Kevin Ko
@kokev.in
Founder/dev @ mightyscout.com - $100k+ MRR SaaS Hacker, 100% bootstrapped.
I enjoy helping founders find passion and purpose in their life's work.
Tokyo, SF, NYC-based 🇯🇵 🇺🇸
I enjoy helping founders find passion and purpose in their life's work.
Tokyo, SF, NYC-based 🇯🇵 🇺🇸
I think b2b saas operators likely shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to interpreting data. We want to be data-driven to believe we make the right decisions, but our sample sizes are so extremely small that the data often suffers from sampling and survivorship bias, let me explain:
March 26, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I think b2b saas operators likely shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to interpreting data. We want to be data-driven to believe we make the right decisions, but our sample sizes are so extremely small that the data often suffers from sampling and survivorship bias, let me explain:
When I first started my SaaS nearly a decade ago, I was in my mid-20s with little experience, so I leaned heavily on the wisdom of those who had already been building successful businesses for years. Their advice became SaaS best practices.
March 26, 2025 at 4:25 AM
When I first started my SaaS nearly a decade ago, I was in my mid-20s with little experience, so I leaned heavily on the wisdom of those who had already been building successful businesses for years. Their advice became SaaS best practices.
Product hack: If you're unsure whether or not you need to support a legacy feature, just remove it and see if anyone complains. This has saved me a ton of time and money (e.g. removing integrations that cost $ but no one really cared for).
February 13, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Product hack: If you're unsure whether or not you need to support a legacy feature, just remove it and see if anyone complains. This has saved me a ton of time and money (e.g. removing integrations that cost $ but no one really cared for).
New SEC clarity on crypto tokens should open up a new wave of startups in America. Not dissimilar to the deregulation of cannabis and consumer drones a decade ago.
www.sec.gov/newsroom/spe...
www.sec.gov/newsroom/spe...
SEC.gov | The Journey BeginsLock
The Journey Begins Commissioner Hester M. Peirce February 4, 2025
www.sec.gov
February 5, 2025 at 9:03 AM
New SEC clarity on crypto tokens should open up a new wave of startups in America. Not dissimilar to the deregulation of cannabis and consumer drones a decade ago.
www.sec.gov/newsroom/spe...
www.sec.gov/newsroom/spe...
TL;DR various subreddits are getting overwhelmed by self-promos so they've instituted weird rules, leading to people revolting. I'm only fascinated by this because:
1. Reddit is fantastic for organically building communities
2. Reddit's startup communities are plagued by low-quality promotions
1. Reddit is fantastic for organically building communities
2. Reddit's startup communities are plagued by low-quality promotions
February 4, 2025 at 7:03 AM
TL;DR various subreddits are getting overwhelmed by self-promos so they've instituted weird rules, leading to people revolting. I'm only fascinated by this because:
1. Reddit is fantastic for organically building communities
2. Reddit's startup communities are plagued by low-quality promotions
1. Reddit is fantastic for organically building communities
2. Reddit's startup communities are plagued by low-quality promotions
It's been interesting to see reddit startup discourse go crazy due to the amount of bots and promotional posts, meanwhile there are bsky threads about how to cross-promote your startup all over reddit. There seem to be no good communities to talk SaaS.
It's actually a double-pronged issue...
It's actually a double-pronged issue...
January 27, 2025 at 10:33 AM
It's been interesting to see reddit startup discourse go crazy due to the amount of bots and promotional posts, meanwhile there are bsky threads about how to cross-promote your startup all over reddit. There seem to be no good communities to talk SaaS.
It's actually a double-pronged issue...
It's actually a double-pronged issue...
Just disabled the auto-renew on two .com domains that hadn't been used since 2016. RIP to the side projects that never came to fruition:
latescratch .com -> Some kinda fantasy sports tool?
rumblebros .com -> Podcasts with my co-founder?
If anyone wants to reserve them for cheap, let me know ;)
latescratch .com -> Some kinda fantasy sports tool?
rumblebros .com -> Podcasts with my co-founder?
If anyone wants to reserve them for cheap, let me know ;)
January 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Just disabled the auto-renew on two .com domains that hadn't been used since 2016. RIP to the side projects that never came to fruition:
latescratch .com -> Some kinda fantasy sports tool?
rumblebros .com -> Podcasts with my co-founder?
