Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

The problem is that professional investors (Angels and Venture Capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly. Solicit funds from friends and family.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 283

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

According to my experience and this Motley Fool article from a few years ago, the challenge is very real, with around half of all new businesses no longer existing after five years. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. After bootstrapping, friends and family are the most common funding sources for early-stage startups.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator Bootstrapping 261

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Businesses require an equally elegant business model, with the right price, messaging and delivery channel to the right target customers to keep the dream alive and growing.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Advisory Board Software Review Business Model 220

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Your product is designed with natural tripwires to trigger other pricing ( Freemium model ), or not (business model left as an exercise to your future self). Requires venture funding because you have no income, and if you’re successful you’ll need lots of people and tech to run the business. Think: GoDaddy).

Bootstrapping 294

Bootstrapping Technical Review B2C Sales Cycle 294

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

According to my experience and a this Motley Fool article, the challenge is very real, with around half of all new businesses no longer existing after five years. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. After bootstrapping, friends and family are the most common funding sources for early-stage startups.

Intellectual Property 219

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 219

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2022

For a nonprofit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. All other sections, starting with a definition of the problem and the solution, opportunity sizing, business model, competition, executive team, and financial projections, are just as critical for nonprofits as for-profits.

Angel Investor 327

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 327

YoungUpstarts

MAY 30, 2016

Image credit: Bootstrapping from Shutterstock. Looking at the startup scene through the lens of TechCrunch or VentureBeat, one may not be faulted for assuming that securing VC capital is the default way to raise a business. Either way, you are not alone if you are bootstrapping your business. You are in the vast majority.

Bootstrapping 100

Bootstrapping Germany United States France 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capitalists) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly. Solicit funds from friends and family.

Product Development 177

Product Development Cost Developer Product 177

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 24, 2017

Subscription business models have been around for a pretty long time, but thanks to modern technology, this model has evolved from milk or newspapers delivery to a versatile eCommerce experience. As a starting entrepreneur, you might wonder: why on earth would I want to start a subscription (box) business? Conclusion.

Churn Rate 149

Churn Rate eCommerce Business Model Bootstrapping 149

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. All other sections, starting with a definition of the problem and the solution, opportunity sizing, business model, competition, executive team, and financial projections, are just as critical for non-profits as for-profits.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

For a nonprofit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. All other sections, starting with a definition of the problem and the solution, opportunity sizing, business model, competition, executive team, and financial projections, are just as critical for nonprofits as for-profits.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 21, 2012

In fact, he points out that conventional term loans are a far less common way to finance a business, and in some countries, credit cards are actually a more popular source of startup capital. Bootstrap, bootstrap, bootstrap. Don’t get hung up on the business plan. His advice? Don’t innovate, imitate.

Technical Review 184

Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Sales 184

Gust

APRIL 27, 2014

Write down the key elements of your business plan very early, and keep it current as things evolve. This will include the first version of many critical processes that can be split out later, including market opportunity, requirements, product definition, business model, sales process, and organization. Funding process.

Startup 187

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 187

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 16, 2011

They charge $9, $29 and $59 per agent per month and I am eager to see bootstrapped, scrappy Freshdesk morph their pricing structure to aggressively compete with them. The company already has paying customers and a validated business model. Zendesk is heavily financed by Benchmark and Charles River and has 10,000 customers.

India 123

India Bootstrapping Non-Compete Entrepreneur 123

VC Cafe

MARCH 16, 2025

Attractive Consumer Opportunities in 2025 and Beyond While there hasn’t been a blockbuster IPO for consumer tech companies (mobile apps, B2C model startups) that matches the scale of Uber, Airbnb, Roblox, DoorDash, or Unity over the past 5 years, it feels like the momentum for consumer tech is rapidly changing. Speed is also critical.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review B2C Generative AI IPO 78

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. All other sections, starting with a definition of the problem and the solution, opportunity sizing, business model, competition, executive team, and financial projections, are just as critical for non-profits as for-profits.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. All other sections, starting with a definition of the problem and the solution, opportunity sizing, business model, competition, executive team, and financial projections, are just as critical for non-profits as for-profits.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 27, 2012

How successful have they been?

San Diego 176

San Diego Colorado Software Engineering Bootstrapping 176

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

According to a recent Motly Fool report, the challenge is very real, since around half of all businesses fail in the first five years. The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than early projections and product development.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

In very few specific cases, depending on the nature of the business, the business model might demand a considerable gestation period or extensive research and development. For these businesses, it is imperative to get funding from the start without which the company cannot be set up. Bootstrapping. Seed stage.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

YoungUpstarts

MAY 28, 2014

In other words, you have done wonders while “bootstrapping.” On the other hand, businesses have challenges they face on a regular basis due to changing industry needs and other regulations. Focus on solving those problems and then it’s gravy if you can spin the business model to get their end customers involved.

