Axel Schapmann

I used to believe the only way to start a business was to build a startup and raise funds. But there’s another path: building a one-person business. I started freelancing in 2021, alongside my studies. I signed up on Malt and found gigs in under a month. Even though I had almost nothing to offer — just one skill I picked up during two gap-year internships. Since then, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else but running solo with an online business. — Today, I’m building my own projects: • OptiMalt: a Chrome extension to optimize your Malt profile • MyFeedIn: a Chrome extension to create custom LinkedIn feeds • FreelanceKit: a curated directory of top freelance resources And to demystify solopreneurship, I run my media project Soloquest: • a podcast to dive into how my guests do what they do • a newsletter to explore and unpack the best solopreneurs out there Whether you’re a freelancer or solopreneur, I use this account to document my journey and share what I find along the way. Welcome to the era of solo businesses.