SAP is acquiring survey software maker Qualtrics for $8 billion. (Qualtrics bootstrapped for a decade).
"Working with limited resources compels focus and fine-tunes problem solving."
t.co/MHYpyfm2MR
After 10 years completely bootstrapped, Qualetrics raised $400m in VC funding (much easier once you have proved yourself with bootstrapping BTW). Now SAP have acquired them for $8B.
I heard founder Ryan Smith at @Saastr earlier this year. He shared how he was initially scared of well-funded companies competing with his bootstrapped startup. However, as his business grew he noticed those competitors stagnate as their boards put pressure on them due to their failure to meet (often over-promised and inflated) growth targets. Their activity was restricted by boards representing investor return, which allowed Qualtrics to outmaneuver and outperform these competitors.
So...to those advisors and gurus who tout the "go hard or go home", "raise money or lose to a competitor" nonsense I say..
"In your face herd thinkers!"
thehustle.co
SAP agrees to acquire Qualtrics for $8B, mere days before the survey and research software firm was set to hit NASDAQ.buff.ly
Thanks to Atlas Venture for supporting Venture Hacks this month. This post is by Fred Destin, one of Atlas’ general partners. If you like it, check out Fred’s blog and tweets @fdestin. And if you want an intro to Atlas, send me an email. I’ll put you in touch if there’s a fit. Thanks. – Ni...Techweek NZ
We've done it again! 🇳🇿 New Zealand has topped the World Bank's ranking of the best country to start and run a business, 4 years in a row - ahead of 190 different countries 🌏. Winner winner, chicken dinner 😎
#NZStoryteller
www.doingbusiness.org/en/rankings
The Pros and Cons of 5 SME Funding Options
business2community.com
Most entrepreneurs resort to fundraising for capital. However, organizing and executing a successful funding project is a big deal and not many businesses can pull it off. Besides the many different…Growth hacking advice from @TSD-Global
How Growth Hacking Can Grow Your Company Wildly
forbes.com
A lot of internet marketers have been using growth hacking for years without even realizing it. It’s a way to get the most leverage out of your customer acquisition.9 compelling reasons not to raise VC money for your startup
9 compelling reasons not to raise VC money for your startup
medium.com
I recently stumbled upon a great post from Clement Vouillon (Point Nine Capital) about “the rise of non “VC compatible” SaaS startups.”If you want to bootstrap your startup, do this one thing: Live in a cheap place.
If You Want to Bootstrap Your Startup, Do This One Thing
forbes.com
Here's the secret to startup self-sufficiency."Media’s never-ending romance with fundraising stories has completely diluted the importance of bootstrapping a startup".
Building Business is the only way to raise funds from VCs & investors
techpluto.com
today most entrepreneurs find themselves blindly chasing investors in a desperate hope to secure capital for their business. However, this blind chase sooner or later becomes a self-defeated quest.How Sophia Chou #Bootstrapped a Profitable SaaS Product for Dentists in Under Three Years buff.ly/2NkHZJW
There are businesses that require funding from the very beginning, some much later, and some never... What actually matters is the amount of time you take to execute the idea...The idea is to build a business thinking that you will own it forever, and not that you will exit in three years.
Divyank Turakhia on what it takes to bootstrap a business and get a multi-million-dollar exit
yourstory.com
Standing ovations are rare, more so at TechSparks. But when bootstrapped billionaire Divyank Turakhia finished a crackling fireside chat with Shradha Sharma, the audience couldn't help but stand up an...Saying no to VC funding could actually be critical for the success of your company.
Building a steady, reliable Nissan of a business may not get you on the cover of Forbes, but a running flashy Porsche of an enterprise doesn’t mean you’ve built anything of value, either.
Nasty Gal’s founder thinks Silicon Valley needs more Nissans and fewer Porsches
qz.com
Girl Boss Sophia Amoruso gets candid about her fall from the top in a podcast interview.Bootstrapping or VC, pros and cons
Bootstrapping or Venture Capital: The pros and cons every startup should think about | EU-Startups
eu-startups.com
FundingKnow-HowOther StuffStartups in generalBootstrapping or Venture Capital: The pros and cons every startup should think about By Stuart Phythian - June 26, 2018 0 420 Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter The question you need to be asking yourself in the beginning is: “Are you a startup or a sma...#bootstrap Your Startup From Zero to Millions of Users - It's not impossible buff.ly/2JSZwIg @yoavilner
“Entrepreneur Porn.”
