korrents
Pieter Levels

Pieter Levels

@pieter-levels · 137 positions · 2 changes of mind · On ppll ↗

Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone — Nomads.com, Remote OK, Hoodmaps, Photo AI and Interior AI — and has written about it at levels.io since 2013. Posts as @levelsio.

Pieter Levels did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

Six ideas Pieter Levels's claims keep coming back to. The grouping and the labels are ours; every quote under them is in Pieter Levels's own words.

  1. One person with cheap tools, AI and a server can build and run a business
  2. AI chat apps and big labs are absorbing apps and services, so building alone no longer sets anyone apart
  3. Heavy regulation and an anti-business culture hold Europe back while builders move elsewhere
  4. Doing new work means ignoring consensus, expecting haters, and holding opinions weakly
  5. Ultra-processed food and modern habits are behind many health problems
  6. Friendship and community take deliberate effort and matter as much as fitness for health

One person with cheap tools, AI and a server can build and run a business

Our label. 12 claims in Pieter Levels's own words.

All you need to build a business today is free open source software, a VPS, an AI API and S3-style file hosting.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone All you really need today to build a business is 100% free open source software that charges you $0/mo a VPS server an API to do some required AI stuff some R2/S3 file hosting All you need to build a business is free open source software a VPS an AI API and R2/S3levels.io · 14 Jul 2026
    Their wordsAll you really need today to build a business is 100% free open source software that charges you $0/mo a VPS server an API to do some required AI stuff some R2/S3 file hosting

    ↗All you need to build a business is free open source software a VPS an AI API and R2/S3levels.io

    14 Jul 2026

Deploying straight to production with no staging server is the right trade for a solo developer, because the speed is worth the risk.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So, nowadays, I just deploy to production and man, I’m going to be canceled for this. But it works very well for me. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 2:37:08 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsSo, nowadays, I just deploy to production and man, I’m going to be canceled for this. But it works very well for me.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 2:37:08 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

Letting a coding agent live-edit the production server works fine in practice.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone But now with Claude Code on my VPS in the last year, it just live edits on my production server, which sounds like it should go wrong but it just doesn't, it's very careful and only twice in 12 months messed up which meant my site didn't load for 10 seconds which is OK I've been coding almost solely on my VPS with Claude Code for almost a year nowlevels.io · 28 Jun 2026
    Their wordsBut now with Claude Code on my VPS in the last year, it just live edits on my production server, which sounds like it should go wrong but it just doesn't, it's very careful and only twice in 12 months messed up which meant my site didn't load for 10 seconds which is OK

    ↗I've been coding almost solely on my VPS with Claude Code for almost a year nowlevels.io

    28 Jun 2026

Anything you would hire somebody to run should be automated instead.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone And for me, it’s so obvious to make this automatic, why would you have somebody organize this? It makes more sense to automate it, and this with most of my things Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 2:14:42 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsAnd for me, it’s so obvious to make this automatic, why would you have somebody organize this? It makes more sense to automate it, and this with most of my things

    Where this was said

    Watch from 2:14:42 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

The tech stack is the least important decision when starting a business; the only thing that matters is validating that people will pay.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone The tech stack it’s not the most important of a business when you’re starting out a business. The important thing is that you validate that there’s a market, that there’s a product that people want to pay for. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 1:27:29 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsThe tech stack it’s not the most important of a business when you’re starting out a business. The important thing is that you validate that there’s a market, that there’s a product that people want to pay for.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 1:27:29 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

You should build by solving only the next problem in front of you; most people fail because they look too far ahead.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So I only look, okay, what’s the next problem to solve? And then the next problem. And at the end you have a whole app or website or thing. But I think most people look way too far ahead. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 1:59:16 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsSo I only look, okay, what’s the next problem to solve? And then the next problem. And at the end you have a whole app or website or thing. But I think most people look way too far ahead.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 1:59:16 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

More tools and more gear make you slower, not faster.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Man, I’m suspicious of more. Do you really need all the stuff? It might slow me down actually. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 3:00:50 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsMan, I’m suspicious of more. Do you really need all the stuff? It might slow me down actually.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 3:00:50 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

JavaScript frameworks cost more in maintenance than they ever save, because each new version forces a rewrite, while PHP stays the same and works.

