Get the full experience! Sign up to access transcripts, personalized summaries, and more features.
Vova Feldman is the founder of Freemius, a Merchant of Record payment provider. He's been at it for a while, and it wasn't always easy. Vova shares his approach to weathering the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, how to build a team (and mis-hires), and what operating in the payment industry means for a crafty founder.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/vova-feldman-mastering-entrepreneurship-in-the-payments-sector/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/401-vova-feldman-mastering-entrepreneurship-in-the-payments-sector
Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvid
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter
My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
Here are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw
Vova reflects on his ten-year journey as a bootstrapper in a competitive payment industry. He emphasizes the importance of passion for solving a personal problem and relating to his target audience. He highlights that maintaining a big vision is crucial to stave off stagnation and that growth is often tied to continuously expanding one's aspirations.
Transitioning from a solo founder to leading a team is a pivotal challenge. Vova shares his experience of hiring and delegating responsibilities, which took him years to accomplish. He emphasizes the importance of having the right support and being willing to leverage team members' skills to avoid burnout and maintain business momentum.
During their discussion, Vova and Arvid explore the fine line between being an involved founder and effectively delegating tasks to team members. Vova notes that while certain tasks should remain in the founder's purview—such as business development for gathering insights—other responsibilities can and should be delegated to enhance efficiency.
Vova expresses his optimism regarding AI and its potential to streamline business processes, particularly regarding communication and task management. He discusses leveraging AI for operational efficiency while maintaining the irreplaceable human touch in his leadership strategy.
The conversation turns to the intricacies of hiring and building a cohesive team. Vova shares insights on how referrals, personal networks, and being proactive in recruiting have yielded the best hires for his company Freemius. He stresses the cultural fit and technical skills are vital for long-term success.
Vova discusses the importance of community in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, illustrating how Freemius facilitates connections among founders and creators. They explore the impact of communal support in enhancing growth opportunities and creative partnerships within the marketplace.
Join other podcast enthusiasts who are getting podcast summaries.
Sign Up Free