Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

I recently found the classic sales training book “ Bootstrap Selling The Sandler Way ,” by Bill Morrison, who has 20 years in sales leadership roles, and I was amazed at how many of his sales lessons are great lessons for new entrepreneurs as well. With the best solutions, the customer gets value which exceeds your revenue.

Sales 348

Sales Startup Bootstrapping Technical Review 348

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 15, 2022

Startup studios continue to grow in popularity as incubators for new businesses. Rather than simply launching one startup, the startup studio model creates an organization whose business is launching startups. These can then be repeated and improved on with each successive startup.

Incubator 188

Incubator Startup Software Developers Software Development 188

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2011

Money to build the business is the number one challenge for most startups. A large percentage of startups never apply to either. You need to explore more common and more productive approaches for getting your startup moving forward. Self-funding is the preferred source of cash for your startup – if you can do it.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 233

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Startups with no exit planned will minimize investor returns. Most entrepreneurs like the startup role, but not the big-company role. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy.

Exit Strategy 289

Exit Strategy Entrepreneur IPO Startup 289

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. Was it a Startup Founder Developer Gap ? Did they really need a Startup CTO or Developer or both? who start with small equity percentages don’t end up making very much from startups. Was it a case of needing Homework?

Technical Cofounder 241

Technical Cofounder CTO Hire Equity Sweat Equity 241

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2012

Money to build the business is the number one challenge for most startups. A large percentage of startups never apply to either. You need to explore more common and more productive approaches for getting your startup moving forward. Self-funding is the preferred source of cash for your startup – if you can do it.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Bootstrapping Venture Capital Incubator 257

Gust

APRIL 27, 2014

Even when your startup is a one-man show and lots of fun, a “business” needs some discipline and controls to keep it from being defined as a hobby by investors, and assure some financial return. Here are eight key business tasks that relate to almost every startup, generally prioritized by criticality. Billing and revenue collection.

Startup 187

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 187

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Join a startup incubator. Use crowd funding to build reserves.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Join a startup incubator. Solicit funds from friends and family. Use crowd funding.

Product Development 177

Product Development Cost Developer Product 177

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 1, 2020

I have often been asked about Startup Funding by entrepreneurs. Many myths surround the subject of startup funding. Here is Startup Funding, a Comprehensive Guide for Entrepreneurs. You must have seen a lot of startups giving out promotions, discounts, and incentives at the early phase of their business. Bootstrapping.

Startup 150

Startup Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Seed Stage 150

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

But have you ever had the opportunity to pick the brains of founders who created amazingly successful startups and companies like Envato , Backblaze , Simple , or Treehouse ? Starting a startup isn’t easy and there will always be people who tell you that something is impossible. Gleb Budman , CEO of Backblaze. Nothing is impossible.

Cofounder 164

Cofounder Founder Startup Bootstrapping 164

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JULY 19, 2010

This is Part 2 of the series: 5 lessons from 150 startup pitches.??? No, wait, the real question is: What are you going to do when another smart, scrappy startup copies it, and gets $10m in funding, and is thrice featured on TechCrunch? But how does authority convert to revenue? What if someone copies your awesome business idea?

Software Review 325

Software Review Technical Review Development Team Review Bolivia 325

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

OCTOBER 11, 2010

This is Part 5 of the 5-part series: 5 lessons from 150 startup pitches. Ask a technical founder about his startup, and he'll proudly describe his stunning software — simple, compelling, useful, fun. The obvious problem is that every new startup on Earth says exactly these things. Infection built-in, not bolt-on.

Software Review 261

Software Review Technical Review Viral Software Developers 261

Gust

JUNE 19, 2012

Thoughts on startups by investors that fund them & entrepreneurs that run them. Investment and startups problem : we all want disruptive and game-changing businesses. Money to build the business is the number one challenge for most startups. A large percentage of startups never apply to either. Subscribe by email.

Startup 180

Startup Forecast Angel Investor Software 180

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Startups with no exit planned will minimize investor returns. Most entrepreneurs like the startup role, but not the big-company role. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy.

Exit Strategy 264

Exit Strategy Private Equity Equity Technical Review 264

VC Cafe

MARCH 16, 2025

Mention that you do “Consumer tech” as a startup founder and you’d be limiting your funding options to one third of the venture capital funds (in Israel that figure is probably closer to 10%). Despite the renewed potential offered by AI, consumer startups still need to overcome significant challenges.

Technical Review 78

Technical Review B2C Generative AI IPO 78

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 24, 2015

With the key themes of freedom and value at its core, “ The $100 Startup ” is a brilliant blueprint assisting “wannapreneurs” keen to heed the rallying call of the microbusiness revolution. From borrowing from family members to Kickstarter to car loans, there are various ways to reduce one’s startup burden.

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Software Review South Carolina Startup 100

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 13, 2024

The country has some of the greatest startups to its credit. 2 Brainstorm Startup Ideas Embarking on a journey to entrepreneurship doesn’t mean you should have an out-of-the-box idea. You can launch a successful startup with an existing idea in the market. But if bootstrapping isn’t a choice, explore fundraising options. . #4

United States 140

United States Bootstrapping Social Media Angel Investor 140

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Unfortunately in early stage startups the drive for financing hijacks the corporate DNA and becomes the raison d’etre of the company. Chasing funding versus chasing customers and a repeatable and scalable business model, is one reason startups fail. The goal of their startup in this stage becomes “getting funded.”

