Lemon Squeezy CTO on why he still makes side projects - Gilbert Pellegrom

Lemon Squeezy CTO on why he still makes side projects - Gilbert Pellegrom

Author: James McKinven December 20, 2023 Duration: 16:12

Gilbert Pellegrom, is co-founder and CTO of Lemon Squeezy, a platform for selling software and digital products online. Previously Gilbert created the Nivo Slider all in 2010, which grew to millions of users before selling it. He then went on to work with Orman Clark at ThemeZilla and Dunked, who he’s teamed up with again to build Lemon Squeezy. What’s interesting about Gilbert is that despite being the CTO of a rapidly scaling startup, he’s still making and shipping side projects, which we’ll talk about more on this episode.

If you want to hear more about Lemon Squeezy, I actually co-host their podcast called Make Lemonade, where I speak with their CEO JR Farr about the behind the scenes of building a bootstrapped company making millions.

Sign up to the Indie Bites membership for $60 a year to access the full conversation with Gilbert.

Timestamps

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 03:57 Working with Orman Clark at Themezilla and Dunked
  • 06:11 Delicious Brains
  • 06:40 Starting Lemon Squeezy
  • 07:52 Why Gilbert makes side projects
  • 10:36 Should you charge money for your side projects
  • 12:58 Selling side projects
  • 14:59 Recommendations

Recommendations

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Every Tuesday, James McKinven sits down for a short chat with someone who’s quietly building a business on their own terms. Indie Bites focuses on the real, often messy, beginnings of profitable, bootstrapped ventures. Instead of abstract theory, you’ll hear founders explain the exact moment an idea clicked, the scrappy ways they tested it without spending a fortune, and how they landed those crucial first few customers. The conversations are deliberately kept concise, getting straight to the practical insights that make a difference when you’re starting with limited time and resources. This podcast digs into the specifics of creating a sustainable income independently, covering the intersection of entrepreneurship, marketing, and hands-on business tactics. It’s for anyone who prefers learning from direct experience rather than corporate playbooks, offering a regular dose of motivation and actionable advice from people who are actually doing the work.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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