Presentation by Carlos Hernandez of Quaderno at SaaStock on Tour Barcelona, 30th May 2017

1. Struggling
with SaaS
Myths
Bootstrapping a
SaaS business from
Gran Canaria

2. @polimorfico
• In business since 2000
• First SaaS in 2004
• Digital nomad
• Tea lover

3. @quadernoapp
• 850 customers
• 38 countries
• 23K MRR
• 6 people team

5. MYTH #1
You have to
be based a
big city

8. Gran Canaria Pros & Cons
• Life is inexpensive
• A special tax area in the EU
• Internet connections are
great
• Perfect weather and a high
life quality
• No investors
• No startup scene
• No networking events
• No big customers

9. Designing a Remote Business
• Global solution for a global problem
• Focus on the SMB market
• No external funding for 2-3 years

12. Nothing is better than living in
the place that makes you happy.
– @polimorfico

13. MYTH #2
You have to
get funded

14. SaaS Companies
1. Funded SaaS
2. Bootstrapped “scaling” SaaS companies (+10M ARR)
3. Bootstrapped SaaS companies ($300k — $10M ARR)
4. Bootstrapped Micro SaaS ($1k — $300k ARR)
The Rise of Non “VC compatible” SaaS Companies
by Clement Vouillon from Point Nine Capital

16. –Anonymous VC
“You are NOT
fundable.”

17. Why didn’t I look for funding?
• I lived far away from the cool cities (remember?)
• I had no idea of how to do it
• I was 100% focused on getting customers

18. Bootstrapped companies can
also be equally life changing for
their founders and employees.
– @polimorfico

19. MYTH #3
You have to
work as
much as
possible

20. 40-hour
workweek

21. 50-hour
workweek

22. 100-hour
workweek

23. Work is
overrated – @polimorfico

25. 25-hour
workweek

27. Work to live,
don’t live to
work.

28. Thanks!
@quadernoapp

29. SaaStock
Dublin, Ireland
18 – 20 September,
2017

30. Tropical SaaS
The Unconference for SaaS Founders
Gran Canaria, Spain
2 – 3 November, 2017

31. Credits
• https://unsplash.com/@sonance
• https://unsplash.com/@craftedbygc
• https://unsplash.com/@tbzr