Stories from founders who built what they needed
Real stories from entrepreneurs who scratched their own itch. No pitch decks. No fundraising tales. Just people who built something because they needed it to exist.
What's a "scratched itch"?
Built for yourself
You had a problem. You couldn't find a solution. So you built one.
Accidental product
What started as a personal tool turned out to be useful for others too.
Organic growth
No grand vision required. Just solve your problem and share the solution.
Recent Stories
View all →No stories yet — we're just getting started!
Want to share your story? Get in touch
Get stories in your inbox
No spam. Just the best stories from founders who built what they needed.
Join 2,000+ founders. Unsubscribe anytime.
Famous itches that got scratched
Basecamp
37signals needed project management for client work. Built it for themselves, then opened it up. Now it's a $100M+ business.
Notion
Ivan Zhao wanted a tool that combined docs, wikis, and tasks. Couldn't find one, so he built it. Now valued at $10B.
GitHub
Tom Preston-Werner needed better Git hosting for his projects. Built GitHub on the side. Acquired by Microsoft for $7.5B.
Craigslist
Craig Newmark started an email list for SF events in 1995. Just wanted to help friends. Now one of the most visited sites in the US.