Mental modelEverything decays without maintenance

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone People are getting sick of frameworks. All the JavaScript frameworks are so… What do you call it, like wieldy. It takes so much work to just maintain this code, and then it updates to a new version, you need to change everything. PHP just stays the same and works. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 0:41:06 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsPeople are getting sick of frameworks. All the JavaScript frameworks are so… What do you call it, like wieldy. It takes so much work to just maintain this code, and then it updates to a new version, you need to change everything. PHP just stays the same and works.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 0:41:06 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

Society would save time if software were built with the simplest, most pragmatic technology that works.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone And for society, if we want to save time, we should probably use the technology that’s simple, that’s pragmatic, that works, that’s not overly complicated, it doesn’t make your life like a living hell. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 0:46:50 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsAnd for society, if we want to save time, we should probably use the technology that’s simple, that’s pragmatic, that works, that’s not overly complicated, it doesn’t make your life like a living hell.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 0:46:50 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

The hard part of building a product in a month is working out what not to build.

Mental modelsSay no by default, Less, but better

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone I think the hard part is figuring out what you shouldn’t add, what you shouldn’t build, because you don’t have time. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 0:18:37 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsI think the hard part is figuring out what you shouldn’t add, what you shouldn’t build, because you don’t have time.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 0:18:37 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

Build the product for yourself first: if it truly serves you, plenty of other people like you will want it too.

  1. David Heinemeier Hansson · changed Creator of Ruby on Rails, CTO of 37signals And whenever I build something that really just hits the spot for me personally, there are thousands of others just like me or close enough to what I like that they find the same pleasure and joy in it. DHH’s new way of writing codeyoutube.com · 8 Apr 2026 · 0:03:50 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsAnd whenever I build something that really just hits the spot for me personally, there are thousands of others just like me or close enough to what I like that they find the same pleasure and joy in it.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 0:03:50 plays here

    ↗DHH’s new way of writing codeyoutube.com

    8 Apr 2026 · video · 1h 47m · spoken · machine transcript

  2. Jason Fried Co-founder and CEO of 37signals (Basecamp, HEY) So that's the thing that's great about building something that you're going to use yourself, is that you have answers to questions that you might never actually be able to really truly get from somebody else. Scratch Your Own Itch37signals.com · 2 Nov 2021 · 15:37 into the audioAll korrents from this episode
    Their wordsSo that's the thing that's great about building something that you're going to use yourself, is that you have answers to questions that you might never actually be able to really truly get from somebody else.

    Where this was said

    Said 15:37 into the audio

    ↗Scratch Your Own Itch37signals.com

    2 Nov 2021 · audio · 31m · spoken · official transcript

  3. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone it's better to make things for yourself and solve your own problems, it has limitations as well but it means you're the expert on your own problem. The majority of people are trying to solve other people's problems. Indie Hackers Podcast: Confronting fears and taking a leaplevels.io · 17 Jan 2018All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsit's better to make things for yourself and solve your own problems, it has limitations as well but it means you're the expert on your own problem. The majority of people are trying to solve other people's problems.

    ↗Indie Hackers Podcast: Confronting fears and taking a leaplevels.io

    17 Jan 2018

  4. Paul Graham Co-founder of Y Combinator and Viaweb The very best startup ideas tend to have three things in common: they're something the founders themselves want, that they themselves can build, and that few others realize are worth doing. How to Get Startup Ideaspaulgraham.com · 1 Nov 2012All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsThe very best startup ideas tend to have three things in common: they're something the founders themselves want, that they themselves can build, and that few others realize are worth doing.

    ↗How to Get Startup Ideaspaulgraham.com

    1 Nov 2012

  5. Derek Sivers Founded CD Baby in 1998 and sold it in 2008 When you make it a dream come true for yourself, it’ll be a dream come true for someone else, too. Make a dream come truesive.rs · 4 Jul 2011All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsWhen you make it a dream come true for yourself, it’ll be a dream come true for someone else, too.

