4 ms·

I'm a big fan of bootstrapping, allow me to add my own data point. I was the typical bored-at-BigCo guy but was afraid to completely jump into startups full tim

I'm a big fan of bootstrapping, allow me to add my own data point. I was the typical bored-at-BigCo guy but was afraid to completely jump into startups full time (I have a family). I decided to bootstrap my startup (mobile app) at the beginning of 2010, while working full time for 6 months. 6 months after that I quit my job full time as the income from the startup surpassed my SV engineering salary (made 75K in 6 months). In 2011, I traveled the world for 7 months with my wife while making my 2nd app, and my income went up to 340K. This year, I'm pretty much working ~20 hrs a week and I'm on track to hit at least 600K (already did 300K YTD). No full time employees, no VCs, no board, minimal expenses (macbook + iphone), no hassle. I have friends and relatives who have done YC, gone the whole fundraising route, etc. Some who are fairly successful, but I wouldn't trade places with them in a second. I'm not saying bootstrapping is better, but if you are like me (risk averse and lazy) then it is definitely a legitimate option.

jvrossb 14y ago
Congrats! Mind sharing what kind of apps you made?
- bignoggins 14y ago
  Its in my HN profile
docyes 14y ago
WFHBYOB!
timjahn 14y ago
More power to ya Jerry. That's the lifestyle I'm working toward myself.
- bignoggins 14y ago
  thanks Tim!
nanijoe 14y ago
Oh the paradox...The thought of bootstrapping being for the lazy and risk averse.
- bignoggins 14y ago
  it's for the risk averse because you can bootstrap and keep your job. it's for the lazy because your limited time forces you to attack much smaller problems and make compromises, which im my opinion is a GOOD thing.
sparknlaunch12 14y ago
Congrats on living the dream! Slightly off the main topic but how much marketing and development is required to achieve the type of figures you are talking about? Typically there seems to be a massive amount of money spent on promoting an app into the top 100 list. If you knew nothing about mobile apps today - where would you start? (Or would you start at all?)
- bignoggins 14y ago
  I haven't spent any money and barely any time on marketing. Development I did all the coding myself and eventually hired a graphic designer part time. The thing is I'm not usually on the Top 100 list (or even Top 300 for that matter), I just charge more for my apps (my price points are $3, $5, $8). That's the best kept secret of the app store. Sure the Top 100 apps make a ton of money, but there is a growing class of niche apps that can make just as much money by charging more and catering to a smaller niche audience. My advice is to not create the next Angry Birds, but try and find a niche that is underserved and create a great app and charge as much as you can get away with. And get a great designer too, that's the best ROI I can think of.
  - sayemm 14y ago
    I think it's very smart, and not just for the risk-averse and lazy... starting small and earning your first stripes as an entrepreneur may prove to be a solid stepping stone to pursue bigger ventures in the future, I think. And now that you're financially independent, you won't have to worry about money holding you back. Gabriel Weinberg (DuckDuckGo founder), Ben Milne (Dwolla founder), Nat Turner (Invite Media founder), the list goes on... were all proven bootstrapped entrepreneurs before they worked on their first venture-backed startup. Congrats on your success, do you recommend any good books or resources for bootstrapping/marketing apps? I'm a big fan of Rob Walling's book/blog.
    - bignoggins 14y ago
      pretty much followed Rob's advice to the T
mietek 14y ago
Thank you for being an inspiration.
jbigelow76 14y ago
Congrats man, I hope to be writing a post like yours in the next 6-18 months.
jwong42 14y ago
This is so awesome! Congrats to you for this amazing accomplishment. I'll try my best to be in that same situation!
mcdowall 14y ago
I'm at stage 1 of your story at the moment, I'm part developing / outsourcing dev from my contracting earnings and hoping to launch in the next 3mths, I'm then heading off around Central & South America for the next 3 to try and push it on part time whilst also enjoying new cultures. Thanks for being a great inspiration.
ozres1 14y ago
Hi Jerry, you mentioned earlier that your android version makes about 75% of its iPhone equivalent. Is this still the case now?
- bignoggins 14y ago
  no it's dropped substantially. now it's about 10%

jvrossb 14y ago

Congrats! Mind sharing what kind of apps you made?

bignoggins 14y ago
Its in my HN profile

docyes 14y ago

WFHBYOB!

timjahn 14y ago

More power to ya Jerry. That's the lifestyle I'm working toward myself.

bignoggins 14y ago
thanks Tim!

nanijoe 14y ago

Oh the paradox...The thought of bootstrapping being for the lazy and risk averse.

bignoggins 14y ago
it's for the risk averse because you can bootstrap and keep your job. it's for the lazy because your limited time forces you to attack much smaller problems and make compromises, which im my opinion is a GOOD thing.

sparknlaunch12 14y ago

Congrats on living the dream! Slightly off the main topic but how much marketing and development is required to achieve the type of figures you are talking about? Typically there seems to be a massive amount of money spent on promoting an app into the top 100 list. If you knew nothing about mobile apps today - where would you start? (Or would you start at all?)

bignoggins 14y ago
I haven't spent any money and barely any time on marketing. Development I did all the coding myself and eventually hired a graphic designer part time. The thing is I'm not usually on the Top 100 list (or even Top 300 for that matter), I just charge more for my apps (my price points are $3, $5, $8). That's the best kept secret of the app store. Sure the Top 100 apps make a ton of money, but there is a growing class of niche apps that can make just as much money by charging more and catering to a smaller niche audience. My advice is to not create the next Angry Birds, but try and find a niche that is underserved and create a great app and charge as much as you can get away with. And get a great designer too, that's the best ROI I can think of.
- sayemm 14y ago
  I think it's very smart, and not just for the risk-averse and lazy... starting small and earning your first stripes as an entrepreneur may prove to be a solid stepping stone to pursue bigger ventures in the future, I think. And now that you're financially independent, you won't have to worry about money holding you back. Gabriel Weinberg (DuckDuckGo founder), Ben Milne (Dwolla founder), Nat Turner (Invite Media founder), the list goes on... were all proven bootstrapped entrepreneurs before they worked on their first venture-backed startup. Congrats on your success, do you recommend any good books or resources for bootstrapping/marketing apps? I'm a big fan of Rob Walling's book/blog.
  - bignoggins 14y ago
    pretty much followed Rob's advice to the T

mietek 14y ago

Thank you for being an inspiration.

jbigelow76 14y ago

Congrats man, I hope to be writing a post like yours in the next 6-18 months.

jwong42 14y ago

This is so awesome! Congrats to you for this amazing accomplishment. I'll try my best to be in that same situation!

mcdowall 14y ago

I'm at stage 1 of your story at the moment, I'm part developing / outsourcing dev from my contracting earnings and hoping to launch in the next 3mths, I'm then heading off around Central & South America for the next 3 to try and push it on part time whilst also enjoying new cultures. Thanks for being a great inspiration.

ozres1 14y ago

Hi Jerry, you mentioned earlier that your android version makes about 75% of its iPhone equivalent. Is this still the case now?

bignoggins 14y ago
no it's dropped substantially. now it's about 10%