Bootstrap CEO guest application
The polished success story can wait. Tell me how you actually built it.
I'm looking for women and allies who can have an honest, useful conversation about building and working with the resources they had—not the resources they wish they had.
Your story doesn't need a billion-dollar exit
You do not need to run a seven-figure company, have raised venture capital or arrive with a perfectly packaged success story. I care about what you built or do, how you made it work, what challenged you and what another listener could learn from your experience.
Who makes a great guest?
- Has built or is actively building a real business, product, community or body of work
- Has a specific story rather than a generic motivational message
- Can speak honestly about experiments, mistakes and tradeoffs
- Has practical lessons others can apply
- Is willing to discuss the process, not only promote the outcome
- Can explain what they did when money, time, knowledge or support was limited
- Has a clear point of view about working in tech, AI or business
- Is comfortable participating in both audio and video
You don't need the biggest business in the room. You need a story worth examining.
Topics I want to explore
- Bootstrapping
- Building in tech and AI
- Community-led growth
- AI and no-code building
- Career pivots into tech
- Building in public
- Personal branding
- Productizing expertise
- Pivots
- Pricing
- Sales
- Partnerships
- Wellbeing and burnout
- Starting over
- Building without permission
- Lessons from failure
Not an interrogation. Still interesting.
Bootstrap CEO is an unscripted, thoughtful conversation. You'll receive a loose topic guide so you know where I'm headed, but the goal is a natural discussion—not rehearsed answers.
1
Apply
Tell me what you're building and why your story matters.
2
Review
I review every submission for fit.
3
Prepare
Selected guests receive recording details and a loose conversation guide.
4
Record
Join me remotely for an audio and video conversation.
5
Share
Once published, you'll receive the episode link and available promotional assets.
Before you apply
Recording expectations
- Interviews are recorded remotely
- Audio and video are recorded
- Estimated recording window: 45–60 minutes
- Guests should join from a desktop or laptop
- A quiet, well-lit space is required
- An external microphone or quality headset is strongly preferred
- Reliable internet is required
- Guests should not read scripted answers
- Guests must have authority to discuss the business and experiences they submit
- Participation is currently unpaid
- There is no fee to be considered or appear as an editorial guest
- Submission does not guarantee selection or publication
This is a conversation, not a commercial. You'll have room to share your work, but the strongest episodes teach, reveal and explore—not pitch for an hour.
What guests receive
If we record together
- A long-form conversation about your work
- Audio and video publication
- A permanent episode page
- Links to the guest's business and selected resources
- Social promotion when the episode is released
- Shareable episode assets when available
- Exposure to the Girl Tech HQ and Bootstrap CEO audiences
The application
Tell me what you built
It takes about 20 minutes. Your answers save as you go, so you can finish later on the same device.
Back to the Bootstrap CEO show page or ask about sponsorship at jessica@girltechhq.com.