year later may 2020 we hit 100k mrr and uh so much has changed and 100k mrr and uh so much has changed and 100k mrr and uh so much has changed and and continues to evolve and i think and continues to evolve and i think and continues to evolve and i think that's what's really fun about the that's what's really fun about the that's what's really fun about the journey is journey is journey is is how things have changed and evolved is how things have changed and evolved is how things have changed and evolved and we're going to walk you through some and we're going to walk you through some and we're going to walk you through some of the main reasons why we think we of the main reasons why we think we of the main reasons why we think we reach this reach this reach this point and yeah just go over how it point and yeah just go over how it point and yeah just go over how it happened all right so after all right so after lots of reflection and kind of soul lots of reflection and kind of soul lots of reflection and kind of soul searching and searching and searching and really trying to unpack that that really trying to unpack that that really trying to unpack that that journey uh journey uh journey uh which we do as a practice kind of which we do as a practice kind of which we do as a practice kind of ongoing but ongoing but ongoing but but this opportunity uh to speak with

but this opportunity uh to speak with but this opportunity uh to speak with you today really uh was it was a great you today really uh was it was a great you today really uh was it was a great forcing function to look at this more forcing function to look at this more forcing function to look at this more deeply deeply deeply and that's really where we we uh and that's really where we we uh and that's really where we we uh realized that our story of realized that our story of realized that our story of this rapid growth really arcs across this rapid growth really arcs across this rapid growth really arcs across these three chapters of focus these three chapters of focus these three chapters of focus reputation and the final chapter reputation and the final chapter reputation and the final chapter um the final chapter we're going to keep um the final chapter we're going to keep um the final chapter we're going to keep as a surprise so we'll keep you in as a surprise so we'll keep you in as a surprise so we'll keep you in suspense temporarily on that but uh suspense temporarily on that but uh suspense temporarily on that but uh stick with us stick with us stick with us it'll be it'll be worth your while yeah it'll be it'll be worth your while yeah it'll be it'll be worth your while yeah hopefully our marketing folks out there hopefully our marketing folks out there hopefully our marketing folks out there can appreciate the can appreciate the can appreciate the uh mystique tactic so the first one uh focus so to be quite so the first one uh focus so to be quite candid the candid the candid the original vision for squad cast was more original vision for squad cast was more original vision for squad cast was more or less pretty similar to to what it is or less pretty similar to to what it is or less pretty similar to to what it is today today today however it was a bit inflated we were however it was a bit inflated we were however it was a bit inflated we were kind of trying to do kind of trying to do kind of trying to do a little too much to be honest a little too much to be honest a little too much to be honest thankfully we're really fortunate to get thankfully we're really fortunate to get thankfully we're really fortunate to get great advice from great advice from great advice from uh our advisors uh our customers uh our advisors uh our customers uh our advisors uh our customers and really what they told us was we and really what they told us was we and really what they told us was we don't need you to be good at everything don't need you to be good at everything don't need you to be good at everything we need you to focus on this we need you to focus on this we need you to focus on this one thing and that is being experts at one thing and that is being experts at one thing and that is being experts at remote recording and really helping remote recording and really helping remote recording and really helping the industry and and the creators in the the industry and and the creators in the the industry and and the creators in the space really understand space really understand space really understand what that is like whether they're using what that is like whether they're using what that is like whether they're using squad cast or not there's a lot of squad cast or not there's a lot of squad cast or not there's a lot of opportunities for us to help and opportunities for us to help and opportunities for us to help and of course you know we think once we can of course you know we think once we can of course you know we think once we can build up that reputation that build up that reputation that build up that reputation that um you know that they'll come to us um you know that they'll come to us um you know that they'll come to us because we are the the experts when it because we are the the experts when it because we are the the experts when it comes to comes to comes to recording their content remotely so recording their content remotely so recording their content remotely so really what they really what they really what they guided us to understanding was that was

guided us to understanding was that was guided us to understanding was that was our role it wasn't intuitive our role it wasn't intuitive our role it wasn't intuitive to us at first but it was really about to us at first but it was really about to us at first but it was really about us really uh putting our flag in the us really uh putting our flag in the us really uh putting our flag in the ground as ground as ground as as establishing ourselves as experts so as establishing ourselves as experts so as establishing ourselves as experts so one of the state the sayings that's one of the state the sayings that's one of the state the sayings that's really really really stuck with me over the years is one that stuck with me over the years is one that stuck with me over the years is one that dan martell says which is dan martell says which is dan martell says which is startups typically died um not from startups typically died um not from startups typically died um not from indigestion but due to starvation or not indigestion but due to starvation or not indigestion but due to starvation or not from starvation but due to indigestion from starvation but due to indigestion from starvation but due to indigestion uh so it's too much ideas too much going uh so it's too much ideas too much going uh so it's too much ideas too much going on on on um not a lack of ideas which is kind of um not a lack of ideas which is kind of um not a lack of ideas which is kind of funny because at least at first when we funny because at least at first when we funny because at least at first when we were trying to were trying to were trying to you know start off squad cast or i know you know start off squad cast or i know you know start off squad cast or i know you and me separately were you and me separately were you and me separately were each trying to do something more each trying to do something more each trying to do something more entrepreneurial and independent it's entrepreneurial and independent it's entrepreneurial and independent it's like like like what's going to be that idea and it what's going to be that idea and it what's going to be that idea and it turns out that's turns out that's turns out that's not the hard part um yeah so not the hard part um yeah so not the hard part um yeah so in addition to that though we we also in addition to that though we we also in addition to that though we we also learned that we needed to focus not just learned that we needed to focus not just learned that we needed to focus not just on being experts in this on being experts in this on being experts in this particular niche of podcasting but also particular niche of podcasting but also particular niche of podcasting but also that we're we're sas founders we're that we're we're sas founders we're that we're we're sas founders we're bootstrap sas founders so bootstrap sas founders so bootstrap sas founders so really focusing on becoming really focusing on becoming really focusing on becoming professionals at professionals at professionals at being sas founders specifically being sas founders specifically being sas founders specifically bootstrap uh sas founders bootstrap uh sas founders bootstrap uh sas founders so we did that by learning from the so we did that by learning from the so we did that by learning from the greats and really greats and really greats and really not just take taking in that knowledge not just take taking in that knowledge not just take taking in that knowledge but like applying that knowledge like but like applying that knowledge like but like applying that knowledge like almost immediately one of the things almost immediately one of the things almost immediately one of the things that that that uh i don't know if you could call it a uh i don't know if you could call it a uh i don't know if you could call it a mantra or just a saying that we say a mantra or just a saying that we say a mantra or just a saying that we say a lot it's not ours so we're not trying to lot it's not ours so we're not trying to lot it's not ours so we're not trying to take it from anybody but it's called take it from anybody but it's called take it from anybody but it's called just in time learning that just in time learning that just in time learning that as things kind of come up during the as things kind of come up during the as things kind of come up during the founder entrepreneur journey founder entrepreneur journey founder entrepreneur journey you can't know everything but we got to you can't know everything but we got to you can't know everything but we got to get comfortable with at least learning get comfortable with at least learning get comfortable with at least learning on the fly and so

