bootstrapping - entrepreneurship 101

bootstrapping    MaRS  Discovery  District  April  4,  2012    Charles  Plant    

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what  do  these  companies  have  in  common?  

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what  is  bootstrapping?  

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why  would  you  want  to?  

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the  best  companies  ever  

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some  facts  about  VCs  

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research  in  moKon  

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before  you  start  

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line  up  credit  ahead  of  Kme  

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find  a  mentor  

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pick  the  right  business  

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geNng  going  

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find  the  pain  

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simple  business  plan  

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earn  some  consulKng  revenue  

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start  building  your  product  

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ramping  up  

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leverage  relaKonships  -­‐  microsoP  

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find  the  fox  

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look  for  service  opportuniKes  

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solve  a  problem  

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low  hanging  fruit  

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land  a  sale  

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you  will  need  credibility  

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meeKng  big  compeKtors  head  on  

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get  some  revenue  

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low  overhead  

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keep  costs  variable  low  fixed  costs  

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find  employees  who  will  share  the  risk  

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leverage  suppliers  

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build  a  product  

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figure  out  your  business  model  

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do  it  again,  and  again  and  again  

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and  then  what  

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once  you  have          

• products • reference accounts • a working business model • the right people • exponential growth

you  should  go  out  and  raise  money          

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quesKons?  

Slide  39  marsdd.com/ent101-webcasts or marsdd.com/ent101/online