If anyone wants to reserve them for cheap, let me know ;)
latescratch .com -> Some kinda fantasy sports tool?
rumblebros .com -> Podcasts with my co-founder?
If anyone wants to reserve them for cheap, let me know ;)
For 2025, what kind of content do #indiehackers wish to see on bsky that I could talk about? I have almost a decade of indie hacking experience and have cultivated many lessons and hot takes.
January 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
For 2025, what kind of content do #indiehackers wish to see on bsky that I could talk about? I have almost a decade of indie hacking experience and have cultivated many lessons and hot takes.
I once did a swot analysis for my startup back in 2011 (I was like 22). That was the startup that failed the hardest of all, tons of time and money wasted
December 30, 2024 at 10:41 AM
I once did a swot analysis for my startup back in 2011 (I was like 22). That was the startup that failed the hardest of all, tons of time and money wasted
The best way to start is coming up with an idea organically OR from deeply researching, not because it sounds good on paper. Forcing yourself to start can be good for the sake of inertia, but always ends up being poor founder fit.
You can still start, just don't expect that iteration to succeed.
You can still start, just don't expect that iteration to succeed.
December 26, 2024 at 4:46 AM
The best way to start is coming up with an idea organically OR from deeply researching, not because it sounds good on paper. Forcing yourself to start can be good for the sake of inertia, but always ends up being poor founder fit.
You can still start, just don't expect that iteration to succeed.
You can still start, just don't expect that iteration to succeed.
This is a _mandatory_ first step before starting your startup—yes, even before purchasing a domain name—and Jason actually wrote a whole guide for it. I think many people underestimate how important this step, and therefore this guide, is.
Just published a new article! 👇🏾
How do you find potential customers to interview before you have a product, a website, or even a name?
Many thanks for spreading the love with ❤️ and 🔁!
How do you find potential customers to interview before you have a product, a website, or even a name?
Many thanks for spreading the love with ❤️ and 🔁!
How to find potential customers to interview about your startup
How do you find potential customers to interview, before you have a product, a website, or even a name?
longform.asmartbear.com
December 22, 2024 at 3:32 PM
This is a _mandatory_ first step before starting your startup—yes, even before purchasing a domain name—and Jason actually wrote a whole guide for it. I think many people underestimate how important this step, and therefore this guide, is.
Jason wrote this 13 years ago and it's now more true than ever.
There isn't one successful way to run a business, and the way people run theirs is a reflection of themselves. If that's true, why wouldn't you run it the way you want?
Be authentic with yourself and as an #indiehacker (cont'd)
There isn't one successful way to run a business, and the way people run theirs is a reflection of themselves. If that's true, why wouldn't you run it the way you want?
Be authentic with yourself and as an #indiehacker (cont'd)
Almost nothing "needs" to be done 100% as good as it could be.
(A few things do.)
This is something we all need to remember at times!
In detail:
(A few things do.)
This is something we all need to remember at times!
In detail:
Being who you are, while becoming better
We’re told “be yourself” to seek happiness and success. But what if “being yourself” also means striving to become better? What is “yourself?”
longform.asmartbear.com
December 21, 2024 at 12:50 AM
Jason wrote this 13 years ago and it's now more true than ever.
There isn't one successful way to run a business, and the way people run theirs is a reflection of themselves. If that's true, why wouldn't you run it the way you want?
Be authentic with yourself and as an #indiehacker (cont'd)
There isn't one successful way to run a business, and the way people run theirs is a reflection of themselves. If that's true, why wouldn't you run it the way you want?
Be authentic with yourself and as an #indiehacker (cont'd)
Reposted by Kevin Ko
This has been such a helpful framework for me:
stress = demands / resources
The breakthrough was realizing there are really only two ways to reduce stress:
1. Lower demands
2. Increase resources
stress = demands / resources
The breakthrough was realizing there are really only two ways to reduce stress:
1. Lower demands
2. Increase resources
December 10, 2024 at 8:02 PM
This has been such a helpful framework for me:
stress = demands / resources
The breakthrough was realizing there are really only two ways to reduce stress:
1. Lower demands
2. Increase resources
stress = demands / resources
The breakthrough was realizing there are really only two ways to reduce stress:
1. Lower demands
2. Increase resources
Longtime expats here in Japan do this thing where when talking to a person of authority, they pretend to not speak Japanese to shorten and dumb down the interaction.
