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Nov 29, 2022 · 21m · startup-acquisition-stories

Startup Acquisition Stories with JJ Englert, Founder of Jump Studios

JJ Englert · 11m spoken Andrew Gazdecki · 7m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

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In this episode of SaaS Acquisition Stories, host Andrew Gazdecki interviews JJ Englert, founder of Jump Studios, to discuss building, scaling, and selling a no-code SaaS business on MicroAcquire. JJ shares practical strategies for overcoming no-code stigma, managing prospective buyer pipelines, and executing frictionless business handovers.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Andrew holds 37.6% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Andrew as informed peer 3.3 Guest teaching 1.0 Guest disagreement 0.0 Andrew pushing back 0.0
05100:0010:0020:000:24–2:41 · Andrew as informed peer 1/10 JJ Englert's Background and Founding Jump Studios Gazdecki opens with a standard welcoming prompt asking JJ for background on Jump Studios. Englert explains his background as a film industry creative transitioning to non-technical founder and teaching himself Bubble to build software.2:41–5:13 · Andrew as informed peer 2/10 Debunking No-Code Scalability and Early Stage Advantages Gazdecki asks whether buyers were hesitant or receptive to a no-code stack. Englert breaks down the operational benefits and scalability of no-code in early-stage acquisitions.5:13–8:23 · Andrew as informed peer 5/10 Broadening the Buyer Pool and Demystifying No-Code Stigma Gazdecki offers his own take on no-code expanding the potential buyer pool because operating costs and technical debt are lower. Englert reinforces this by recounting how he previously wasted $300k on custom .NET engineering.8:23–11:46 · Andrew as informed peer 3/10 Navigating Buyer Selection and Prioritizing Long-Term Vision Gazdecki inquires how Englert chose his final buyer over competing offers. Englert explains why he picked a reliable, aligned buyer who would support his users over a last-minute higher bid.11:47–14:10 · Andrew as informed peer 3/10 Executing Asset Transfers and Overcoming Diligence Fatigue Gazdecki asks about asset handover mechanics, sharing his own quick experience acquiring a Bubble application. Englert discusses API transfers and the fatigue of managing back-to-back due diligence calls.14:10–16:42 · Andrew as informed peer 5/10 Strategies for Filtering Buyers and Creating Self-Serve Data Rooms Gazdecki shares MicroAcquire's best practice tips for filtering tire-kicking buyers, and Englert describes how public demos and P&L data gated serious inquiries.16:42–20:14 · Andrew as informed peer 4/10 Essential Acquisition Tips and the Power of Buyer Momentum Englert outlines key acquisition takeaways and highlights how LOI notification alerts generate competitive buyer FOMO on MicroAcquire. Gazdecki recounts his personal experience leveraging that exact automated feature.0:24–2:41 · Guest teaching 1/10 JJ Englert's Background and Founding Jump Studios Gazdecki opens with a standard welcoming prompt asking JJ for background on Jump Studios. Englert explains his background as a film industry creative transitioning to non-technical founder and teaching himself Bubble to build software.2:41–5:13 · Guest teaching 2/10 Debunking No-Code Scalability and Early Stage Advantages Gazdecki asks whether buyers were hesitant or receptive to a no-code stack. Englert breaks down the operational benefits and scalability of no-code in early-stage acquisitions.5:13–8:23 · Guest teaching 1/10 Broadening the Buyer Pool and Demystifying No-Code Stigma Gazdecki offers his own take on no-code expanding the potential buyer pool because operating costs and technical debt are lower. Englert reinforces this by recounting how he previously wasted $300k on custom .NET engineering.8:23–11:46 · Guest teaching 1/10 Navigating Buyer Selection and Prioritizing Long-Term Vision Gazdecki inquires how Englert chose his final buyer over competing offers. Englert explains why he picked a reliable, aligned buyer who would support his users over a last-minute higher bid.11:47–14:10 · Guest teaching 1/10 Executing Asset Transfers and Overcoming Diligence Fatigue Gazdecki asks about asset handover mechanics, sharing his own quick experience acquiring a Bubble application. Englert discusses API transfers and the fatigue of managing back-to-back due diligence calls.14:10–16:42 · Guest teaching 0/10 Strategies for Filtering Buyers and Creating Self-Serve Data Rooms Gazdecki shares MicroAcquire's best practice tips for filtering tire-kicking buyers, and Englert describes how public demos and P&L data gated serious inquiries.16:42–20:14 · Guest teaching 1/10 Essential Acquisition Tips and the Power of Buyer Momentum Englert outlines key acquisition takeaways and highlights how LOI notification alerts generate competitive buyer FOMO on MicroAcquire. Gazdecki recounts his personal experience leveraging that exact automated feature.0:24–2:41 · Guest disagreement 0/10 JJ Englert's Background and Founding Jump Studios Gazdecki opens with a standard welcoming prompt asking JJ for background on Jump Studios. Englert explains his background as a film industry creative transitioning to non-technical founder and teaching himself Bubble to build software.2:41–5:13 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Debunking No-Code Scalability and Early Stage Advantages Gazdecki asks whether buyers were hesitant or receptive to a no-code stack. Englert breaks down the operational benefits and scalability of no-code in early-stage acquisitions.5:13–8:23 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Broadening the Buyer Pool and Demystifying No-Code Stigma Gazdecki offers his own take on no-code expanding the potential buyer pool because operating costs and technical debt are lower. Englert reinforces this by recounting how he previously wasted $300k on custom .NET engineering.8:23–11:46 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Navigating Buyer Selection and Prioritizing Long-Term Vision Gazdecki inquires how Englert chose his final buyer over competing offers. Englert explains why he picked a reliable, aligned buyer who would support his users over a last-minute higher bid.11:47–14:10 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Executing Asset Transfers and Overcoming Diligence Fatigue Gazdecki asks about asset handover mechanics, sharing his own quick experience acquiring a Bubble application. Englert discusses API transfers and the fatigue of managing back-to-back due diligence calls.14:10–16:42 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Strategies for Filtering Buyers and Creating Self-Serve Data Rooms Gazdecki shares MicroAcquire's best practice tips for filtering tire-kicking buyers, and Englert describes how public demos and P&L data gated serious inquiries.16:42–20:14 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Essential Acquisition Tips and the Power of Buyer Momentum Englert outlines key acquisition takeaways and highlights how LOI notification alerts generate competitive buyer FOMO on MicroAcquire. Gazdecki recounts his personal experience leveraging that exact automated feature.0:24–2:41 · Andrew pushing back 0/10 JJ Englert's Background and Founding Jump Studios Gazdecki opens with a standard welcoming prompt asking JJ for background on Jump Studios. Englert explains his background as a film industry creative transitioning to non-technical founder and teaching himself Bubble to build software.2:41–5:13 · Andrew pushing back 0/10 Debunking No-Code Scalability and Early Stage Advantages Gazdecki asks whether buyers were hesitant or receptive to a no-code stack. Englert breaks down the operational benefits and scalability of no-code in early-stage acquisitions.5:13–8:23 · Andrew pushing back 0/10 Broadening the Buyer Pool and Demystifying No-Code Stigma Gazdecki offers his own take on no-code expanding the potential buyer pool because operating costs and technical debt are lower. Englert reinforces this by recounting how he previously wasted $300k on custom .NET engineering.8:23–11:46 · Andrew pushing back 0/10 Navigating Buyer Selection and Prioritizing Long-Term Vision Gazdecki inquires how Englert chose his final buyer over competing offers. Englert explains why he picked a reliable, aligned buyer who would support his users over a last-minute higher bid.11:47–14:10 · Andrew pushing back 0/10 Executing Asset Transfers and Overcoming Diligence Fatigue Gazdecki asks about asset handover mechanics, sharing his own quick experience acquiring a Bubble application. Englert discusses API transfers and the fatigue of managing back-to-back due diligence calls.14:10–16:42 · Andrew pushing back 0/10 Strategies for Filtering Buyers and Creating Self-Serve Data Rooms Gazdecki shares MicroAcquire's best practice tips for filtering tire-kicking buyers, and Englert describes how public demos and P&L data gated serious inquiries.16:42–20:14 · Andrew pushing back 0/10 Essential Acquisition Tips and the Power of Buyer Momentum Englert outlines key acquisition takeaways and highlights how LOI notification alerts generate competitive buyer FOMO on MicroAcquire. Gazdecki recounts his personal experience leveraging that exact automated feature.

