Who is an indie founder?

Who is an indie founder?

An indie founder is an entrepreneur who values independence, financial autonomy, and directly serving customers. They're in it to create genuine value and cultivate a loyal customer base, not just to appease potential investors.

For many, being an indie founder starts as a side hustle while juggling a full-time job. They're not looking to escape the 9-to-5 immediately; they're carving out a space for their passion, one day at a time.

Ask an indie founder about their ambitions, and you'll often hear sky-high dreams. Some might have their sights set on a billion-dollar valuation. They value the journey, starting small to learn the ropes, but always with an eye on bigger prizes.

It's a misconception that all indie founders are lone wolves, tech-savvy, and operate on a shoestring budget. Sure, many are solo founders and software engineers. But you'll also find indie founders with co-founders, non-tech skills, any age, and from any walk of life. Their unifying thread? A spirit of independence.

What kind of businesses do indie founders build?

An indie founder business can be as small as single page website earning $5/month via AdSense, or as large as a multi-billion dollar business like MailChimp. They can work in any niche, limited only by their resources.

Today's indie venture could very well be tomorrow's billion-dollar empire. These founders might start small, but there's no ceiling to where they might go. They embody the essence of "think big, start small."

How does indie founding differ from raising institutional investment?

While VC-backed founders often chase exponential growth and scale with the aim of a large exit or IPO, indie founders prioritize sustainable growth, profitability, and independence.

The VC Growth Model (simplified):

1. Build a pitch deck and try to raise money from VCs

2. Use the money to build product and acquire customers (user growth is the key metric)

3. Is the company big enough to exit or IPO yet? If no, back to step 1.

The Indie Founder Model (simplified):

1. Build a product or service

2. Market and sell it to customers (profit is the key metric)

While the VC model might be tempting due to the allure of vast resources and potential quick growth, it often comes with strings attached – loss of control, heightened pressures, and the need to prioritize the investor's returns. Indie founding, on the other hand, offers more autonomy, albeit with its challenges.

Do indie founders ever raise money?

While they might shy away from institutional investors, it's not uncommon for an indie founder to take a bank loan or ask friends-and-family for support. Finding operational finance without losing control is the key.

Are you an indie founder?

If you feel yourself nodding your head as you read this article, you might just be an indie founder!

Beyond business models and strategies, being an indie founder is a mindset—a lifestyle—and a different way of looking at the world of entrepreneurship.