Zero to $65M: How Dan Handy Built Bluehost from His Parents' Basement

"I was living in my parents' basement making $15 an hour when suddenly Merrill Lynch paperwork showed up saying I was worth $3 million" - this is how Dan Handy describes his first major exit, but it was just the beginning of his remarkable journey in technology entrepreneurship. From pioneering the freemium model in web hosting to scaling Bluehost to $65 million in revenue without raising external capital, Dan reveals the innovative strategies that powered his success, including a game-changing partnership with WordPress and a revolutionary approach to affiliate marketing. His candid discussion about making pivotal decisions provides a masterclass in startup leadership, while his current ventures in golf technology demonstrate why the most promising opportunities often emerge from combining technological innovation with non-technical industries. For entrepreneurs seeking to bootstrap their way to success, this episode illuminates why effective cash flow management and strategic partnerships frequently matter more than having the perfect idea.