speaking balance: gold is Andrew, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Andrew 18.7% · guest 81.3%0:00 · Andrew 18.7% · guest 81.3%3:00 · Andrew 33.2% · guest 66.8%3:00 · Andrew 33.2% · guest 66.8%6:00 · Andrew 44.1% · guest 55.9%6:00 · Andrew 44.1% · guest 55.9%9:00 · Andrew 34% · guest 66%9:00 · Andrew 34% · guest 66%12:00 · Andrew 51.2% · guest 48.8%12:00 · Andrew 51.2% · guest 48.8%15:00 · Andrew 35.2% · guest 64.8%15:00 · Andrew 35.2% · guest 64.8%18:00 · Andrew 51.6% · guest 48.4%18:00 · Andrew 51.6% · guest 48.4%21:00 · Andrew 0% · guest 100%21:00 · Andrew 0% · guest 100%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 3:13 Debunking no-code scaling myths

Englert directly refutes misconceptions that no-code stacks cannot scale, citing that his production systems handle over 20 million workflows a month.

 Hardest push from Andrew ▶ 11:54 Playful denial of platform praise

Gazdecki playfully deflects and minimizes Englert's credit towards him by clarifying that he isn't technical and only bought the domain.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 3:35 Educating buyers on operational advantages of Bubble

Englert explains how non-technical operators gain immense leverage by using no-code, eliminating the need for expensive dedicated engineers for routine maintenance.

