EPISODE 37
In Episode 37 of Founder Mode, Kevin Henrikson and Jason Shafton sit down with Austin Boer, co-founder of Sleke, to unpack what it takes to build a “dumb phone” that still supports modern life. Austin shares how a simple insight from the r/dumbphone subreddit shaped Sleke’s mission: people want fewer distractions, not less utility. The conversation covers founder-led customer discovery, why Sleke is built around intentional constraints like banning infinite scroll, and how the team balances privacy, usability, and real-world needs like QR codes, maps, and music. They also explore the bigger question of what replaces the phone by 2030 and why digital minimalism should be accessible to everyone, not a luxury product.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – The dumb phone problem people actually have
03:50 – Why Austin built Sleke and what the product is
04:30 – Founder-led discovery: 200+ ICP calls and shifting ICP
08:20 – The “fatal flaw” of dumb phones and preventing app creep
16:30 – Digital minimalism shouldn’t be a luxury
LINKS
Connect with Austin Boer
sleke.io • Instagram • X/Twitter
Special Offer: Use code FOUNDERS5 for a discount on a Sleke device.
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