It made me wonder how many irrational or "dumb" counterparties I've encountered were simply incentivized to pretend to be that way.
It made me wonder how many irrational or "dumb" counterparties I've encountered were simply incentivized to pretend to be that way.
December 1, 2024 at 2:18 PM
Longtime expats here in Japan do this thing where when talking to a person of authority, they pretend to not speak Japanese to shorten and dumb down the interaction.
It made me wonder how many irrational or "dumb" counterparties I've encountered were simply incentivized to pretend to be that way.
It made me wonder how many irrational or "dumb" counterparties I've encountered were simply incentivized to pretend to be that way.
The avg #buildinpublic person struggles at doing the hard thing.
They promote on reddit instead of getting in front of real buyers.
They build flashy frontends instead of the critical feature.
They hire people they know out of convenience, instead of the right people.
So mrr never gets past 5k
They promote on reddit instead of getting in front of real buyers.
They build flashy frontends instead of the critical feature.
They hire people they know out of convenience, instead of the right people.
So mrr never gets past 5k
November 30, 2024 at 7:39 AM
The avg #buildinpublic person struggles at doing the hard thing.
They promote on reddit instead of getting in front of real buyers.
They build flashy frontends instead of the critical feature.
They hire people they know out of convenience, instead of the right people.
So mrr never gets past 5k
They promote on reddit instead of getting in front of real buyers.
They build flashy frontends instead of the critical feature.
They hire people they know out of convenience, instead of the right people.
So mrr never gets past 5k
The unspoken risk in #indie #SaaS is that many outcomes aren't enough for retirement. Meanwhile, playing CEO of my startup means I spend less time each day improving as a dev, hurting my ability to get employed in future. Even if you have high ARR, industry shifts & competition can upend your income
November 27, 2024 at 5:49 AM
The unspoken risk in #indie #SaaS is that many outcomes aren't enough for retirement. Meanwhile, playing CEO of my startup means I spend less time each day improving as a dev, hurting my ability to get employed in future. Even if you have high ARR, industry shifts & competition can upend your income
Reposted by Kevin Ko
Let's make Bluesky a better place for indie founders.
It's a fair criticism that Starter Packs were a great marketing strategy.
That once the novelty wears off, Bluesky might go downhill just like Threads.
And to prevent that, we need to put effort to nurture the community ↓
It's a fair criticism that Starter Packs were a great marketing strategy.
That once the novelty wears off, Bluesky might go downhill just like Threads.
And to prevent that, we need to put effort to nurture the community ↓
November 26, 2024 at 6:56 AM
Let's make Bluesky a better place for indie founders.
It's a fair criticism that Starter Packs were a great marketing strategy.
That once the novelty wears off, Bluesky might go downhill just like Threads.
And to prevent that, we need to put effort to nurture the community ↓
It's a fair criticism that Starter Packs were a great marketing strategy.
That once the novelty wears off, Bluesky might go downhill just like Threads.
And to prevent that, we need to put effort to nurture the community ↓
In hindsight, it's no surprise #buildinpublic #indiehackers flocked to bsky so quickly. Not politics-driven, this was the precise audience that's getting burned by X's API price increases.
Also less fake MRR posts because engagement bait and clout aren't directly monetizable 🦋
Also less fake MRR posts because engagement bait and clout aren't directly monetizable 🦋
November 24, 2024 at 11:06 AM
In hindsight, it's no surprise #buildinpublic #indiehackers flocked to bsky so quickly. Not politics-driven, this was the precise audience that's getting burned by X's API price increases.
Also less fake MRR posts because engagement bait and clout aren't directly monetizable 🦋
Also less fake MRR posts because engagement bait and clout aren't directly monetizable 🦋
Reposted by Kevin Ko
blueskycounter.com is back online!
It now shows historical follower growth all the way back from when you firsted signed up to Bluesky
Reposts appreciated 😊
It now shows historical follower growth all the way back from when you firsted signed up to Bluesky
Reposts appreciated 😊
November 23, 2024 at 7:23 PM
blueskycounter.com is back online!
It now shows historical follower growth all the way back from when you firsted signed up to Bluesky
Reposts appreciated 😊
It now shows historical follower growth all the way back from when you firsted signed up to Bluesky
Reposts appreciated 😊