YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 24, 2017

Subscription business models have been around for a pretty long time, but thanks to modern technology, this model has evolved from milk or newspapers delivery to a versatile eCommerce experience. As a starting entrepreneur, you might wonder: why on earth would I want to start a subscription (box) business? Conclusion.

Churn Rate 149

Churn Rate eCommerce Business Model Bootstrapping 149

Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

We recently had Tim Berry, Palo Alto Software founder and business planning expert, present our Bplans audience with his latest advice on lean business planning. It’s all about making your business life easier, doing what works best, getting the best results by tracking what works and always improving.

Lean 60

Lean Business Plan Video Software Review 60

ReadWriteStart

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

While funding is necessary for almost all businesses, seeking it out yourself isn’t necessarily the right path for everyone. Instead, knowing how to bootstrap your startup might be a better option. How to Bootstrap Your Startup. When you bootstrap your startup, you retain full control of the new business.

Bootstrapping 145

Bootstrapping Startup Cofounder Angel Investor 145

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2014

Based on the Startup Environment Index from the Kauffman Foundation and LegalZoom a while back, personal money, or bootstrapping, continues to be the primary startup funding source. 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

Up and Running

AUGUST 17, 2022

They want your business to be able to scale up. This will be difficult if your business model doesn’t easily scale. If the answer is no, you may need to revisit your business model. Your business isn’t primed for growth. Revise your plan. Please remember that most businesses start without investors.

Venture Capital 146

Venture Capital Intellectual Property Angel Investor Bootstrapping 146

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2021

In my experience, here are the most common issues that cause funding requests for potentially viable businesses to be rejected, in priority order: Inadequate business plan. Some investors say half the ideas pitched to them don’t have any plan at all, even though some have great potential. Don’t take this shortcut.

Intellectual Property 429

Intellectual Property Bootstrapping Venture Capital Revenue 429

Gust

APRIL 27, 2014

Use a simple accounting tool like QuickBooks, get away from co-mingled funds, and you have the first business process you need. Develop your business plan. Write down the key elements of your business plan very early, and keep it current as things evolve. Funding process.

Startup 187

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 187

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

For a nonprofit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 132

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 132

Up and Running

MAY 15, 2018

Innovative products and business models are the foundations of a promising startup. Creating a scalable business model. Whether you are hoping to expand a small business with a loan or going for a round of venture capital, you will need a scalable business model. Determining how much money to ask for.

SBA 84

SBA Angel Investor Technical Review Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Traditionally, business software products have been specialized and focused toward a given task, but I see a trend these days to highly functional “all-in-one” business tools. Assess potential for funding or bootstrapping. Write a business plan for your desired new business.

Silicon Valley 286

Silicon Valley Angel Investor LLC Incubator 286

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MAY 10, 2010

In fact, 3 of the 10 selected companies from the past two years has followed this business model. If there's a business plan less likely to succeed than a restaurant , this has to be it. If you're bootstrapping and your value proposition includes the words "anything" or "anyone," you're probably reaching too far.

Business Model 310

Business Model Finder SEO Bootstrapping 310

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. Don’t get hung up on the business plan. His advice?

Technical Review 184

Technical Review Entrepreneur Bootstrapping Acquisition 184

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

It never hurts to start networking personally with all levels of investors early, but sending out teasers and business plans to every name you can find on the Internet is a waste of your time and theirs. You are now entering the rollout stage , with money required for marketing, hiring a full-time team, and a production process.

Angel Investor 313

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 313

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2013

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Equity 207

Equity Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy 207

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

Alternatively, with minimal response, you need to rethink your business plan. In reality, the most successful funding decision I still see is called ‘bootstrapping,’ or self-funding. The smart entrepreneurs I see evaluate all the alternatives, and pick the one that makes the most business sense for them.

Non-disclosure Agreement 299

Non-disclosure Agreement Angel Investor Bootstrapping SEC 299

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 218

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 218

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. Momentum has a way of building?—?and

Bootstrapping 52

Bootstrapping IPO Business Model Software Review 52

Gust

DECEMBER 7, 2014

Based on the Startup Environment Index from the Kauffman Foundation and LegalZoom a while back, personal money, or bootstrapping, continues to be the primary startup funding source. 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 191

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Burn Rate 191

The Next Web

JULY 20, 2013

They speak about how they love to help entrepreneurs build successful companies, yet when I ask them to give me feedback on my business plan or idea, they usually don’t even bother writing me back. And if they do, they complain about lack of global potential or misunderstand my product completely. “Do

Silicon Valley 124

Silicon Valley Mongolia Technical Cofounder Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 238

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 238

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2021

In my experience as a business advisor and occasional investor, many of you won’t make it that far, succumbing to the high costs of getting those first customers, funding an initial inventory, and building an operational support process. Build your plan around resources you know. The advisor will give you real credibility.

