Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Of course, if you are able to bootstrap your startup, and don’t anticipate the need for outside investors, you can technically ignore the first two points. It’s a plan to develop the best opportunity for you, your startup, and your investors, and capitalize on it, rather than a plan to get out of a bad situation.

Exit Strategy 264

Exit Strategy Private Equity Equity Technical Review 264

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. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 283

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2020

Of course, if you are able to bootstrap your startup, and don’t anticipate the need for outside investors, you can technically ignore the first two points. It’s a plan to develop the best opportunity for you, your startup, and your investors, and capitalize on it, rather than a plan to get out of a bad situation.

Exit Strategy 376

Exit Strategy Startup Private Equity Equity 376

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

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. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow.

Intellectual Property 309

Intellectual Property Technical Review Venture Capital Startup 309

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

In the midst of high-tech development, funding, and selling, someone has to keep the office network running, get processes documented, and manage to keep everyone happy and busy. It’s time to think about licensing what you have to an existing company already in business, and give up developing and marketing it yourself.

Technical Cofounder 308

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Stock Options 308

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

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. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2012

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Following is my prioritized larger list of sources, with some “rules of thumb” which may save you a lot of time and energy: Bootstrapping. Friends and family.

Technical Review 257

Technical Review Bootstrapping Venture Capital Incubator 257

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

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. Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2017

Many entrepreneurs see fund raising as a part-time task, behind high-priority solution development efforts. Unless you are happy with bootstrapping your new business, I recommend that you ignore conventional funding myths, and first seek investors who share your goals and values. Building and maintaining momentum is key to success.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Accredited Investor Due Diligence Equity 220

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2014

Any credible software developer should be willing to tackle this kind of tool for a couple of thousand dollars. The logic behind all these features is millions of lines of code, and cost millions of dollars to develop and maintain. A simple example might be a mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site.

Startup 252

Startup eCommerce Hosting Bootstrapping 252

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2011

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping your growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Following is my prioritized larger list of sources, with some “rules of thumb” which may save you a lot of time and energy: Bootstrapping. Friends and family.

Technical Review 233

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 233

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

They don’t get excited by early stage research, development, or marketing hype. Most startups need more money than they anticipated, to grow and expand their business, after development and rollout. In reality, the most successful funding decision I still see is called ‘bootstrapping,’ or self-funding.

Non-disclosure Agreement 299

Non-disclosure Agreement Angel Investor Bootstrapping SEC 299

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Any credible software developer should be willing to tackle this kind of tool for a couple of thousand dollars. The logic behind all these features is millions of lines of code, and cost millions of dollars to develop and maintain. A simple example might be mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site.

Hosting 248

Hosting Bootstrapping .Net Social Network 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2013

Any credible software developer should be willing to tackle this kind of tool for a couple of thousand dollars. The logic behind all these features is millions of lines of code, and cost millions of dollars to develop and maintain. A simple example might be mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site.

eCommerce 196

eCommerce Hosting Bootstrapping .Net 196

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2023

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Obviously, if you bootstrap your business, you can avoid all the investment implications, but you still need a business plan and professional support.

Incubator 305

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 305

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

Yet, in my experience as a mentor to entrepreneurs, the majority of failures I see are related to starting and growing the business, not developing the solution. Successful entrepreneurs are more likely to bootstrap their own business, and use the discipline of personally validating and approving every check.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Metrics Technical Review Entrepreneur 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2023

External investors will demand a financial forecast, but it’s equally valuable to you, even if bootstrapping. You need 5 percent or more of revenue for marketing, maybe more for ongoing development, and people costs will double as you add benefits, insurance, training, IT and new processes. Doubling revenue each year is a good target.

Forecast 290

Forecast Burn Rate Widget Business Plan 290

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

In the midst of high-tech development, funding, and selling, someone has to keep the office network running, get processes documented, and manage to keep everyone happy and busy. It’s time to think about licensing what you have to an existing company already in business, and give up developing and marketing it yourself.

Technical Cofounder 144

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 144

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Of course, if you are able to bootstrap your startup, and don’t anticipate the need for outside investors, you can technically ignore the first two points. It’s a plan to develop the best opportunity for you, your startup, and your investors, and capitalize on it, rather than a plan to get out of a bad situation.

Exit Strategy 289

Exit Strategy Entrepreneur IPO Startup 289

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2012

Yet the smart entrepreneur can still bootstrap the technical team, using one or all of the following evaluation and hiring approaches: Hire an expert consultant for initial interviews and recommendation. This is the technical equivalent of an “executive recruiter.” Use existing team to find a new manager or peer.

Technical Review 230

Technical Review Technology Founder Management 230

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have enough resources to bootstrap our own startups, so we are completely dependent on investors to help turn great ideas into great businesses. Develop a personal story as a visionary and learner. In reality, that’s only half the story. He didn’t have any big technical shoe innovations.