Customer Development 270

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 270

ReadWriteStart

MAY 30, 2022

The Proud Owners of a Startup. Today, as the proud owner of a startup, you’re probably much better at managing your money. It might take the experience of growing and exiting two or even three startups before you know how to do that. . Let’s take a deeper look at why your startup probably doesn’t need funding.

Bootstrapping 147

Bootstrapping Startup Equity Silicon Valley 147

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. Join a startup incubator. Use crowd funding to build reserves.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

YoungUpstarts

JULY 6, 2017

The romantic ideal of a successful startup includes little more than a good idea, a laptop and plenty of coffee. In reality, most startups require an early capital infusion to successfully transform from a dream into a business. The good news is that it’s easier than ever to find capital for your startup.

Syndicate 127

Syndicate Syndication Software Review Angel Investor 127

Gust

JUNE 17, 2012

Money to build the business is the number one challenge for most startups. A large percentage of startups never apply to either. You need to explore more common and more productive approaches for getting your startup moving forward. Self-funding is the preferred source of cash for your startup – if you can do it.

Technical Review 164

Technical Review Bootstrapping Venture Capital Incubator 164

YoungUpstarts

MAY 28, 2014

In other words, you have done wonders while “bootstrapping.” ” Getting some revenue from at least 3 clients (proving that there’s value to what you’re doing) would be fantastic, but other types of traction and validation would help too. Enter Competitions and Incubators. Solve a Real World Problem.

Security 200

Security Incubator Technical Review Bootstrapping 200

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

When someone asks me for the best way to fund a startup, I always say bootstrap it, meaning fund it yourself and grow organically. Bootstrapping avoids all the cost, pain, and distractions of finding angels or VCs, and allows you to keep control and all your hard-earned equity for yourself. Reinvest gross profit. Marty Zwilling.

Bootstrapping 278

Bootstrapping Startup Merger Salary 278

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

JANUARY 11, 2010

In the last interview Peldi Guilizzoni (Balsamiq Studios) gave detailed advice about how he earned almost a million dollars in revenue in his first year of operation. In this installment we hear from startup expert Bob Walsh , whose many works for startup founders include: Blog: 47 Hats. Podcast: Startup Success.

Entrepreneur 225

Entrepreneur Social Media Software Web 225

View from Seed

MARCH 22, 2016

However, as someone who’s spent the past several years covering startups, I can tell you absolutely what not to do. Even if you’re in the pre-revenue, pre-seed or seed stage, there are still ways to get on a reporter’s radar. That means avoiding a pitch to a software-centric publication about your biotech startup. Pitch late.

Seed Stage 120

Seed Stage San Francisco Startup CTO Hire 120

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

But with changing consumer trends and the benefit of technology, some startups are beginning to look at ways of innovating the grocery shopping experience for the better. He’s also taken the hard-earned lessons from his earlier startup to heart. “There is huge opportunity for a startup to change this industry,&# he says.

Singapore 230

Singapore Distribution China Bootstrapping 230

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 31, 2018

Here are some tips for bootstrapping your business. One of the best ways to save money is to run your business out of your home, at least during the startup phase. Write down every penny you have to invest and calculate both your expenses and expected revenue for the next six months. Work in a Spare Room. Develop a Budget.

Software Review 187

Software Review Cloud Social Media Bootstrapping 187

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2014

In my experience, that’s actually the worst way to start, for reasons I will outline here, and also the least common way, according to an authoritative survey of new startups. 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 Startup Magazine

OCTOBER 9, 2019

Profitability is an extremely important goal for any startup — but profitability doesn’t just happen. There are many reasons to treat your startup like a profitable business from day one. All tech startups begin as a concept. Tech startups are, in contrast, focused on rapid growth, potential, and top-end revenue.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Finance 109

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

The last thing a new entrepreneur wants to think about for a new startup is how it will end. Startups with no exit planned will minimize investor returns. Most entrepreneurs like the startup role, but not the big-company role. Yet one of the first things a potential equity investor asks about is your exit strategy.

Equity 120

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 120

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 2, 2019

Not only does the outsourcing business model improve performance and reduce a company’s overall costs – a significant appeal to bootstrapped startups – but it also gives you access to a worldwide talent pool that would otherwise be beyond your range. Inefficiencies can often cost businesses between 20-30% of their annual revenue.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Due Diligence Technical Support Bootstrapping 147

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

This essay is part of a series on alternative VC: I: Revenue-Based Investing: a new option for founders who care about control. II: Who are the major Revenue-Based Investing VCs? III: Why are Revenue-Based VCs investing in so many women and underrepresented founders? IV: Should your new VC fund use Revenue-Based Investing?

Equity 78

Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

APRIL 29, 2013

The answer for a funded startup is “Bid as much as possible, to get as many customers — and data! ” Easy for them to say, but what about a bootstrapped, profit-driven business? A surprising number of startups have CAC > LTV. Profit-seeking bootstrapped companies cannot afford those delusions.

Bootstrapping 285

Bootstrapping Affiliate Cofounder Channel 285

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

So you’re interested in raising capital from a Revenue-Based Investor VC. A new wave of Revenue-Based Investors (“RBI”) are emerging. For background, see Revenue-Based Investing: A New Option for Founders who Care About Control. Our wheelhouse is bootstrapped (or lightly capitalized) SMB SaaS. Bigfoot Capital.

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2020

It’s more possible to bootstrap today than a few years ago, as the cost of entry continues to go down. The key to successful bootstrapping is to master the do-it-yourself approach, defer compensation or barter services whenever possible and become a frugal minimalist in all things requiring a cash outlay.

Hockey Stick 423

Hockey Stick Bootstrapping Sweat Equity Intellectual Property 423