The Next Web

DECEMBER 30, 2012

How do you monetize a unique business model based on users rather than selling an actual product? We asked members of the Young Entrepreneurs Council for their thoughts. We have a very simple business model. The biggest challenge I’d flag for other entrepreneurs is that offer-supported apps depend on scale.

Business Model 133

Business Model Technical Review Advertising B2C 133

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

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

There is also need for researchers at various institutes to collaborate around this data and models, all problems that point towards a cloud-based solution. An entrepreneur should pick this one up ASAP. How do you account for the charge backs to the business units or functional areas?

Cloud 117

Cloud Fractional CTO Entrepreneur Bandwidth 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? That’s a higher calling.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

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?

Churn Rate 149

Churn Rate eCommerce Business Model Bootstrapping 149

Gust

APRIL 27, 2014

Think about the implications of each to your own business, and the potential impact of getting them done incorrectly, or forgetting to do them entirely: Manage your financials and physical assets. Use a simple accounting tool like QuickBooks, get away from co-mingled funds, and you have the first business process you need.

Startup 187

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 187

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

For a nonprofit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? That’s a higher calling.

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. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? That’s a higher calling.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

YoungUpstarts

MAY 28, 2014

Fundraising is arguably the most important issue for any entrepreneur. Unless you’re a serial entrepreneur who has started and sold companies in the past. In other words, you have done wonders while “bootstrapping.” by Asif Khan, CEO of Caremerge. Show Capital Efficiency. Kickstarter.

Security 200

Security Incubator Technical Review Bootstrapping 200

Hearpreneur

JANUARY 25, 2023

This could be a home-based business, franchise option or whatever option looks attractive to you. One thing is certain, your business can succeed if you can put in the right energy and bring in the right people to kick-start it. In order to make this idea for a small business a reality, consistency, and tenacity are crucial.

Software Review 127

Software Review Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur 127

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. Eighty percent of new entrepreneurs use this approach, with only six percent using investor funding. Entrepreneurs need to start small and pivot quickly.

Bootstrapping 276

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Burn Rate 276

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.”. You have to be ready to learn everything you can.

Cofounder 164

Cofounder Founder Startup Bootstrapping 164

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. Tweet. -->.

Customer 279

Customer Software Review SEM Technical Review 279

The Next Web

DECEMBER 30, 2012

If you’re a startup, you are by definition competing with the smartest people in the world – either large companies with more resources than yours or fellow entrepreneurs who are hoping to disrupt large companies. 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

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. To stay competitive in the 2020 business market and beyond, the question is no longer if you should outsource, rather what you should outsource.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Due Diligence Technical Support Bootstrapping 147

crowdSPRING Blog

MARCH 10, 2011

Bootstrapped, Profitable, & Proud: Braintree – [link]. What It’s Like To Be An Entrepreneur – Lara Miller – [link]. Bootstrapped, Profitable, & Proud: Braintree – [link]. What It’s Like To Be An Entrepreneur – @GrubHub – [link]. The original post is in the Random Fun section below.

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Media 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. A non-profit is still a business, so the best angel is a great entrepreneur at the helm for fund-raising, as well as operations.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

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

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

During this week's roundtable we discussed an area that deserves a serious look from entrepreneurs: Rural BPO. Today, I invited entrepreneurs to come up with ideas, apply the 1M/1M methodology to it, and come discuss with me at these roundtables. I started doing my free Online Strategy Roundtables for entrepreneurs in the fall of 2008.

Cloud 115

Cloud Silicon Valley Incubator Bootstrapping 115

Hearpreneur

SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

We asked entrepreneurs and business owners on their best business or entrepreneur turnaround story and here are the responses. #1- She found her audience and her business model and focused on scaling her concept and she made it work. What has been your favorite business or entrepreneur turnaround story?

Entrepreneur 90

Entrepreneur Bankruptcy Bootstrapping B2B 90

ReadWriteStart

NOVEMBER 19, 2010

Well, I have coached early stage entrepreneurs for a couple of years now - diligently, patiently - and have learned a few things. We're trying to bring the lessons we have learned in Silicon Valley to a million entrepreneurs. As you may know, 99% of the entrepreneurs who seek financing, get rejected. Well, I was once an amateur.

