Side Project Startups

Sam Parr launched HustleCon in June 2024, a paid tech and entrepreneurship conference, with just a 200-person email list and a domain name. Within 7 weeks, he grew the email list to 2,500 people and generated $60,000 in revenue with ~$50,000 profit by using content marketing (blog posts and infographics about speakers posted to Hacker News), tiered pricing with urgency tactics (fake countdown timers), and strategic speaker recruitment through cold emails. Subsequent events scaled to $500,000+ in revenue with 50%+ margins by leveraging sponsorships, volunteer labor, non-union venues, and vendor partnerships.

The Hustle/The Move is a podcast created by entrepreneurs Sam Parr and Sean Cannell featuring unfiltered conversations about startups, business ideas, and market trends. With around 15 million downloads per year and aspiring to reach 100,000 daily listeners per episode, the show has built a loyal audience of engaged listeners who are inspired to start their own ventures based on ideas discussed on the podcast. The hosts leverage their existing networks and company exits (Sean sold to Twitch) to attract high-profile guests and have recently launched a venture fund to invest in companies featured or discussed on the show.

My First Million is a podcast hosted by Sean Puri and Sam Parr, two serial entrepreneurs who discuss startup ideas and business opportunities. The show grew from entertainment content to becoming influential in the startup ecosystem, eventually being acquired by HubSpot. The hosts leverage their platform to build social capital, invest in startups through rolling funds and syndicates, and convert audience trust into financial opportunities.

Close is a CRM tool helping small and medium-sized businesses close more deals and communicate better, founded by Steli Efti. The company has grown to 45 people across 14 countries and is profitable, though exact revenue figures are not disclosed in this interview. Steli emphasizes building a sustainable company focused on serving entrepreneurial customers rather than chasing enterprise deals, prioritizing long-term relationships and maintaining a workplace culture that fosters both professional growth and personal fulfillment.