 Andrew holds their own ▶ 5:20 Gazdecki analyzes how no-code de-risks acquisitions

Gazdecki articulates marketplace mechanics, showing that no-code lowers the engineering hurdle and expands the buyer pool.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicAndrew as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementAndrew pushing backWhy
JJ Englert's Background and Founding Jump Studios 1100 Gazdecki opens with a standard welcoming prompt asking JJ for background on Jump Studios. Englert explains his background as a film industry creative transitioning to non-technical founder and teaching himself Bubble to build software.
Debunking No-Code Scalability and Early Stage Advantages 2200 Gazdecki asks whether buyers were hesitant or receptive to a no-code stack. Englert breaks down the operational benefits and scalability of no-code in early-stage acquisitions.
Broadening the Buyer Pool and Demystifying No-Code Stigma 5100 Gazdecki offers his own take on no-code expanding the potential buyer pool because operating costs and technical debt are lower. Englert reinforces this by recounting how he previously wasted $300k on custom .NET engineering.
Navigating Buyer Selection and Prioritizing Long-Term Vision 3100 Gazdecki inquires how Englert chose his final buyer over competing offers. Englert explains why he picked a reliable, aligned buyer who would support his users over a last-minute higher bid.
Executing Asset Transfers and Overcoming Diligence Fatigue 3100 Gazdecki asks about asset handover mechanics, sharing his own quick experience acquiring a Bubble application. Englert discusses API transfers and the fatigue of managing back-to-back due diligence calls.
Strategies for Filtering Buyers and Creating Self-Serve Data Rooms 5000 Gazdecki shares MicroAcquire's best practice tips for filtering tire-kicking buyers, and Englert describes how public demos and P&L data gated serious inquiries.
Essential Acquisition Tips and the Power of Buyer Momentum 4100 Englert outlines key acquisition takeaways and highlights how LOI notification alerts generate competitive buyer FOMO on MicroAcquire. Gazdecki recounts his personal experience leveraging that exact automated feature.

Statements from this episode (11)

Insight
JJ Englert says no-code accelerates product-market fit and cuts maintenance costs
“It's advantageous to build on no code in many ways, especially in these early days, because the cost to maintain it is lower. The ability to ship is faster, and that gives you the ability to move quicker and to adjust to your customer's needs faster, which hel…”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 3:53
Assertion Not checkable as stated
JJ Englert built Bubble no-code systems processing 20 million monthly workflows
“Over the last year and a half, I've built no code systems that natively on bubble process over twenty million workflows a month without a problem, right?”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 4:18
Assertion Not checkable as stated
JJ Englert spent $300,000 and 2.5 years building a .NET startup
“My first startup, non-technical founder built on a .NET stack. We spent over 300,000 dollars in the technology. We were just spent the whole time, two and a half years, just trying to make the technology work.”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 6:51
Opinion
Andrew Gazdecki argues sales and marketing skills now outweigh product-building ability
“Now it's people that can quickly build with no code that might have some expertise in sales and marketing, which can, in my opinion, is more of an advantage today than being able to build a really good product.”
Andrew Gazdecki Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 7:52
Disclosure
A last-minute buyer offered $4,000 over asking price for Jump Studios
“And then the last moment, a new buyer emerged and offered 4000 dollars more than asking price.”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 10:22
Disclosure
Andrew Gazdecki acquired and transferred a small Bubble app in 30 minutes
“Because I've also acquired a Bubble app before, a very small one two years ago, and it literally was like, here's the password. We use Zapier to, or Zapier, however you pronounce it. And that was it. We were done in like, 30 minutes.”
Andrew Gazdecki Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 12:30
Disclosure
Recreating multi-year P&L records was the hardest part of Englert's acquisition
“I think the hardest thing that I had to do with this process was create a P and L sheet, you know, and like, just go back two or three years into my records to get all those P and L. That was the hardest thing.”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 13:22
Disclosure
Englert used public demos and P&L records to filter out casual buyers
“The biggest thing that I did was I recorded a demo, I recorded customer interviews, and I made my P&L public, and I was like, here's everything, right? Don't really come at me unless you're ready, you've watched all that, and you're ready to actually have more…”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 15:05
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Englert failed to sell his first $300K startup because it lacked revenue
“I tried to sell my first tech startup, the one I invested like 300 grand into, but it had no revenue, and I couldn't even sell it. I couldn't even sell the technology for it, right?”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 16:58
Assertion Not checkable as stated
A single LOI triggered four competing buyer offers for Jump Studios overnight
“There was one night where like one person sent an LOI out of the blue. And then I got like four more right away.”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 18:28
Disclosure
JJ Englert runs product at a VC-backed startup built entirely on Bubble
“I run product at a VC backed startup in Miami. We're building everything on bubble and low code and everything.”
JJ Englert Nov 29, 2022 ▶ 20:34
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