What 2 guys learned from bootstrapping a start-up (and riding the SeedCamp rapids) Dirk Stevens, CEO Wondergraphs

What 2 guys learned from bootstrapping a start-up

(and riding the SeedCamp rapids)

Dirk Stevens, CEO

Wondergraphs

Team (1) Trust Willingness and ability to persist After-hours vs. full-time Clear vision on business and product

Trust

Willingness and ability to persist

After-hours vs. full-time

Clear vision on business and product

Team (2) Technology and market background “ Holy Trinity” Development Product Business

Technology and market background

“ Holy Trinity”

Development

Product

Business

Business Business = Product * Sales Business Model What, how, why, to who will you sell What value do you create? Monetization?

Business = Product * Sales

Business Model

What, how, why, to who will you sell

What value do you create?

Monetization?

Incorporate (1) Agreement between founders Sound business

Agreement between founders

Sound business

Incorporate (2) Advisory board Costs Accounting Self-employment

Advisory board

Costs

Accounting

Self-employment

Funding What do you need funding for? From easy to hard Personal Friends, family Loan Subsidy Customer Investor

What do you need funding for?

From easy to hard

Personal

Friends, family

Loan

Subsidy

Customer

Investor

Investors Should bring Passion for what you do A network of potential customers Knowlegde of your market Proven track record of success Portfolio that fits your company

Should bring

Passion for what you do

A network of potential customers

Knowlegde of your market

Proven track record of success

Portfolio that fits your company

Operations Infrastructure Office space Paperwork Suppliers Quality brands

Infrastructure

Office space

Paperwork

Suppliers

Quality brands

Technology Asset IP Protection Build relationship with “centres of innovation” Open-source For development For infrastructure

Asset

IP Protection

Build relationship with “centres of innovation”

Open-source

For development

For infrastructure

Human Resources Interns & students Requirements Infrastructure Guidance Cash

Interns & students

Requirements

Infrastructure

Guidance

Cash

Product “ Customer development” Share ideas with potential customers Build prototype so business can go and sell Advisory Board

“ Customer development”

Share ideas with potential customers

Build prototype so business can go and sell

Advisory Board