Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I challenge them to think beyond what I call linear extensions to a current trend, such as another “easier-to-use” app for smartphones, a new dating site for pets, or another niche social network. Should this be a non-profit or for-profit business?

Intellectual Property 317

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Salary 317

Sophia Perl of Wisdom

NOVEMBER 9, 2010

Raise more money than you need because your business model may change. The business model for residential solar panel company: contract with customer, local rebates, and tax benefits. A lot of entrepreneurs attended the event as evident by business cards with “Founder&# listed.

CTO Hire 40

CTO Hire Cofounder Fractional CTO San Francisco 40

Duct Tape Marketing

APRIL 6, 2022

John Jantsch (02:29): So I'm curious, how did you get into the business of advising startups? Well, Steve Hoffman (02:34): First of all, I did three venture funded startups in Silicon valley and two bootstrap startups. You know, could you look at my business plan? See if the business model works, all these questions.

San Francisco 101

San Francisco Technical Review Incubator Silicon Valley 101

ReadWriteStart

AUGUST 4, 2011

One of the discussions that ensued was about how to bootstrap a freemium venture. Also, Irit Dabby from Tel-Aviv, Israel, discussed GoodyTag , a neat concept about tagging photos of products differently than you would tag or 'like' a regular link or photo on social media.

Bootstrapping 124

Bootstrapping San Jose Entrepreneur Silicon Valley 124

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 29, 2010

Some startups die because their business model is platform-dependant. Bootstrapped companies have no such luxury. Like this: Used to be, Twitter let you post anything, even advertisements, even if you didn't identify those tweets as ads. Companies like TweetUp and Ad.ly Their slogan is "World's Best Tweeters. Oh happy day!

Marketing 229

Marketing Ruby SEO Widget 229

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

Jason Cohen has a great line about this in Solving the “marketplace” business model : If you’re bootstrapping and your value proposition includes the words “anything” or “anyone,” you’re probably reaching too far. Or for each job that you get from an employer, you comb through social networks, LinkedIn, etc.

Marketing 204

Marketing Matching Algorithm Bootstrapping 204

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

Jason Cohen has a great line about this in Solving the “marketplace” business model : If you’re bootstrapping and your value proposition includes the words “anything” or “anyone,” you’re probably reaching too far. Or for each job that you get from an employer, you comb through social networks, LinkedIn, etc.

Marketing 196

Marketing Matching Algorithm Bootstrapping 196

Professor VC

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

SEC 54

SEC San Jose Angel Investor Accredited Investor 54

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2011

There are so many unknowns at this stage and the only known is that the business model is going to change at least once, or in the current most overused term in the Silicon Valley, there will be a "pivot". Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101.

Technical Review 31

Technical Review Due Diligence Silicon Valley San Jose 31

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2008

We will also look at a variety of financing methods including venture capital, angel investing, licensing, franchising, roll-up, venture debt and my old favorite, bootstrapping. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. ► January. (1). ► 2010. (7).

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Venture Capital 28

thenetsetter.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Collis Taeed 16th March Business Models 9 Comments One of the best sources of information on startups is the obscenely talented Paul Graham who has written a wealth of essays on the subject. Sure, creating a custom community application can still be challenging, but services like Ning and Kickapps can also easily serve as a platform.

Web 40

Web Technical Review Developer Cofounder 40

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

Technical Review 38

Technical Review Early Stage San Jose Angel Investor 38

Professor VC

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

This got me thinking about the business model that Mike Keiser has built at the resort and a lecture began to form in my head. cant wait to go back, which is clearly goal #1 in the list of critical success factors if anyone is still following the business model tangent. Labels: Bandon Dunes , business models , golf.

Oregon 28

Oregon San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

MAY 29, 2008

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

Angel Investor 28

Angel Investor Angel Groups San Jose Accredited Investor 28

Professor VC

DECEMBER 18, 2008

Many entrepreneurial programs feature a business plan competition, which is a great exercise. At SJSU, we also have a business plan competition in the spring, which ideally allows the students to build a viable business model around their NIF projects. Bootstrapping 101. ► January. (1). ► 2010. (7).

Silicon Valley 28

Silicon Valley San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

APRIL 7, 2011

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

San Jose 36

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Valuation 36

Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

How does that compare versus doing something like bootstrapping or something like that? Bootstrapping comes a little bit later, where this idea of throwing your own money into the mix, making it happen yourself is important. At least it wasn’t for me, and people in my social network. There’s an art to making an ask.

