In this episode, Miguel Oller, co-founder and CTO of Makeswift, shares his journey from an aspiring robotics PhD at Georgia Tech to becoming a successful SaaS entrepreneur & CTO. Miguel's career spans founding multiple companies like Shortweb and BLoveIt, before co-founding Makeswift, which was recently acquired by BigCommerce.

In this conversation, Miguel dives into key insights from his early startup experiences, including the challenges of co-founder dynamics, navigating commercialization, and developing pricing strategies. He emphasizes the importance of trust and collaboration in building a strong team, the need for constant experimentation in product development & pricing, and the critical role of adaptability throughout the startup journey. Miguel also touches on the transformative impact of AI in shaping future products, and offers advice to aspiring founders—reminding them that strong team dynamics are far more important than just having a great idea. This episode is packed with valuable takeaways for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, technology, and startup success.

Takeaways:

• It's important to feel comfortable telling stories about your experience.

• The startup journey is often a hyperbolic growth chamber.

• Co-founder dynamics can make or break a startup.

• Embracing unexpected roles can lead to valuable learning experiences.

• Product market fit is a continuous journey, not a destination.

• Building trust among co-founders is essential for long-term success.

• The right technology at the right time can create opportunities.

• Startups require a blend of passion and pragmatism.

• Iterative processes help in building trust and resolving conflicts.

• The journey of entrepreneurship is filled with highs and lows. You must learn how to have productive conflict.- Building trust is essential for effective collaboration.

• Commercialization requires constant adaptation and experimentation.

• Pricing strategies should align with the value provided to customers.

• The journey of a founder is filled with learning opportunities.

• Don't over index on the idea; focus on the team.

• Learning should be a metric of success in startups.

• AI will significantly change product development in the coming years.

• Experimentation frameworks are crucial for navigating market changes.

• The most formative experiences often come from the journey itself.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast

• 02:12 Miguel Oller's Journey: From Robotics to Startups

• 06:22 Early Startup Experiences: Shortweb and Blobbit

• 12:24 Transition to Makeswift: The Founding Story

• 20:08 The Evolution of Makeswift and Its Acquisition

• 24:20 Co-Founder Dynamics and Lessons Learned

• 28:00 Building Trust Through Collaboration

• 31:00 Lessons in Commercialization and Market Fit

• 34:03 The Importance of Experimentation Frameworks

• 39:03 Navigating Pricing Strategies

• 43:56 The Future of AI in Product Development

• 48:53 The Formative Journey of a Founder