Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first.

Intellectual Property 219

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 219

Hearpreneur

JANUARY 25, 2023

This presents a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses and capitalize on the latest technology. If you have a basic understanding of CSS, HTML, and JS and want to create a WordPress theme, you can do it with Bootstrap and then share it on GetBootstrap, even if you don't know much about WordPress.

Software Review 117

Software Review Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur 117

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. For a nonprofit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. Government grants.

Equity 235

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first.

Entrepreneur 283

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 283

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first.

Product Development 177

Product Development Cost Developer Product 177

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until revenue starts to flow. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first.

Intellectual Property 309

Intellectual Property Technical Review Venture Capital Startup 309

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. Of course, every company needs these, in due time. Your company has outgrown you. You need specialized equipment.

Sweat Equity 239

Sweat Equity Technical Review Bootstrapping Equity 239

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 21, 2012

In fact, he points out that conventional term loans are a far less common way to finance a business, and in some countries, credit cards are actually a more popular source of startup capital. Bootstrap, bootstrap, bootstrap. Moules believes that getting a bank loan to start a business is not ideal. His advice?

Technical Review 184

Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Acquisition 184

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Intellectual Property 134

Intellectual Property Technical Review Startup Incubator 134

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. Of course, every company needs these, in due time. Your company has outgrown you. You need specialized equipment.

Sweat Equity 255

Sweat Equity Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping 255

Professor VC

JANUARY 27, 2011

How Much Diligence is Due.Or Ive addressed the due diligence question in previous posts, but this came up again in a debate we were having at a recent meeting of the Sand Hill Angels. And in order to increase our groups returns, one of our goals should be to get more people and man hours involved in the diligence process.

Technical Review 31

Technical Review Due Diligence Silicon Valley San Jose 31

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

Since 2017 we’ve managed $3 million in revenue-based financing, which helps cash-strapped technology companies grow. Our wheelhouse is bootstrapped (or lightly capitalized) SMB SaaS. Investment Criteria: B2B SaaS or tech-enabled services with proven, recurring contracts. Alternative Capital. “ ARR of $500K+.

Revenue 60

Revenue Technical Review Software Review Equity 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

Self-funding or bootstrapping is still the most common and safest approach for startups Keep your day job until real revenue flows. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Entrepreneur 120

Entrepreneur Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

In the US, a nonprofit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. For a nonprofit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. Government grants.

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Most healthy businesses need business financing at some point. Startups have to deal with starting costs and ongoing businesses have to finance growth and working capital. Financing options depend on what kind of business you have. Don’t waste your time looking for the wrong kind of financing.

SBA 161

SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. Government grants.

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 23, 2023

Hire Only the Best Employee Fits Another major expense your lean startup will have to carefully manage is labor. Be Wary of Technology Upgrades Your lean startup needs technology to run (and grow), but new technology can also be an expense trap for inexperienced startup entrepreneurs. Choose talent over experience.

Lean 158

Lean Technical Review Startup Acquisition 158

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. Government grants.

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. Government grants.

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. Government grants.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 120

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

How should I finance my new venture? It’s a deceptively simple question:  what is the optimal way to finance a new startup? Misaligned interests that lead to poor financing choices are often very problematic for first time entrepreneurs in young companies.  Can you bootstrap your way to positive cash flow?

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83

Hearpreneur

MARCH 21, 2021

I did a lot of technical interviewing. We noticed a clear need for an evolution of wallet styles and technologies and ran with it. 4- Due to lack representation in the skincare industry. The traditional thinking of “one solution fits all” is not today’s tech-driven business believes in. Photo Credit: David Moise.

Entrepreneur 142

Entrepreneur Technical Review Acquisition Software Review 142

David Teten

AUGUST 19, 2019

Does the traditional VC financing model make sense for all companies? 2018 also had the fewest number of angel-led financing rounds since before 2010. John Borchers, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Decathlon Capital, claims to be the largest revenue-based financing investor in the US. Absolutely not.

Revenue 60

Revenue Term Sheet Founder Technical Review 60

This is going to be BIG.

MAY 27, 2014

This was a company that had successfully bootstrapped itself to real revenues, employees and cashflow and I thought it deserved the structure of a going concern, not a flier. They got that way due in large part to a very public founder friendly stance. Venture Capital & Technology' At first, I thought I was making a mistake.

