---
aliases: ["Q1 2025"]
Is A: Quarter
Created at: "2025-01-01"
Belongs to: "[[2025]]"
Has: ["[[25q1-laputa-v1]]", "[[25q1-newsletter-seo-sprint]]", "[[25q1-strength-program]]", "[[25q1-rate-increase]]", "[[25q1-referral-program]]"]
Status: Done
---
# Q1 2025

## Focus

Q1 2025 was about building momentum for the scale year. The two big bets were shipping Laputa v1 as a usable internal tool and pushing a sponsor rate increase now that we had the audience and metrics to justify it. On the content side, an SEO sprint to capture organic search traffic. On the fitness side, starting a strength training program to complement cycling.

## Highlights

- Shipped [[25q1-laputa-v1]] — four-panel layout, markdown rendering, frontmatter-driven navigation, and a working search. Using it daily for my own vault
- Executed [[25q1-rate-increase]]: raised Gold sponsorship from EUR 2.8k to EUR 3.5k per issue — retained 90% of sponsors, [[measure-sponsorship-mrr]] jumped to EUR 14.2k
- Launched [[25q1-referral-program]] with tiered rewards — drove 3,200 referral subscribers in Q1
- [[25q1-newsletter-seo-sprint]]: optimized 15 pillar articles for search, added internal linking structure — organic traffic up 40% by March
- Started [[25q1-strength-program]]: 3x/week gym sessions focusing on core and legs — noticeable improvement in climbing power
- Newsletter reached 56k subscribers by end of March
- [[person-matteo-cellini]] onboarded two new enterprise sponsors at the higher rate with no pushback
- Podcast backlog strategy: released "best of Season 1 & 2" compilation episodes during recording break — maintained download numbers

## Reflections

The rate increase was the decision I was most nervous about. Raising prices always feels like you're testing whether the value you think you provide matches what the market believes. But [[person-matteo-cellini]] was right — we were underpriced. When sponsors didn't blink at the new rate, it was a clear signal we could have moved sooner. Lesson learned: if you're anxious about raising prices, you're probably already late.

Laputa v1 was a labor of love. Spending evenings and weekends building a tool that only I use might seem indulgent, but it's the most energized I've felt about a coding project in years. There's something deeply satisfying about building software for a problem you understand intimately. The vault has 9,000+ files now, and seeing them organized in my own four-panel UI — types, relationships, properties — feels like the PKM tool I've been waiting for.

The strength program was a humbling start. Years of cycling had given me good cardio but embarrassingly weak upper body strength. The first month was all DOMS and ego management. By March, though, I could feel the difference on the bike — more stable in the saddle, better power transfer on steep gradients. The [[2025-ride-stelvio]] goal feels more realistic with this foundation. Big quarter overall. [[2025]] is off to a strong start.
