Building Astropad

Astropad
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Go behind the scenes with Building Astropad, a podcast about building something from nothing — hosted by Astropad CEO Matt Ronge. It's for anyone starting a project, launching a business, or scratching a creative itch.

  1. 01/20/2022

    How to Compete for Top Talent Against VC-Backed Startups

    It's tough to be a hiring manager right now. It's even harder when you're a bootstrapped company up against VC-backed startups and Big Tech companies with seemingly endless pockets.  Listen in to hear what we're doing to compete. Other resources Matt Ronge on Twitter

    11 min

  2. 01/06/2022

    How to come up with new product ideas

    Do you want to build a product but don't know what to make? Yea, I know the pain. On this episode, I discuss the 3 main ways we come up with product ideas at Astropad. Other resources Matt Ronge on Twitter

    9 min

  3. 12/16/2021

    3 books for new managers

    We’re adding more managers to the Astropad team, and that got me thinking about the resources I suggest for new managers. It’s not an easy transition from an individual contributor to a people manager.  If you read these books, you’ll be way ahead of the vast majority of managers out there. Tune in to hear why I recommend these 3 books: - The Making of Manager- Radical Candor- High Output Management Other resources Matt Ronge on Twitter

    15 min

  4. 12/02/2021

    How NOT to screw up switching your app to subscriptions

    The week I recorded this episode, a popular iPad app made the switch to subscriptions and totally screwed it up. Drawing on that example and our own experience, I give suggestions on switching an existing app to subscriptions. Tune in to hear my 3 lessons for making the switch without blowing up your business. On this episode, you'll learn: Why you should be extra generous with existing customersWhy you shouldn't take away featuresHow to structure your communicationsAnd why more apps should switch to subscriptionsOther resources Matt Ronge on TwitterMy Twitter thread on app subscriptionsA followup blog post that goes into more detail

    8 min

  5. 11/18/2021

    How we created our second biggest launch ever

    Earlier this summer, we were feeling pretty stuck. We had been working on Luna Display for Windows going on 2 years and we still hadn't shipped. So we put together a plan, picked a ship date, and committed to a final sprint. The result was... ... our second biggest launch of all time! 🙌 On this episode, I talk with Savannah about the planning that went into our incredibly successful Luna Display for Windows. We talk about our biggest sources of web traffic, why we think the launch did so well, and what surprised us as a pretty big launch failure (so far). Finally, hear how we faired on Product Hunt and why we might skip it in the future. On this episode, you'll learn: How we drove traffic for our launchWhat we expected to work that didn'tWhy we think the launch went so wellWhy we might skip Product Hunt next timePlus an update on how our 8,000 unit goal is goingOther resources Matt Ronge on TwitterSavannah Reising on Twitter

    31 min

  6. 11/05/2021

    Building a hardware startup with Aneela Idnani

    I talk with Aneela Idnani of HabitAware, a company dedicated to helping people with Body Focused Repetitive Behavior – like hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting. HabitAware makes a smart bracelet called Keen that helps control unwanted repetitive behavior.  They've been incredibly successful too, winning the MN Cup, named a Best Invention of 2018 by Time Magazine, and they've won government research grants from the NIH and NSF. On this episode, we talk about she got started building hardware, what the early days of the company were like, why she is so passionate about mental health, and how they've funded the business so far. On this episode, you'll learn: What BFRB's are and why they are focused on curing themHow they built their first hardware prototypes (and why they built custom hardware)Why there's a big space to help people with mental healthHow Aneela has funded her business through unconventional methodsWhat's next for HabitAwareOther resources Matt Ronge on TwitterAneela's powerful TEDx TalkHabitAwareHabitAware on Twitter

    44 min

  7. 10/21/2021

    Learning copywriting with Mark Lambert

    Love it or hate it writing marketing copy is necessary for all businesses. That's why I chat with Mark Lambert, a long-time copywriter, about his work with us and how he got started. We talk about the two main schools of thought in copywriting: the old school approach and the new storybrand method. We discuss how to pick a writing approach and resources to get started. We also talk about the importance of storytelling and how to improve at it. Links Matt Ronge on TwitterMark Lambert on TwitterMark's websiteResources for learning copywriting Old school approach: Copywriting Secrets by Jim EdwardsStorybrand: Building a Storybrand by Donald MillerFor good writing: Elements of Style by StrunkGreat storytelling: MrBallen

    38 min

  8. 09/28/2021

    Why I wouldn’t build a business around Mac apps

    I recently tweeted that I think the market for beautifully built, bespoke Mac apps is all but gone. Many people found this to be quite controversial, so on this episode, I break down why I think Mac apps are no longer a viable business model. Tune in to hear why I believe the App Store, the web, Apple, and the shift to mobile have forever changed the Mac app market. Links Matt Ronge on TwitterMy controversial tweet

    13 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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5 Ratings

About

Go behind the scenes with Building Astropad, a podcast about building something from nothing — hosted by Astropad CEO Matt Ronge. It's for anyone starting a project, launching a business, or scratching a creative itch.

Information

  • Creator
    Astropad
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2022
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Astro HQ LLC
  • Show Website
    Building Astropad