Security 200

Security Incubator Technical Review Bootstrapping 200

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MAY 10, 2010

In fact, 3 of the 10 selected companies from the past two years has followed this business model. To see this done right, consider Threadless , a bootstrapped marketplace matching people seeking unique T-shirts with people who invent them. What are other advantages or pitfalls of marketplace-style businesses?

Business Model 310

Business Model Finder SEO Bootstrapping 310

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Chasing funding versus chasing customers and a repeatable and scalable business model, is one reason startups fail. Is there a profitable business model? The Traditional VC Pitch Entrepreneurs who pursue the traditional product development model don’t have customer data to answer these questions. Can it scale?”

Customer Development 270

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 270

Version One Ventures

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

And with “age” often come sub-optimal products, tech debt, inflexible business models, etc. As with any AI company, the biggest challenge is how to bootstrap the initial data so that the AI / ML model can actually work. There are a bunch of SaaS incumbents that are now a few decades old. Vertical SaaS.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Vertical Software Review Bootstrapping 150

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 19, 2010

Take the success of ITWatchDogs , the company I helped bootstrap and eventually sell (before Smart Bear). One experienced startup/business/salesman (Gerry), one proven software developer (me), one proven hardware developer (Michael). The elements of our Dream Team were obvious from the start: Varied skillsets.

Software Review 325

Software Review Technical Review Development Team Review Bolivia 325

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

OCTOBER 31, 2011

Today it would be near-impossible to bootstrap Smart Bear on those keywords. No, but you have other unfair advantages — you have insight into some market, you have an unlikely team that can both build and sell, you have a rolodex, you have a business model others can’t duplicate, or something else.

Customer 279

Customer Software Review SEM Technical Review 279

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

The problem is that professional investors (angels and venture capital) want a proven business model before they invest, ready to scale, rather than the more risky research and development efforts. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Nevertheless, it’s an option that doesn’t cost you equity.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

Bootstrapping can be fun, you get to iterate quickly, turn on dimes, invent new features on the fly. I think we erred in letting our traffic and operational concerns outstrip our business model, where simply maintaining what we had was preventing us from advancing our product.”. Jack McDade , Founder of Statamic.

Cofounder 164

Cofounder Founder Startup Bootstrapping 164

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 2, 2019

In fact, remote work is on the rise – especially in the form of virtual assistants – and it’s one of the primary reasons why more small businesses are opting to outsource work. is the single biggest outsourcing country globally.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Due Diligence Technical Support Bootstrapping 147

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

How do you convince investors that your business model will really work, before you have a revenue stream that exceeds your expenses? Even if you are bootstrapping your business, and you are the only investor, you should be asking yourself the same question. Everyone must be part of the sales process. Marty Zwilling

Business Model 273

Business Model Customer Angel Investor Bootstrapping 273

The Next Web

DECEMBER 30, 2012

How to identify and engage the first customers for your product, and how to gather, evaluate and use their feedback to make your product, marketing and business model far stronger. How to Bootstrap Your Startup : Everything you need to start your business – how to take an idea on paper and bring it to life.

Artificial Inteligence 156

Artificial Inteligence Founder Private Equity Ruby 156

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

Today, the telecom industry charges customers based on fixed price business models for data services. I pointed Zubair to a couple of case studies of bootstrapping using services to get more of his core product built; in parallel, I will help him pursue institutional funding. Cion has 18 customers and is considering funding.

Cloud 117

Cloud Fractional CTO Entrepreneur Bandwidth 117

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2014

Based on the Startup Environment Index from the Kauffman Foundation and LegalZoom a while back, personal money, or bootstrapping, continues to be the primary startup funding source. At least wait until later, when you ready to scale, and have some “leverage” based on a proven business model, some real customers, and real revenue.

Bootstrapping 276

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Burn Rate 276

The Next Web

JULY 20, 2013

Do they really expect that the next Facebook will come knocking at their ivory towers with a polished product, proven business model and the only thing missing on the way to an IPO being their Series A investment?”. And if they do, they complain about lack of global potential or misunderstand my product completely. “Do

Silicon Valley 124

Silicon Valley Mongolia Technical Cofounder Entrepreneur 124

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Her upcoming campaign of reaching out to 100,000 moms will be one of the first concerted efforts to actually test her business model. Then Dhana Cohen pitched TheNextBigZing.com where she has collected various merchants with video reviews of products. She wants to sell these products on her site. PowerStores.in.

India 114

India Silicon Valley Incubator Bootstrapping 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. All other sections, starting with a definition of the problem and the solution, opportunity sizing, business model, competition, executive team, and financial projections, are just as critical for non-profits as for-profits.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

And EVEN if you ARE an experienced entrepreneur, all but just a few VCs still want to see customer validation, business model validation and traction, before they will invest. Unless you are an experienced entrepreneur with a track record, the chances of your getting a VC behind a concept are very small. Next comes the topic of angels.

Cloud 115

Cloud Silicon Valley Incubator Bootstrapping 115