Silicon Valley 114

Silicon Valley Startup Technical Review Early Stage 114

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 7, 2011

It was a concious business decision from the top. This was the moment where Zuckerberg (20 something entrepreneur) schooled Rupert Murdoch. The original business model for StackOverflow was to help employers find good programmers. Fundraising: Fog Creek was bootstrapped. 47:50: The creation of StackExchange.

Software Review 285

Software Review Software St. Louis API 285

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 2, 2010

While there may be initial grants that launch businesses and get them off the ground, philosophically, we believe that a model of self-sustaining development is the key to a stable global economic system. The business idea was not very well fleshed out, and needs a lot of work still. Photo by kipcurry. Discuss.

India 116

India Green Silicon Valley Massachusetts 116

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

For a nonprofit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. Some nonprofit entrepreneurs think they can skip the whole plan, rather than just the sections on valuation, equity offered, and exit strategy.

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

Hearpreneur

DECEMBER 8, 2019

Many businesses were launched and others were closed. In the last few days of 2019, we took some time to ask a few entrepreneurs and business what their biggest business accomplishments were. #1- 2019 has been a year of growth for my business! 13- Educating budding entrepreneurs. 1- Massive growth.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Technical Review Vertical Las Vegas 97

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2021

An entrepreneur lifestyle that continues to gain in popularity these days is being a “social entrepreneur.” Whether the objective is to generate profits or social capital, the common element for all entrepreneurs is the recognition that there is a problem which needs solving, or there is an opportunity to improve the status quo.

Entrepreneur 345

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Government Bootstrapping 345

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

That’s why I recommend that they find a co-founder who loves business challenges, including marketing and finance. Outside investors are most interested in scaling a proven business model, not research and development. Most founders bootstrap product development. Fabulous solutions require great technology.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Cofounder Bootstrapping 120

Life Beyond Code

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

One Million by One Million is a global initiative that aims to nurture a million entrepreneurs reach a million dollars each in annual revenue and beyond by 2020, thereby creating a trillion dollars in global GDP and ten million jobs. SM: In September 2008, when the first Entrepreneur Journeys book was released, D.D.

Programming 116

Programming Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 116

Up and Running

AUGUST 17, 2022

Dealing with rejection in business is all about learning and adapting. Failing to qualify for investment isn’t a failure, it’s a chance to improve your business and abilities as an entrepreneur. It can be difficult to know where to start after an investor rejects your business proposal. Embrace rejection.

Venture Capital 146

Venture Capital Intellectual Property Angel Investor Bootstrapping 146

Steve Blank

MAY 26, 2009

Verticals Are Different I began to realize that entrepreneurs (and their professors) act like every vertical market and industry has the same set of rules. Entrepreneurs who have experience in the vertical market they’re entering do this analysis automatically. Bootstrap for years! You can bootstrap without VC money.

Vertical 159

Vertical Silicon Valley Intellectual Property RSS 159

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)? That’s a higher calling.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2021

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 414

Business Model Angel Investor Bootstrapping Revenue 414

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

But, what constitutes success for the parties involved – investors, entrepreneurs, employees, and customers – can vary dramatically. Misaligned interests that lead to poor financing choices are often very problematic for first time entrepreneurs in young companies.  Can you bootstrap your way to positive cash flow?

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2019

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” Many people with great ideas never make it as entrepreneurs, and true entrepreneurs can make a business out of anything. Which business model best suits your mentality?

Columbus 338

Columbus Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Equity 338

The Startup Magazine

AUGUST 15, 2024

One of the most popular techniques for financing a business when you are starting out is bootstrapping. Business bootstrapping is the strategy where you start and grow a business using your own money or revenue from a business that you already have. You can start small.

Bootstrapping 158

Bootstrapping Bankruptcy Lean Finance 158

YoungUpstarts

MARCH 14, 2016

If you read startup news, then you might believe “getting funded” is the ultimate goal of any business. As an entrepreneur, though, you should look no further than Fab.com as a cautionary tale of venture capital. Let’s not forget the bootstrapping option. Go it alone.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Securities and Exchange Commission New York City Cofounder 100