Hi, I’m Sam 👋 Founder of Merve.app and AXOL EdTech consultancy.

This channel is where I document the real behind-the-scenes of building a SaaS company in the education space. Expect a mix of wins, mistakes, lessons, and everything in between. From raising funding and landing clients, to fixing messy websites and questioning life choices at 7am.

If you’re building your own startup, thinking about it, or just curious how all this actually works (and sometimes doesn’t), then you’ll feel right at home here. I don’t do hype or fluff. Just honest updates, transparent reflections, and a few laughs along the way.

Whether you’re into SaaS, EdTech, or just want to see what it really looks like to grow a business from the ground up. You’re welcome to follow the journey.



Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-07-19T04:13:42Z`
Route: `/channel/UCQz4ixLu2PcUQpc4ofd8cDA`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-07-19T04:13:42Z`
Route: `/channel/UCQz4ixLu2PcUQpc4ofd8cDA`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-07-19T04:13:42Z`
Route: `/channel/UCQz4ixLu2PcUQpc4ofd8cDA`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-07-19T04:13:42Z`
Route: `/channel/UCQz4ixLu2PcUQpc4ofd8cDA`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-07-19T04:13:42Z`
Route: `/channel/UCQz4ixLu2PcUQpc4ofd8cDA`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-07-19T04:13:42Z`
Route: `/channel/UCQz4ixLu2PcUQpc4ofd8cDA`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>