How to Successfully Bootstrap a Digital Product? An Interview with Anna Zarudzka, Co-Founder of Boldare

Oskar Kwitek: Welcome to Around the Product Development! This weekly series explores the world of digital product creation in just 25 minutes. From ideation to monetization, we focus on actionable insights and fresh perspectives from industry experts. Thanks to our Agile Product Builders Community, powered by Boldare, for making this possible.

Today, I’m joined by Anna Zarudzka, co-CEO and co-founder of Boldare. With her leadership and expertise in product strategy, she’s been instrumental in creating innovative digital solutions. Anna, welcome!

Anna Zarudzka:

Thank you, Oskar! I’m happy to be here.

Oskar: Let’s jump straight into it. Bootstrapping digital products is our topic today. It’s about minimal investment, creating value for users, and entering the market efficiently. How do you approach bootstrapping?

Anna: The first thing is focusing on the core value your product provides. It sounds simple, but it’s one of the hardest things to get right. You need to ask yourself, What is the real value I’m delivering? A good product discovery process—whether internal or external—helps, but it all starts with that question.

Secondly, run as lean as possible. Use low-cost tools or existing solutions that others have already tested and refined. There’s no need to waste time or money reinventing the wheel.

And finally, adopt a mindset of rapid iteration. Prototypes don’t need to be perfect—they just need to demonstrate value and gather feedback. Early feedback is crucial. It helps you avoid overspending and lets you improve based on real-world insights.

Oskar: I’ve heard that if you’re not a little embarrassed by your first prototype, you’ve probably spent too much time on it. Would you agree?

Anna:

Absolutely! It’s all about getting your product out there, testing it, and adapting quickly.

Oskar: Can you share an example where rapid hypothesis testing made a big impact?

Anna:

One of my favorite examples is Zappos. The founder had this bold hypothesis that people would buy shoes online without trying them on. Instead of building an expensive e-commerce platform, he went to local shoe stores, took pictures, posted them online, and manually fulfilled orders. It was a simple, low-cost way to test the idea, and it worked.

At Boldare, we worked on a similar principle with Polco, a civic engagement platform in the US. The MVP was basic—just voting and commenting functionality. We tested it first with Harvard students, then expanded to cities like Austin. Each phase provided feedback that helped us refine the product. It wasn’t about launching a polished product; it was about learning and improving step by step.

Oskar: That makes a lot of sense. I remember one project where we tested moving a platform’s functionality to a WhatsApp chat. Instead of diving into AI or building a complex integration, we started by manually mapping how users interacted with a simple WhatsApp account. It was quick, cost-effective, and gave us valuable insights.

On the topic of balancing speed and quality, how do you manage that when working with tight budgets?

Anna:

The key is prioritization. Focus on delivering core functionality that works, even if it’s not perfect. The business value must always be clear—otherwise, you risk wasting resources. Use feedback loops and short iterations to make improvements over time.

Also, leverage existing tools and frameworks. There’s no point in building everything from scratch when there are tested solutions available. And don’t forget best practices, like test-driven development or modular coding. These keep quality in check without adding unnecessary complexity.

Oskar: From your experience, what are the common mistakes companies make when bootstrapping?

Anna:

Overcomplicating the product is a big one. People try to add too many features upfront, thinking everything is essential. It’s not. Stay focused on the core functionality or innovation you’re building.

Another common issue is ignoring user feedback. Companies often launch without enough input from their audience, leading to costly missteps.

Misallocating resources is another trap—especially spending too much on branding or marketing before achieving product-market fit. A basic logo is often enough at the start. And, of course, there’s emotional attachment. Founders sometimes fall in love with their idea and refuse to pivot, even when the data or feedback suggests otherwise.

Oskar: That’s a great point. I remember investing too much in logos and visuals for my first startup instead of focusing on the product itself. It’s easy to fall into that trap. What about scaling? When do you know it’s time to scale, and how do you keep it lean?

Anna:

Scaling should always be data-driven. Look at the features or areas that bring the most value and prioritize sustainable growth. Incremental expansion is usually the best approach—reinvest profits, focus on what’s working, and outsource non-essential tasks to keep your core team focused.

Modular development is also helpful. By breaking the product into independent parts, you can scale specific areas without disrupting the whole system. The trick is maintaining balance—don’t add too much too quickly, and always keep refining what’s already there.

Oskar: We’ve talked about tools and processes. Let’s shift to AI. How do you see AI and automation supporting bootstrapping efforts?

Anna:

AI is like having a super-efficient personal assistant. It handles repetitive tasks, automates testing, and provides valuable insights, allowing teams to focus on innovation. For example, AI-powered tools or no-code platforms let you build and test prototypes much faster.

At Boldare, we use AI for everything from problem-solving to automating workflows. It’s a huge help in the early stages, where resources are limited, and time is critical. But it’s important to see AI as a tool, not a magic solution—it works best when paired with human creativity and judgment.

Oskar: Absolutely. AI has been a lifesaver for me when juggling multiple roles. It’s great for planning campaigns, strategies, or even just organizing thoughts. Before AI, I’d spend hours reading or figuring things out on my own.

Anna:

Exactly. It’s not about replacing people but supporting them. When you treat AI as an assistant, it becomes a powerful ally.

Oskar: Well, Anna, thank you for your time and insights today. This has been a fascinating conversation. To our audience, if you’re not already part of our Agile Product Builders Community, join us on Slack. And don’t miss our next episode, where we’ll discuss how diversity drives product success with Mariana Tinoco Riviera from Bose. See you next time!

Anna:

Thanks, Oskar! Looking forward to it.