Episode 759 | TinySeed Tales s4e6: Does AI + Pivot = Success?

Episode 759 | TinySeed Tales s4e6: Does AI + Pivot = Success?

Author: Rob Walling February 20, 2025 Duration: 27:10
In this episode of TinySeed Tales, Rob Walling speaks with Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of Hello Query, as she shares her latest startup journey pivot. After reigniting her “shipping muscle” while briefly dabbling in an AI-based project, Colleen refocuses on her newest pivot of Hello Query. She shares the challenges of determining the market viability of an AI-assisted SQL report builder. She stands at a crossroads, torn between catering to internal BI teams or exploring marketing analytics. Topics we cover:  (1:25) – Reflecting on the co-founder breakup (2:42) – Trying a scratch-your-own-itch project (6:27) – Unfair advantages inform another pivot (15:07) – Respecting the “emotional runway”   (19:23) – Marketing insights vs. an internal BI tool (23:01) – The curse of the audience Links from the Show:  Applications for TinySeed are Open Through Feb 23rd Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger) | X Colleen Schnettler (@leenyburger.bsky.social) | Bluesky Hello Query If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you! Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

Rob Walling hosts Startups For the Rest of Us, a long-running conversation focused squarely on the realities of building a company without massive venture funding. This isn't about Silicon Valley fairy tales; it's a practical, ground-level view of entrepreneurship. Each episode delves into the specific journeys of founders who are starting, acquiring, or growing their SaaS businesses, emphasizing the path of bootstrapping. You'll hear the unvarnished details-the strategic decisions, the unexpected obstacles, and the hard-won victories that define the daily life of a founder. The discussions are built on real stories, offering tangible lessons from both struggle and success. For anyone who has ever felt that the typical startup narrative doesn't reflect their own resource-constrained reality, this podcast provides a necessary and relatable perspective. It’s a deep resource for actionable advice and genuine camaraderie, connecting you with the experiences of those navigating the same challenging terrain. Tune in for honest conversations that cut through the hype and focus on building sustainable businesses.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Startups For the Rest of Us
Podcast Episodes
Episode 789 | TinySeed Tales s5e1: From Agency to SaaS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
Welcome to Season 5 of TinySeed Tales, the documentary-style series where we follow one SaaS founder’s journey over 12 months to hear about the wins, the missteps, and everything in between. In this season premiere, Rob…
Episode 787 | "We Shut Down a $1.5M Product, and Raised $10M Instead" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Episode 784 | The Wealth Ladder: Six Levels of Financial Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
What’s the real roadmap to lasting financial freedom? In this episode, Rob Walling chats with Nick Maggiulli about his new book, The Wealth Ladder. Nick explains how to identify your current financial stage and what it r…
Episode 782 | Why I Succeeded: My 10 Best Entrepreneurial Decisions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:46
Looking back on your entrepreneurship journey, which decisions made the biggest impact? In this solo episode, Rob Walling breaks down the 10 decisions that shaped his success, like choosing action over perfection, learni…