play episode
Podcast
S1
E11
37 mins
Mar 3, 2026
Andy Allen: Why He Takes 3 Years to Build Apps.
Listen on
Andy Allen raised $45 million, built a hardware-software company, had a decent exit, and then walked away from all of it. Most founders would double down and scale.
Andy did the opposite. He started Not Boring Software — fully bootstrapped, no investors, making apps that feel like nothing else on your phone. What Andy is doing is proof that there’s another path most designers don’t even know exists.
LINKS
Not Boring Software: notbor.ing
Andy Allen: x.com/asallen
Chapters
[00:00] - Walking away from $45 million
[02:27] - Camera app becomes biggest launch yet
[04:04] - Why speed is overrated for quality work
[07:25] - Fully bootstrapped vs VC funding pressure
[09:17] - Physical prototypes and 3D printing process
[13:09] - Avoiding AI hype, focusing on interface innovation
[15:45] - Game design principles in everyday apps
[18:36] - The “kid in the cockpit” design philosophy
[20:49] - Creative recovery and exploration process
[22:49] - Leaving VC startup world for sustainable business
[25:19] - Defining “enough” as a company and creator
[28:44] - Being a beacon for other designers
[32:11] - What’s missing in design storytelling
[36:51] - Hands in the clay vs management roles
