Why bootstrapping beats chasing unicorns - Ettore Fantin

In this episode of the DesignQA Podcast, I sit down with internet entrepreneur Ettore to talk about building simple but powerful apps, scaling online businesses, and how AI is rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship.

We cover:

• Ettore’s journey from YouTube creator → cybersecurity startup → internet business acquisitions
• Why simple, one-purpose apps often win big
• How AI tools like Bolt and Lovable make it possible to build apps in under 24 hours
• Growth hacks that shouldn’t work (but do)
• Why programmatic SEO and backlinks still matter in 2025
• Ettore’s contrarian take on AI’s impact on jobs and education
• The case for bootstrapping over chasing unicorns

⏱ Chapters00:00 Teaser02:07 Episode Intro03:34 Intro to Ettore and his journey05:40 Innovative App Development and AI Tools08:24 The Simplicity of Micro Apps11:17 Ettore's Transition from YouTube to Internet Entrepreneurship13:52 Understanding Programmatic SEO and Google's Sandbox16:30 Leveraging AI for Business Growth19:00 Creating Lead Generation Tools for Businesses21:42 The Future of AI and Job Automation30:02 The Future of Jobs in the Age of AI34:02 Marketing Innovations and Unconventional Strategies35:55 The Value of Profitability in Business37:34 Starting an Internet Business with Limited Funds42:21 The Future of Education and AI's Role49:24 Taking Risks and Embracing Opportunities

🔗 Links

Mahdi Farra

• DesignQA: http://designqa.com/
• LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mahdif

Ettore Fantin

• https://ettore.net/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ettoref/