An indie hacker is someone who builds and sells software products on their own or in a very small team, funded by their own money or revenue instead of investors.
The aim is usually a profitable business that supports its maker, not a company built to be sold. That shapes the choices: small scope, low costs, and charging from early on.
The term spread through the Indie Hackers community, where founders share revenue numbers and what worked.
Why it matters for a launch
Indie products compete on focus and speed, not on budget. Launch platforms and directories matter more to them than to funded startups, because they are distribution that costs time instead of money.
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