The beginning of a music startup?

Stories about and for bootstrapped startups

Bootstrapped Tech for the week of September 30, 2024

Welcome to this issue of Bootstrapped Tech, a weekly newsletter focused on startups making things happen without funding, plus other news relevant to the startup world.

Let’s dive into some headlines right after this special offer.

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Bootstrapped Tech Headlines

  • Technically, this isn’t a startup because it might not even be a company. But Riley Walz has something cool going here. They installed a solar-powered box with a constantly Shazam-ing phone high above a San Francisco street, capturing the city's music 24/7. Inspired by police tech like Shot Spotter, this "culture surveillance" tracks street vibes, not criminals. It's an ongoing feed of the sounds shaping the local scene. Check it out

  • Charlie Ward, founder of Ramen Club, has built a community of over 3,000 indie hackers and is currently coaching over 300 makers to reach ramen profitability. As a solopreneur with extensive experience with successful entrepreneurs, he offers valuable insights. Recently, he shared his thoughts on how to succeed as an indie hacker. Read more…

  • TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is set to take place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30, with over 10,000 attendees from the startup, VC, and tech communities expected. The Disrupt Stage will feature high-profile speakers, including the CEOs of General Motors, Databricks, and Wiz, alongside VC investors. Read more…

  • A controversy has erupted between WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine, a popular WordPress hosting provider. Mullenweg criticized WP Engine for turning off post-revision tracking, calling it a betrayal of WordPress users' data protection, and accused the company of misleading customers with its "WP" branding. He also called out WP Engine's investor, Silver Lake, for not supporting the open-source project. Read more…

  • Salesforce's acquisition of Zoomin surprised many, as the once bootstrapped startup had kept a low profile despite its growing relationship with Salesforce since 2018. Zoomin is crucial to Salesforce's AI-driven transformation, addressing fundamental challenges and opening new market opportunities. Their partnership started with a strategic investment and recently led to the launch of a joint product. Read more…

  • Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy announced its 2024 cohort, featuring ten sports-related startups from six countries, working in areas like ticketing, fan engagement, and athlete wellness. Entering its sixth year, the program continues to seek visionary founders with deep market expertise. The 13-week mentorship-driven accelerator will culminate in a Demo Day at the One Zero Sports Summit in December, helping founders refine strategies and prepare for future fundraising. Read more…

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See you next week!