Catching Up On Readings: Democratized Generative AI

This report from Gartner looks at the potential of democratized generative AI to increase productivity, efficiency, and innovation. By 2026, more than 80% of enterprises will have used generative AI APIs and models and/or deployed GenAI-enabled applications in production environments, up from less than 5% in 2023. For this week’s posts, click on the paragraph links.

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Roundtable Recap: November 2 – EdTech Ventures from Around the World

During this week’s roundtable, we coincidentally focused on EdTech.

Zambezi Tech Vanguard

Next, we had Takudzwa Cinofunga in Harare, Zimbabwe, pitching Zambezi Tech Vanguard, an EdTech venture focused on the African market.

Wibly

Then Nick Farrenkopf in Fremont, California, pitched Wibly, another EdTech venture focused on new methods of knowledge navigation.

You can listen to the recording of this roundtable here:

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Colors: Harvest I

I’m publishing this series on LinkedIn called Colors to explore a topic that I care deeply about: the Renaissance Mind. I am just as passionate about entrepreneurship, technology, and business, as I am about art and culture. In this series, I will typically publish a piece of art – one of my paintings – and I request you to spend a minute or two deeply meditating on it. I urge you to watch your feelings, thoughts, reactions to the piece, and write what comes to you, what thoughts it triggers, in the dialog area. Let us see what stimulation this interaction yields. For today – Harvest I

Harvest I | Sramana Mitra, 2021 | Watercolor, Pastel, Brush Pen | 8  x 8, On Paper

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624th 1Mby1M Roundtable Recording

In case you missed it, you can listen to the recoring here:

November 9 – 625th 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are invited to the 625th FREE online 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 8 a.m. PST/11 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET/9:30 p.m. India IST.

If you are a serious entrepreneur, register to “pitch” and sell your business idea. You’ll receive straightforward feedback, advice on next steps, and answers to any of your questions. Others can register to “attend” to watch, learn, and interact through the online chat.

You can learn more here and REGISTER TO PITCH OR ATTEND HERE. Register and you will receive the recording by email, even if you are unable to attend. Please share with any entrepreneurs in your circle who may be interested. All are welcome!

Best of Bootstrapping: Niche Player Bootstrapped to $13M

If you haven’t already, please study our free Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

I’m very bullish about market opportunities that are large enough to build sizable businesses but not large enough such that VCs end up funding numerous competing companies. This case study – my interview from 2018 with David Lloyd, Co-founder and CEO of The Intern Group – shows you how a niche player with a $150 million TAM is growing nicely without outside financing.

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

David Lloyd: I’m from the UK. I was born in London. I spent the first 22 years of my life in London before spending approximately the last 10 years of my life between London and Latin America.

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Meta’s Cost Optimization Initiatives are Paying Off

Meta (Nasdaq: META), formerly Facebook, recently announced its third quarter results that outpaced market expectations. Digital ad spend has picked up in the recent past, helping Meta’s performance. According to eMarketer, Digital ad spend worldwide will increase nearly 10% to $601.84 billion this year from $549.51 billion in 2022.

Best of Bootstrapping: Bootstrapping Using Services Case Studies

If you haven’t already, please study our free Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

As I started analyzing various paths to success via bootstrapping, a second formula also became absolutely obvious: doing services projects and then formulating a product through that process. We gave this a name: Bootstrapping with Services, and published a book on the subject, Bootstrapping Using Services.

Over 99% of entrepreneurs who seek financing get rejected. The seed capital gap leaves many entrepreneurs struggling to get their businesses off the ground. Bootstrapping, a tried-and-true method to self-fund a business, is a must to bridge this gap in seed funding. And offering a service is one of the best ways to bootstrap. When I turn the spotlight on entrepreneurs who have successfully bootstrapped their ventures using services, please note that, in many cases, these same entrepreneurs later raised venture capital. Through my interviews, I aim to give you a seat at the table with successful entrepreneurs and synthesizes what is learned to provide information and inspiration for everyone looking to take their business concepts to the next level.

Below are five case studies on the topic:

• Bootstrapping Using Services to $40 Million: ActiveCampaign CEO Jason VandeBoom
• Bootstrapping Using Services to an Awesome Business Model: Inspyrus CEO Nilay Banker
• Bootstrapping Using Services from Russia: Ruslan Fazlyev, CEO of Ecwid
• Bootstrapping Using Services: James Kane, CEO of RWS
• Bootstrapping Using Services: Taylor Tyng, CEO of Wiredrive