Why Hypergrowth Is Rare for Startups

I have been running the 1Mby1M global virtual accelerator since 2010. I find myself saying to entrepreneurs ad nauseam that VCs want to invest in startups that can go from zero to $100 million in revenue in 5 to 7 years, which is hypergrowth.

How Real Unicorn Startups Are Actually Built

There are two completely different ways to build a Unicorn: Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later (the 1Mby1M way), or Speculatively Blitzscale. Your probability of success with the first method is much higher. Let’s look at an example.

Success in Entrepreneurship Is Personal

The 1Mby1M Mantra has always been: Excess is not a Requirement for Success in Entrepreneurship. YOU get to define what success means for you. It’s personal. It’s your prerogative. Do not live other people’s lives.

Bootstrapping versus Blitzscaling

There are many controversial topics swirling at the moment: Bootstrapping vs. Blitzscaling, Concept Financing, Applying to Y Combinator, and Bootstrapping with a Paycheck. In this article, please find links to specific discussions on each of those topics. You are most welcome to weigh in. Remember, Entrepreneurship = Customers + Revenues + Profits; Financing and Exit

Read Full Article »

Are You Chasing Investors Ahead of Customers?

Startups are trying to blitzscale and become Unicorns while the market around is falling apart. In the last 18 months, numerous erstwhile Unicorns have stopped growing and started failing.Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later is a MUCH better strategy than Blitzscaling with ridiculous amounts of capital. In 1Mby1M, we prefer Bootstrapping early, then raising small amounts

Read Full Article »