“It’s like ‘I’m so cool, I’m an entrepreneur,’” he says, sucking in his cheeks and raising an eyebrow for effect. “But the truth is it’s hard fucking work. It’s a lifelong thing. And it’s even harder because most of the stories that are told are wrong..
“It’s not about getting rich…. for bootstraps, getting rich is incidental to getting to do what you’re passionate about.”
Pursue Your Passion, says Bijoy Goswami, Austin's Bootstrapping Guru - SiliconHills
siliconhillsnews.com
BY SUSAN LAHEY Special Contributor to Silicon Hills News Bijoy Goswami has a strange role in Austin startups. With his wild mop of hair and ubiquitous jeans and t-shirt, the bootstrapping guru has a rock star quality to him. He’s written a book used by Leadership Austin and made a movie. He’s kn...Why You Should Focus on Product Rather Than Raising Funds at the Idea Stage buff.ly/2wZecAD
7 bootstrapped Australian companies that are now raising and making millions:
@Accelo, @mydealaustralia, @Expert_360, @outfitIO, @CheckboxAI, @WorkfastAus, @AppsCore_Au
buff.ly/2uBs8Qm
How to #bootstrap customer research from Energent Media
Customer Research Is Another Costly Startup Essential You Can Bootstrap
entrepreneur.com
Founders generally realize the importance of systematically learning about their customers, but the cost is often a shock.More evidence that VC $ /= SUCCESS
134 Of The Biggest, Costliest Startup Failures Of All Time
cbinsights.com
This research brief highlights 134 of the most expensive (in terms of funding) startup failures of all time.Tips for #bootstrapping from @excel_impact
- Frugality
- Teachability
- Creativity: Do more with less
- Safety: Always protect the bottom line
- Incremental approach
Mind Over Money: The Five Core Values Of A Bootstrapper
forbes.com
Don't lose sight of your core values as you bootstrap your startup.There are many great candidates companies ignore because they aren’t part of the “standard” pool of candidates.
5 Tips for Bootstrapping Payroll While You Build the Team You Need
entrepreneur.com
Founders might be willing to starve until they hit it big but employees seldom are.A useful tool to help you decide whether to give up, bootstrap or fund raise (and which type of capital to go after)
Who Would Invest in Your Startup, and Why?
entrepreneur.com
The type of funding you should pursue depends on your business's value and scalability.Pros and cons of #Bootstrapping
SmartCompany explainer: What is bootstrapping and why should I do it? - SmartCompany
smartcompany.com.au
The concept and practise of bootstrapping is something often talked about and lauded in business circles, but what is it exactly?"It's all rollercoasters” #Bootstrapping
smartcompany.com.au
There’s a tendency, especially in the startup world, to glamourise those who bootstrap. Two business owners open up about what it's really like.The Traditional Venture Capital Model Is Broken
The Traditional Venture Capital Model Is Broken. This Founder Thinks He Has the Answer
inc.com
A renegade VC firm has a new approach to funding. You want its money? First demonstrate you can earn some.Bootstrapping perspectives from: @thebarressentials, King Kong Co., Reckon, LiveCapital, Intersective, @SuperEd and Techstars
Good sound advice from One Million by One MillionWhy joining a non-equity driven accelerator is a smart move? Learn here 1m1m.sramanamitra.com/1m1mtwitterfb-noequity1/
Raising millions of dollars from great investors does not equal product market fit YCombinator
Why Does Your Company Deserve More Money?
blog.ycombinator.com
The hardest conversation I have to have with a founder is when they’ve spent their 1-2 million dollar angel round but haven’t found product market fit. Unfortunately, I have to ask them a very unforgiving question: why does your company deserve more money?Interesting reading and a few lessons here including:
• First to market is over-rated if your market is not ready
• Tons of VC cash is a recipe for poor resilience in a downturn