VC Cafe

MARCH 16, 2025

Gartner predicted in 2024 that traditional search engine volume could drop 25% by 2026 due to users favoring AI chatbots and virtual agents. AI’s potential to drive personalised experiences, new business models, and data-driven insights is making the consumer space an attractive investment target once again.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review B2C Generative AI IPO 78

Version One Ventures

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

Yet even so, there still seems to be quite a runway in this space due to three mega trends: Every company is discovering that they need to use technology to streamline their business and improve their competitive position. And with “age” often come sub-optimal products, tech debt, inflexible business models, etc.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Vertical Software Review Bootstrapping 150

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

crowdSPRING Blog

MARCH 10, 2011

Bootstrapped, Profitable, & Proud: Braintree – [link]. Good post about the pitfalls of code refactoring for startups – [link]. Bootstrapped, Profitable, & Proud: Braintree – [link]. Bootstrapped, Profitable, & Proud: Braintree – [link]. Half Of U.S.

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Media 94

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

When I started Shapeways, complex software needed to be built and when I first reached out to developers, a lot of them laughed and told me it was impossible. Planning and modeling out your business is always a good idea, but don’t get stuck planning too long, build something and push it out to your users as fast as you possibly can.

Cofounder 164

Cofounder Founder Startup Bootstrapping 164

Hearpreneur

JANUARY 25, 2023

4- Drop-shipping enterprise Photo Credit: Matthew Magnante It's my proposal The drop-shipping business model involves selling things that are transported straight from the supplier to the client. Your business model involves cooking and delivering delicious meals to people at their places of employment or at their homes.

Software Review 127

Software Review Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur 127

Up and Running

MAY 23, 2016

Since the term “cloud computing” was coined in 1996—at least as we have come to understand its meaning—the software as a service industry has exploded. The one-page pitch format is also more suitable for SaaS businesses that are constantly testing new ideas. I started UpKeep after seeing and using traditional enterprise software.

Software Review 74

Software Review Software Delaware Forecast 74

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. First up today was Yogesh Sharma presenting Rangrut.com , a business that connects employers with learning institutions and on-campus students to fill job openings.

Silicon Valley 114

Silicon Valley Startup Technical Review Early Stage 114

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

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 2, 2010

Well, eLance has experienced similar problems, and I asked David to concentrate on communicating to his user base of service providers the value of building a reputation through references and reviews/customer feedback. The business idea was not very well fleshed out, and needs a lot of work still.

India 116

India Green Silicon Valley Massachusetts 116

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

AUGUST 8, 2012

Welcome back to Smart Bear Live, the call-in show with Jason Cohen, sponsored by Software Promotions. Pin It Listen to this episode if you want to hear a really tough conversation about refining a cool idea into a profit-making business. So it’s property management software? Our software will do that. Jared: Right.

API 220

API Software Review Hosting Technical Review 220

Up and Running

OCTOBER 21, 2014

‘Starting a business’ really only comes down to figuring out your business idea ; doing your paperwork; and sorting out the money. Given the number of funding resources available today, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem getting that initial start-up cash, especially if you focus on a lean business model or MVP route to market.

Elevator Pitch 166

Elevator Pitch Software Review SBA Angel Investor 166

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

Innovative products and business models are the foundations of a promising startup. From jewelry to dog food to SaaS (software as a service) products, startups are popping up in virtually every field around the world, despite the risks. Creating a scalable business model.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Tim Keane

OCTOBER 19, 2006

Due diligence: An Entrepreneurs Perspective » October 19, 2006. We tried to buy some software recently that the vendor wanted to price on the basis of third party uses, a category of activity uncontrolled by us. The vendor stuck to this model through beta and launch. Bootstrapping. Thinking about pricing.

Software Review 60

Software Review Wisconsin Technical Review Angel Investor 60

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2019

Most small businesses and startups that are looking to grow— hire a new employee , or buy a new piece of equipment, or open a new location —need to think hard about cash flow, or making sure they have enough money in the bank to meet payroll and other financial obligations. Review your business plan regularly.

Oregon 24

Oregon Jordan Software Review Distribution 24

Professor VC

MARCH 10, 2009

Bootstrapping 101. I moderated a panel discussion last night on one of my favorite topics, bootstrapping, as part of our Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship Eminent Speaker Series at San Jose State. They have a standard presentation on bootstrapping, which they present around the country. How Much Diligence is Due.

Bootstrapping 28

Bootstrapping San Jose Silicon Valley Angel Investor 28

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

Rule 1: Bootstrap until you have a viable product. Background: Justin Klemm’s analytics and website uptime startup, Ghost Inspector , wants to revolutionize the way businesses manage their ecommerce funnels.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

Up and Running

JULY 10, 2017

Different sources define freemium as a business model or a pricing strategy. We run into this kind of software services every day—Google, Youtube, Instagram, and so on. Marketing software usually has a clear, easy-to-understand value; that’s why products like Ahrefs and Semrush don’t have freemium options. Free with ads.

