Paperform
paperform.co
Online form builder for forms, payments, bookings, surveys and e-signatures with a doc-style editor.
$3.5M ARR
diff ~/p/dean-mcpherson ~/p/ruben-gamez
Dean McPherson vs Ruben Gamez
Products, revenue & stack compared side by side.
Dean McPherson vs Ruben Gamez at a glance
Both Dean McPherson and Ruben Gamez are bootstrapped. They overlap in SaaS Founders and Productivity Tools. Dean is based in Sydney, Australia, Ruben in Portland, United States. Dean started in 2016 and Ruben in 2009. Dean McPherson has 1 product listed on IndieMakerList vs Ruben Gamez's 2. On revenue, Dean self-reports $3.5M ARR (as of 2023) and Ruben Several million ARR (SignWell) (as of 2024). On X, Dean has about 2.4K followers and Ruben about 6.1K.
Side-by-side comparison
- Based in
- Dean McPherson: Sydney, Australia
- Ruben Gamez: Portland, United States
- Started
- Dean McPherson: 2016 (10 yrs indie)
- Ruben Gamez: 2009 (17 yrs indie)
- Revenue (self-reported)
- Dean McPherson: $3.5M ARRself-reported, as of 2023 · source for Dean McPherson's revenue
- Ruben Gamez: Several million ARR (SignWell)self-reported, as of 2024 · source for Ruben Gamez's revenue
- Products listed
- Dean McPherson: 1
- Ruben Gamez: 2
- Product status
- Dean McPherson: 1 active
- Ruben Gamez: 2 active
- X followers
- Dean McPherson: 2.4K
- Ruben Gamez: 6.1K
- Categories
- Dean McPherson: SaaS FoundersNo-Code MakersProductivity Tools
- Ruben Gamez: SaaS FoundersProductivity Tools
- Style
- Dean McPherson: duobootstrapped
- Ruben Gamez: bootstrappedserial maker
- Courses & resources
- Dean McPherson: 2
- Ruben Gamez: 2
Revenue figures are self-reported by each maker and not audited; dates and scope differ. Highlighted categories are shared by both.
Top products
Tech stack
No tools in common in their publicly listed stacks. See the indie maker tech stack.
No stack shared publicly.
No stack shared publicly.
How they build
- Bootstrap and grow from customer revenue rather than investors.
- Use a lifetime deal to get early customers and feedback.
- Build the business around your family and life, not the other way round.
- Find your next product in your current customers' complaints.
- A simpler, cheaper option can win a foothold in a crowded market.
- Bootstrap and keep the team small.
Learn from Dean and Ruben
- [newsletter] Dean McPherson on Substack
- [podcast] SaaS Club: How a developer bootstrapped Paperform
- [newsletter] Extends Logic
- [podcast] SaaS Club: Ruben Gamez of Bidsketch
Dean McPherson vs Ruben Gamez FAQ
Who makes more money, Dean McPherson or Ruben Gamez?
Dean McPherson self-reports $3.5M ARR (as of 2023) and Ruben Gamez self-reports Several million ARR (SignWell) (as of 2024). By these self-reported figures, Dean McPherson's reported monthly revenue is higher. Figures are unaudited and may cover different periods or businesses, so treat them as rough indicators.
Who has built more products, Dean McPherson or Ruben Gamez?
Dean McPherson has 1 product listed (Paperform); Ruben Gamez has 2 products listed (SignWell and Bidsketch).
Where are Dean McPherson and Ruben Gamez based?
Dean McPherson: Sydney, Australia. Ruben Gamez: Portland, United States.
Who has been an indie maker longer, Dean McPherson or Ruben Gamez?
Dean McPherson started in 2016 (10 years indie); Ruben Gamez started in 2009 (17 years indie).
Are Dean McPherson and Ruben Gamez bootstrapped?
Yes, both are listed as bootstrapped founders on IndieMakerList.
Full profiles
Read the full story, timeline and links on Dean McPherson's profile and Ruben Gamez's profile.
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