The Why and What

If you run quickly without directions, you will get lost.

If you have a goal in mind but not enough speed, you will not reach it fast enough.

Yet, if you have a clear direction and speed, you will be able to build momentum and have an impact.

Why did I start IndieHacker.Info?

Since I was a young child, I have always had strong entrepreneurial ambitions. I tried many different ventures, from selling clothing to tutoring college students, and I always sprinted from one idea to the next without direction. Yet, as soon as I started working in a SaaS straight out of college, I realised I wanted to stay in tech:

1. I love the versatility of tech, as I can become a founder in different industries, all tied together by technology.
2. I love the distribution of digital products, as anyone with a working internet connection and a computer could become a potential customer.
3. I love the remote possibilities, as I can work from anywhere.

The SaaS I worked at was one of the fastest-growing tech startups in Europe at the time (growing 600% year-over-year when I joined), and we sold the business in January 2023 for a (to me) fair exit price (more info). While employed, I was eager to create my own company, yet I told myself I needed to wait as “I don't have a technical co-founder.” So I waited.

Eventually, one of the founders left the company, and I approached him to create a venture together, yet he disagreed as I did not have the needed technical expertise. Throughout the following two years, I tried to circumvent my ‘lack of technical expertise’, as I believed ‘it is too difficult to learn and I do not have a Computer Science degree or any mathematical background’. Yet I often saw it catch up whenever I tried venturing into a new direction. I simply did not have enough technical know-how.

In this timeframe, I also realised how much I disagree with the common start-up advice, such as having a co-founder, raising money without much proof of traction or lofty valuations, being unprofitable for the sake of growth, and so on. VC-backed startups are, in my opinion, often a messy business and kind of an outdated idea. Usually, they have a high employee turnover, are not very well managed and are, most of the time, very volatile (once, my old employer had to eliminate 40% of the staff at the beginning of the COVID pandemic).

With this in mind, I wanted to create companies differently. I wanted to do it my way. I wanted to create something more honest, something with less fluff that solves problems I face daily. So, I started to set my direction. To have a clear path to run towards and build momentum.

This was my plan:

1. Learn to code until I can program a working website (with a working front- and back-end) within less than a week.
2. Create a process to validate startup ideas quickly.
3. Learn to market my products effectively.
4. End goal: Do things I love with people I care about daily. In my case, this is building helpful companies, sharing and challenging ideas, and travelling with open-minded, intelligent, and kind human beings.

While going through this process, I realized there were many things I could have done better and faster while saving money. This is where IndieHacker.Info was born. I want to provide a clearer direction so that you can build momentum more quickly.

What is IndieHacker.Info?

As the name suggests, IndieHacker.Info is for Indie Hackers.

Indie Hacker has no official definition as it is a relatively new term. Yet, it consists of two terms:

1. Indie, short for independent
   1. Indie refers historically to the creative industry, where artists want to prioritise their independence and expression over financial goals—thus avoiding working with big commercial studios. Hence, the “indie way” may describe anything created independently, commonly outside mainstream outlets.
2. Hacker
   1. Depending on the context, a hacker has either been used to praise those who solve technological challenges with exceptional ability or are referred to as those who employ this ability for immoral ends. In this situation, hackers are regarded as talented problem solvers with high technical abilities.

I define an Indie Hacker as a strong problem-solver who prioritises freedom and accountability while being able to make money on something they are passionate about. In a true DIY (do-it-yourself) philosophy, Indie Hackers do not require authorisation to create products that consumers will buy and use, but they mostly:

1. identify a need—whether it is their own or someone else's—
2. come up with a solution
3. share their solution with the appropriate people, and
4. make money and prioritise profitability over expansion

In this sense, IndieHacker.Info focuses on being a top directory and guide to:

1. quickly identify a need,
2. validate your solution,
3. launch your solution successfully
4. and make money your preferred way. Whether you have a technical or non-technical background.

I’m also developing a Notion Template: From 0 to IndieHacker.

Depending on the feedback from IndieHacker.Info, I will branch out with IndieHacker.Info to other areas and fields, such as creating a founder's community or making a marketplace.

Feel free to contact me anytime over X or via my website, and make sure to subscribe.