Bootstrapping to $20M with Amir Salihefendic (Todoist)

The Only Thing That Matters

What if you could build a leading brand in a highly competitive market and grow to $20M in annual revenue without raising venture capital?
In this episode, I chat with Amir Salihefendic, the brain behind Doist and its popular task management app, Todoist.
Amir reveals his journey of bootstrapping Doist from a side project to a full-blown business. He shares his experience of assembling a top-notch team on a shoestring budget and underscores the importance of a remote-first strategy.
Amir also discusses Twist, Doist’s innovative communication tool, and its potential to revolutionize asynchronous work.
Amir's story sheds light on the tech trends that have shaped Doist’s evolution, from the rise of web and mobile apps to the transition from B2C to B2B.
Discover the origins of Todoist as a personal solution and how understanding user needs can drive a product’s success.
Amir provides a candid look at the unpredictable market adoption of products like Twist and shares valuable insights into the iterative nature of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need to adapt and experiment constantly.
Throughout our conversation, Amir talks about the gritty details of maintaining momentum and the pivotal moments that directed Doist's focus toward full-time development.
He shares the importance of recognizing product-market fit signals, the challenges of growing a passionate and unique team, and the strategies that have ensured Doist’s financial stability without succumbing to the pressures of becoming a billion-dollar company.
Join us for an enriching discussion on the principles behind Doist’s sustained growth and success.

Chương

1. Building a Successful Bootstrapped Company (00:00:00)

2. Riding Waves of Technological Innovation (00:11:01)

3. Navigating Growth and Success in Tech (00:23:50)

4. Recognizing Product Market Fit Signals (00:30:11)

5. Building a Passionate and Unique Team (00:39:52)

6. Navigating Growth and Financial Stability (00:55:17)