The Bootstrapped Founder

<p>Jack Ellis recently shared that storing page views and custom events in separate database tables was his biggest mistake at Fathom Analytics. That got me thinking about my own data modeling decisions at Podscan—choices I made on day one that now, two years and 45 million episodes later, either enable or constrain everything I build. </p><p>Today, I'm exploring how your data model doesn't just store information, it fundamentally shapes how you think about your product. From the simple decision of whether to include teams in your authentication system to the complex realities of running full-text search across terabytes of transcript data, I'll share the migrations, the blue-green deployments, and the hard lessons about building flexibility into both your infrastructure and your founder mindset.</p><p><a href="https://tbf.link/bff">I'm running a time-limited Black Friday sale of The Bootstrapper's Bundle: all my books, all my courses, all formats, for $25 instead of $100+. Grab it here: https://tbf.link/bff</a></p><p>This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by <a href="https://www.paddle.com/?utm_source=tbf&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=arvidkahl">Paddle.com</a><br>You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: <a href="https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=core-fy2025-h2-black-friday-campaign&amp;utm_content=bootstrapped-founder">https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday</a></p><p>The blog post: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-your-data-model-shapes-your-product/">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-your-data-model-shapes-your-product/</a> <br>The podcast episode: <a href="https://tbf.fm/episodes/426-how-your-data-model-shapes-your-product">https://tbf.fm/episodes/426-how-your-data-model-shapes-your-product</a> </p><p>Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: <a href="https://podscan.fm/">https://podscan.fm</a><br>Send me a voicemail on Podline: <a href="https://podline.fm/arvid">https://podline.fm/arvid</a></p><p>You'll find my weekly article on my blog: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com</a></p><p>Podcast: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast</a></p><p>Newsletter: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter</a></p><p><br>My book Zero to Sold: <a href="https://zerotosold.com/">https://zerotosold.com/</a></p><p>My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: <a href="https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/">https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/</a></p><p>My course Find Your Following: <a href="https://findyourfollowing.com/">https://findyourfollowing.com</a></p><p>Here are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.<br>- <a href="https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx">Notion</a> (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): <a href="https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx">https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx</a><br>- <a href="https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid">Riverside.fm</a> (that's what I recorded this episode with): <a href="https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid">https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid</a><br>- <a href="http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid">TweetHunter</a> (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): <a href="http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid">http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid</a><br>- <a href="https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60">HypeFury</a> (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): <a href="https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60">https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60</a><br>- <a href="https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ">AudioPen</a> (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): <a href="https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ">https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ</a><br>- <a href="https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q">Descript</a> (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): <a href="https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q">https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q</a><br>- <a href="https://convertkit.com/?lmref=bN9CZw">ConvertKit</a> (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): <a href="https://convertkit.com/?lmref=bN9CZw">https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw</a></p>

<p>What if your customers can't care about your advanced features because you haven't satisfied their basic needs first? Just like humans need food before philosophy, marketers need specific data in a rigid order – and understanding this hierarchy transformed how Podscan onboards customers.</p><p><br>This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by <a href="https://www.paddle.com/?utm_source=tbf&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=arvidkahl">Paddle.com</a><br>You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: <a href="https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=core-fy2025-h2-black-friday-campaign&amp;utm_content=bootstrapped-founder">https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday</a></p><p>The blog post: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligence/">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligence/</a><br>The podcast episode: <a href="https://tbf.fm/episodes/423-the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligence">https://tbf.fm/episodes/423-the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligence</a></p><p><br></p><p>Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: <a href="https://podscan.fm/">https://podscan.fm</a><br>Send me a voicemail on Podline: <a href="https://podline.fm/arvid">https://podline.fm/arvid</a></p><p>You'll find my weekly article on my blog: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com</a></p><p>Podcast: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast</a></p><p>Newsletter: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter</a></p><p><br>My book Zero to Sold: <a href="https://zerotosold.com/">https://zerotosold.com/</a></p><p>My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: <a href="https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/">https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/</a></p><p>My course Find Your Following: <a href="https://findyourfollowing.com/">https://findyourfollowing.com</a></p><p>Here are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.<br>- <a href="https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx">Notion</a> (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): <a href="https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx">https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx</a><br>- <a href="https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid">Riverside.fm</a> (that's what I recorded this episode with): <a href="https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid">https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid</a><br>- <a href="http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid">TweetHunter</a> (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): <a href="http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid">http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid</a><br>- <a href="https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60">HypeFury</a> (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): <a href="https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60">https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60</a><br>- <a href="https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ">AudioPen</a> (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): <a href="https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ">https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ</a><br>- <a href="https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q">Descript</a> (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): <a href="https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q">https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q</a><br>- <a href="https://convertkit.com/?lmref=bN9CZw">ConvertKit</a> (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): <a href="https://convertkit.com/?lmref=bN9CZw">https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw</a></p>

<p>When you build a software business as a founder, you have a dream. Building. Features. APIs. UIs.</p><p>But how much of that is JUST a dream, and what REALLY leads to paying customers?</p><p><br>This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by <a href="https://www.paddle.com/?utm_source=tbf&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_campaign=arvidkahl">Paddle.com</a><br>You'll find the Black Friday Guide here: <a href="https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=core-fy2025-h2-black-friday-campaign&amp;utm_content=bootstrapped-founder">https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-friday</a></p><p>The blog post: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-things-your-customers-dont-care-about/">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-things-your-customers-dont-care-about/</a><br>The podcast episode: <a href="https://tbf.fm/episodes/422-the-things-your-customers-dont-care-about">https://tbf.fm/episodes/422-the-things-your-customers-dont-care-about</a></p><p><br></p><p>Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: <a href="https://podscan.fm/">https://podscan.fm</a><br>Send me a voicemail on Podline: <a href="https://podline.fm/arvid">https://podline.fm/arvid</a></p><p>You'll find my weekly article on my blog: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com</a></p><p>Podcast: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast</a></p><p>Newsletter: <a href="https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter">https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter</a></p><p><br>My book Zero to Sold: <a href="https://zerotosold.com/">https://zerotosold.com/</a></p><p>My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: <a href="https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/">https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/</a></p><p>My course Find Your Following: <a href="https://findyourfollowing.com/">https://findyourfollowing.com</a></p><p>Here are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.<br>- <a href="https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx">Notion</a> (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): <a href="https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx">https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx</a><br>- <a href="https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid">Riverside.fm</a> (that's what I recorded this episode with): <a href="https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid">https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid</a><br>- <a href="http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid">TweetHunter</a> (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): <a href="http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid">http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid</a><br>- <a href="https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60">HypeFury</a> (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): <a href="https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60">https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60</a><br>- <a href="https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ">AudioPen</a> (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): <a href="https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ">https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ</a><br>- <a href="https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q">Descript</a> (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): <a href="https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q">https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q</a><br>- <a href="https://convertkit.com/?lmref=bN9CZw">ConvertKit</a> (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): <a href="https://convertkit.com/?lmref=bN9CZw">https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw</a></p>