Ben Rometsch: From Side Projects to Industry Giants — The Bootstrapped Founder 363


Dear founder,

Ben Rometsch (@dabeeeenster.bsky.social), the founder of Flagsmith, created a bootstrapped SaaS success story. Feature flags are transforming software deployment by decoupling releases and enhancing control. And Ben bootstrapped this deceptively simple-looking part of engineering into a significant software business.

And then there's the open-source part of all that. The Open Feature project is setting new standards in software development, akin to OpenTelemetry. Ben shares insights into this collaborative open-source initiative and takes you on a decade-long journey running a software agency in London, where creativity thrived, leading to the creation of a cost-effective, open-source feature flag tool now used by major companies.

🎧 Listen to this on my podcast.

We even get to the parallels between Brexit and business growth as Ben discusses breaking growth ceilings and the challenges of venture capital. You'll hear about a pivotal deal during the pandemic and how it set off a massive growth spurt that was previously impossible.

Ben and I both value slow, sustainable growth without VC pressures. But it comes with its own challenges, like balancing monetization strategies while maintaining a sustainable open-source project. Join us for a conversation about building a business with purpose.

If you want to track your brand mentions on podcasts, please check out podscan.fm — and tell your friends!

Thank you for reading this week’s essay edition of The Bootstrapped Founder. Did you enjoy it? If so, please spread the word and ​share this issue on Twitter.

If you want to reach tens of thousands of creators, makers, and dreamers, you can ​apply to sponsor ​an episode of this newsletter. Or just reply to this email!

To make sure you keep getting your weekly dose of Bootstrapped Founder, please add arvid@thebootstrappedfounder.com to your address book or whitelist us.

Did someone forward you this issue of The Bootstrapped Founder? ​You can subscribe to it here!​

Want to change which emails you get from The Bootstrapped Founder or unsubscribe for good? No worries, just click this link: ​change email preferences​ or ​unsubscribe​​.

Our postal address: 113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205

Opt-out of preference-based advertising

Arvid Kahl

Being your own boss isn't easy, but it's worth it. Learn how to build a legacy while being kind and authentic. I want to empower as many entrepreneurs as possible to help themselves (and those they choose to serve).

Read more from Arvid Kahl
Bootstrapped Founder Logo

Podcast, YouTube, Blog Dear founder, This week taught me an unexpected lesson about entrepreneurship. After the Christmas and New Years festivities — that annual tradition of sharing joy, memories, and apparently germs — I found myself running a fever of nearly 40°C (104°F). For someone who rarely gets sick, this hit particularly hard. 🎧 Listen to this on my podcast. As I lay in bed, barely able to function, I realized just how crucial it had been to build my businesses the way I did. Both my...

Bootstrapped Founder Logo

Podcast, YouTube, Blog Dear founder, When Peter Jackson was brainstorming the Lord of the Rings movie universe, two amazing Tolkien-savvy illustrators sat in on the meetings: John Howe and Alan Lee. Jackson would explain a scene, what was where, and they would sketch as he talked. When he was done explaining, the two artist would hand over their quick sketches, allowing the director to see what he had just envisioned. Until now, you needed extraordinarily gifted experts with years of...

Bootstrapped Founder Logo

Podcast, YouTube, Blog Dear founder, Johannes Jäschke is a pioneer in the intersection of technology and mental health. From a college seminar to the forefront of digital well-being, Johannes developed Hypnu, a hypnosis app that gained significant traction during the pandemic. His innovative approach offered an alternative to traditional methods, addressing insomnia and anxiety without side effects. After successfully exiting Hypnu, Johannes continues to inspire with his journey through the...