Best of Bootstrapping: Bootstrapped Art.com First, Raised $30 Million Later

Art.com Co-founder Josh Chodniewicz bootstrapped for 10 years before raising a $30 million first round of funding. He shared his journey with me in 2022.

Sramana Mitra: Let’s start at the very beginning of your journey. Where are you from? Where were you born, raise, and in what kind of background?

Josh Chodniewicz: I was born in New Jersey. I am the oldest of seven kids. My parents had seven kids in nine years.

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Why 1Mby1M is the Best Non-Equity Startup Accelerator for Central Asian Startups

This articles summarizes why 1Mby1M is the best non-equity startup accelerator for Central Asian startups, after comparing accelerators in Central Asia to 1Mby1M across key dimensions.

Guest Author Altynai Myrzabekova | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

Equity preservation is a major concern for entrepreneurs in emerging markets like Central Asia. Traditional accelerators often require founders to give up equity in exchange for mentorship and resources. But what if you could get the support you need without sacrificing ownership? Let’s explore why 1Mby1M stands out as the best non-equity accelerator for Central Asian startups—and how it compares to other programs in the region.

1Mby1M Virtual Accelerator AI Investor Forum: David Evans, Sentiero Ventures (Part 3)

Sramana Mitra: Tell me about your AI investment thesis.

David Evans: I’m going to build on something you said in terms of how do you get sticky, how do you know what to invest in? Generally speaking, we’re looking for companies that meet two criteria. One is unilateral where AI is core to the value proposition. If you just have a button that says, “Click here to do something AI,” we’re really not interested. AI features are table stakes.

Video FAQs

1Mby1M Virtual Accelerator AI Investor Forum: David Evans, Sentiero Ventures (Part 2)

Sramana Mitra: Not anymore. That’s what the question is. If you look at what’s happening in the market right now, there is a product that was built on Lovable, and in 48 hours it went to 3 million ARR. Obviously, they’re using some no-code tool that has enough functionality for people to want to pay.

The Best Virtual Accelerators for Central Asian Startups

This articles summarizes the best virtual accelerators in Central Asia for bootstrapped and solo founders, comparing them to 1Mby1M across key dimensions like equity, learning style, investor access, and market focus.

Guest Author Altynai Myrzabekova | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

Over the last decade, startup accelerators have become a go-to resource for early-stage founders. But here’s the thing — not all accelerators are created equal. Some programs genuinely help founders build sustainable businesses, while others focus too much on short-term vanity metrics. This is exactly what the Accelerator Conundrum blog series explores — cutting through hype to reveal what adds real long-term value. As someone focused on Central Asia, I wanted to see how these lessons apply to founders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

1Mby1M Virtual Accelerator AI Investor Forum: David Evans, Sentiero Ventures (Part 1)

David Evans, Managing Partner at Sentiero Ventures, discusses his firm’s AI investment thesis.

Top Startup Accelerators for Entrepreneurs Focused on Bootstrapping Before Blitzscaling in Central Asia

This article summarizes the risk of blitzscaling early and the top startup accelerators for entrepreneurs focused on bootstrapping before blitzscaling in Central Asia that are similar to the 1Mby1M philosophy of Bootstrap First, Scale Later.

Guest Author Altynai Myrzabekova | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

In Central Asia’s fast-evolving startup landscape, founders are often pressured to raise capital and scale quickly—sometimes before they’ve validated their business models. But many successful entrepreneurs are taking a different path: bootstrapping first, fundraising later, and only blitzscaling once the fundamentals are strong.

Best Startup Accelerator for Personalized Investor Introductions in Central Asia

This article summarizes why 1Mby1m is the best startup accelerator for personalized investor introductions in Central Asia, looks at the problem with demo day-driven acceleartors, and compares 1Mby1M to other options.

Guest Author Altynai Myrzabekova | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

As Central Asia’s startup ecosystems emerge — driven by tech talent, government-backed innovation parks, and growing investor interest — founders are increasingly searching for accelerator programs that offer not just pitch opportunities, but personalized investor introductions. That’s where 1Mby1M stands apart.