362 - Natalie Franke, Flodesk: Building a $30M Brand by Investing in People, Not Just Platforms

“So if you're listening to this and you're starting a company, my best advice and the companies that I see succeed rapidly and have longevity are companies where the founder knows the audience knows the customer or is the customer.” What if the key to scaling your business wasn’t about spending more, but about caring more? In this episode, we sit down with Natalie Frank, Head of Marketing and Community at Flodesk, who helped grow the bootstrapped email platform to over $30 million in recurring revenue, without relying on traditional advertising. Natalie shares how she went from wedding photographer to tech executive, and the powerful philosophy that’s guided her journey: founder-market fit and community over competition. You’ll hear how Flodesk built a loyal audience through authenticity, radical transparency, and empowering small business owners to take control of their marketing. What we talked about:Creating a Remote Environment [8:22]Immerse in the Market [17:21]Staying with the Customers [24:11]Honoring Early Customers [34:02]Signing up for FloDesk [40:37] Connect with Natalie:Website Instagram LinkedIn Head to partners.flodesk.com/entreprenista to start your 14-day free trial, exclusively for Entreprenistas. Are you ready to get the recognition you deserve? The Early Entry rate for the Entreprenista 100 application ends on October 23, 2025. Take the first step toward gaining the visibility and recognition your business deserves. ⁠Start your award application today⁠! Join hundreds of ambitious, purpose-driven founders at The PGA National Resort for a life-changing weekend of inspiration, motivation, and transformation for the ⁠2026 Founders Weekend⁠! Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session. Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlayBe sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.