Term Sheet 160

Term Sheet Founder Cofounder Software Review 160

Hearpreneur

AUGUST 28, 2022

Not only is he a visionary thinker who was ahead of his time in terms of understanding the potential of technology, but he's also an incredible leader and motivator. I learned from her that even if finances are an issue, it's worth taking risks if you know your idea would change the market. Photo Credit: Monika Nowaczyk.

Entrepreneur 118

Entrepreneur Green Cofounder Trinidad 118

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

In some ways, you’ll feel as if you’re losing control over your original ideas and won’t know how to get it back, due to owing the investors return on investment. If you are having any issues with cash flow, you always have the option of opting for alternate business finance. Eventually, you’ll start to feel discontented and stifled.

Cofounder 124

Cofounder Sweat Equity Equity Dilution 124

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

If you're capable of seeing past the old stones of Paris and the picturesque rural villages, you'll realize that France is every bit as technologically advanced as any other Western country - more so in some areas. It's now been about three years since I joined the fray as an entrepreneur and tech blogger. Want to start up in France?

France 163

France Technical Review Incubator Early Stage 163

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

In the US, a non-profit is technically any company who qualifies as tax exempt through IRS Section 501(c). Obviously, these companies still need money to get started, or finance growth, just like a for-profit company. For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. Government grants.

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 9, 2010

Jacqueline asked an important question: how do you mitigate your working capital challenges in an e-commerce company at the very early stages without raising financing? First, there are two primary aspects that have to be managed: inventory financing and customer acquisition costs. Or, bootstrap longer.

Silicon Valley 117

Silicon Valley Malaysia India China 117

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

Cloud-based legal records management, digitization, archival, retrieval. Charge-back accounting solution for large enterprises deploying cloud technologies. Jim Dunlap, CIO of Alaska Telecom discussed with me the increasingly serious problem that telecom vendors are facing due to bandwidth consumption skyrocketing.

Cloud 117

Cloud Fractional CTO Entrepreneur Bandwidth 117

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

I call it drip-financing. Most entrepreneurs have no choice but to avail of this sort of financing along with the mentoring and the contacts that could come with it (doesn't always come along, though). In 1M/1M, our preferred financing strategy is customers. Because customer financing equals revenue, not equity.

Cloud 115

Cloud Silicon Valley Incubator Finance 115

ReadWriteStart

NOVEMBER 3, 2011

From what I have seen, this is one of the few companies that can cross the elusive billion dollar mark in due course. Having turned down all overtures for investment, Zoho continues merrily on in its bootstrapping path. Is it inventory risk that Statisco manages well? Statisco Economic Analytics. Discuss.

North Carolina 116

North Carolina San Diego Entrepreneur Balance Sheet 116

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 2, 2010

This is a segment that is well beyond traditional micro-finance, but also somewhat below the scope of the regular financial institutions. Hardika intends to build a financial institution focused on this segment with financing from social entrepreneurship oriented venture funds like Unitus. million financing round for.

India 116

India Green Silicon Valley Massachusetts 116

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. As you may know, 99% of the entrepreneurs who seek financing, get rejected. Sramana Mitra is a technology entrepreneur and strategy consultant in Silicon Valley. Please try to understand why.

Silicon Valley 114

Silicon Valley Technical Review Startup Early Stage 114

ReadWriteStart

OCTOBER 7, 2010

At today's roundtable we had some interesting companies and a lot of fundraising discussions, and I will review them shortly. Sub-$2 million pre-money, it is better to bootstrap. That is debt financing that converts into equity at the Series A valuation once the price for that is set. (I Igor did not have an answer.

Valuation 119

Valuation Silicon Valley Pre-Money Valuation Bootstrapping 119

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

They allow you to hire more people, purchase new technology, and establish new business connections, among many other benefits. 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

ReadWriteStart

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Brad has had some success in working with retailers as well, but I advised him to be careful about the cash flow management. I will work with him on his inventory financing strategy. Then Dhana Cohen pitched TheNextBigZing.com where she has collected various merchants with video reviews of products. JCLABoutique.com.

India 114

India Silicon Valley Incubator Bootstrapping 114