Best of Bootstrapping: Lessons from Startup Mentoring Since 2008

These days, everyone seems to be a startup mentor. Whether they have ever done a startup or not, whether they have ever raised money or not, they are ready to advise entrepreneurs. I want to share with you some things we have learned in running the 1Mby1M program since 2008. Over 680 free mentoring roundtables. Over 300,000 entrepreneurs have participated.

We started experimenting with the roundtable format of online mentoring way back in the fall of 2008. At the time, 1Mby1M did not exist, not even in our heads. It wasn’t until my January 2010 New Year’s Resolution that the concept was born.

>>>

1Mby1M AI Investor Forum: Mark Phillips, Founder and Managing Partner at 11 Tribes Ventures (Part 2)

Sramana Mitra: Let me just comment on what you said. The problem with the venture capital model that we have arrived at this point over the last, let’s say 30 years, is that it is all consuming. The investors expect the entrepreneur to put everything aside except for making the venture a success; and that success must be success that makes the investors money. Otherwise, it’s not considered a success. If the investors don’t make money, the founder’s not going to make any money at all.

2025 Resolution: Find an Experienced Mentor to Make Your Startup Fundable

As a startup mentor, I always think about how I can make the most impact.

These days, everyone claims to be a startup mentor. Whether they have ever done a startup or raised money, they are ready to give advice on how to raise money.

Most of the advice you get this way is blind leading the blind.

What constitutes good startup mentoring?

>>>

AI Investor Forum: Gus Tai on AI in Healthcare (Part 1)

Gus Tai, Investor, Board Member and Retired General Partner at Trinity Ventures, discusses AI in Healthcare startups. Fascinating, comprehensive discussion with concrete pointers.

The Startup Velocity Question: Positioning Drives Repeatability

There’s a common problem with Founder-led Sales: Positioning changes on the fly on a daily basis.

1Mby1M Udemy Courses with Sramana Mitra: Methodology

Developed as an integral part of the esteemed core 1Mby1M curriculum, these courses impart knowledge honed over 15 years. They dissect the mechanics and methodology of building startups with the help of lectures and case studies.

The Startup Velocity Question: MicroVC Portfolios

As of December 31, 2023, in the United States alone, there are 54,000 venture funded startups.

Let us refresh our memories on what constitutes the Venture Capital model: hyper growth startups that grow at an exponential pace. Companies that can go from 0 to $100M in revenue in 5-7 years.

The Startup Velocity Question: Is it the Market?

Entrepreneurs often bet on markets that are yet to develop.

Good entrepreneurs often create new markets. Steve Jobs CREATED the smartphone market.

VCs bet on such bets.