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Not really a startup in the sense of a VC backed multi million dollar company but three working friends and me have bootstrapped a fitness websites with science
by jepper 8y ago
Not really a startup in the sense of a VC backed multi million dollar company but three working friends and me have bootstrapped a fitness websites with science based health advice, mostly free, to basically the largest fitness related website in the Netherlands. Currently employing people, which i think still sounds insane for a hobby project. https://www.fit.nl https://www.fit.nl. 700.000 pageviews a month. App, 2 books, system for training and meal schedules etc. One now works full time as a lead/writer.
As a day job I'm a full time resident of orthopedic surgery. Busy days. I've done most of the programming of the website (custom theme on wordpress), product comparison engine and other custom pages. And server admin for discourse, mattermost etc
Some important findings:
- You have to care otherwise it becomes a chore. In this case it keeps people healthy. We give free advice that i think is pretty good, e.g on the forum, I love that part. The link with the day job is here. Lots of stuff i tell people during clinic hours applies here as well
- As its completely different it still feels like a hobby. Learning to do stuff is fun
- Clear separation of responsibility, do stuff you are efficient in
- A ticketing system for jobs, pick up stuff when you have time. Anybody can add to the ticket list but the list owner decides what comes first.
- Keeping the tickets bite sized. GIT to deploy, deploy often
- A time tracking system (Toggle) tracks time spent.
- Mattermost for private discussions and planning
- Meetups and fun activities to keep the group focused
- Managed main server (websynthesis) in case the website goes down and the other technical guy or me are unavailable. More expensive but less stress this way.
- kk58 8y agoWhat inspired a doctor to code? I assume that must have an inspiring story
- jepper 8y agoNot really. Picked it up as a child, loved programming and tinkering. Had to choose between computer science and medicine. There are actually lots of things in common, debugging complex systems, building a mental model, abstraction, looking up solutions based on certain hints. Orthopedics is a highly technical field, working with implants, computer surgery, imaging and such so its very useful. Programming trains your problem solving abilities. I really believe everybody should have the opportunity to learn to code.
- j45 8y agoMedical students are often the best students from many other faculties or programs in their undergrad that end up in 1 program. An example of this is Bioware, a gaming company was started by doctors.
- meatyapp 8y ago(While I understand passion is important and you won't make it far in either without it) Which profession would you suggest just "for the money"? Doctor or Software Engineer? Taking into the account the time and loans it takes to come online as a doctor, and the assuming the person is good enough to become a surgeon or code at FAANG? Great website btw, and so inspiring.
- jepper 8y agoI' m not in the US, so no crazy salaries on both sides. The average doctor probably makes more but the best programmer makes way more than the best doctor. However with long hours, night shifts, pressure etc you have to enjoy what you do or burn out early.
- NullPrefix 8y ago>However with long hours, night shifts, pressure etc you have to enjoy what you do or burn out early Is this about the doctor or the programmer?
- tasuki 8y agoBoth, obviously.
- ramblerman 8y agoIn the Netherlands I wouldn't expect any night shifts, or long hours as a programmer.
- illteratedang 8y agoI am moving from programming to medicine. I am appaled that we can't ask a body to grow and the mechanism is not even fullly understood. So, my reaearch includes making body grow organs, bones and other tissues just using an app. Imagine growing from 5'10 to 6'5
- sticazzi 8y agoI like your design.