May 8 – Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later Discussion

Startup funding is a low probability game.

LESS than 1% GET funding.

Over 99% get rejected.

Entrepreneurs go to VCs like beggars.

Is there a better way?

You bet there is!

You CAN turn the odds in your favor.

Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later.

Bootstrap decisively and VCs WILL notice.

Fred Luddy did with ServiceNow.

Fred had 12 customers before raising funding.

Christian Chabot did with Tableau.

Christian had 200 customers before raising Series A from NEA.

Greg Gianforte did with RightNow.

Greg had $6M in revenue before raising $130M in Series A.

Amy Pressman and Borge Hald did with Medallia.

Amy & Borge bootstrapped to $30M in revenue before raising funding from Sequoia.

What has been your own experience with bootstrapping? Come discuss your situation, and what steps are best for you at our next Rendezvous Meetup from 5 – 6 p.m. PDT on May 8th at Cafe Borrone in Menlo Park, California.

Go to VCs like a King not like a Beggar.

VCs love to come to the rescue of victory.

Bootstrap to victory.

The VCs will come chasing you!

Photo credit: Levi Sanford/Flickr.com