on the fly and so on the fly and so like understanding key topics like our like understanding key topics like our like understanding key topics like our unit economics unit economics unit economics like pricing i mean we wouldn't be in like pricing i mean we wouldn't be in like pricing i mean we wouldn't be in this position today this position today this position today if we hadn't really taken it upon if we hadn't really taken it upon if we hadn't really taken it upon ourselves to ourselves to ourselves to really learn about those things because really learn about those things because really learn about those things because pricing was one of those things that pricing was one of those things that pricing was one of those things that guys like rob walling are always telling guys like rob walling are always telling guys like rob walling are always telling you it's a big deal it's one of those you it's a big deal it's one of those you it's a big deal it's one of those levers that you levers that you levers that you can pull and truly transform uh can pull and truly transform uh can pull and truly transform uh transform the business transform the business transform the business and and it it did like our revenue went and and it it did like our revenue went and and it it did like our revenue went up as you can imagine but our churn went up as you can imagine but our churn went up as you can imagine but our churn went down it's it's down it's it's down it's it's exactly what they say another one is exactly what they say another one is exactly what they say another one is like kind of figuring out our customer like kind of figuring out our customer like kind of figuring out our customer support support support especially relative to the type of especially relative to the type of especially relative to the type of business model you have so our business model you have so our business model you have so our our business model is a little bit on our business model is a little bit on our business model is a little bit on the lower price side the lower price side the lower price side but we were delivering high-touch but we were delivering high-touch but we were delivering high-touch customer support which customer support which customer support which can't scale and that it was never can't scale and that it was never can't scale and that it was never designed to scale it was designed to designed to scale it was designed to designed to scale it was designed to build relationships but just build relationships but just build relationships but just understanding the whys understanding the whys understanding the whys and um and learning from it and again and um and learning from it and again and um and learning from it and again like like like learning from it is one thing but learning from it is one thing but learning from it is one thing but actually implementing it is way harder i actually implementing it is way harder i actually implementing it is way harder i mean how mean how mean how how difficult was it to not just figure how difficult was it to not just figure how difficult was it to not just figure out what our pricing was but actually out what our pricing was but actually out what our pricing was but actually put it into place put it into place put it into place but boy was it worth it right difficult but boy was it worth it right difficult but boy was it worth it right difficult yeah that's a good question one word yeah that's a good question one word yeah that's a good question one word and uh now as part of tiny seed uh we're and uh now as part of tiny seed uh we're and uh now as part of tiny seed uh we're seeing that have an impact uh again seeing that have an impact uh again seeing that have an impact uh again on the next iteration of our pricing but on the next iteration of our pricing but on the next iteration of our pricing but uh but with our peer companies uh but with our peer companies uh but with our peer companies that inspire us by by making these these that inspire us by by making these these that inspire us by by making these these uh improvements as well uh improvements as well uh improvements as well so uh so as founders like uh like all of so uh so as founders like uh like all of so uh so as founders like uh like all of you you you and and us uh we're a finite and and and us uh we're a finite and and and us uh we're a finite and valuable resource valuable resource valuable resource so please don't waste any of your time so please don't waste any of your time so please don't waste any of your time working on working on working on stuff something that doesn't matter um

stuff something that doesn't matter um stuff something that doesn't matter um but zach but zach but zach you might be saying how do we know what you might be saying how do we know what you might be saying how do we know what matters matters matters right that's over simplistic so much has right that's over simplistic so much has right that's over simplistic so much has been said been said been said about founders having extreme passion about founders having extreme passion about founders having extreme passion for the work that they're doing but um for the work that they're doing but um for the work that they're doing but um i i would challenge you there or submit i i would challenge you there or submit i i would challenge you there or submit that that that what what about your customers like do what what about your customers like do what what about your customers like do they have passion they have passion they have passion for the problem that you're working to for the problem that you're working to for the problem that you're working to solve for them solve for them solve for them if that's not the case then it probably if that's not the case then it probably if that's not the case then it probably doesn't matter that's probably doesn't matter that's probably doesn't matter that's probably a good indicator so uh the based camp a good indicator so uh the based camp a good indicator so uh the based camp team team team uh who we're big fans of uh coined the uh who we're big fans of uh coined the uh who we're big fans of uh coined the term jomo and uh term jomo and uh term jomo and uh we love that so uh as a result of we love that so uh as a result of we love that so uh as a result of intense focus intense focus intense focus uh one result i should say of intense uh one result i should say of intense uh one result i should say of intense focus is that focus is that focus is that you will for sure miss out on other you will for sure miss out on other you will for sure miss out on other opportunities opportunities opportunities and that's okay just accept that now or and that's okay just accept that now or and that's okay just accept that now or we have anyway we have anyway we have anyway what's joe mommy uh the joy of missing what's joe mommy uh the joy of missing what's joe mommy uh the joy of missing out excuse me yeah out excuse me yeah out excuse me yeah so kind of the kind of a different take so kind of the kind of a different take so kind of the kind of a different take on fomo on fomo on fomo um so we have had plenty of huge um so we have had plenty of huge um so we have had plenty of huge opportunities and potential opportunities and potential opportunities and potential game-changing ideas pitches from vcs on game-changing ideas pitches from vcs on game-changing ideas pitches from vcs on pivot to this and we'll fund you or pivot to this and we'll fund you or pivot to this and we'll fund you or do this other thing at the same time in do this other thing at the same time in do this other thing at the same time in squad cast squad cast squad cast um so we've we've had those those ideas um so we've we've had those those ideas um so we've we've had those those ideas uh for uh for uh for for other sas companies um but we've not for other sas companies um but we've not for other sas companies um but we've not pursued any of them pursued any of them pursued any of them with intention um and i should say yet with intention um and i should say yet with intention um and i should say yet because we're focused because we're because we're focused because we're because we're focused because we're focused on realizing our potential

focused on realizing our potential focused on realizing our potential within squad cast that's that's the within squad cast that's that's the within squad cast that's that's the opportunity at hand opportunity at hand opportunity at hand so one thing about focus is uh that is a so one thing about focus is uh that is a so one thing about focus is uh that is a constant struggle constant struggle constant struggle to maintain focus so i would recommend to maintain focus so i would recommend to maintain focus so i would recommend that you that you that you stay mindful check in with yourself and stay mindful check in with yourself and stay mindful check in with yourself and just keep saying no to just keep saying no to just keep saying no to stuff that doesn't matter using that stuff that doesn't matter using that stuff that doesn't matter using that same approach that we shared before yeah one of the things we said is like yeah one of the things we said is like the bootstrappers way is just inevitably the bootstrappers way is just inevitably the bootstrappers way is just inevitably to get good at saying no to get good at saying no to get good at saying no yeah yeah so uh so we have reputation yeah yeah so uh so we have reputation yeah yeah so uh so we have reputation um so if the problems you are solving um so if the problems you are solving um so if the problems you are solving they do matter to customers then there's they do matter to customers then there's they do matter to customers then there's likely likely likely going to be a community of people who going to be a community of people who going to be a community of people who that matters to that matters to that matters to and we're all here because we're and we're all here because we're and we're all here because we're bootstrapping bootstrapping bootstrapping which also means that we're investors in which also means that we're investors in which also means that we're investors in ourselves ourselves ourselves so invest the resources that you have so invest the resources that you have so invest the resources that you have not just in your business keep doing not just in your business keep doing not just in your business keep doing that but also that but also that but also into the community that you're in into the community that you're in into the community that you're in service of service of service of and you can do that by hosting meetups and you can do that by hosting meetups and you can do that by hosting meetups by sponsoring conferences like this one by sponsoring conferences like this one by sponsoring conferences like this one and uh and just generally fostering and uh and just generally fostering and uh and just generally fostering conversations conversations conversations and we're a bit biased but we think that and we're a bit biased but we think that and we're a bit biased but we think that podcasting is a great way to have an podcasting is a great way to have an podcasting is a great way to have an ongoing dialogue ongoing dialogue ongoing dialogue with on uh within the topic that you're with on uh within the topic that you're with on uh within the topic that you're an expert in an expert in an expert in and you're helping serve customers in so and you're helping serve customers in so and you're helping serve customers in so if your customers are more involved in if your customers are more involved in if your customers are more involved in in this community in this community in this community than your company is then you're