    ↗Make a dream come truesive.rs

    4 Jul 2011

An idea is only validated when people take out their credit cards and pay for it; signing up proves nothing.

Mental modelSkin in the game

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone And I check if there’s demand and if people actually sign up and not just sign up, but if people actually pay money. They need to take out their credit cards, pay me money, and then I can see if the idea is validated. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 0:02:14 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsAnd I check if there’s demand and if people actually sign up and not just sign up, but if people actually pay money. They need to take out their credit cards, pay me money, and then I can see if the idea is validated.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 0:02:14 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

AI chat apps and big labs are absorbing apps and services, so building alone no longer sets anyone apart

Our label. 11 claims in Pieter Levels's own words.

AI chat apps will slowly eat up most services and provide them to users directly, often without an app or interface

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone The AI chat apps will slowly eat up most services and provide them to users directly, many times without even an app or interface, just do whatever the user wants @levelsio on Xx.com · 10 Sept 2026
    Their wordsThe AI chat apps will slowly eat up most services and provide them to users directly, many times without even an app or interface, just do whatever the user wants

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    10 Sept 2026

The app layer between the customer and the AI model is being removed, because customers can now clone the app themselves rather than pay for it.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So you went from a business chain of customer > app > ai model provider To customer > ai model provider The app layer is possibly getting removed! AI raises everyone's app quality but customers now vibecode their own clones to skip payinglevels.io · 21 Jul 2026
    Their wordsSo you went from a business chain of customer > app > ai model provider To customer > ai model provider The app layer is possibly getting removed!

    ↗AI raises everyone's app quality but customers now vibecode their own clones to skip payinglevels.io

    21 Jul 2026

Big AI is cannibalising the app businesses indie hackers used to build, and their revenue and traffic are falling as a result.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone I'm seeing a trend here of declining revenue and traffic with indiehackers On my own projects too Maybe big VC products too but I wouldn't know cause they don't share revenue To me it seems clear BigAI is cannibalizing everything that used to be apps BigAI is cannibalizing everything that used to be apps for indiehackerslevels.io · 26 Jul 2026
    Their wordsI'm seeing a trend here of declining revenue and traffic with indiehackers On my own projects too Maybe big VC products too but I wouldn't know cause they don't share revenue To me it seems clear BigAI is cannibalizing everything that used to be apps

    ↗BigAI is cannibalizing everything that used to be apps for indiehackerslevels.io

    26 Jul 2026

AI companies appear to be absorbing entire industries, including many where indie hackers operate, and the 'SaaSpocalypse' is at least partly real.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone I think you have the real economic effects of AI companies sucking up entire industries now (a lot where indie hackers operate) I do think the SaaSpocalypse is at least partly real @levelsio on Xx.com · 1 Sept 2026
    Their wordsI think you have the real economic effects of AI companies sucking up entire industries now (a lot where indie hackers operate) I do think the SaaSpocalypse is at least partly real

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    1 Sept 2026

Most SaaS subscriptions can now be replaced by software you vibecode for yourself.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone I cancelled and then vibecoded 100% of my SaaS subscriptions I only pay for domains, server hosting and storage and AI APIs I cancelled all my SaaS subscriptions and vibecoded 100% of them myselflevels.io · 26 Jul 2026
    Their wordsI cancelled and then vibecoded 100% of my SaaS subscriptions I only pay for domains, server hosting and storage and AI APIs

    ↗I cancelled all my SaaS subscriptions and vibecoded 100% of them myselflevels.io

    26 Jul 2026

AI has equalised everyone: coding, building and execution are no longer a differentiator.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So AI has made everybody just as capable as everyone else, it equalized everyone in the world, as in everyone can make everything (software, music, images, art etc) now and everyone is equal, at least in the digital realm now Superintelligence has passed us and we're all running after the carrotlevels.io · 20 Jul 2026
    Their wordsSo AI has made everybody just as capable as everyone else, it equalized everyone in the world, as in everyone can make everything (software, music, images, art etc) now and everyone is equal, at least in the digital realm now

    ↗Superintelligence has passed us and we're all running after the carrotlevels.io

    20 Jul 2026

Now that building anything has become quite trivial, catching attention is likely the most important skill.