Small Business 60

Small Business Email Startup Aggregator 60

Professor VC

JULY 31, 2008

This whole process got me thinking about the textbook business model. Labels: business models , Grateful Dead , textbook. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. Steve Bennet. at 7:05 PM. Email This BlogThis! September 6, 2010 7:42 AM.

San Jose 28

San Jose Software Review Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

APRIL 1, 2010

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

Term Sheet 32

Term Sheet Angel Investor San Jose Venture Capital 32

Professor VC

APRIL 11, 2008

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Angel Investor Venture Capital Balance Sheet 28

Professor VC

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

San Jose 43

San Jose Silicon Valley Las Vegas Venture Capital 43

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2008

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

Technical Review 28

Technical Review San Jose Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Professor VC

JUNE 6, 2008

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Norway Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

While currently free to angel groups, their business model revolves around aggregating the angel investment data. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1). How Much Diligence is Due.

Pre-Money Valuation 28

Pre-Money Valuation Angel Investor Angel Groups Valuation 28

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 12, 2008

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

San Jose 31

San Jose Technical Review Venture Capital Angel Investor 31

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Technical Review Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

Steve Blank

MARCH 22, 2016

Nigel and Vaugn Caldon , co-founders of BallStar social network for basketball players. Nigel : … We’ve done a pretty decent job … bootstrapping with limited resources — trying to figure out different ways to get work done and move the needle without actually spending any money. Nigel Caldon. Vaughn Caldon.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur North America Cofounder Silicon Valley 120

Duct Tape Marketing

MARCH 1, 2018

John Jantsch: One of the challenges I see, and I’m strategizing with a startup right now that I think has a decent idea but no business model. I mean are you better off bootstrapping a company and building it to something and then maybe deciding, or are you better off going out and saying, “Here’s my great idea.

Lean 77

Lean Social Media Bootstrapping Business Model 77

Hippoland

AUGUST 16, 2018

1) Your idea is undifferentiated Investors see thousands of businesses a year. And, your idea is 50th social networking site of the week. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad business – in fact, it could be a very good business for you. It just means VCs will shy away from it.

Sales Cycle 54

Sales Cycle Differentiation Early Stage Bootstrapping 54

Hippoland

AUGUST 16, 2018

1) Your idea is undifferentiated Investors see thousands of businesses a year. And, your idea is 50th social networking site of the week. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad business – in fact, it could be a very good business for you. It just means VCs will shy away from it.

Sales Cycle 48

Sales Cycle Differentiation Early Stage Bootstrapping 48

Professor VC

AUGUST 26, 2011

Is the model consistent with the business plan? Does the business model make sense? Do you understand the business and market? The process of building the model forces you to answer the difficult questions related to the business model and give a complete picture of the opportunity.

Silicon Valley 35

Silicon Valley San Jose Hockey Stick Venture Capital 35

Professor VC

JUNE 20, 2011

I took a look back at our original financial model we presented to VCs in 2004. The business model (OEM through broadband and home security companies for mass distribution) if not specific product functionality has remained largely the same. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"?

San Jose 28

San Jose Angel Investor Term Sheet Venture Capital 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 20, 2009

Many companies that have raised capital are going to need to spend it wisely to win and others will be forced to bootstrap. Labels: bootstrapping , CFO , Fliqz , venture capital , venture financing. Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. Steve Bennet.

Venture Capital 28

Venture Capital Silicon Valley San Jose Bootstrapping 28

Professor VC

JANUARY 17, 2008

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

Silicon Valley 31

Silicon Valley San Jose Angel Investor Venture Capital 31

Professor VC

OCTOBER 20, 2009

Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. I take CFO roles in early stage companies and participate on the management team during the early financings and business model development phases. A Lot of Horn Tooting over a Kazoo sized deal. ► January. (1).

Angel Investor 35

Angel Investor Due Diligence San Jose Silicon Valley 35

Professor VC

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

How passionate are the entrepreneurs about their business? Does the business model pass the smell test? Don't Stop Believin' Is There Any Truth in "The Social Network"? Bootstrapping 101. Can they recruit and get others excited? Do I believe they can succeed? ► January. (1).

Angel Groups 28

Angel Groups San Jose Early Stage Angel Investor 28

Professor VC

FEBRUARY 26, 2010

A Comparison Between Novice and Serial Entrepreneurs" Her research shows that there is a positive correlation between prior founding experience and new venture performance due to stronger and more diverse social networks, access to capital, reliance on collaborators and other factors. Bootstrapping 101. ► January. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Silicon Valley Venture Capital Angel Investor 28