Interviewee Introduction:
- Name: Manu
- Background:
- Began coding in 2016, during his second year of college from which he graduated in 2019.
- Started with web development, learning HTML and CSS, then moving to JavaScript and various frameworks.
- Angular was his first framework but switched to React as it was popular and helped job prospects.
- Had an entrepreneurial drive, began freelancing, and eventually started his own agency, eity.
- Works mainly with startups based in the US, using React and related frameworks.
Educational Journey:
- Initially went to college but after one semester spent more time studying independently.
- Learned through online courses, self-teaching in his hostel room.
- Completed his degree while progressively disconnecting from formal education.
Professional Journey and Freelancing:
- First paid gig: Built a website for a local restaurant during his third or fourth semester.
- Developed his skills in PHP and other technologies before focusing on front-end development.
- fter college, worked as a freelancer building websites for local businesses and started his agency.
- Started accepting projects through Upwork but transitioned away from it due to its competitive environment.
Agency Business Model:
- Has a tiered subscription model with most clients opting for the $10,000/month tier.
- Clients receive front-end development, sometimes full-stack development for higher prices.
- Work involves building landing pages, web pages, and dashboard applications.
- Agency transactions happen both in India and through a US LLC for convenience and financial structure.
Work Schedule and Project Management:
- Works 7 days a week for approximately 14 hours daily.
- Manages projects and tasks using Linear, similar to Jira.
- Struggles with context-switching while managing multiple clients but tries to prioritize tasks efficiently.
Growth and Vision:
- Manu aims to maintain high quality and speed in his work, which distinguishes his agency from others.
- Sees a need to scale, possibly by hiring a developer who shares a long-term vision with his agency.
- Currently considering learning more about financials, taxes, and options to possibly form a company in Dubai for tax efficiency.
UI Library Creation:
- Created a UI library to get hands-on experience with SASS, handling real users, and managing a product life cycle.
- Initially called Tailwind Master Kit; it's been a multi-year project.
- Aimed to reduce friction for potential clients, allowing them to use components easily.
- Has thought about monetization but chose to focus on providing free components while benefiting his agency through trust and proven capabilities.
Advice for Aspiring Freelancers:
- Recommends building a presence on Twitter and sharing coding work rather than competing on Upwork.
- Believes in providing and showcasing real-world solutions which can lead to opportunities and client trust.
Mental Shift and Pricing:
- Higher-paying clients tend to be easier to work with and more trusting than those paying lower prices.
- Clients who choose higher-tier packages are generally looking for a long-term partnership.
- Touched on the importance of the developer's perceived value and the quality of work rather than just the price.
Personal Goals:
- Currently satisfied being a solo entrepreneur but open to evolving into an entrepreneurial role that may require managing a team if needed.
- Plans to continue focusing on the quality and unique value he brings to his work.
Closing Thoughts:
- Noted the surprise and sometimes rude responses to his pricing structure, but chooses to disregard negativity.
- Expressed gratitude for being part of a growing number of Indian entrepreneurs succeeding in the global market and remote work opportunities.