Startup Lessons Learned

JUNE 5, 2009

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Friday, June 5, 2009 It’s a startup, not a spreadsheet Some people, when they start to realize the power of using data to inform their decisions, become obsessed with optimization. And so the spreadsheet is built with conservative assumptions, including a final revenue target.

San Francisco 102

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment Startup 102

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

OCTOBER 23, 2012

After I sold Smart Bear, that division has increased revenue and profit every year, for five years, even through the 2008/2009 economic disaster. GroupOn’s engine that turned capital into revenue growth was a form of force-feeding rather than building a product). But really, are all those acquirers so stupid? Surely not.

IPO 240

IPO Flash Bootstrapping Private Equity 240

Austin Startup

MARCH 20, 2018

Besides, getting into Y Combinator is easy: just be wicked smart, create a beautiful product, get millions of users, and build a revenue stream that grows 20% every month. Building the Company: Pre-YC It was late 2009 and I was working a full-time gig for the State of Texas running Texas A&M System’s website.

Cofounder 48

Cofounder Texas Video Software Review 48

View from Seed

MARCH 16, 2016

Look out for bootstrapped CarGurus , one of the leading used-car properties, targeting over $150M in revenue this year. After years of writing the Hitchhiker’s Guide to Boston Tech, first as a series of link roundups ( here’s my very first , from 2009), and now as this site (and its 2.0

Boston 215

Boston Early Stage Artificial Inteligence Semantic 215

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

I started my healthcare company in 2009, at the height of the recession. Without venture capital, without external loans, I bootstrapped my business and brought it to acquisition – in a field traditionally dominated by males ( 16% of male entrepreneurs are in the tech industry, compared to 4% of females ). First, receive.

Technical Review 370

Technical Review United States Bootstrapping Venture Capital 370

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

A Progress Graph on the right visually shows how far you’ve come (in whatever units of goodness you’re tracking – revenue, units, users, etc.) Reply Richard Jordan , on November 5, 2009 at 3:36 pm Said: Steve, best article yet. Reply Knowtu » links for 2009-11-05 , on November 5, 2009 at 5:11 pm Said: [.]

Customer Development 262

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 262

K9 Ventures

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

The credit for starting this fire goes to Paul Graham from Y Combinator , who wrote a great essay titled The Founders Visa in April 2009. I was bootstrapping the company and started with $5,000 that I had saved up from a prior summer internship. In the past few days there has been a lot of discussion on the topic of a Founders Visa.

United States 114

United States Founder India Venture Capital 114

Software By Rob

JANUARY 8, 2019

And we received offers of support from successful founders who have raised funding, bootstrapped, and those who’ve done both: +1 on that! Einar went through YC in 2009 so he’s witnessed the benefits first-hand. Would love to chat and see how/if we can help. — Rand Fishkin (@randfish) October 12, 2018.

Early Stage 46

Early Stage Valuation Seed Capital Revenue 46

Software By Rob

MARCH 26, 2015

I first captured this pattern in my notebook in early 2009, but I didn’t have enough data to be confident in the theory. I decided it was time to put pen to paper and lay out what I see as a repeatable path with a higher-than-normal success rate, to bootstrapping yourself to the point of quitting your job.

Bootstrapping 41

Bootstrapping Technical Review SEO Revenue 41

Software By Rob

MARCH 26, 2015

I first captured this pattern in my notebook in early 2009, but I didn’t have enough data to be confident in the theory. I decided it was time to put pen to paper and lay out what I see as a repeatable path with a higher-than-normal success rate, to bootstrapping yourself to the point of quitting your job. Step 2: Own Your Time.

Bootstrapping 36

Bootstrapping Technical Review SEO Revenue 36

www.mint.com

MARCH 9, 2010

If the answer to the question centers around “We will achieve revenue soon so our net will improve and give us more runway,” it means the company is in trouble because no product ever ships on time nor achieves the company’s “conservative forecast.” These days revenue is the best source of capital. Who is on your board of directors?

Software Review 68

Software Review Startup Post-Money Valuation Technical Review 68

Software By Rob

MARCH 26, 2015

I first captured this pattern in my notebook in early 2009, but I didn’t have enough data to be confident in the theory. I decided it was time to put pen to paper and lay out what I see as a repeatable path with a higher-than-normal success rate, to bootstrapping yourself to the point of quitting your job.

Bootstrapping 27

Bootstrapping Technical Review SEO Revenue 27

The Entrepreneurial Mind

FEBRUARY 18, 2010

Here are highlights of this study with my comments: "Declining revenues brought on by the 2009 recession have put additional pressure on small business cash flow, forcing many firms to make tough decisions around cutbacks." While cautious about the general economy, most small business owners expect their 2010 revenues to grow.

