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IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

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Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#231

Post by iamkether »

justinclift wrote: post #112
nitam wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can help us help you by a) becoming available in more countries b) Atlas LLC

With that LLC thought, does that still mean US based? Atlas sounded interesting to me (doing product dev atm), however it's based on incorporating in the US. The US seems like it's gone in a seriously bad direction for non-US citizens (I'm Australian, living in the UK), with no positive end to that in sight. So incorporation in the US isn't really a goer (personally speaking).

You may be interested in https://www.leapin.eu/ then. I'm not affiliated and can't give a personal recommendation yet as I've just been doing research. But it's basically Atlas, in the EU and with lower taxes. The big, major catch right now is that they only accept single-owner companies last time I looked, which will probably be an issue if you're partnered up with anyone.

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#232

Post by antoniuschan99 »

hsod wrote: post #175

I've been reading HN for 5 or 6 years and this feels very strange to me. From the comments in here by the principles it kind of seems like Stripe is doing IH a favor. A few things that stick in my craw: 1. This seems like it would be damaging to IH's brand image (since it will now be perceived as a PR arm of Stripe, and it's all about independence) 2. Stripe's stated goal here is simply to ensure the success of IH in…

It seems like Indie Hackers is not Indie anymore.

For consumers, it will be more like Benedict Evans of Andreessen Horowitz rather than Ben Thompson of Stratechery.

However, for the founder it's great, because he may not have to worry much financially from now on.

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#234

Post by justinclift »

iamkether wrote: post #231
justinclift wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With that LLC thought, does that still mean US based? Atlas sounded interesting to me (doing product dev atm), however it's based on incorporating in the US. The US seems like it's gone in a seriously bad direction for non-US citizens (I'm Australian, living in the UK), with no positive end to that in sight. So incorporation in the US isn't really a goer (personally speaking).

You may be interested in https://www.leapin.eu/ then. I'm not affiliated and can't give a personal recommendation yet as I've just been doing research. But it's basically Atlas, in the EU and with lower taxes. The big, major catch right now is that they only accept single-owner companies last time I looked, which will probably be an issue if you're partnered up with anyone.

Thanks, I'll look into them when we're closer to setting up the business side of things. :)

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#235

Post by sah2ed »

csallen wrote: post #222
fpgaminer wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't feel betrayed, no. There are plenty of companies interviewed on IndieHackers.com that started as small shops and eventually got acquired. I've got nothing against that, obviously. It's a great opportunity to cash out and do something else fun. It's just weird to have IndieHackers.com, which I sort of viewed as a bastion of the movement, suddenly no longer part of it. At the end of the day ... I'd probably do…

Thanks fpgaminer for following along and being one of the few crazy people (including myself) to have read so many interviews! Totally understand your view about the acquisition... but I wouldn't say Indie Hackers is no longer part of the movement. I'm not cashing out and doing something else. Rather, I'm going back to spending all of my time improving the site itself and trying to make it more useful to more people.…

> I'm not cashing out and doing something else.

I get that the cash infusion from Stripe allows you to not have to worry about sponsorships but if you are not "cashing out" in some way, why go the acquisition route?

I think parent is right. Indie Hackers is now Stripe's baby and it is normal that after a few years, you'll get bored and move on to more exciting things.

Anyway, I hope the timely release of the weekly podcasts is now a forgone conclusion.

Congratulations on the acquisition Courtland!

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#236

Post by fictioncircle »

Cian911 wrote: post #183
fictioncircle wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.indiehackers.com/businesses/stock-trading-bot > I'm surprised this article is still up when it seems pretty clear it's a scam and all the comments on Hacker News agree. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13593599 Honestly, given IndieHackers promotes obvious bullshit that could make 4-5 figures of cash for a few minutes effort I have to seriously question the wisdom of associating it with Stripe.

You don't throw out the basket for one bad egg.

The fact its still there implies its the basket that is bad.

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#237

Post by robotnoises »

econner wrote: post #213
pharrlax wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>IH was apparently very big on financial transparency, yet the principles are being decidedly opaque about financials in this thread. Financial transparency about profit from a bootstrapped startup is a different from financial transparency about a contract between two parties. Secrecy around the latter is a little more understandable.

Why?

Well, it was Courtland's right to publish his financials when he was the sole proprietor of IH. Now he's a Stripe employee and therefore is governed by their policy on the matter, I assume.

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#238

Post by vram22 »

charlesdm wrote: post #224
znebby wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? LLCs are pass-through entities. US residents will get taxed as income, and non-US residents will not have to pay any tax if their income is not effectively connected with a US trade or business (which basically means that employees do not do any of the work within the US).

Different countries have different laws. What might be seen as "pass through" under US law can sometimes be seen as opaque in an EU country, for example. Sometimes the situation or the double taxation treaty (if there is one) offers no clear solution. Most western countries also have CFC laws you need to be aware of. CFC laws are essentially "see through" taxation laws to combat tax avoidance, looking through certain…

>This is obviously often incorrect, but given most people set up US entities because they're cheap

Cheap compared to where? EU or UK?

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#239

Post by softawre »

econner wrote: post #213
pharrlax wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>IH was apparently very big on financial transparency, yet the principles are being decidedly opaque about financials in this thread. Financial transparency about profit from a bootstrapped startup is a different from financial transparency about a contract between two parties. Secrecy around the latter is a little more understandable.

Why?

It takes two to tango in the latter

Re: IndieHackers.com acquired by Stripe

#240

Post by charlesdm »

vram22 wrote: post #238
charlesdm wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Different countries have different laws. What might be seen as "pass through" under US law can sometimes be seen as opaque in an EU country, for example. Sometimes the situation or the double taxation treaty (if there is one) offers no clear solution. Most western countries also have CFC laws you need to be aware of. CFC laws are essentially "see through" taxation laws to combat tax avoidance, looking through certain…

>This is obviously often incorrect, but given most people set up US entities because they're cheap Cheap compared to where? EU or UK?

Most EU jurisdictions have required minimum capital contributions from the founding shareholder(s), e.g. 10-20.000 euro per entity. Then there's a ton of stuff to file (some countries are more bureaucratic than others), in some jurisdictions you need to visit a civil law notary to incorporate, etc.

A lawyer can easily take care of that for you for a reasonable fee, but most bootstrappers won't consider it, given the price.

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