The Art of
Bootstrapping
by
Vishal Chandra
Vīryam
vīryam

Bed-time Stories for
Entrepreneurs
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2 guys in
a garage
with a
great
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… get
funded
quickly …
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… loved by customers…
have an amazing IPO !
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Time to
wake up to
reality
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It’s good, but
What do
it’s missing
you think of
something.
my business
plan?
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If it just had
What’s
more of a direct
that?
sales model we
would be
interested.
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One WEEK later…
Hmm…
We have Looks OK, but
beefed up if it only had
the direct an OEM
sales. strategy.
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One WEEK later…
I don’t see
OK, we’ve anything about
added an technology
OEM licensing. If you
channel just focused on
that...
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One WEEK later…
You’re all over
We’ve made the map, and
all the changes your plan is very
you suggested. unfocussed.
Will you invest? We’ll have to
pass.
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It is not the
VC’s job to
take the risk !
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10x
The 10x Rule of VCs:
Thou shall focus only on that
shall be the next Google
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Borrowed from
the kitchen
Get VC funded
Bootstrap your Startup
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maneuverable
small,
is better than
bulky, too fast
to change tracks
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Rules for
Bootstrapping
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Solution
Operations
IDEA
Business &
Revenue
Sales &
Model
Marketing
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Focus on function, not form
Ship, then test
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Start as a service business
Forecast from the bottom up
Focus on cash flow, not
profitability
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Forget the “proven” team
under-STAFF
Minimize your battle-fronts
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Position against the Leader
GO direct to customers
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A
N C
P HL
W A
P AE
EMN
BOO T S T R A P
2 B DNH
. I A
W
0 L R
A
E M
R
A
E
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Talk to the VCs…
…once in a while !
vīryam

Vīrya is a Sanskrit word
which can be translated
into English as “effort”,
“vigor”, “diligence”, “zeal,”
and “energy”.
vishal@viryam.com
www.viryam.com
vīryam