About the Company

Tech Lockdown is a Littleton, CO-based startup founded by Ben Bozzay in July 2021. The company offers DNS Filtering services designed to help users establish and enforce internet use policies. Unlike parental control services, Tech Lockdown targets adults who wish to regulate their own internet use, adding a layer of friction to make bypassing these controls difficult.

Ben Bozzay, a self-taught programmer, started the company to address a growing need for internet use management tools. The business now operates with an MRR of $7,500 and garners significant online traffic, allowing Ben to dedicate himself fully to the venture. Tech Lockdown’s services are tailored to adults looking for practical solutions to manage their internet habits.

The platform has seen steady growth and engagement from users who appreciate the control it offers. With a robust online presence and a clear focus on adult internet use management, Tech Lockdown has positioned itself as a unique player in the digital wellbeing market. Its approach of adding friction distinguishes it from simpler digital wellbeing tools.

Idea Behind Company

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The idea for Tech Lockdown emerged during the COVID-19 lockdowns when Ben recognized the challenges remote workers faced with internet use. As someone who had worked remotely and autonomously for most of his career, Ben was well-positioned to offer advice and solutions. A YouTube video he released in November 2020, which provided tips on setting up content blocking and device management, received unexpected attention and positive feedback.

This response highlighted a significant demand for tools that help people manage their internet use, inspiring Ben to develop a more structured solution. He started by creating a basic website and producing content on the topic, gradually building an audience and an email list. Initially viewed as a hobby, the project grew in importance as Ben realized the potential impact and demand.

Ben's programming background and personal experience with remote work challenges gave him the unique ability to address these issues effectively. The increasing following and demand for his content validated his approach, prompting him to invest more time and resources into developing what would become Tech Lockdown. This transition from hobby to business was driven by a genuine desire to help others.

Creating the Company

The first version of Tech Lockdown was built using a headless content management system (CMS) to manage both free and paid content. Ben integrated this system with Stripe for payment processing and used Nuxt.JS to generate a static site. This setup allowed him to scale SEO efforts while keeping costs and maintenance low, with monthly expenses under $50.

As the audience grew, Ben expanded his offerings by developing a SaaS product. He used Stripe's hosted pages for payment processing and Plausible Analytics for privacy-first analytics, avoiding GDPR risks. The initial prototype allowed customers to link their home network for content filtering, which complemented the paid courses he was offering.

Customer feedback played a crucial role in refining the product. Ben added features such as customizable content blocking, device-level filtering, and DNS logs based on user input. This iterative approach helped build trust and loyalty within the user base, leading to a more comprehensive and user-friendly platform over time.

Launching the Business

The initial launch of Tech Lockdown featured a basic marketing website with a simple login system using Auth0. The focus was on delivering a minimal viable product with essential features to reduce technical debt and maintenance overhead. This lean approach allowed Ben to manage the project alongside his full-time job, ensuring he didn't overextend himself.

Launching the DNS Filtering SaaS product involved limiting features to avoid overwhelming technical complexity. Despite this, the addition of the SaaS product to the existing paid content offering was well-received by customers. Ben's decision to stay lean and bootstrap the startup without outside investment or debt proved beneficial, allowing him to grow the business sustainably.

Revenue saw a significant boost with the introduction of an annual subscription plan in early 2023. This plan allowed customers to prepay for a year at a discounted rate, providing the business with upfront capital. The release of more attractive features and successful SEO efforts further accelerated growth, leading to a noticeable increase in customer base and revenue.

Earnings

Tech Lockdown's profitability has allowed Ben to hire a part-time contractor for customer support, significantly improving his quality of life. The business benefits from high margins, with historic gross margins around 70%, increasing to 95% with new platform integrations. Low customer acquisition costs, driven by organic search traffic and content marketing, contribute to the company's strong financial health.

The introduction of an annual subscription plan helped raise upfront capital, providing financial stability and supporting further development. This plan, combined with a money-back guarantee, encouraged more customers to commit long-term, enhancing revenue predictability. Ben's strategic focus on organic growth channels like SEO and content marketing has proven effective, keeping marketing costs low.

Future plans for Tech Lockdown include developing native applications for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, and transitioning to a free trial system to attract more users. These developments aim to diversify customer acquisition channels and improve brand awareness. The company's high customer lifetime value and low churn rate further indicate a strong foundation for continued growth.