Mental modelValue moves to what stays scarce

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Now that building anything has become quite trivial, catching attention is now the most important skill I think @levelsio on Xx.com · 10 Sept 2026
    Their wordsNow that building anything has become quite trivial, catching attention is now the most important skill I think

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    10 Sept 2026

Indie hackers are pivoting toward content, audience and distribution to find some moat, essentially becoming influencers.

Mental modelMoats

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So indie hackers are pivoting toward content, audience and distribution to find some moat, essentially becoming influencers @levelsio on Xx.com · 1 Sept 2026
    Their wordsSo indie hackers are pivoting toward content, audience and distribution to find some moat, essentially becoming influencers

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    1 Sept 2026

A boring but non-superficial SaaS app that would have done well five years ago might now get no signups because tens of thousands can easily vibe code it.

Mental modelValue moves to what stays scarce

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone A regular boring but non-superficial SaaS app would do well 5 years ago but now it might not get anyone to sign up because it's so easy to vibe code by tens of thousands of other people @levelsio on Xx.com · 1 Sept 2026
    Their wordsA regular boring but non-superficial SaaS app would do well 5 years ago but now it might not get anyone to sign up because it's so easy to vibe code by tens of thousands of other people

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    1 Sept 2026

Heavy regulation and an anti-business culture hold Europe back while builders move elsewhere

Our label. 12 claims in Pieter Levels's own words.

Lowering regulatory burden on businesses leads to increased wealth for everyone.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone If you make it easy for people to start and run businesses and don't get in their way too much, everyone gets wealthier It's really crazy how strongly wealth inverse correlates with regulatory burdenlevels.io · 26 Sept 2026
    Their wordsIf you make it easy for people to start and run businesses and don't get in their way too much, everyone gets wealthier

    ↗It's really crazy how strongly wealth inverse correlates with regulatory burdenlevels.io

    26 Sept 2026

Making it hard for people to start and run businesses, and constantly getting in their way, makes everyone poorer.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone If you make it hard for people to start and run businesses and get in their way constantly, everyone gets poorer It's really crazy how strongly wealth inverse correlates with regulatory burdenlevels.io · 26 Sept 2026
    Their wordsIf you make it hard for people to start and run businesses and get in their way constantly, everyone gets poorer

    ↗It's really crazy how strongly wealth inverse correlates with regulatory burdenlevels.io

    26 Sept 2026

Within the EU, low-regulation countries like Switzerland and Ireland have much higher incomes than high-regulation ones like Spain or Hungary.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone You can see the effect clearly within the EU: Countries with low regulatory burden like Switzerland and Ireland have much higher incomes than places like Spain or Hungary where its regulatory burden is high It's really crazy how strongly wealth inverse correlates with regulatory burdenlevels.io · 26 Sept 2026
    Their wordsYou can see the effect clearly within the EU: Countries with low regulatory burden like Switzerland and Ireland have much higher incomes than places like Spain or Hungary where its regulatory burden is high

    ↗It's really crazy how strongly wealth inverse correlates with regulatory burdenlevels.io

    26 Sept 2026

Regulation protects incumbents: Europe's AI rules are followable by a big company and impossible for a solo founder.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So actually, regulation is very good for big companies because they can follow it. I can’t follow it, right? If I want to start an AI startup in Europe now, I cannot because there’s an AI regulation that makes it very complicated for me. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 3:38:06 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsSo actually, regulation is very good for big companies because they can follow it. I can’t follow it, right? If I want to start an AI startup in Europe now, I cannot because there’s an AI regulation that makes it very complicated for me.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 3:38:06 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

Europe's dominant cultural spirit is anti-tech, anti-AI, anti-entrepreneurship, anti-business and anti-progress.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Portugal's choice is cultural though and completely fits the general spirit in Europe which is fully anti-tech, anti-AI, anti-entrepreneurship, anti-business and anti-progress Portugal could have been the Silicon Valley of Europelevels.io · 3 Sept 2026
    Their wordsPortugal's choice is cultural though and completely fits the general spirit in Europe which is fully anti-tech, anti-AI, anti-entrepreneurship, anti-business and anti-progress