Startup 110

Startup Non-Compete Viral Software Review 110

Life Beyond Code

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Our community has successfully established a culture of bootstrapping as a counterforce to the compulsive rush to financing that entrepreneurs mistakenly often engage in, only to be rejected over and again by investors. Consequently, they are able to make decisions about their businesses in more astute and sophisticated ways.

Programming 116

Programming Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 116

Tim Keane

DECEMBER 14, 2009

  He is a partner in a pretty much exclusively software seed stage fund, Y Combinator that you can read more about.     We worked all day building market strategies for customers while we tried to embody our expertise on software that would expand the company's reach.  Starting Startups.   Amen.

Burn Rate 60

Burn Rate Angel Groups Seed Stage Startup 60

Austin Startup

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

business model and team. I usually don’t back a business unless there are founders that can build, sell, and service the new solution that is being brought to market. Here are the ingredients: Business model : This is actually the most important ingredient of the five.

Bootstrapping 52

Bootstrapping IPO Business Model Software Review 52

Up and Running

MARCH 8, 2016

Diligence, or the ability to get a job done. At Palo Alto Software, we use a lean planning process to determine whether or not an idea is likely to succeed or to fail. You can use our feature in LivePlan, or do the business validation on your own using this guide. If this is the case, you will need a business plan.

SBA 60

SBA Technical Review Software Review Business Plan 60

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

I’ve been a traditional equity VC for 8 years, and I’m now researching new business models in venture capital. According to Brian Parks, “Bigfoot provides RBI, term loans, and lines of credit to SaaS businesses with $500k+ ARR. Our wheelhouse is bootstrapped (or lightly capitalized) SMB SaaS. Bigfoot Capital. Get Funding.

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

Sophia Perl of Wisdom

NOVEMBER 9, 2010

For example, “I have over 10 years of software experience in this space, how do you plan to have a strong barrier to entry in this crowded space?&#. Raise more money than you need because your business model may change. A lot of entrepreneurs attended the event as evident by business cards with “Founder&# listed.

CTO Hire 49

CTO Hire Cofounder Fractional CTO San Francisco 49

Sophia Perl of Wisdom

NOVEMBER 9, 2010

For example, “I have over 10 years of software experience in this space, how do you plan to have a strong barrier to entry in this crowded space?&#. Raise more money than you need because your business model may change. 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

Up and Running

FEBRUARY 17, 2016

You’re looking for a number of 70 precent or more within five miles of the zip code you desire,” says Ben. “I A used system might be through the door quicker and might save you money up front, but make sure you’ve thoroughly reviewed the system and seller—and remember that when you have problems, you’ll likely be on your own to fix them.

Oregon 60

Oregon Jordan SBA Cofounder 60

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. Certainly, knowing software development in general and web development specially cannot hurt in anyway. Which you explain well here.

Web 40

Web Technical Review Developer Cofounder 40

venturebeat.com

MARCH 8, 2011

Embrace slow growth – We all have dreams of stratospheric growth, but it’s not a “plan,&# especially not for a business you’re running in your spare time. In fact, any bootstrapped company should be aiming for slow, consistent growth rather than explosive growth. This story originally appeared on his blog.)

Software Review 41

Software Review Startup Technical Review Mobile 41

Austin Startup

MARCH 2, 2019

I’m a very risk adverse entrepreneur as a result of bootstrapping my first three businesses, almost failing on the fourth (Coremetrics) due to market timing (I was too early and didn’t predict the dot-com bust) and its overcapitalization, and being a mostly customer funded and very capital efficient on the fifth (Bazaarvoice).

Advisory Board 51

Advisory Board Cofounder Greece Bootstrapping 51

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 19, 2010

No wait, I forgot, actually the question is: What happens when employee #2 makes off with your code and roadmap and marketing data and customer list, moves to Bolivia, and starts selling your stuff world-wide at one-tenth the price? But now she has the vision and ability to design her own software, capitalizing on modern trends (e.g.

Software Review 325

Software Review Technical Review Development Team Review Bolivia 325

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. Someone tweeted out of San Jose, they did a really amazing review of the book. That ink smell.

Small Business 60

Small Business Email Startup Aggregator 60

Up and Running

MAY 13, 2015

.” If you are the chief cook and bottle washer, if you are the visionary, the business manager, the ops manager, the fulfillment delivery guy, if you’re all of that, if you’re doing everything yourself, chances are this is actually one of the biggest time drains in your business. We are bootstrapping.

Management 60

Management Product Video Fractional CTO 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

According to a well-researched 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 341

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 341

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

According to a well-researched 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.

Finance 320

Finance Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 320

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 11, 2014

Jason: Okay, so that’s a very small company in which the CEO is pulling out the credit card for meeting software because even people with a hundred people, the CEO is not the person pulling out a credit card for the meeting software. But if I look at my signups, most signups come from small businesses. Jason: Okay.

Technical Cofounder 220

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Software Review Management 220

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. Apply for contests and business grants. Set expectations accordingly.

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