Intellectual Property 352

Intellectual Property Equity Bootstrapping Valuation 352

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

In the midst of high-tech development, funding, and selling, someone has to keep the office network running, get processes documented, and manage to keep everyone happy and busy. It’s time to think about licensing what you have to an existing company already in business, and give up developing and marketing it yourself.

Technical Cofounder 245

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 245

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

Any credible software developer should be willing to tackle this kind of tool for a couple of thousand dollars. The logic behind all these features is millions of lines of code, and cost millions of dollars to develop and maintain. A simple example might be mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site.

Cost 220

Cost Startup Hosting Bootstrapping 220

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

While exploring all these alternatives, don’t forget that the right investor in a majority of cases may be you, through bootstrapping and personal credit. Friends and family are key at the idea and early development stages, when you have minimal business valuation. It works best for solutions that have social value and mass appeal.

Angel Investor 246

Angel Investor Stealth Bootstrapping Early Stage 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2020

Time to think about and develop your purpose and “why.” Use your ability to bootstrap and set a sustainable base. People are living longer today, and find they are only getting started after 30 years of experience. They are seriously looking for opportunities to grow personally and professionally, and leave their mark on the world.

Bootstrapping 324

Bootstrapping Angel Investor Entrepreneur Leadership 324

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2011

Yet the smart entrepreneur can still bootstrap the technical team, using one or all of the following evaluation and hiring approaches: Hire an expert consultant for initial interviews and recommendation. This is the technical equivalent of an “executive recruiter.” Use existing team to find a new manager or peer.

Technical Review 236

Technical Review Partner Entrepreneur Architecture 236

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2023

Find a major customer, or a complimentary business, who sees such value in your idea that they are willing to give you an advance on royalty payments to complete your development. These days, the costs to start a business are at an all-time low, and over 80% of startups are self-funded (also called bootstrapping).

Equity 266

Equity Startup Small Business Administration SBA 266

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2010

For example, with any outside investment, you give up some ownership and control, and with bootstrapping you growth curve will likely be longer and more organic. Following is my prioritized larger list of sources, with some “rules of thumb” which may save you a lot of time and energy: Bootstrapping. Friends and family.

Technical Review 149

Technical Review Bootstrapping Startup Venture Capital 149

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

If you consider yourself a technologist, you probably believe and may be propagating one of the following myths: The first priority for funding should be to develop the technology. Outside investors are most interested in scaling a proven business model, not research and development. Most founders bootstrap product development.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Cofounder Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2022

Professional investors expect to see your top three use of funds categories, and how these relate to scaling the business, rather than initial development. In fact, the most successful entrepreneur strategy is to bootstrap or fund your own startup, such that you don’t need to expect or require any external investor involvement.

Preferred Stock 304

Preferred Stock Exit Strategy Equity Angel Investor 304

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Obviously, if you bootstrap your business, you can avoid all the investment implications, but you still need a business plan and professional support.

Incubator 429

Incubator Startup Exit Strategy Institutional Investors 429

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

While exploring all these alternatives, don’t forget that the right investor in a majority of cases may be you, through bootstrapping and personal credit. Friends and family are key at the idea and early development stages, when you have minimal business valuation. It works best for solutions that have social value and mass appeal.

Stealth 434

Stealth Startup Angel Investor Bootstrapping 434

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

Find a major customer, or a complimentary business, who sees such value in your idea that they are willing to give you an advance on royalty payments to complete your development. These days, the costs to start a business are at an all-time low, and over 80% of startups are self-funded (also called bootstrapping).

Equity 436

Equity Small Business Administration SBA Syndicate 436

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

This term refers to an initial venture-capital investment, often wrongly sought to seed early product development. In fact, most often, it is limited to seeding a startup business rollout or scale-up after development is completed from friends and family. Seed-round investment. Super-angel investors (micro-VCs).

Software Review 120

Software Review Sweat Equity Accredited Investor Angel Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

In the midst of high-tech development, funding, and selling, someone has to keep the office network running, get processes documented, and manage to keep everyone happy and busy. It’s time to think about licensing what you have to an existing company already in business, and give up developing and marketing it yourself.

Technical Cofounder 120

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Stock Options 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

External investors will demand a financial forecast, but it’s equally valuable to you, even if bootstrapping. You need 5 percent or more of revenue for marketing, maybe more for ongoing development, and people costs will double as you add benefits, insurance, training, IT and new processes. Doubling revenue each year is a good target.

Forecast 369

Forecast Burn Rate Startup Widget 369

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2016

Of course, if you are able to bootstrap your startup, and don’t anticipate the need for outside investors, you can technically ignore the first two points. It’s a plan to develop the best opportunity for you, your startup, and your investors, and capitalize on it, rather than a plan to get out of a bad situation.

Equity 120

Equity Exit Strategy Private Equity Startup 120