Because “funding” isn’t binary... it’s fluid. At first it’s “self”-funded, but that could really mean salary-funded, client-funded, other-businsss-funded, wealth-funded, etc. Potentially you’re investor-funded. At some point you hopefully become customer/revenue-funded.
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So “bootstrapping” is mostly obfuscating the source of the funding or bill-paying. I’ve been staunchly “self”-funded, but that really meant clients and my
$twlo stock. So someone else helping with funding until our revenue grows doesn’t seem crazy when it’s framed that way.
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Related: we interviewed at YC two weeks ago and didn’t get it (probably for the best!). We Also entertain the idea of alt-VC or other investor funding occasionally, but it’s a tough sell at our early pre-launch stage without much data.
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But, overall, it’s difficult to stay focused on providing value to and funding more customers when you’re constantly trying to top off the next round of “self”-funding. A lot to figure out in there for us so-called bootstrappers over the next few years.
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Absolutely. But there are ways to keep other funding sources structured in a similarly friendly or useful way. It’s also about where the risk is. I don’t have any of my Twilio stock anymore, for example. All gone.
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Absolutely. But what I’m unpacking is that word and reasoning carries a lot of baggage. Sometimes people are “bootstrapped” and don’t have full control or ownership. Better to be clearer and fully understand the implications.
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Or my personal favorite, profitable.
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