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Default Alive

Default Alive
Author: Corey Haines & Chris Spags
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© ⓒ Default Alive
Description
Two founders share an unedited look at what it's like to bootstrap a startup through weekly updates. Chris Spags is the founder of Jetboost, a suite of no-code plugins for Webflow. Corey Haines is the founder of Swipe Files, a membership site for marketers built with no-code tools. They chronicle their journeys getting to and staying "default alive": profitable, self-sustaining, with infinite runway.
83 Episodes
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Corey and Chris are bringing the podcast to an end. They discuss why, where things are at today, and what to look out for in the future.Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey shares some learnings on startup taxes. Chris shares how the recent growth of the Jetboost team is going and what he’s learning from that. They also discuss SaaS team account architecture, user onboarding email sequences, churn trends in 2023, and of course, they have to talk about ChatGPT.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Andrew from FlowPhantom
Pieter Levels tweet on Google fumbling AI
Derrick’s blog: Ship Small, Ship Fast
MusicLM
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey and Chris talk about their goals, themes, and big projects for the new year.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
SwipeWell Product Hunt launch
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey and Chris look back on the past year’s highlights, lowlights, and learnings.Ask us a question →Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey is working on co-marketing campaigns for SwipeWell. Chris is back from Webflow Conf and shares everything that happened at the event! They also discuss some of the unique aspects of the Calm Fund SEAL agreement.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Webflow Conf Announcements
Webflow Apps
Reilly Chase’s tweet
Tyler Tringas’s tweet
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey recaps the SaaS Marketing Summit and State of SaaS Marketing report. Chris is wrapping up his final prep before Webflow Conf next week. They also talk about AI, newsletter sponsorships, and SwipeWell mobile apps.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Webflow Conf Agenda
Corey’s AI generated profile pictures
SaaS Marketing Summit recording
State of SaaS Marketing 2022 Report
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey hits a big newsletter subscriber milestone. Chris gets back from vacation and officially launches the Jetboost blog. They also talk about playing the waiting game with SEO, Webflow Conf, and SwipeWell’s public roadmap.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
SwipeWell Public Roadmap
SaaS Marketing Summit on October 12th
Jetboost Blog
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey and Chris answer listener questions live on the podcast to celebrate the 2-year anniversary of publishing. They cover how they spend their time, favorite tools, what success looks like, the highs and lows of the journey, and more.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Grain
Mailman
ZipMessage
Manifest Destiny blog post
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey integrates a new newsletter growth tool for Swipe Files and ships a new landing page for SwipeWell. Chris is still celebrating recent wins while pondering the future of Jetboost. They also talk about Chrome web store SEO, “Two Way Write Ups,” and product evolution.Next week is a Q&A episode to celebrate the 2-year anniversary of the podcast. AMA!Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
SwipeWell Chrome Store listing
State of SaaS Marketing Survey
Tweet about Jetboost benefits
Two Way Write Ups
Great Bootstrapped Web episode
SparkLoop Partner Network
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey prepares to roll out waitlist invites for SwipeWell. Chris shares what he learned while setting Jetboost up to hire full-time employees instead of contractors. They also discuss Google’s upcoming search update, programmatic SEO, and useful SEO tools.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Above Board podcast
Startup to Last podcast
PageFactory
Splitbee
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey launches a programmatic content experiment on Product Hunt and starts planning the Swipe Files Summit. Chris moved to Chicago and made two new hires! They also talk about a new SaaS project and Webflow Conf.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Retext
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey builds a mobile app MVP using the no-code tool Adalo. Chris is continuing to push out small UX updates for Jetboost while preparing for his big move across the country. They also talk about new onboarding flows for SwipeWell and Swipe Files.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Adalo Crash Course YouTube Video
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey celebrates getting the first SwipeWell customers. Chris ships a helpful update to Jetboost and brainstorms some content ideas. They also discuss product analytics and being a power user of your own app.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
PostHog
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey launches CopywritingPrompts.com and experiments with programmatic SEO for SwipeWell. Chris is getting back in the groove, talking to customers, exploring partnerships, and working on new features for Jetboost. They also provide an update on Default Alive Ventures and discuss the opportunity cost of buying a SaaS.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
CopywritingPrompts.com
Relume
Rails SaaS Conf
Framework Friends
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Default Alive Ventures
Swipe Files
Jetboost
SwipeWell
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey works on a new side project as marketing for SwipeWell. Chris ships an important update to handle subscription changes and works on turning content briefs into articles. They also introduce Default Alive Ventures and talk about SaaS acquisition multiples based on ARR vs SDE.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Default Alive Ventures
Tweet Hunter Maker Grant
Pieter Levels tweet
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Swipe Files
Jetboost
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey and Chris were about to close on a deal to acquire a micro SaaS business together until it suddenly fell apart. Listen in to hear what happened and what they’d do differently next time.Know a SaaS business we might want to acquire? →Notable mentions:
MicroAcquisitions course
Boopos
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Swipe Files
Jetboost
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey experiments with a $500 MRR Challenge to gain new members. Chris has had to put work on the backburner for a bit while overcoming some challenges at home. They also talk about Elon buying Twitter, NFT launches, and meetups.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Milk Road
City Clash
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Swipe Files
Jetboost
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey onboards the first SwipeWell users on calls and publishes some new blog posts. Chris is only working half-time right now but managed to ship a key stability update for Jetboost. They also how sleep affects productivity and a new indie hacker podcast, Framework Friends.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Framework Friends
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Swipe Files
Jetboost
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey builds a waitlist for SwipeWell and shares the outline for Founding Marketing. Chris gives a short update on how paternity leave is going. They also talk about the woes of tax season, meeting online friends in person, and the discipline to focus on what you work on.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Founding Marketing Table of Contents
Jetboost Compare Products
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Swipe Files
Jetboost
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags
Corey announces a new SaaS project. Chris makes a marketing hire and shares some product updates. They also talk about platform risk, outcome oriented communities, and hiring outside of your area of expertise.Ask us a question →Notable mentions:
Bootstrapping an outcome oriented community
The Elephant in the room: The myth of exponential hypergrowth
Jason Cohen talk: Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise (#2 on the page)
SwipeWell (Corey’s new SaaS project)
More podcasts for bootstrappers
Learn more about their businesses:
Swipe Files
Jetboost
Follow them on Twitter:
@coreyhainesco
@c_spags