If you have ever dived into the world of bootstrapping, you know Jason Fried. He co-founded 37signals nearly 25 years ago and has been a trailblazer ever since. His story is that of the classic entrepreneur: he built software as a teenager to organize his music collection and soon started selling it online. It was a lightbulb moment when he realized that he could make money by building products he wanted.
After a few stints in corporate, he helped found 37signals. It began as a web design agency that transitioned into a software product business organically. They built Basecamp to solve their own client management issues and then realized others wanted it as well.
One of the largest benefits of bootstrapping is the independence it grants—throughout our conversation, Jason continually brings up that benefit. In their business, they actively avoid enterprise customers and focus on serving small businesses. Instead of setting goals, the company focuses on a repeatable product process. Rather than be driven by a board’s demands for unrelenting growth, they are driven by the passion for what they build.
Even their marketing is different—they open-source their ideas through books to spread their philosophies and gain influence. They only recently began experimenting with paid marketing (can you imagine not doing that for 25 years??), and everything they make has a deliberate, handcrafted feel.
At Tidemark, we love these types of entrepreneurs. Their stories and strategies are worth studying. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Jason Fried.