than your company is then you're than your company is then you're probably not that's probably an probably not that's probably an probably not that's probably an indicator that you're not indicator that you're not indicator that you're not investing enough so you want to invest investing enough so you want to invest investing enough so you want to invest more than them more than them more than them and and that'll also help position you and and that'll also help position you and and that'll also help position you within the the within the the within the the their minds as being you know part of their minds as being you know part of their minds as being you know part of this industry part of this this new this industry part of this this new this industry part of this this new category that you're working to create category that you're working to create category that you're working to create so it's important to speak with your so it's important to speak with your so it's important to speak with your community community community but it is more important it's paramount but it is more important it's paramount but it is more important it's paramount in fact that you in fact that you in fact that you you listen when you're having these you listen when you're having these you listen when you're having these these conversations i think our friend these conversations i think our friend these conversations i think our friend colleen colleen colleen mentioned listening is is critical to mentioned listening is is critical to mentioned listening is is critical to their business it's been critical to their business it's been critical to their business it's been critical to ours we often say that uh ours we often say that uh ours we often say that uh in an industry full of people who speak in an industry full of people who speak in an industry full of people who speak for a living our superpower needs to be for a living our superpower needs to be for a living our superpower needs to be listening to them so we practice that listening to them so we practice that listening to them so we practice that and while you're investing in the and while you're investing in the and while you're investing in the community community community it's it's a good idea to listen more it's it's a good idea to listen more it's it's a good idea to listen more than you speak than you speak than you speak like help catalyze these conversations like help catalyze these conversations like help catalyze these conversations but then listen but then listen but then listen the community will then invest feedback the community will then invest feedback the community will then invest feedback and ideas and ideas and ideas into your product and uh don't into your product and uh don't into your product and uh don't don't stop there don't stop with don't stop there don't stop with don't stop there don't stop with listening put it into practice listening put it into practice listening put it into practice actually do what they are telling you to actually do what they are telling you to actually do what they are telling you to do and then do and then do and then and this is kind of magical then you get and this is kind of magical then you get and this is kind of magical then you get to tell this story to tell this story to tell this story to other people and you get to give to other people and you get to give to other people and you get to give those customers those community members those customers those community members those customers those community members credit for that idea and credit for that idea and credit for that idea and you can keep going through this cycle you can keep going through this cycle you can keep going through this cycle and you keep doing that and you keep doing that and you keep doing that until you stop counting and your product until you stop counting and your product until you stop counting and your product will have improved dramatically will have improved dramatically will have improved dramatically and the community will love you because

and the community will love you because and the community will love you because of the roi they got on their investment of the roi they got on their investment of the roi they got on their investment of ideas of ideas of ideas and feedback yeah i think another big part of how we yeah i think another big part of how we developed our reputation developed our reputation developed our reputation within the space was really how what our within the space was really how what our within the space was really how what our approach approach approach to managing what was in our control and to managing what was in our control and to managing what was in our control and that's what i mean by that's what i mean by that's what i mean by what we mean rather by show up every day what we mean rather by show up every day what we mean rather by show up every day uh it uh it uh it sounds kind of cliche and just like not sounds kind of cliche and just like not sounds kind of cliche and just like not specific but like specific but like specific but like we've just experienced so many magical we've just experienced so many magical we've just experienced so many magical things just by things just by things just by showing up every day and also the fact showing up every day and also the fact showing up every day and also the fact that like our competition just does not that like our competition just does not that like our competition just does not so we just saw it as a way of like so we just saw it as a way of like so we just saw it as a way of like showing our passion about the problems showing our passion about the problems showing our passion about the problems we're solving and how we solve customers we're solving and how we solve customers we're solving and how we solve customers like taking that opportunity any way like taking that opportunity any way like taking that opportunity any way that we can that we can that we can because it's really easy to show up when because it's really easy to show up when because it's really easy to show up when customers are happy but when customers are happy but when customers are happy but when showing up actually matters the most showing up actually matters the most showing up actually matters the most we've found is is when they're unhappy we've found is is when they're unhappy we've found is is when they're unhappy so kind of like what zac was talking so kind of like what zac was talking so kind of like what zac was talking about was that we found about was that we found about was that we found that those are the opportunities to that those are the opportunities to that those are the opportunities to build the most positive reputation build the most positive reputation build the most positive reputation by figuring out to make it uh right and by figuring out to make it uh right and by figuring out to make it uh right and excuse me those people that were our excuse me those people that were our excuse me those people that were our biggest critics we've time and time biggest critics we've time and time biggest critics we've time and time again again again turned them into uh our biggest fans and turned them into uh our biggest fans and turned them into uh our biggest fans and so we kind of almost seen it as like so we kind of almost seen it as like so we kind of almost seen it as like somewhat of a repeatable process somewhat of a repeatable process somewhat of a repeatable process but over time we believe this mindset of but over time we believe this mindset of but over time we believe this mindset of showing up showing up showing up uh over time yields similar benefits as uh over time yields similar benefits as uh over time yields similar benefits as like compound interest like compound interest like compound interest and that investment over time money and and that investment over time money and and that investment over time money and going wherever necessary going wherever necessary going wherever necessary built up a significant amount of social built up a significant amount of social built up a significant amount of social equity

equity equity that we believe really contribute that we believe really contribute that we believe really contribute contributed to our final chapter contributed to our final chapter contributed to our final chapter and what's that final chapter yeah so a and what's that final chapter yeah so a and what's that final chapter yeah so a bit of a bit of a drum roll here bit of a bit of a drum roll here bit of a bit of a drum roll here please all right and please all right and please all right and there we go all right it's luck there we go all right it's luck there we go all right it's luck so to be honest there's in our opinion so to be honest there's in our opinion so to be honest there's in our opinion no getting around the fact that our no getting around the fact that our no getting around the fact that our growth was growth was growth was significantly impacted by some strange significantly impacted by some strange significantly impacted by some strange fortune fortune fortune several people in our network whether several people in our network whether several people in our network whether they were advisors or they were advisors or they were advisors or customers or just like other founders customers or just like other founders customers or just like other founders investors investors investors that would always talk about startups that would always talk about startups that would always talk about startups having some sort of inflection point or having some sort of inflection point or having some sort of inflection point or a moment when a moment when a moment when you know they just had it just things you know they just had it just things you know they just had it just things change for them change for them change for them uh and so we would just always wonder uh and so we would just always wonder uh and so we would just always wonder well when's our time coming it seems well when's our time coming it seems well when's our time coming it seems like things are going good we're hitting like things are going good we're hitting like things are going good we're hitting 10k mrr 10k mrr 10k mrr continuing to grow it's going good but continuing to grow it's going good but continuing to grow it's going good but it's it's not it's it's not it's it's not like we're not nothing's gone viral yet like we're not nothing's gone viral yet like we're not nothing's gone viral yet if you will if you will if you will um and so we're just one of those many um and so we're just one of those many um and so we're just one of those many stories of a crazy opportunity stories of a crazy opportunity stories of a crazy opportunity uh and shelter in place was ours so uh and shelter in place was ours so uh and shelter in place was ours so suddenly suddenly suddenly uh content creators across the world uh content creators across the world uh content creators across the world were in desperate need of a high quality were in desperate need of a high quality were in desperate need of a high quality remote solution to remote solution to remote solution to keep their production on schedule and keep their production on schedule and keep their production on schedule and thankfully squad cast had thankfully squad cast had thankfully squad cast had already built up this reputation as already built up this reputation as already built up this reputation as being really focused on being really focused on being really focused on recording quality content remotely um recording quality content remotely um recording quality content remotely um so i don't know if you remember man but so i don't know if you remember man but so i don't know if you remember man but like back in march uh like back in march uh like back in march uh getting on the phone and just being like getting on the phone and just being like getting on the phone and just being like holy f word is this holy f word is this holy f word is this is this happening is is this it and then