    ↗Portugal could have been the Silicon Valley of Europelevels.io

    3 Sept 2026

Portugal collectively decided to remain relatively poor and technologically and intellectually behind.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Portugal collectively decided they wanted to remain relatively poor and technologically and intellectually behind Portugal could have been the Silicon Valley of Europelevels.io · 3 Sept 2026
    Their wordsPortugal collectively decided they wanted to remain relatively poor and technologically and intellectually behind

    ↗Portugal could have been the Silicon Valley of Europelevels.io

    3 Sept 2026

City states are attracting skilled Europeans with better living, working, and regulatory conditions.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone This is great and another example of city states attracting all the skilled Europeans with better living, working and regulatory conditions! @levelsio on Xx.com · 3 Oct 2026
    Their wordsThis is great and another example of city states attracting all the skilled Europeans with better living, working and regulatory conditions!

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    3 Oct 2026

Countries will attract high-skilled and wealthy individuals from around the world

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Countries will keep plucking out the high skilled and wealthy from around the world for better conditions elsewhere @levelsio on Xx.com · 4 Oct 2026
    Their wordsCountries will keep plucking out the high skilled and wealthy from around the world for better conditions elsewhere

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    4 Oct 2026

After a European exit tax, the EU will try to tax its citizens' worldwide income wherever in the world they live.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone European governments and thus the EU too is losing lots of tax income from Europeans fleeing Next on the agenda is the European Exit Tax and after that I think they will try to add Worldwide Income Tax (like the US already has) meaning it doesn't matter where you live in the world as a European citizen, the EU will tax you for your entire income! I think the EU will try to add Worldwide Income Tax after the European Exit Taxlevels.io · 23 Aug 2026
    Their wordsEuropean governments and thus the EU too is losing lots of tax income from Europeans fleeing Next on the agenda is the European Exit Tax and after that I think they will try to add Worldwide Income Tax (like the US already has) meaning it doesn't matter where you live in the world as a European citizen, the EU will tax you for your entire income!

    ↗I think the EU will try to add Worldwide Income Tax after the European Exit Taxlevels.io

    23 Aug 2026

Most of the world fails to solve problems because of pride, excessive regulation, and low standards for what counts as a problem worth fixing.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone In most of the world there is: no real willingness to solve problems nor an acceptance of people offering to solve their problems (out of pride) simply too much regulation so the problem cannot be solved without a license or long approval time very low standards of what is deemed acceptable so the problem isn't seen as a problem in the first place You stop wondering why the US is so insanely rich when you travel the rest of the worldlevels.io · 1 Sept 2026
    Their wordsIn most of the world there is: no real willingness to solve problems nor an acceptance of people offering to solve their problems (out of pride) simply too much regulation so the problem cannot be solved without a license or long approval time very low standards of what is deemed acceptable so the problem isn't seen as a problem in the first place

    ↗You stop wondering why the US is so insanely rich when you travel the rest of the worldlevels.io

    1 Sept 2026

Only the US and China have substantial startup activity left; the rest of the world cannot really do startups.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone I just realized the only 2 countries left with actual substantial startup activity now are literally only the US and China The rest of the world can't really do startups, doesn't have the funding, can't grow them and it's more like performative hobby projects for their governments Which might tell us where the future wealth will be concentrated in the world Only the US and China have actual substantial startup activity nowlevels.io · 17 Nov 2025
    Their wordsI just realized the only 2 countries left with actual substantial startup activity now are literally only the US and China The rest of the world can't really do startups, doesn't have the funding, can't grow them and it's more like performative hobby projects for their governments Which might tell us where the future wealth will be concentrated in the world

    ↗Only the US and China have actual substantial startup activity nowlevels.io

    17 Nov 2025

The West's biggest blindspot is repeatedly underestimating China's speed and capabilities.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone The West's biggest blindspot is repeatedly underestimating China's speed and capabilities The West's biggest blindspot is repeatedly underestimating China's speed and capabilitieslevels.io · 29 Jul 2026
    Their wordsThe West's biggest blindspot is repeatedly underestimating China's speed and capabilities

    ↗The West's biggest blindspot is repeatedly underestimating China's speed and capabilitieslevels.io

    29 Jul 2026

  2. Dan Wang Writer and analyst of Chinese technology and industry I worry however that one of America’s superpowers is to spin up yarns to reduce the urgency for action. 2023 letterdanwang.co · 23 Jan 2024All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsI worry however that one of America’s superpowers is to spin up yarns to reduce the urgency for action.

