076: PJ Taei – Video Monetization & Handling Competition as a Bootstrapped SaaS Company

In today’s episode, I’m joined by PJ Taei, Founder and CEO of Uscreen, an all-in-one video monetization platform for content creators that helps them build their brands and grow their businesses. 

The creator economy has changed a lot since PJ first founded Uscreen in 2015. And in that time PJ has managed to grow Uscreen to $20 million a year in revenue, representing sought-after clients and their channels, like Yoga with Adrienne and Justin Rhodes’s streaming platform, Abundance Plus. 

Our conversation gets into some pretty fascinating topics, like what to do when major competitors enter your field, the trial and error involved in getting your pricing right, and why true fans are so valuable for content creators looking to monetize. PJ also sheds light on what motivated him to bootstrap his company and expands on why it’s so important to stay in touch with the needs of your customers as you grow!

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Uscreen supports creators by helping them sync their offerings on one platform.
• What helped PJ recognize the need for a service like Uscreen.
• When to fear a major competitor coming in and why you should never underestimate a small company.
• The importance of continued focus on the customer as you grow along with actionable advice on how to stay in touch with their needs.
• How to find the right balance between trial periods, free content, and attracting paying customers.
• Why PJ decided to bootstrap instead of pursuing funding and what he has learned from the experience.

Links & Resources:

Uscreen
Uscreen on YouTube

PJ Taei’s Links:

PJ’s website

PJ’s email

Follow PJ on LinkedIn

Follow PJ on Twitter

Follow PJ on YouTube 

Listen to PJ’s Podcast