The Accelerator Conundrum: Bootstrapping Playbook for B2B SaaS/AI Founders

The Accelerator Conundrum is a multipart series that challenges the prevailing wisdom of the tech startup ecosystem that entrepreneurs should Blitzscale out of the gate. Written by Sramana Mitra, the Founder and CEO of One Million by One Million (1Mby1M), the world’s first global virtual accelerator, it emphatically argues that a better strategy is to Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later, focus on customers, revenues and profits. 1Mby1M’s mission is to help a Million entrepreneurs reach a million dollars in annual revenue and beyond. Sramana’s Digital Mind AI Mentor virtually mentors entrepreneurs around the world in 57 languages. Try it out!

You’re building a B2B SaaS or an AI solution. You know the market demands real value. Bootstrapping isn’t just an option; it’s a strategic advantage. It forces focus, customer validation, and sustainable growth from day one. Build a robust, profitable company without immediate reliance on external capital.

How do you turn innovation into repeatable revenue? Leverage the 1Mby1M Premium Accelerator’s Playbook.

Featured Videos

Colors: Drama in Light 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 – Drama in Light I

Drama in Light I | Sramana Mitra, 2018 | Watercolor, Ink, Pastel | 18  x 24, On Paper

1Mby1M Entrepreneur Bootstrapping an AI Deep Learning Venture to over $5M ARR: Bharath Gaddam, CEO of Data Poem (Part 6)

Sramana Mitra: So now, let’s get specific. In 2022, these pilots started coming in and starting to convert. You have six months, let’s say, to make sure that the pilot is working. Tell me when you started getting the real deals after the pilots.

Video FAQs

July 17 – 694th 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are invited to the 694th FREE online 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 8 a.m. PDT / 11 a.m. EDT / 5 p.m. CEST / 8:30 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 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.

693rd 1Mby1M Entrepreneurship Podcast with Ray Wu, Alumni Ventures AI Fund

Ray Wu, Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures AI Fund, discusses the fund’s investment thesis.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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693rd 1Mby1M Roundtable Recording

In case you missed it, you can listen to the recording of this roundtable here:

Roundtable Recap: July 10 – AI Investment Thesis with Ray Wu, Alumni Ventures AI Fund

During this week’s roundtable, we had Ray Wu, Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures AI Fund, discussing the fund’s investment thesis.

Axon Network KI

As for our entrepreneur pitches, first we had Antony Alappatt from Chennai, India, pitch Axon Network Karmic Intelligence.

Q3D Sensing, Inc.

Next we had Tainyue Yu from Santa Clara, California, pitch Q3D Sensing, Inc.

MeloMatch

Then we had Nandini Zunder from Bangalore, India, pitch MeloMatch.

You can listen to the recording of this roundtable here:

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The Accelerator Conundrum: Fundraising Playbook for Bootstrapping Founders

The Accelerator Conundrum is a multipart series that challenges the prevailing wisdom of the tech startup ecosystem that entrepreneurs should Blitzscale out of the gate. Written by Sramana Mitra, the Founder and CEO of One Million by One Million (1Mby1M), the world’s first global virtual accelerator, it emphatically argues that a better strategy is to Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later, focus on customers, revenues and profits. 1Mby1M’s mission is to help a Million entrepreneurs reach a million dollars in annual revenue and beyond. Sramana’s Digital Mind AI Mentor virtually mentors entrepreneurs around the world in 57 languages. Try it out!

You’ve built traction. Revenue is flowing. Now, you’re eyeing external capital. Great. You have an unfair advantage. 

How do you secure capital on your terms, without diluting your hard-earned ownership prematurely? By leveraging the 1Mby1M Premium Accelerator’s proven Playbook.