Presentation given at Startup Saturday Delhi on challenges faced while bootstrapping. Talked about my experiences running a hosting company and a social media agency.

1. Bootstrapping-
Challenges & Hardships
Startup Saturday delhi #ssdel

2. Who am I ?
Gaurav Mishra
Head Marketing @ Srijan
Co-Founder
2006-2009 2009-2012

3. ● Founded 2006; College 3rd year
● Hosting + Domain + Blog + Email in
1000 INR/year
● 350+ customers in first year
● Stopped new acquisitions in 2nd year
● Clients kept us paying till 2011
Hosting for students

4. ● Founded in 2009
● Worked with Samsung, Micromax,
Aircel, Maruti, Aviva, Lava, VLCC etc.
● Launched products; held blogger meets
● Sold in mid-2012 to an american
investor. Ran for 3.5 years
Social Media Agency

5. Spot opportunities
early
● Everyone wanted their
website; email; blog
● No credit card; online
payment was tough in 2006
● No Indian pure Social
Media Agency
● Proven business in US
● Large digital agencies
interested in social; Got
no teams

6. Find your value
proposition early
Solve real problems
What makes you
different ?
Spend time in
understanding client
business needs

7. Find a big client/partner
and ride over
Give your
consulting time
Make your
client/partner succeed
Helps you focus
on delivery

8. Pricing Mechanics
● Pricing: 1000 INR/yr; Cost:
446 INR/yr
● 56% profit ? Not really!
● 400% pricey than
competitor in 2010; 200%
in 2011 -- Bad move
● Markets booming with
freelancers working on
peanuts

9. 20% will be dead
Payments
Don’t be Cheap; Be
Premium
Sell Value Not
Price
Factor Tax; Admin/
Acquisition cost

10. Insist on getting
payments upfront
Be profitable from
day one
Well written
contracts ensure
timely payment
Save for 3 months
ahead

11. People make or break business
● Hired smartest people
around; friends, juniors
● For first 1.5 years all
founders were lowest
paid employees
● Wasted a lot of
time/effort in admin jobs
in first 1.5 years
● Gave room to grow and
make mistakes

12. Invest in
smartness/attitude
not experience
Hiring == Problem
Get an office
assistant. He/She
will be a lifesaver.
Outsource what
you can!

13. Hold yourself
accountable
Find your mentors
early
Be coachable; open
to feedback
Bring advisory teams;
SEO, Content, Finance

14. Treat People well
5 Commandments
Learn to Say NO
Have INTEGRITY
Cash is the King!
Be passionate

15. Questions
@gmishra