    ↗2023 letterdanwang.co

    23 Jan 2024

Doing new work means ignoring consensus, expecting haters, and holding opinions weakly

Our label. 10 claims in Pieter Levels's own words.

You should listen to nobody and do your own thing, whatever your parents, your family and society press on you.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Man, I would listen to nobody. Just do what you think is good and follow your heart. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 3:41:32 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsMan, I would listen to nobody. Just do what you think is good and follow your heart.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 3:41:32 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

Deciding by consensus breeds averageness: an average idea, an average company and an average culture.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone You have a meeting with three people and then you get these compromise results, which is very European. I don’t know if they call it polder model where you put people in the room and you only let them out when they agree on the compromise in politics. And I think it breeds averageness. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 2:28:07 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsYou have a meeting with three people and then you get these compromise results, which is very European. I don’t know if they call it polder model where you put people in the room and you only let them out when they agree on the compromise in politics. And I think it breeds averageness.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 2:28:07 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

When something you make attracts a lot of irrational haters, you are usually on to something.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone When something you make get lots of irrational haters, usually you're on to something Omarchy by DHH passes the irrational haters test with flying colourslevels.io · 29 Aug 2026
    Their wordsWhen something you make get lots of irrational haters, usually you're on to something

    ↗Omarchy by DHH passes the irrational haters test with flying colourslevels.io

    29 Aug 2026

Your haters usually have a real point, and it is dumb to ignore them completely.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone This hater has a point because it’s dumb to completely ignore your haters. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 2:00:20 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsThis hater has a point because it’s dumb to completely ignore your haters.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 2:00:20 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

The smartest people the author knows hold strong opinions weakly and change them with new information, while the dumbest keep opinions fixed just to stay consistent.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone The smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly held and change them when new information arises The dumbest people I know keep their opinions the same just so they can remain consistent Time changes too fast try remain consistent, better to sail the waves to wherever they are taking you! The smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly heldlevels.io · 7 Sept 2026
    Their wordsThe smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly held and change them when new information arises The dumbest people I know keep their opinions the same just so they can remain consistent Time changes too fast try remain consistent, better to sail the waves to wherever they are taking you!

    ↗The smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly heldlevels.io

    7 Sept 2026

Changing your mind in light of new facts should be celebrated rather than held against you.

Mental modelProbabilistic thinking

  1. Gergely Orosz Writes The Pragmatic Engineer IDK why anyone has a problem with having strong opinions, weakly held. @GergelyOrosz on Xx.com · 7 Sept 2026
    Their wordsIDK why anyone has a problem with having strong opinions, weakly held.

    ↗@GergelyOrosz on Xx.com

    7 Sept 2026

  2. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone The smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly held and change them when new information arises The dumbest people I know keep their opinions the same just so they can remain consistent Time changes too fast try remain consistent, better to sail the waves to wherever they are taking you! The smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly heldlevels.io · 7 Sept 2026
    Their wordsThe smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly held and change them when new information arises The dumbest people I know keep their opinions the same just so they can remain consistent Time changes too fast try remain consistent, better to sail the waves to wherever they are taking you!

    ↗The smartest people I know have strong opinions weakly heldlevels.io

    7 Sept 2026

  3. David Heinemeier Hansson Creator of Ruby on Rails, CTO of 37signals I'd rather celebrate people updating their priors than dunking on them for being late. Make it cool to change your mind when you realize the facts have changed! @dhh on Xx.com · 3 Sept 2026
    Their wordsI'd rather celebrate people updating their priors than dunking on them for being late. Make it cool to change your mind when you realize the facts have changed!