Small Business 40

Small Business Bootstrapping SBA Washington 40

Tim Keane

JUNE 8, 2009

» June 08, 2009.   An example of that is pre-revenue science start-ups with grant funding.  Posted at 09:23 AM in Bootstrapping | Permalink.   An example of that is pre-revenue science start-ups with grant funding.  Bootstrapping. Are Investors Being Unreasonable? October 2010.

Wisconsin 60

Wisconsin Bootstrapping Angel Investor Startup 60

Austin Startup

MARCH 31, 2010

The current business model for expert consultants is a brick and mortar industry with revenues of about 1/2 a Billion dollars per year. BountyStorms launched in early 2009. We had a wonderful opportunity to launch GuruStorms as an AlphaPitch company at DEMOFall 2009. GuruStorms has been completely bootstrapped thus far.

Elevator Pitch 63

Elevator Pitch Curation Vertical Bootstrapping 63

Professor VC

JULY 31, 2008

The artists received very little of album sales, but kept concert and merchandise revenue. The artists received very little of album sales, but kept concert and merchandise revenue. The artists had very few sales of albums, but gave a concert and commodity revenue. ► 2009. (7). Bootstrapping 101. wmv to mpeg.

San Jose 28

San Jose Software Review Angel Investor Silicon Valley 28

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 16, 2016

It was 2009. It was a way for us to stay creative and it also brought in some revenue. The capital earned in the agency was used to bootstrap the progression of the key business we wanted to launch. When you are bootstrapping cash flow is king. In this article I will describe how we got to where we are today. The Hustle.

Greece 100

Greece United Kingdom Ukraine Philippines 100

Rob Go

JANUARY 16, 2013

About 4 years ago, in Feb 2009, we were having breakfast with one of my neighbors when she mentioned that she had just bought a “groupon” to a local restaurant. Today, it was reported that Lynda raised $103M after bootstrapping itself to over $100M in revenue. Really impressive.

Seed Stage 38

Seed Stage Chicago Aggregator Bootstrapping 38

Altgate

MARCH 8, 2009

Growth stage investors are usually the Series B or C investors who come in when the product is in the market but there is little or no revenue and the team is probably in the 20-something range with the goal to ramp it up to 40-50 employees with the new money, build out a sales team, etc. But some will be saved.

Later Stage 34

Later Stage Early Stage Venture Capital Portfolio 34

Software By Rob

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

Who says a bootstrapped startup can’t succeed? Here are 10 bootstrapped companies that did it on their own with no outside funding. Looking back on their previous experiences working at startup companies, the founders decided to bootstrap their business in lieu of seeking outside funding. Startup #1: Goldstar. How’d they do it?

Bootstrapping 78

Bootstrapping Startup Cofounder Salary 78

This is going to be BIG.

JANUARY 31, 2010

Artists are using Social Media as a a catalyst to boost popularity, create new revenue streams and promote global goodness. Come laugh and learn as we dissect the twelve worst social media campaigns of 2009. Bootstrapping a community from zero users. RSVP: [link] 6PM What Is Your $ocial Music Currency? Launch of a social site.

New York 61

New York Community Social Media New York City 61

Professor VC

JUNE 20, 2011

But of course, the model had us requiring only $10M equity to breakeven and to achieve $185M in revenues in 2008 (the magic Year 5 in all business plans). While bootstrapping, there are multiple options from doing as a side project, changing the business, raising angel or venture, etc. ► 2009. (7). Bootstrapping 101.

San Jose 28

San Jose Angel Investor Term Sheet Venture Capital 28

grasshopper.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Funded companies are typically a safer bet than bootstrapped ventures for two important reasons. Equity pay can be an powerful motivating force for those working in areas that directly affect the revenue of the business. Has This Company Been Funded? First and foremost, a funded company has more money to work and compete with.

Equity 41

Equity Vesting Sweat Equity Salary 41

Professor VC

AUGUST 26, 2011

To that last one, there is certainly some truth as the standard time vs. revenue chart in most business plans looks like this: Im not teaching Entrepreneurial Finance this semester for the first time since Fall 2007. Does a complicated sales build model make sense for a pre-revenue SaaS company? I often do this in the revenue tab.

Silicon Valley 35

Silicon Valley San Jose Hockey Stick Venture Capital 35

Steve Blank

MAY 26, 2009

on May 26, 2009 at 6:18 am Said: [.] Reply Dmitriy , on May 26, 2009 at 6:54 pm Said: I would like to humbly suggest banning the term “vertical&# altogether. Reply steveblank11 , on May 26, 2009 at 7:57 pm Said: Dmitry, I think your comment makes my point. The next few posts will make this clear.