is this happening is is this it and then is this happening is is this it and then what were you saying what were you saying what were you saying this is it yeah i think it is so uh this is it yeah i think it is so uh this is it yeah i think it is so uh a little crazy and and not lost on us a little crazy and and not lost on us a little crazy and and not lost on us that like that like that like we are fortunate and and but uh i don't we are fortunate and and but uh i don't we are fortunate and and but uh i don't think our story is think our story is think our story is necessarily that exceptional because necessarily that exceptional because necessarily that exceptional because there's other people that are benefiting there's other people that are benefiting there's other people that are benefiting and having and having and having success in this is as well but success in this is as well but success in this is as well but anthony bourdain who we're a big fan of anthony bourdain who we're a big fan of anthony bourdain who we're a big fan of and i know he's not a startup founder so and i know he's not a startup founder so and i know he's not a startup founder so i have no idea what the context of this i have no idea what the context of this i have no idea what the context of this quote was in quote was in quote was in but he was quoted of saying luck is not but he was quoted of saying luck is not but he was quoted of saying luck is not a business model a business model a business model and we agree with him so but we believe and we agree with him so but we believe and we agree with him so but we believe our luck was only realized our luck was only realized our luck was only realized uh because we were so focused on being uh because we were so focused on being uh because we were so focused on being the best at something that mattered the best at something that mattered the best at something that mattered and had built up a reputation uh for and had built up a reputation uh for and had built up a reputation uh for when our time come when our time come when our time come came yeah and uh came yeah and uh came yeah and uh about luck you know as as far as we know about luck you know as as far as we know about luck you know as as far as we know uh in inflections uh in inflections uh in inflections inflection points they can't really be inflection points they can't really be inflection points they can't really be designed or engineered designed or engineered designed or engineered uh sidenote if you feel otherwise we're uh sidenote if you feel otherwise we're uh sidenote if you feel otherwise we're happy to explore that happy to explore that happy to explore that um but what you can design and engineer um but what you can design and engineer um but what you can design and engineer is in preparation for those inflection is in preparation for those inflection is in preparation for those inflection points to come points to come points to come so um why did we sponsor the largest so um why did we sponsor the largest so um why did we sponsor the largest conference conference conference in our industry before we even had a in our industry before we even had a in our industry before we even had a stable product or stable product or stable product or any customers why did we need to build any customers why did we need to build any customers why did we need to build a global cloud infrastructure with a global cloud infrastructure with a global cloud infrastructure with microservices microservices microservices built to scale when we only had like 50 built to scale when we only had like 50 built to scale when we only had like 50 customers customers customers so much of the work that we did before so much of the work that we did before so much of the work that we did before shelter in place shelter in place shelter in place felt like extreme overkill

felt like extreme overkill felt like extreme overkill but in reality it wasn't but in reality it wasn't but in reality it wasn't because we were ready for when luck because we were ready for when luck because we were ready for when luck found us found us found us so look at where you are each day and so look at where you are each day and so look at where you are each day and ask yourself ask yourself ask yourself what would break if we were to 10x what would break if we were to 10x what would break if we were to 10x tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow like i was just talking with my wife like i was just talking with my wife like i was just talking with my wife over the weekend and over the weekend and over the weekend and it's like are you ready to explode you it's like are you ready to explode you it's like are you ready to explode you know that's know that's know that's that's a strange question but that's that's a strange question but that's that's a strange question but that's essentially another way to say it essentially another way to say it essentially another way to say it so make those improvements now so make those improvements now so make those improvements now uh ask yourself that question make a uh ask yourself that question make a uh ask yourself that question make a list do those improvements keep list do those improvements keep list do those improvements keep repeating that repeating that repeating that and take your startup seriously i know and take your startup seriously i know and take your startup seriously i know you all do you all do you all do but take it more seriously and have but take it more seriously and have but take it more seriously and have intentions intentions intentions to grow it be ready to explode to grow it be ready to explode to grow it be ready to explode so what are you doing all of this hard so what are you doing all of this hard so what are you doing all of this hard work for if work for if work for if if you're not expecting that growth is if you're not expecting that growth is if you're not expecting that growth is even another way to put it all right so the big question is is what all right so the big question is is what now well now well now well i mean we're certainly not done yet as i mean we're certainly not done yet as i mean we're certainly not done yet as proud as we are of proud as we are of proud as we are of our accomplishments in many ways we our accomplishments in many ways we our accomplishments in many ways we still feel like we're just getting still feel like we're just getting still feel like we're just getting started and there's so many things left started and there's so many things left started and there's so many things left to accomplish which i guess is the to accomplish which i guess is the to accomplish which i guess is the beauty and the beast of of this whole beauty and the beast of of this whole beauty and the beast of of this whole game that we're in uh but we have game that we're in uh but we have game that we're in uh but we have learned that learned that learned that what got us to 10k is not what got us to what got us to 10k is not what got us to what got us to 10k is not what got us to 100k i mean you know think about how 100k i mean you know think about how 100k i mean you know think about how different our jobs different our jobs different our jobs day to day are from just a couple months day to day are from just a couple months day to day are from just a couple months ago it's it's continuing to evolve and ago it's it's continuing to evolve and ago it's it's continuing to evolve and change and change and change and something i think we're learning to something i think we're learning to something i think we're learning to embrace and really uh get excited about embrace and really uh get excited about embrace and really uh get excited about even though even though even though uh you know change isn't always the