    ↗@dhh on Xx.com

    3 Sept 2026

  4. Stephan Guyenet Obesity researcher with a PhD in neuroscience Inability to change one’s mind is a hallmark of an irrational belief system. Quickly assessing the credibility of public expertsstephanguyenet.com · 30 Aug 2018All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsInability to change one’s mind is a hallmark of an irrational belief system.

    ↗Quickly assessing the credibility of public expertsstephanguyenet.com

    30 Aug 2018

Experience can make it harder to try new things

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone It's such a weird experience that I can now build things faster than I get new ideas for things @levelsio on Xx.com · 2 Oct 2026
    Their wordsIt's such a weird experience that I can now build things faster than I get new ideas for things

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    2 Oct 2026

  2. David Heinemeier Hansson Creator of Ruby on Rails, CTO of 37signals But it'll also raise the price of trying something new, since that might take longer Commit to competence in this coming yearworld.hey.com · 22 Dec 2023All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsBut it'll also raise the price of trying something new, since that might take longer

    ↗Commit to competence in this coming yearworld.hey.com

    22 Dec 2023

Shipping the thing is what changes the law; staying scared of the legal framework changes nothing.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So, just by shipping it, you change society, you change the legal framework. By not shipping, being scared of the legal framework all the time, you’re not changing things. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 2:42:20 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsSo, just by shipping it, you change society, you change the legal framework. By not shipping, being scared of the legal framework all the time, you’re not changing things.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 2:42:20 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

Entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging pursuits, comparable to professional sports in how few people actually succeed.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone There's an illusion here though that anyone will make it, which I've never portrayed to be true, entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging endeavours, kinda like pro sports Anyone can try making money on the internet with AI, but entrepreneurship is still like pro sportslevels.io · 7 Sept 2026
    Their wordsThere's an illusion here though that anyone will make it, which I've never portrayed to be true, entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging endeavours, kinda like pro sports

    ↗Anyone can try making money on the internet with AI, but entrepreneurship is still like pro sportslevels.io

    7 Sept 2026

Retirement is bad for you; the right thing is to keep working on cool stuff until you die.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone So, I think it’s good to keep working until you die. Just keep working on cool stuff and you shouldn’t retire. I think retirement is bad probably. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 2:27:31 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsSo, I think it’s good to keep working until you die. Just keep working on cool stuff and you shouldn’t retire. I think retirement is bad probably.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 2:27:31 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

Ultra-processed food and modern habits are behind many health problems

Our label. 8 claims in Pieter Levels's own words.

Gut flora may be damaged by decades of consuming ultra-processed food.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Likely your gut flora is messed up from decades of ultra-processed slop food and you have to reset it with good food and bacteria to rebuild it @levelsio on Xx.com · 8 Oct 2026
    Their wordsLikely your gut flora is messed up from decades of ultra-processed slop food and you have to reset it with good food and bacteria to rebuild it

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    8 Oct 2026

Digestive issues after eating whole foods are caused by the digestive system rather than the food itself.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone If you have digestive issues after eating whole foods, it's not the food that has issues, it's your digestive system! @levelsio on Xx.com · 8 Oct 2026
    Their wordsIf you have digestive issues after eating whole foods, it's not the food that has issues, it's your digestive system!

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    8 Oct 2026

Getting rid of milk chocolate sooner is better, and people can gradually adapt to darker chocolate.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone The faster you get rid of milk chocolate the better, you can slowly adapt yourself to darker and darker chocolate @levelsio on Xx.com · 19 Sept 2026
    Their wordsThe faster you get rid of milk chocolate the better, you can slowly adapt yourself to darker and darker chocolate

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    19 Sept 2026

Gray hair is likely at least partly due to oxidative stress from today's mostly processed-food diets, lack of heavy exercise, and obesity.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone I'm increasingly convinced gray hair is at least partly due to oxidative stress from the average diet now that's mostly processed food, as well as lack of heavy exercise and obesity @levelsio on Xx.com · 15 Sept 2026
    Their wordsI'm increasingly convinced gray hair is at least partly due to oxidative stress from the average diet now that's mostly processed food, as well as lack of heavy exercise and obesity

