Jason Fried on 20 Years Bootstrapping BaseCamp at 37signals

Jason Fried is the co-founder and CEO of 37signals, makers of the popular Basecamp project management software, which is still growing and very profitable after 20 years. He is going long and still having fun as an engaged CEO, building great products with great marketing that stands out.

Jason has long advocated for software founders to avoid VC funding and build sustainable businesses that are great for customers and generate healthy profits for the owners. His best-selling book "Rework" shared his practical approach for entrepreneurs.

In this wide-ranging interview, Jason discusses these important topics:
How the core principles of Basecamp remain focused on simplicity and essential tools for project management after 20 years.
Why Basecamp targets small businesses, avoiding the enterprise market that many competitors chase.
Why software should fit the needs of the user, rather than forcing users to adapt to complex tools for big companies
How profitability, not growth, provides the freedom to innovate and explore new ideas.
Why competing against your costs is more important than competing against other companies.
How small teams have the agility to win against big companies.

About Practical Founders and Greg Head

Practical Founders build valuable software companies without big VC funding. This growing community of practical founders are winning the startup game with successful exits of $20 million to $100 million for founders, if they ever choose to sell. There has never been a better time to be a practical founder.
 
Greg Head is founder in chief of Practical Founders. He is a 30-year software industry veteran who was part of the startup-to-scale journeys of three different CRM software companies, including one IPO. He is now an active advisor, community builder, and speaker who helps founders of SaaS software startups worldwide.
 
Greg is a paid strategic advisor to 40 early-stage SaaS company CEOs with his Practical Founders Peer Groups and his 1-1 CEO advisory programs. He hosts the weekly Practical Founders Podcast where he interviews successful founders who grew valuable software companies without big funding.

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