uh you know change isn't always the uh you know change isn't always the easiest thing to deal with easiest thing to deal with easiest thing to deal with but we do feel like the same is going to but we do feel like the same is going to but we do feel like the same is going to be true for when we hit that be true for when we hit that be true for when we hit that 1 million mrr amount or beyond 1 million mrr amount or beyond 1 million mrr amount or beyond yeah and we have some really good ideas yeah and we have some really good ideas yeah and we have some really good ideas we built up and are continuing to build we built up and are continuing to build we built up and are continuing to build a really great team a really great team a really great team to prepare for that tomorrow today and um if if we and um if if we if we if we would not be able to get if we if we would not be able to get if we if we would not be able to get there there there without focus reputation and luck to without focus reputation and luck to without focus reputation and luck to this next milestone this next milestone this next milestone beyond where we're headed so thank you beyond where we're headed so thank you beyond where we're headed so thank you all so much for all so much for all so much for for listening to us today and making for listening to us today and making for listening to us today and making this event really great this event really great this event really great uh we we've had a great time learning uh we we've had a great time learning uh we we've had a great time learning from everybody and we hope the same is from everybody and we hope the same is from everybody and we hope the same is true for you gentlemen thank you so much um just a gentlemen thank you so much um just a reminder to folks reminder to folks reminder to folks in shindig feel free to ask your in shindig feel free to ask your in shindig feel free to ask your questions in the chat it looks like questions in the chat it looks like questions in the chat it looks like looks like we have quite a few questions looks like we have quite a few questions looks like we have quite a few questions already pouring in already pouring in already pouring in um i'm going to kick us off with first um i'm going to kick us off with first um i'm going to kick us off with first question question question did you guys ever launch that sci-fi did you guys ever launch that sci-fi did you guys ever launch that sci-fi audio drama audio drama audio drama tell them yeah not yet you have uh we do tell them yeah not yet you have uh we do tell them yeah not yet you have uh we do have a podcast though called between two have a podcast though called between two have a podcast though called between two mics where we mics where we mics where we explore the and have conversations with explore the and have conversations with explore the and have conversations with people people people that are helping to advance podcasting that are helping to advance podcasting that are helping to advance podcasting forward in different ways uh audio forward in different ways uh audio forward in different ways uh audio dramas science fiction dramas science fiction dramas science fiction are uh are a big part of that but we are uh are a big part of that but we are uh are a big part of that but we also talk about the technology and just also talk about the technology and just also talk about the technology and just uh general momentum uh general momentum uh general momentum podcasting being a relatively new medium

podcasting being a relatively new medium podcasting being a relatively new medium has all sorts of opportunities for has all sorts of opportunities for has all sorts of opportunities for for innovation and some of that science for innovation and some of that science for innovation and some of that science fiction is is becoming science facts so fiction is is becoming science facts so fiction is is becoming science facts so we're proud to play a small part in that we're proud to play a small part in that we're proud to play a small part in that very cool if you ever launch it i want very cool if you ever launch it i want very cool if you ever launch it i want to check it out so first question to check it out so first question to check it out so first question we got one subscriber yeah and we have we got one subscriber yeah and we have we got one subscriber yeah and we have uh we've made more connections and uh we've made more connections and uh we've made more connections and friends who are actually friends who are actually friends who are actually turns out podcasts like that are a turns out podcasts like that are a turns out podcasts like that are a tremendous amount of work i mean tremendous amount of work i mean tremendous amount of work i mean you know rob with uh with your media you know rob with uh with your media you know rob with uh with your media production production production uh an interview podcast is uh is a lot uh an interview podcast is uh is a lot uh an interview podcast is uh is a lot of work but uh of work but uh of work but uh scripted drama with voice actors all scripted drama with voice actors all scripted drama with voice actors all over the world over the world over the world yeah but uh thankfully our technology yeah but uh thankfully our technology yeah but uh thankfully our technology solution is there to uh to keep the solution is there to uh to keep the solution is there to uh to keep the quality up quality up quality up so first question from the audience deep so first question from the audience deep so first question from the audience deep asks asks asks zack without any previous references of zack without any previous references of zack without any previous references of success how did you stay on a path to success how did you stay on a path to success how did you stay on a path to solid growth solid growth solid growth did you put your eyes on 100k mrr or was did you put your eyes on 100k mrr or was did you put your eyes on 100k mrr or was it more wing it it more wing it it more wing it more a wing it playful approach to see more a wing it playful approach to see more a wing it playful approach to see how far you got how far you got how far you got and then he has a separate question for and then he has a separate question for and then he has a separate question for rock but i feel like either of you could rock but i feel like either of you could rock but i feel like either of you could answer that yeah these you know answer that yeah these you know answer that yeah these you know yeah yeah it's good um i i would not say yeah yeah it's good um i i would not say yeah yeah it's good um i i would not say it was wing it i would say that it's uh it was wing it i would say that it's uh it was wing it i would say that it's uh you know milestone uh reassess you know milestone uh reassess you know milestone uh reassess you know reach a milestone reassess you know reach a milestone reassess you know reach a milestone reassess what's next what's what do we think it's what's next what's what do we think it's what's next what's what do we think it's gonna take to get us there what are kind gonna take to get us there what are kind gonna take to get us there what are kind of the bottlenecks to that of the bottlenecks to that of the bottlenecks to that today what's our path to remove those today what's our path to remove those today what's our path to remove those and also then um like what are the and also then um like what are the and also then um like what are the resources we have now because that's resources we have now because that's resources we have now because that's another thing that's evolving it's not another thing that's evolving it's not another thing that's evolving it's not just a new set of challenges it's a new just a new set of challenges it's a new just a new set of challenges it's a new set of opportunities set of opportunities set of opportunities that come from your new mrr having

that come from your new mrr having that come from your new mrr having reached that reached that reached that you can use those resources to add you can use those resources to add you can use those resources to add invest further invest further invest further into your business further into the into your business further into the into your business further into the community and just continue community and just continue community and just continue uh continuing that cycle i think is more uh continuing that cycle i think is more uh continuing that cycle i think is more so how we look at it it's just that so how we look at it it's just that so how we look at it it's just that there's more zeros now there's more zeros now there's more zeros now uh it's it's it's kind of a trip but uh it's it's it's kind of a trip but uh it's it's it's kind of a trip but that that's our process that that's our process that that's our process and if i could just add it's kind of and if i could just add it's kind of and if i could just add it's kind of similar to the advice we give to similar to the advice we give to similar to the advice we give to podcasters that have interview shows podcasters that have interview shows podcasters that have interview shows where they ask like where they ask like where they ask like should i have like a script of all these should i have like a script of all these should i have like a script of all these detailed questions i want or is it detailed questions i want or is it detailed questions i want or is it better to wing it better to wing it better to wing it what do you think is best what we found what do you think is best what we found what do you think is best what we found is somewhere in the middle having an is somewhere in the middle having an is somewhere in the middle having an outline of where you want to go some outline of where you want to go some outline of where you want to go some type of road map if you will type of road map if you will type of road map if you will but leaving yourself freedom for things but leaving yourself freedom for things but leaving yourself freedom for things to come up some creativity like you to come up some creativity like you to come up some creativity like you never know what's never know what's never know what's what's going to happen like we didn't what's going to happen like we didn't what's going to happen like we didn't know shelter in place would just know shelter in place would just know shelter in place would just put us in a position where we had to put us in a position where we had to put us in a position where we had to handle just a surge of handle just a surge of handle just a surge of new podcasters or experienced podcasters new podcasters or experienced podcasters new podcasters or experienced podcasters that need to record their shows remotely that need to record their shows remotely that need to record their shows remotely yeah i like to think of it because when yeah i like to think of it because when yeah i like to think of it because when i record a podcast interview i do have i record a podcast interview i do have i record a podcast interview i do have an outline of questions i'm going to ask an outline of questions i'm going to ask an outline of questions i'm going to ask but i almost never stick to that outline but i almost never stick to that outline but i almost never stick to that outline i'll also i'll also i'll also i'll either skip some or i'll insert i'll either skip some or i'll insert i'll either skip some or i'll insert additional ones additional ones additional ones uh you know based on what someone says i uh you know based on what someone says i uh you know based on what someone says i like to think of it as if i'm gonna like to think of it as if i'm gonna like to think of it as if i'm gonna drive from la to new york i know that drive from la to new york i know that drive from la to new york i know that i'm going east i'm going east i'm going east i don't know if i'm going the south i don't know if i'm going the south i don't know if i'm going the south route or the north route there's all route or the north route there's all route or the north route there's all these different places i could go these different places i could go these different places i could go through but in general i know where i'm through but in general i know where i'm through but in general i know where i'm going and then you just don't know how going and then you just don't know how going and then you just don't know how fast you're going to go fast you're going to go fast you're going to go and exactly what roads you're going to and exactly what roads you're going to and exactly what roads you're going to take right i think that's a decent take right i think that's a decent take right i think that's a decent metaphor for it metaphor for it metaphor for it totally um next question from deep um he totally um next question from deep um he totally um next question from deep um he addressed it to rock but again i feel addressed it to rock but again i feel addressed it to rock but again i feel like either you could ask it like either you could ask it like either you could ask it he said rock you mentioned learning from he said rock you mentioned learning from he said rock you mentioned learning from the greats plus just in time learning the greats plus just in time learning the greats plus just in time learning can you elaborate on that what

