Scott Taylor
Portrait of Scott Taylor

Scott Taylor

Entrepreneur and software developer based in the Bay Area, California.

I build software under the handle smtlaissezfaire (opens in a new tab) and start businesses that solve real problems — from local services in my own backyard to physical products to podcasts.

Failed experiments

Projects

Things I’ve built, run, or am working on.

  1. Tailor Made Thoughts Visit (opens in a new tab)

    A podcast at the intersection of building, thinking, and doing.

    Most episodes start with a book — business strategy, personal development, sometimes spirituality — and end somewhere useful: a mental model that reframes how you see a problem, or a tool you can actually use to live and work a little better.

  2. Opaque Visit (opens in a new tab)

    A snail-mail newsletter where you simulate being an entrepreneur and practice decision-making under uncertainty — a way to fail, make mistakes, and learn without risking your life savings.

  3. Mailbox Movies Visit (opens in a new tab)

    Old-school Netflix-style DVD and Blu-ray rentals by mail — unlimited variety, unbeatable prices, no late fees.

    Why physical media? The best films are often the ones that have stood the test of time, and they're getting harder to find on any single streaming platform — especially as services pull or censor titles that aren't considered politically correct anymore.

  4. Shunya Visit (opens in a new tab)

    The first micro plastic-free shaker bottle.

    Shūnya (शून्य) is Sanskrit for nothing, emptiness, void — a name that fits because there's no plastic in it.

  5. Skyline Commercial Cleaning Visit (opens in a new tab)

    Commercial cleaning services for businesses in San Francisco and the Peninsula.

  6. Amazon Online Arbitrage Visit (opens in a new tab)

    Finding and reselling products on Amazon — sourcing deals and building a retail operation online.