Vertical 149

Vertical Silicon Valley Intellectual Property RSS 149

Professor VC

JULY 2, 2010

► 2009. (7). Bootstrapping 101. job existed for every $37,702 of venture capital invested from 1970-2008 Lets assume these statistics are true (of course that may be a leap, as my wise father-in-law used to say, "Figures Lie and Liars figure"). Would a Dart Board Provide better VC Returns? ► November. (1). ► July. (1).

San Jose 28

San Jose Silicon Valley Venture Capital Angel Investor 28

rapidrollout.wordpress.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

You’re asking someone to take a chance that with the code they deliver you can get funding or gain some revenue traction. You can add to it after you begin to generate revenue or find your investment partners, but if you can build it and launch it cheaply, you’ve kept the concept simple and got your project off the ground.

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Fractional CTO Partner CTO Hire 40

Software By Rob

NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Here’s the deal: I work in the bootstrapped startup world and in this arena you don’t need $500k to build a product. But who needs revenue?) Once you have a viable product and some revenue, you’re in control. November 16th, 2009 | Micropreneurship , Startups Building your startup?

Equity 42

Equity Software Review RSS Widget 42

www.singlefounder.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Go ahead and laugh, but over 95% of Moon River Software’s revenue this year has been from consulting services. The software I sell has made up less than 5% of total revenue in the past 12 months. 1M Shashank says: November 2, 2009 at 6:12 am Hi Mike. Dan says: October 13, 2006 at 9:01 am Re: Number 3. dobrym programist?,

Software Review 40

Software Review Software Startup Massachusetts 40

Duct Tape Marketing

AUGUST 10, 2017

We don’t really share revenue numbers but we do pretty well. We have been in business as ONTRAPORT for 11 years, coming up on 12 here and yeah, growing very well, profitable, have been profitable for almost all of our history since 2009 with one year exception and growing bootstrap basically.

Software Review 36

Software Review CTO Hire Fractional CTO Software 36

Duct Tape Marketing

DECEMBER 14, 2017

In 2008, and 2009, we were really starting to grow. In 2011, before we sold the business, we had a business that was making $30 million a year in revenue, but we’ve never raised any capital. Matt Watson: Well, our original goal was to raise capital. We were really hitting our stride, but that’s when the economy went south.

Kansas City 40

Kansas City CTO Hire Las Vegas Software Developers 40

techcrunch.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Tweet View Comments Guest Author Sep 20, 2009 This guest post was written by Meebo CEO Seth Sternberg. Jones This is roughly how I bootstrapped my current startup (just raised a decent series B so things seem to be on the right track). Hopefully your idea of business model isn’t “ad revenue based”. How To Get There.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder Software Review 84

Tim Keane

AUGUST 20, 2009

» August 20, 2009.   If the entrepreneur can bootstrap.   (People I know are tired of hearing this, but we did bootstrap RTMS, Inc. up to $10MM in revenue.    So, I'm a big proponent of bootstrapping and the benefit it provides to entrepreneurs. .  up to $10MM in revenue. 

Milwaukee 60

Milwaukee Bootstrapping Cram Down Deal Structure 60

VC Cafe

NOVEMBER 11, 2010

Started in 2009, Enigmai built and deployed a simplified workforce management SasS tool that enables SMBs and large companies to better manage their human resources. VC Cafe interviewed Engimai’s founder and CEO Adir Iakya to learn more about what it takes to bootstrap a SaaS business and how Enigmai is planning to go to market.

Cloud 134

Cloud South America Bootstrapping 134

VC Cafe

NOVEMBER 11, 2010

Started in 2009, Enigmai built and deployed a simplified workforce management SasS tool that enables SMBs and large companies to better manage their human resources. VC Cafe interviewed Engimai’s founder and CEO Adir Iakya to learn more about what it takes to bootstrap a SaaS business and how Enigmai is planning to go to market.

Cloud 134

Cloud South America Bootstrapping 134

VC Cafe

NOVEMBER 11, 2010

Started in 2009, Enigmai built and deployed a simplified workforce management SasS tool that enables SMBs and large companies to better manage their human resources. VC Cafe interviewed Engimai’s founder and CEO Adir Iakya to learn more about what it takes to bootstrap a SaaS business and how Enigmai is planning to go to market.

Cloud 134

Cloud South America Bootstrapping 134

techcrunch.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2010

Respondents deemed between 12%-16% of companies generating revenues to be essentially “worthless” and deemed 20%-26% of their pre-revenue investments to be “worthless.” The only option at the moment for smaller ideas is to go seed / angel funding, or try to bootstrap it. And investors aren’t necessarily keen on their prospects.

Venture Capital 62

Venture Capital Technical Review Sweat Equity Valuation 62