Apr 2, 2025
Growing a podcast SaaS without outside funding isn’t easy—but for us, it’s the right place to start.
In this episode of Behind the Workflow, Simona, Taly, and Fran take you behind the scenes of how we’re building Northflow from the ground up, what bootstrapping really looks like, and why we’re not chasing investor meetings just yet.
TL;DR
In this post, the Northflow team shares why they’ve chosen to bootstrap their podcast production platform—for now. By self-funding, they’ve stayed lean, focused, and deeply connected to user needs. The blog covers the real challenges of building a SaaS without outside funding, how user feedback drives the product roadmap, and why community-led growth is more important than speed. Investors might come later, but for now, it’s all about building a product that truly works for podcasters.
🎥 Prefer to watch? Catch the full episode on YouTube →
Bootstrapping with purpose
We’re currently bootstrapping Northflow by funding the company ourselves, moving intentionally, and building based on what real users tell us they need.
This approach helps us stay grounded:
We stay connected to the product
We ship quickly and adapt faster
We focus on delivering real value, not just optics
It’s not always easy (hello, long days and short nights), but it’s allowed us to grow Northflow with clarity and care.
Are we saying no to investors forever?
Not at all.
We're just not in a rush to raise capital. If we do choose to bring on investors in the future, it will be because the timing, vision, and structure all make sense for where we are.
For now, bootstrapping keeps us focused. Every decision matters. Every feature we build solves a real user need. There’s no fluff—just function.
Building something real with limited resources
Without a big team or budget, we’ve had to be intentional with every feature. We’re wearing every hat: product, design, customer support, marketing, and strategy.
And while that might not sound glamorous, it’s deeply rewarding.
Northflow is being built by people who live the podcast workflow every day. Every feature reflects a real friction point we’ve experienced ourselves.
Letting the community shape the product
Our users don’t just give feedback—they help us write the roadmap.
Everything we ship is based on real conversations. Instead of trying to guess what podcasters want, we ask. And when we see patterns in that feedback, we prioritize it.
When you build this closely with your community, the result is a tool that actually works the way creators and teams need it to.
The show is part of our strategy
We don’t have a big ad budget. Instead, Behind the Workflow is how we show up.
By sharing the process, the real challenges, and the wins (and misses), we’re building trust with the people we’re here to support. The podcast is a way to connect, not just promote.
A few thoughts from the team
🧠 Fran: You don’t need everything figured out to build something real. Stay close to your users and learn fast.
⚙️ Taly: Workflow matters. Especially for small teams, systems are everything.
💬 Simona: People buy from people. The connection behind your brand matters more than ever.
Join us as we build
Northflow is podcast workflow software designed by creators for creators.
If you're tired of juggling spreadsheets, emails, and generic tools, we’d love for you to try something built specifically for podcast production.
We’re just getting started. Your feedback helps us shape what’s next.
With appreciation,
Simona, Taly & Fran
The Northflow Team