can you elaborate on that what can you elaborate on that what specifically worked really well for you specifically worked really well for you specifically worked really well for you with regards to learning with regards to learning with regards to learning with regard to learnings yeah so when we with regard to learnings yeah so when we with regard to learnings yeah so when we first first first started squad cast we didn't really know started squad cast we didn't really know started squad cast we didn't really know what we were what we were what we were becoming a part of in the sense of a becoming a part of in the sense of a becoming a part of in the sense of a community we didn't know like community we didn't know like community we didn't know like bootstrapping was this whole thing and bootstrapping was this whole thing and bootstrapping was this whole thing and we didn't know any podcasters we didn't know any podcasters we didn't know any podcasters well that too yeah so we just would well that too yeah so we just would well that too yeah so we just would go to wherever those people were that go to wherever those people were that go to wherever those people were that were either you know were either you know were either you know experienced sas founders like like you experienced sas founders like like you experienced sas founders like like you rob dan martell rob dan martell rob dan martell or you know some of the more specific or you know some of the more specific or you know some of the more specific stuff like uh stuff like uh stuff like uh patrick campbell from profitwell they do patrick campbell from profitwell they do patrick campbell from profitwell they do a bunch of stuff on pricing so when we a bunch of stuff on pricing so when we a bunch of stuff on pricing so when we needed to learn pricing needed to learn pricing needed to learn pricing just in time we went to the people who just in time we went to the people who just in time we went to the people who were seen as experts were seen as experts were seen as experts and again the easy part is is learning and again the easy part is is learning and again the easy part is is learning the hard part is the hard part is the hard part is implementing um and but we just are implementing um and but we just are implementing um and but we just are we i feel like we're a testament of it's we i feel like we're a testament of it's we i feel like we're a testament of it's worth that effort because it did worth that effort because it did worth that effort because it did transform our business transform our business transform our business it's also a bit meta we use i mentioned it's also a bit meta we use i mentioned it's also a bit meta we use i mentioned in the very beginning that in the very beginning that in the very beginning that we love learning from podcasts because we love learning from podcasts because we love learning from podcasts because it's a very efficient way to go deep it's a very efficient way to go deep it's a very efficient way to go deep on a very niche topic so you want to on a very niche topic so you want to on a very niche topic so you want to learn about sas pricing learn about sas pricing learn about sas pricing right uh you can find you know three right uh you can find you know three right uh you can find you know three podcast episodes ten podcast episodes on podcast episodes ten podcast episodes on podcast episodes ten podcast episodes on that and that and that and be from zero to sixty by like later be from zero to sixty by like later be from zero to sixty by like later today uh today uh today uh listening to those and like rock said listening to those and like rock said listening to those and like rock said the trick really is the trick really is the trick really is having the levers being able to having the levers being able to having the levers being able to implement that right away so implement that right away so implement that right away so um i can't uh there's so many examples um i can't uh there's so many examples um i can't uh there's so many examples of of of oh i just read this book or i just read oh i just read this book or i just read oh i just read this book or i just read this chapter or this section of this this chapter or this section of this this chapter or this section of this book

book book and you know it's it's part of our and you know it's it's part of our and you know it's it's part of our business and strategy the next day business and strategy the next day business and strategy the next day um that's something that we repeat over um that's something that we repeat over um that's something that we repeat over and over and over again and over and over again and over and over again yep it's that advantage of being a yep it's that advantage of being a yep it's that advantage of being a startup founder and being able to startup founder and being able to startup founder and being able to implement really quickly right versus implement really quickly right versus implement really quickly right versus working at a fortune 500 or a thousand working at a fortune 500 or a thousand working at a fortune 500 or a thousand and you're it might take you three and you're it might take you three and you're it might take you three months to get everyone on board and like months to get everyone on board and like months to get everyone on board and like you don't get a pilot project going or you don't get a pilot project going or you don't get a pilot project going or whatever i'm not saying it's bad to work whatever i'm not saying it's bad to work whatever i'm not saying it's bad to work at fortune 1000 it's just the different at fortune 1000 it's just the different at fortune 1000 it's just the different trade-offs we have right trade-offs we have right trade-offs we have right absolutely yeah and tiny seed is some absolutely yeah and tiny seed is some absolutely yeah and tiny seed is some extreme version of that extreme version of that extreme version of that so uh we've picked up uh we've picked up so uh we've picked up uh we've picked up so uh we've picked up uh we've picked up so much and implemented it very quickly so much and implemented it very quickly so much and implemented it very quickly and we're seeing that and we're seeing that and we're seeing that same uh same approach from our peer same uh same approach from our peer same uh same approach from our peer company so that that's a great way to company so that that's a great way to company so that that's a great way to kind of throw some gasoline on the fire kind of throw some gasoline on the fire kind of throw some gasoline on the fire with advice and all the great things with advice and all the great things with advice and all the great things that come from the work that they're that come from the work that they're that come from the work that they're doing doing doing yeah and that that brings us to our next yeah and that that brings us to our next yeah and that that brings us to our next question it's a good segue so justin question it's a good segue so justin question it's a good segue so justin jackson asked why take funding from tiny jackson asked why take funding from tiny jackson asked why take funding from tiny seed seed seed if you were at 100k mrr if you were at 100k mrr if you were at 100k mrr well that's a great question justin uh well that's a great question justin uh well that's a great question justin uh so so so we were not at 100k but by the time we we were not at 100k but by the time we we were not at 100k but by the time we started talking to started talking to started talking to tinyseed it just kind of happened but we tinyseed it just kind of happened but we tinyseed it just kind of happened but we were already were already were already looking for ways to looking for ways to looking for ways to just grow our network and become more just grow our network and become more just grow our network and become more professional founder professional founder professional founder after talking with so many different after talking with so many different after talking with so many different investors angels accelerators investors angels accelerators investors angels accelerators tiny c just felt like the right fit for tiny c just felt like the right fit for tiny c just felt like the right fit for uh many reasons um uh many reasons um uh many reasons um but yeah shortly after um that but yeah shortly after um that but yeah shortly after um that relationship became formalized we did relationship became formalized we did relationship became formalized we did hit 100k so hit 100k so hit 100k so the money was not something we really the money was not something we really the money was not something we really necessarily needed but the the advice necessarily needed but the the advice necessarily needed but the the advice and the the support is something that and the the support is something that and the the support is something that we truly value especially as we're