Dilution 404

Dilution Incubator Bootstrapping Government 404

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor Equity Technical Review Exit Strategy 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

It never hurts to start networking personally with all levels of investors early, but sending out teasers and business plans to every name you can find on the Internet is a waste of your time and theirs. You are now entering the rollout stage , with money required for marketing, hiring a full-time team, and a production process.

Angel Investor 370

Angel Investor Intellectual Property Investment Bankers Private Equity 370

David Teten

JANUARY 21, 2021

Jonathan Bragdon , CEO, describes Capacity as “a team of founders-turned-funders making non-dilutive, founder-aligned investments of $50-$300k in post-startup, post-revenue businesses planning to 2X revenues in 12-24 months. —– Earnest Capital invests in bootstrapped companies to help them unlock more growth.

Equity 78

Equity Revenue Cofounder Colorado 78

Up and Running

MARCH 8, 2016

Getting funded and writing a business plan. If you’re going to need an injection of capital in order to get your business going, you’re more than likely thinking of getting a bank loan. If this is the case, you will need a business plan. Let’s review them: Bootstrap your business with a side business.

SBA 60

SBA Technical Review Software Review Business Plan 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2010

For a non-profit, bootstrapping is self-funding from donations and fund-raising. You still start the process with a business plan, but then you look for a philanthropist rather than an investor. What options do they have available to them, since they can’t sell a share of the company (no equity investment)?

Angel Investor 143

Angel Investor Technical Review Exit Strategy Equity 143

The Entrepreneurial Mind

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

When launching a new business, relying too heavily on the details of your business plan can actually lead to failure. What these plans lack is information gained from dealing with actual customers. A good bootstrapping startup strategy is to start small and start simple. Adapt, based on what you learn.

Business Model 77

Business Model Nashville Customer LLC 77

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

While you are working away on your business plan, looking for ways to raise capital, finding the right people to hire, etc., Bootstrapping can be fun, you get to iterate quickly, turn on dimes, invent new features on the fly. If your product is getting good reviews and people are willing to pay for it, you’ve got something.”.

Cofounder 164

Cofounder Founder Startup Bootstrapping 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2018

The reality is that successful businesses these days require an equally elegant business model, with the right marketing, delivery channel, price, and target customers, to get real traction. In the investment community, this work is called proving the business model. Finalize your channel and marketing strategy.

Product 137

Product Advisory Board Business Model Cofounder 137

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

The media tends to highlight experienced entrepreneurs who succeed with early new venture funding, like Uber’s Garrett Camp , but fail to point out the more common bootstrapping successes. A limited budget makes for a better business plan. Flaws in a business plan are often masked by money, but ultimately will kill any startup.

Bootstrapping 120

Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Startup Exit Strategy 120

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Chasing funding versus chasing customers and a repeatable and scalable business model, is one reason startups fail. Entrepreneurs put together their funding presentation by extracting the key ideas from their business plan, putting them on PowerPoint/Keynote and pitching the company – until they get funded or exhausted.

Customer Development 262

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 262

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

To organize my thoughts, I found a new book, “ Burn the Business Plan ,” by Carl Schramm, who speaks from experience founding five companies, working major corporate roles, and being an active venture investor. You need a business degree to start a venture today. All successful businesses start with a business plan.

Incubator 180

Incubator Angel Investor Dilution Equity 180

Early Growth Financial Services

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Entrepreneurs were asked about the business models that most inspire their own startups. As a bootstrapped startup in the education space where word-of-mouth is invaluable, we have attempted to emulate this model by focusing all of our resources on creating an unparalleled experience for our users.

Business Model 43

Business Model Bootstrapping Startup Advertising 43

Tim Keane

MARCH 9, 2011

How to prepare a sales forecast for a business plan » March 09, 2011. Can you bootstrap your way to positive cash flow?   If the answer is relatively soon, then bootstrapping is a very serious consideration.  In other words, the need for acceleration isn’t in conflict with bootstrapping – it is step two. 

Finance 83

Finance Bootstrapping Startup Equity 83

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 Business Plan 166

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2012

In my experience, here are the most common issues that cause funding requests for potentially viable businesses to be rejected, in priority order: Inadequate business plan. Some investors say half the ideas pitched to them don’t have any plan at all, even though some have great potential. Inexperienced team.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Bootstrapping Venture Capital Business Plan 261

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

Use a simple accounting tool like QuickBooks, get away from co-mingled funds, and you have the first business process you need. Develop your business plan. Write down the key elements of your business plan very early, and keep it current as things evolve. Funding process.

Startup 268

Startup Institutional Investors Angel Investor Bootstrapping 268