He Grew His Tech Company To $29k/month (Bootstrapped)
He Grew His Tech Company To $29k/month (Bootstrapped)
How Sorin Built Swifteq to €26k MRR
How Sorin Built Swifteq to €26k MRR
Meet Sorin Alupoaie, the 43-year-old who moved from Romania to Ireland with his wife, faced a period of uncertainty, and emerged as the solo founder of a thriving business. Today, his company, Swifteq, is pulling in €26k MRR, but it wasn't always smooth sailing. Here’s how he did it.
Meet Sorin Alupoaie, the 43-year-old who moved from Romania to Ireland with his wife, faced a period of uncertainty, and emerged as the solo founder of a thriving business. Today, his company, Swifteq, is pulling in €26k MRR, but it wasn't always smooth sailing. Here’s how he did it.
Contents
Contents
Taking a Chance on Ireland
Taking a Chance on Ireland
Seventeen years ago, Sorin and his wife left Romania behind, hoping for a better life in Dublin. It wasn’t easy—new country, no friends, no family, living in a shared house while job-hunting in one of Europe’s most expensive cities. But the move was necessary: they wanted to escape corruption and find better income opportunities.
At first, things were rough. With little money and no jobs, it felt like a huge step down. But they worked hard, and after some time, both found jobs and started building a life in Ireland.
Seventeen years ago, Sorin and his wife left Romania behind, hoping for a better life in Dublin. It wasn’t easy—new country, no friends, no family, living in a shared house while job-hunting in one of Europe’s most expensive cities. But the move was necessary: they wanted to escape corruption and find better income opportunities.
At first, things were rough. With little money and no jobs, it felt like a huge step down. But they worked hard, and after some time, both found jobs and started building a life in Ireland.
From Side Hustle to Full-Time
From Side Hustle to Full-Time
Fast forward to today: Sorin is an independent founder, spending his days doing what he loves—building software that helps customer support teams automate workflows. His company, Swifteq, creates apps that integrate with Zendesk to streamline customer service.
The business started as a side hustle. After a year, with €5k MRR and enough savings to feel secure, Sorin made the jump to full-time founder.
But he didn’t rush into it. With a family to support, he couldn’t afford to gamble on his entrepreneurial ambitions. "There’s a huge difference between indie hackers with families and those without," Sorin says. “When you have a family, their needs come first. Your business has to come second.”
Six months after going all in, Swifteq wasn’t just supporting him—it was thriving.
Fast forward to today: Sorin is an independent founder, spending his days doing what he loves—building software that helps customer support teams automate workflows. His company, Swifteq, creates apps that integrate with Zendesk to streamline customer service.
The business started as a side hustle. After a year, with €5k MRR and enough savings to feel secure, Sorin made the jump to full-time founder.
But he didn’t rush into it. With a family to support, he couldn’t afford to gamble on his entrepreneurial ambitions. "There’s a huge difference between indie hackers with families and those without," Sorin says. “When you have a family, their needs come first. Your business has to come second.”
Six months after going all in, Swifteq wasn’t just supporting him—it was thriving.
Swifteq’s Financial Breakdown
Swifteq’s Financial Breakdown
Here’s a peek at how Sorin’s business is doing now:
While some founders choose to reinvest all their earnings back into their business, Sorin doesn’t believe in starving himself for growth. "If you can’t earn enough money from your business to live a decent life, it’s not worth it," he explains. He’s all about balance—enjoying life today while still investing in tomorrow.
Here’s a peek at how Sorin’s business is doing now:
While some founders choose to reinvest all their earnings back into their business, Sorin doesn’t believe in starving himself for growth. "If you can’t earn enough money from your business to live a decent life, it’s not worth it," he explains. He’s all about balance—enjoying life today while still investing in tomorrow.
Why Bootstrapping Beats Funding
Why Bootstrapping Beats Funding
Sorin has learned the hard way that bootstrapping beats outside investment. His first startup in 2017 took a large cash injection from an angel investor—and he regrets it.
"I believe this approach had a profoundly negative impact on how I approached every decision in the business," he says. It ultimately led to the company’s failure. Now, Sorin bootstraps and advises others to do the same. Investment can make you feel like you're onto something when you’re not, and worse, it often makes founders prioritize investors over customers.
Sorin has learned the hard way that bootstrapping beats outside investment. His first startup in 2017 took a large cash injection from an angel investor—and he regrets it.
"I believe this approach had a profoundly negative impact on how I approached every decision in the business," he says. It ultimately led to the company’s failure. Now, Sorin bootstraps and advises others to do the same. Investment can make you feel like you're onto something when you’re not, and worse, it often makes founders prioritize investors over customers.
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➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
Spend on What Matters
Spend on What Matters
Sorin isn't one to pinch pennies. He believes the key to financial success is focusing on the return on your time, not cutting every expense. "The best way to save money is to spend it on things that matter," Sorin says. And for him, those things include books, conferences, and travel—anything that fuels his personal and business growth.
He’s also not into strict budgeting. "You can easily go too far and become overly controlling," he warns. Instead, he focuses on the bigger picture and enjoys life without stressing over the small stuff.
Sorin isn't one to pinch pennies. He believes the key to financial success is focusing on the return on your time, not cutting every expense. "The best way to save money is to spend it on things that matter," Sorin says. And for him, those things include books, conferences, and travel—anything that fuels his personal and business growth.
He’s also not into strict budgeting. "You can easily go too far and become overly controlling," he warns. Instead, he focuses on the bigger picture and enjoys life without stressing over the small stuff.
Sorin’s Best Advice? Always Start on the Side
Sorin’s Best Advice? Always Start on the Side
Sorin’s parting wisdom for aspiring founders: always side hustle first. Don’t quit your job, even if you have savings or investor money. He learned the hard way that financial pressure doesn’t motivate—it just causes unnecessary stress. “When you’re stressed, your brain goes into fight-or-flight mode,” he says. “You can’t think straight, and you make poor decisions.”
So start slow. Build something on the side. When it’s solid and sustainable, then take the leap.
Sorin’s parting wisdom for aspiring founders: always side hustle first. Don’t quit your job, even if you have savings or investor money. He learned the hard way that financial pressure doesn’t motivate—it just causes unnecessary stress. “When you’re stressed, your brain goes into fight-or-flight mode,” he says. “You can’t think straight, and you make poor decisions.”
So start slow. Build something on the side. When it’s solid and sustainable, then take the leap.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This article is originally posted to Indie Hackers
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This article is originally posted to Indie Hackers
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share stories about founders who have started successful online businesses, growth strategies, and tips to start/grow your own business. Would love for you to join😊
