Pete Codes
About the Company
No CS Degree is a niche platform created to spotlight the achievements of self-taught web developers who have carved out successful careers despite not having traditional academic credentials. Pete’s platform features interviews, a job board for self-taught developers, and a coding boot camp directory. The site aims to inspire a growing wave of learners pursuing alternative education pathways in tech.
The business generates income from article sponsorships by coding boot camps and newsletter advertisements for tech products. Additional income streams include a job board and a boot camp directory. Pete’s target audience includes aspiring developers, educators, and tech entrepreneurs seeking relatable and motivational content.
Idea Behind Company
Pete’s inspiration stemmed from his own journey as a self-taught coder looking for role models. He observed success stories of developers like Pieter Levels, who leveraged trends like remote work, and Harry Dry, whose unique projects gained significant traction. Pete wanted to create a space that combined these narratives with practical resources, empowering others to break into tech without a traditional Computer Science background.
The concept was also influenced by existing interview websites like Indiehackers and Starter Story. Pete envisioned a growing demand for coding education and saw an opportunity to cater to this emerging market. His background in journalism equipped him to conduct interviews and curate content effectively.
Creating the Company
Pete started by choosing the Ghost platform for blogging, following a recommendation from Pieter Levels. With minimal costs, including $36 per month for Ghost and a $7 domain, Pete launched his website with a clean design and pre-written interviews. Leveraging his journalism skills, he reached out to self-taught developers for interviews, amassing initial content before going live.
Monetization began on day one, with Pete selling a newsletter ad for $15. Using tools like Google Drive for content management and Mailchimp for email campaigns, Pete efficiently managed operations. Despite challenges like navigation bar issues and suboptimal email forms, he adapted and improved his site over time.
Launching the Business
No CS Degree launched on Product Hunt and Hacker News, receiving significant attention, particularly on the latter, where it topped the board for a day and attracted 49,000 visitors in a few days. This initial success provided a robust foundation, with numerous developers volunteering to share their stories.
Pete’s initial missteps, such as lacking a proper email subscription form, served as valuable learning experiences. These lessons informed subsequent launches, like his job board, which garnered 1,000 subscribers in a week. Early monetization strategies, like selling newsletter ads and sponsored articles, validated the business model and provided early revenue.
Earnings
Pete’s average monthly revenue is around $1,100, with some months exceeding $2,500. Initial costs were under $60 per month, making the business highly profitable from the start. Revenue streams include newsletter ads, sponsored articles, and income from the job board and boot camp directory.
Over time, Pete has increased ad rates, with newsletter spots now priced at $125. He’s also released a course on monetizing newsletters. Looking ahead, Pete aims to grow his revenue to $10,000 per month by expanding the job board and creating additional resources for aspiring developers. Despite his financial goals, Pete prioritizes building a sustainable, lifestyle-friendly business with a high-profit margin.
