Bootstrapping, Buyouts, and Building Again | Branick Weix, CEO of Diagonal

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer chats with Joe Rucci, founder of Ghostable and co-founder of Curricula, about his path through entrepreneurship and the role Laravel played along the way. Joe talks candidly about building and selling a startup, what it was like to shift from founder to employee after an acquisition, and why so many great business ideas come from simply listening to people. He also breaks down how he built Ghostable, his zero-knowledge security platform, and how AI has helped him ship faster as a solo developer. Matt Stauffer on Twitter Tighten Website GhostableHuntressCurricula-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer talks with Adrien Lewis, Founder of CarePortal, and Bret Pudenz, Director of Engineering, about how their Laravel-powered “care sharing” platform connects caseworkers, churches, businesses, and neighbors to support vulnerable kids and families—often preventing foster care placements.They share how CarePortal’s tech evolved, why they chose Laravel, and how they onboard developers with no Laravel background. Matt also explores how founders and engineers can find purpose in their work and how technology, when used well, can actually rebuild human connection.Matt Stauffer on Twitter Tighten Website CarePortal on Instagram CarePortal on FacebookCarePortal on LinkedIn CarePortal on YouTubeAdrien Lewis on LinkedInCarePortal WebsiteHow CarePortal WorksMended Futures Podcast with AdrienRethinking Foster Care in America-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, host Matt Stauffer sits down with Arvid Kahl, founder of Podscan, a platform that transcribes and analyzes podcasts. Arvid shares his journey from developer to entrepreneur, the challenges of marketing as a builder, and how deeply understanding your customers shapes great products. They also dive into the role of AI in development and marketing, and how Arvid began using Laravel. Matt Stauffer TwitterTighten WebsiteArvid on TwitterPodscanThe Boot Strapped FounderThe Boot Strapped Founder PodcastThe Startups for the Rest of Us Podcast The SaaS PlaybookStart Small, Stay SmallHooked: How to Build Habit-Forming ProductsIndistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer welcomes back Ian Landsman to discuss his latest venture, Outro , a tool he’s currently building to help podcasters organize and monetize their content. They explore the evolution of podcasting tools, the challenges of market research, and the importance of building with community feedback. Ian shares insights into his development process, how AI fits into his workflow, and the technical decisions shaping Outro’s future.Matt Stauffer Twitter Tighten Website OutroArticle on AI Coding ClaimsMostly Technical‌-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer chats with Jack McDade, creator of Statamic, a CMS built on Laravel. Jack shares the story behind Statamic, from its early days to its deep Laravel integration, and the technical hurdles along the way. They explore his journey from developer to business owner, his approach to hiring, and how he thinks about AI in development.Matt Stauffer Twitter - Matt Stauffer (@stauffermatt) on XTighten Website - Tighten | Software Development for Web and Mobile | Laravel, Livewire, Vue.js, and ReactJack McDade TwitterJack McDade WebsiteStatamic WebsiteAustin Kleon BooksThe Obstacle is the Way by Ryan HolidayRecovery Mode Podcast-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer interviews Kenny Meyers, CEO of Sweet, a company working to improve the comic industry through technology. They discuss the unique challenges of building a digital comic store, the importance of team dynamics, and why Sweet chooses not to use AI in order to protect artists and their work. Kenny also shares his journey in the comic world, the power of networking, and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Matt Stauffer Twitter - Matt Stauffer (@stauffermatt) on XTighten Website - Tighten | Software Development for Web and Mobile | Laravel, Livewire, Vue.js, and ReactKenny Meyers on Bluesky Kenny Meyers on Instagram Sweet WebsiteSweet Shop -----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer sits down with Patrick O’Meara and Steven Quayle, co-founders of Maintainly, a CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) company built on Laravel. They dive into the evolution of Maintainly, the challenges of building and scaling software, and the unique role Laravel plays in their operations.The conversation explores how industry expertise, thoughtful hiring, and a strong remote culture have shaped their company. Patrick and Steven also share the personal influences behind their journey and their vision for the future of Maintainly.Matt Stauffer TwitterTighten WebsiteMaintainly WebsiteSteven Quayle on LinkedIn Patrick O’Meara TwitterPatrick O’Meara on BlueSkyPatrick O’Meara on GitHubPatrick O’Meara on LinkedInNever Write Another Loop Again by Adam WathanHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieGood to Great by Jim CollinsEditing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of The Business of Laravel, Matt Stauffer chats with Alison Gianotto, Founder of Snipe-IT. They explore Alison’s path in PHP development, how Snipe-IT grew from a side project into a thriving open-source IT asset management platform, and the challenges along the way. The conversation touches on user experience, hiring, remote team management, and leading with empathy. Alison also reflects on lessons learned from her career and shares her vision for Snipe-IT’s future.Matt Stauffer Twitter - https://twitter.com/stauffermattTighten Website - https://tighten.com/Alison’s WebsiteAlison on BlueskyLaravel Podcast with Alison GianottoGreat Tighten Experiment Blog Post-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of the Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer chats with Branick Weix, CEO of Diagonal. They discuss Branick's journey from building a successful startup, Aryeo, to launching Diagonal, a company focused on personalized software for small businesses. Branick shares insights on hiring strategies, the importance of sticking to Laravel standards, and the role of AI in software development. He also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Matt Stauffer Twitter Tighten Website Branick Weix Twitter Diagnoal WebsiteBranick Weix GitHub Branick Weix LinkedIn LaraJobs Zero to One by Peter Thiel Devin AI -----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.

In this episode of The Business of Laravel podcast, Matt Stauffer interviews David Watson, founder of RiskAdvisor, a SaaS platform for independent insurance agents. David shares his journey from being a non-technical founder to running a successful business, emphasizing the importance of marketing and sales skills in entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges he faced transitioning from a no-code solution to a more robust code-based platform and offers insights into building a strong team. David also explores how AI can be leveraged to drive sales growth in the insurance industry.Matt Stauffer TwitterTighten WebsiteDavid Watson FacebookDavid Watson LinkedInRiskAdvisor WebsiteHow to Win Friends and Influence People-----Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.