we truly value especially as we're we truly value especially as we're navigating these waters for the first navigating these waters for the first navigating these waters for the first time time time that's something we've always tried to that's something we've always tried to that's something we've always tried to um um um try to remain mindful of is uh when try to remain mindful of is uh when try to remain mindful of is uh when you're not you're not you're not going out and actively raising venture going out and actively raising venture going out and actively raising venture capital we tend to think of it capital we tend to think of it capital we tend to think of it exactly like that where it's it's it's exactly like that where it's it's it's exactly like that where it's it's it's capital um capital um capital um but you're also kind of uh potentially but you're also kind of uh potentially but you're also kind of uh potentially sacrificing opportunities to get advice sacrificing opportunities to get advice sacrificing opportunities to get advice from people who have done this before from people who have done this before from people who have done this before and so we've always been very and so we've always been very and so we've always been very intentional about our advisory board intentional about our advisory board intentional about our advisory board and the the skills within um and the the skills within um and the the skills within um so that we can we can learn from people so that we can we can learn from people so that we can we can learn from people who have done this before as first time who have done this before as first time who have done this before as first time founders founders founders and then tiny seed again was just a and then tiny seed again was just a and then tiny seed again was just a crazy crazy crazy crazy degree of that same approach that crazy degree of that same approach that crazy degree of that same approach that um has already been um has already been um has already been having a really great impact uh beyond having a really great impact uh beyond having a really great impact uh beyond kind of our core advisory board kind of our core advisory board kind of our core advisory board yeah i think that's an important point yeah i think that's an important point yeah i think that's an important point and tiny seat aside it's like and tiny seat aside it's like and tiny seat aside it's like a mistake i made early on and i think a a mistake i made early on and i think a a mistake i made early on and i think a lot of bootstrappers make is that they lot of bootstrappers make is that they lot of bootstrappers make is that they feel like they should be able to do it feel like they should be able to do it feel like they should be able to do it all on their own all on their own all on their own and they don't set up an advisory board and they don't set up an advisory board and they don't set up an advisory board or they don't have a mastermind group or or they don't have a mastermind group or or they don't have a mastermind group or they don't have other people they don't have other people they don't have other people who have true kind of insight and impact who have true kind of insight and impact who have true kind of insight and impact on on on into their business and and you guys into their business and and you guys into their business and and you guys have done a good job there's some people have done a good job there's some people have done a good job there's some people that i know that i know that i know like ruben gomez another example of like ruben gomez another example of like ruben gomez another example of someone who has really always sought out someone who has really always sought out someone who has really always sought out mentors and is just willing to be mentors and is just willing to be mentors and is just willing to be teachable you know teachable you know teachable you know is willing to to not have the attitude is willing to to not have the attitude is willing to to not have the attitude again the attitude i had 10 years ago of again the attitude i had 10 years ago of again the attitude i had 10 years ago of like like like well i'm going to figure it out and i'm well i'm going to figure it out and i'm well i'm going to figure it out and i'm going to do it all on my own it just it going to do it all on my own it just it going to do it all on my own it just it took me a lot longer to get there took me a lot longer to get there took me a lot longer to get there because of that so i think advice because of that so i think advice because of that so i think advice network and and the bat you know being network and and the bat you know being network and and the bat you know being in a community and having a mastermind i in a community and having a mastermind i in a community and having a mastermind i think all that's like think all that's like think all that's like so so important so uh eric tompkins

so so important so uh eric tompkins so so important so uh eric tompkins asks can you talk more about how you asks can you talk more about how you asks can you talk more about how you invest in the podcast community invest in the podcast community invest in the podcast community where and how can this be done where and how can this be done where and how can this be done yeah so uh just the most recent example yeah so uh just the most recent example yeah so uh just the most recent example we we we uh we funded or we provide this uh we funded or we provide this uh we funded or we provide this provided the seed funding for the we are provided the seed funding for the we are provided the seed funding for the we are diverse creators summit diverse creators summit diverse creators summit which is um was a remote event for by which is um was a remote event for by which is um was a remote event for by uh founded by one of our advisors uh uh founded by one of our advisors uh uh founded by one of our advisors uh adriana flores regard adriana flores regard adriana flores regard uh co-founded this new event that uh co-founded this new event that uh co-founded this new event that was an underserved conversation and was an underserved conversation and was an underserved conversation and community within podcasting community within podcasting community within podcasting and i'm very grateful that we could help and i'm very grateful that we could help and i'm very grateful that we could help bring that to life bring that to life bring that to life uh through some through some investment uh through some through some investment uh through some through some investment and also and also and also participation so it's not all dollars participation so it's not all dollars participation so it's not all dollars and you know capital and you know capital and you know capital it's also rock spoke at that event um it's also rock spoke at that event um it's also rock spoke at that event um and we we helped kind of provide uh our and we we helped kind of provide uh our and we we helped kind of provide uh our network for getting speakers to that network for getting speakers to that network for getting speakers to that event and event and event and there's all sorts of ways that you can there's all sorts of ways that you can there's all sorts of ways that you can leverage the resources that you have leverage the resources that you have leverage the resources that you have that that that may not always be capital uh to invest may not always be capital uh to invest may not always be capital uh to invest it's social equity it's social equity it's social equity it's your network it's it's these um it's your network it's it's these um it's your network it's it's these um these additional these additional these additional elements that you can bring to uh to the elements that you can bring to uh to the elements that you can bring to uh to the community community community so we speak at events all the time so we speak at events all the time so we speak at events all the time that's another great way of course we that's another great way of course we that's another great way of course we we sponsor events um and we sponsor events um and we sponsor events um and continue continue on that path i mean of continue continue on that path i mean of continue continue on that path i mean of course shelter and place has kind of course shelter and place has kind of course shelter and place has kind of turned that on its head as turned that on its head as turned that on its head as we're all experiencing right now so i we're all experiencing right now so i we're all experiencing right now so i respect what you're doing uh with the respect what you're doing uh with the respect what you're doing uh with the team rob of finding a way to make this team rob of finding a way to make this team rob of finding a way to make this engaging and stay stay the course even