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    15 Sept 2026

Something referred to only as 'it' can probably be at least partly avoided by eating clean, exercising heavily, and sleeping well.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone you can at least partly avoid it by eating clean, exercising heavy and sleeping well I think @levelsio on Xx.com · 15 Sept 2026
    Their wordsyou can at least partly avoid it by eating clean, exercising heavy and sleeping well I think

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    15 Sept 2026

Rice, grains, seeds and potatoes used to be peasant foods, while kings ate fresh meat plus imported fruits and spices and had higher-protein diets than peasants.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone rice, grains, seeds and potatoes all used to be peasant foods And the kings actually just ate a lot of fresh meat like beef, venison, wild boar, swan, and peacock, and imported fruits and spices like saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper A king's diet was high in protein A peasant's diet was low in protein @levelsio on Xx.com · 14 Sept 2026
    Their wordsrice, grains, seeds and potatoes all used to be peasant foods And the kings actually just ate a lot of fresh meat like beef, venison, wild boar, swan, and peacock, and imported fruits and spices like saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper A king's diet was high in protein A peasant's diet was low in protein

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    14 Sept 2026

Friendship and community take deliberate effort and matter as much as fitness for health

Our label. 8 claims in Pieter Levels's own words.

Having an active social life is just as important for health as physical fitness

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone Having an active social life is just as important or in some studies even more important for health than physical fitness @levelsio on Xx.com · 30 Sept 2026
    Their wordsHaving an active social life is just as important or in some studies even more important for health than physical fitness

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    30 Sept 2026

After age 30 people start seeing friends less, and older men especially are left with no social life.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone studies show after age 30 you start seeing friends less and when you get older especially men don't have any social life left! @levelsio on Xx.com · 30 Sept 2026
    Their wordsstudies show after age 30 you start seeing friends less and when you get older especially men don't have any social life left!

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    30 Sept 2026

People have to take the initiative to bring others together, which is hard when phones and the internet offer easier, cheaper dopamine than in-person gatherings.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone you have to take the initiative to bring people together which isn't easy in a time where phones and apps and the internet are simply easier and cheaper dopamine than driving to a friends house for a party @levelsio on Xx.com · 30 Sept 2026
    Their wordsyou have to take the initiative to bring people together which isn't easy in a time where phones and apps and the internet are simply easier and cheaper dopamine than driving to a friends house for a party

    ↗@levelsio on Xx.com

    30 Sept 2026

People need a public place to congregate and work in, because that is what the European coffee houses were when the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment happened in them.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone You need a space to congregate, man. And I found history on this. So 400 years ago in the coffee houses of Europe, the scientific revolution, the enlightenment happened. Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com · 20 Aug 2024 · 3:33:01 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    Their wordsYou need a space to congregate, man. And I found history on this. So 400 years ago in the coffee houses of Europe, the scientific revolution, the enlightenment happened.

    Where this was said

    Watch from 3:33:01 plays here

    ↗Pieter Levels: Programming, Viral AI Startups, and Digital Nomad Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #440youtube.com

    20 Aug 2024 · video · 3h 43m · spoken · official transcript

With AGI on the horizon, online and offline communities will probably become really important.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone I think now that AGI is on the horizon (or some say already here), online and offline (IRL) communities will become really important. After a decade, I have made nomads.com free for everyone nowlevels.io · 5 Sept 2026
    Their wordsI think now that AGI is on the horizon (or some say already here), online and offline (IRL) communities will become really important.

    ↗After a decade, I have made nomads.com free for everyone nowlevels.io

    5 Sept 2026

Remote work and entrepreneurship take away shared spaces, like offices, where people used to make friends or meet partners.

  1. Pieter Levels Dutch bootstrapper who builds and runs his internet startups alone And with remote work and entrepreneurship, people lack a space like an office where people would usually make friends or meet partners After a decade, I have made nomads.com free for everyone nowlevels.io · 5 Sept 2026
    Their wordsAnd with remote work and entrepreneurship, people lack a space like an office where people would usually make friends or meet partners

    ↗After a decade, I have made nomads.com free for everyone nowlevels.io

    5 Sept 2026