Bootstrapped or funded?

Senthilnathan RM
24 replies
Hey PH community, Are you bootstrapped or funded? If you are bootstrapped now, would you raise funds sooner or later and why? On a general note, what do you like the most? Bootstrapped or funded?

Replies

Kayode Odeleye
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
We’re bootstrapped. Raised a friends and family round so can’t pay myself as founder. It’s tough but it has its benefits
Simon Peter Damian
FlashApply
FlashApply
Launching soon!
@kayovin1 what are some of the benefits in your opinion?
Simon Peter Damian
FlashApply
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@kayovin1 Wouldn't not having funds mean slowet growth? I am of the opinion that funding could mean the possibility of growing fast and entering new markets faster than your comepetions but bootstrapping means slow growth and the risk of losing a huge chunk of the market
Kayode Odeleye
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
@theterminalguy yes Simon The perceived wisdom is that faster is always better. This is a misconception. Bigger is not always better Bootstrapping means slower but more thoughtful growth so startups and businesses tend to be more successful
Kayode Odeleye
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
@theterminalguy major benefit is the ability to grow in a structured, thoughtful manner
Nick from FirstHR
Bootstrapped first (Product market fit), funded later (scaling).
John Lim
@nickanisimov Agree with you. I'm taking a similar approach as well.
Andreas Møller
My first startup was bootstrapped, but this one is funded. A product like toddle.dev would be very difficult to bootstrap.
Apollon Latsoudis
Fully bootstrapped at this point as we want to maintain control on the product and strategy. However I can see funding round taking place down the line to accelerate things in the future. Having said that, both has their uses
Johny burg
Bootstrapped is awesome
Simon Peter Damian
FlashApply
FlashApply
Launching soon!
Bootstrapped and I tell you, it ain't easy. Ideally I'd love not to raise funds but at this point, it is inevitable. Hopefully we don't get to do it
Mary Rumyantzeva, PhD
Fully bootstrapped, but we plan to raise funds. Raising funds for us is just an acceleration of the process, not its foundation.
Isao Fukata
This is a difficult question. I always get lost looking at my financial situation.
Charis Sfyrakis
Fully bootstrapped! But raised money from non-equity diluting grants before. Both bootstrapped and raising investor funds have their advantages and disadvantages.
@charis_algomo , non-equity diluting grants? That's interesting. Would love to hear more about it.
Kayode Odeleye
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
@charis_algomo In my experience this is excellent strategy. Raise non dilutive funding p, achieve traction then consider options down the line
Aman Patel
Job Application Answer Generator
Job Application Answer Generator
Launching soon!
@charis_algomo will you be able to share how do you go about finding non-equity diluting grants?
Kayode Odeleye
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
Who Wants to Be a Unicorn (Unicorn Game)
Daniel Gjøde
Bootstrapped. Want to build the first user base like that. Then maybe secure funding to help scale and improve.
Sagar Patel
So far I am bootstrapped! I plan on raising funds. Although, I’m hoping I won’t ever need the funding!