engaging and stay stay the course even engaging and stay stay the course even though though though 2020 has been so strange so uh so there 2020 has been so strange so uh so there 2020 has been so strange so uh so there are are are all sorts of ways another is just all sorts of ways another is just all sorts of ways another is just talking to talking to talking to our customers talking to the community our customers talking to the community our customers talking to the community and not having kind of a sales agenda and not having kind of a sales agenda and not having kind of a sales agenda just just just listening right um through meetups and listening right um through meetups and listening right um through meetups and and in our case we uh have we have the and in our case we uh have we have the and in our case we uh have we have the ability to go on and be guests on ability to go on and be guests on ability to go on and be guests on people's podcasts and learn from them people's podcasts and learn from them people's podcasts and learn from them about what they're doing about what they're doing about what they're doing how they're interviewing other people how they're interviewing other people how they're interviewing other people what they're learning from their guests what they're learning from their guests what they're learning from their guests so there's there's all sorts of ways um so there's there's all sorts of ways um so there's there's all sorts of ways um i would just even i would just even i would just even it's probably helpful to just even not it's probably helpful to just even not it's probably helpful to just even not even worry about the money as an even worry about the money as an even worry about the money as an investment investment investment find other resources that you have and find other resources that you have and find other resources that you have and and put those to work in the community and put those to work in the community and put those to work in the community very cool so we have we're going to have very cool so we have we're going to have very cool so we have we're going to have the lightning round here we have about the lightning round here we have about the lightning round here we have about three and a half minutes and i think i three and a half minutes and i think i three and a half minutes and i think i have like have like have like another six questions or something so a another six questions or something so a another six questions or something so a question from andrew comfort he says you question from andrew comfort he says you question from andrew comfort he says you have pending patents have pending patents have pending patents and perhaps more in the works how do you and perhaps more in the works how do you and perhaps more in the works how do you balance your intellectual property balance your intellectual property balance your intellectual property secrecy secrecy secrecy nda needs with your openness and nda needs with your openness and nda needs with your openness and communication and acceptance of ideas communication and acceptance of ideas communication and acceptance of ideas from from from users oh i thought that was going to users oh i thought that was going to users oh i thought that was going to take a different turn i thought he was take a different turn i thought he was take a different turn i thought he was going to talk about going to talk about going to talk about when you file patents the public and when you file patents the public and when you file patents the public and competitors can copy them competitors can copy them competitors can copy them so but he's saying user global so but he's saying user global so but he's saying user global only filed patents in the us so that's a only filed patents in the us so that's a only filed patents in the us so that's a whole different uh whole different uh whole different uh you know consideration but um you're you know consideration but um you're you know consideration but um you're absolutely right we absolutely right we absolutely right we are open with our customers uh it's just are open with our customers uh it's just are open with our customers uh it's just the level of detail that we provide and the level of detail that we provide and the level of detail that we provide and um one of those patents anyway is um one of those patents anyway is um one of those patents anyway is how we upload and um progressively how we upload and um progressively how we upload and um progressively upload our audio so that it's

upload our audio so that it's upload our audio so that it's reliable as well as high quality that reliable as well as high quality that reliable as well as high quality that idea came from one of idea came from one of idea came from one of from our founding advisor harry duran from our founding advisor harry duran from our founding advisor harry duran who uh you want to listen to our podcast who uh you want to listen to our podcast who uh you want to listen to our podcast the episode just dropped today with a the episode just dropped today with a the episode just dropped today with a conversation with him that's called conversation with him that's called conversation with him that's called between two mics between two mics between two mics so uh harry gets full credit for that so uh harry gets full credit for that so uh harry gets full credit for that idea of progressive upload idea of progressive upload idea of progressive upload well not full credit well yeah how we well not full credit well yeah how we well not full credit well yeah how we actually built it very actually built it very actually built it very very different thing it took us 10 very different thing it took us 10 very different thing it took us 10 attempts right to build this out so attempts right to build this out so attempts right to build this out so um there's uh it's just a level of um there's uh it's just a level of um there's uh it's just a level of transparency transparency transparency that that you provide you we can talk that that you provide you we can talk that that you provide you we can talk about how things work about how things work about how things work without getting into the nitty gritty without getting into the nitty gritty without getting into the nitty gritty nitty gritty of how this particular nitty gritty of how this particular nitty gritty of how this particular micro service sends this micro service sends this micro service sends this request and routes you know how we request and routes you know how we request and routes you know how we render that audio or render that audio or render that audio or there's all sorts of details there that there's all sorts of details there that there's all sorts of details there that that actually inform that actually inform that actually inform the patent of being novel that you don't the patent of being novel that you don't the patent of being novel that you don't need to put in your marketing material need to put in your marketing material need to put in your marketing material it's just more so communicating the it's just more so communicating the it's just more so communicating the benefits of it benefits of it benefits of it question from james mcbrien since you question from james mcbrien since you question from james mcbrien since you grew a lot during shelter in place do grew a lot during shelter in place do grew a lot during shelter in place do you expect you expect you expect do you expect the post shelter in place do you expect the post shelter in place do you expect the post shelter in place world to impact your company world to impact your company world to impact your company how are you preparing for that yes i'll how are you preparing for that yes i'll how are you preparing for that yes i'll answer this as best i can with lightning answer this as best i can with lightning answer this as best i can with lightning round response uh round response uh round response uh of course we definitely anticipate some of course we definitely anticipate some of course we definitely anticipate some sort of change sort of change sort of change however our main focus is to just make however our main focus is to just make however our main focus is to just make sure that the relationships we're sure that the relationships we're sure that the relationships we're building now building now building now continue to stay intact and sticky and continue to stay intact and sticky and continue to stay intact and sticky and what we're learning what we're learning what we're learning uh because we're so intimately involved uh because we're so intimately involved uh because we're so intimately involved with all of our customers whether it's with all of our customers whether it's with all of our customers whether it's solo podcasters or uh vox espn the folks solo podcasters or uh vox espn the folks solo podcasters or uh vox espn the folks over there that we're talking to over there that we're talking to over there that we're talking to it does sound like there's going to be a it does sound like there's going to be a it does sound like there's going to be a place for remote recording place for remote recording place for remote recording in their production that they see the in their production that they see the in their production that they see the benefits of it a lot of these companies

benefits of it a lot of these companies benefits of it a lot of these companies or people uh aren't all in the same room or people uh aren't all in the same room or people uh aren't all in the same room so they're still gonna so they're still gonna so they're still gonna we think that we're confident that we think that we're confident that we think that we're confident that there's still gonna be a place for for there's still gonna be a place for for there's still gonna be a place for for squad cast in these production schedules squad cast in these production schedules squad cast in these production schedules uh for for the near future not near uh for for the near future not near uh for for the near future not near future long time espn is a great example future long time espn is a great example future long time espn is a great example they're a they're a they're a distributed company because of their distributed company because of their distributed company because of their scale so there's absolutely there was a scale so there's absolutely there was a scale so there's absolutely there was a place before there's a place after place before there's a place after place before there's a place after now it's just more so like hey we don't now it's just more so like hey we don't now it's just more so like hey we don't have to sacrifice quality to uh to have to sacrifice quality to uh to have to sacrifice quality to uh to record remotely record remotely record remotely we're trying to do that trying to do we're trying to do that trying to do we're trying to do that trying to do lighter come on man lighter come on man lighter come on man so last question for the day from justin so last question for the day from justin so last question for the day from justin jackson how big jackson how big jackson how big is the squad cast team yeah so we're uh we're up to seven as of yeah so we're uh we're up to seven as of last week so we just added a new last week so we just added a new last week so we just added a new a new uh software engineer and product a new uh software engineer and product a new uh software engineer and product manager grace manager grace manager grace thank you and uh and she's already thank you and uh and she's already thank you and uh and she's already crushing it crushing it crushing it um up and running and then as of last um up and running and then as of last um up and running and then as of last week a week a week a voice very strong voice within our voice very strong voice within our voice very strong voice within our community we hired as a community community we hired as a community community we hired as a community manager and her name is arielle manager and her name is arielle manager and her name is arielle nissenblatt so we're very excited with nissenblatt so we're very excited with nissenblatt so we're very excited with the growth of the team the growth of the team the growth of the team uh the the five uh in addition to that uh the the five uh in addition to that uh the the five uh in addition to that were kind of rock and i were kind of rock and i were kind of rock and i and our founding team so uh you know and our founding team so uh you know and our founding team so uh you know that's that's where we're at right now that's that's where we're at right now that's that's where we're at right now gentlemen thank you so much again gentlemen thank you so much again gentlemen thank you so much again rock and zach appreciate your time today rock and zach appreciate your time today rock and zach appreciate your time today on microcontroller