Calling all Bootstrappers

The startup route that’s often overlooked: bootstrapping.

A bootstrapped startup is a company that was started without outside capital. We don’t see stories of bootstrapping that often, as funding announcements typically get the press coverage. While bootstrapping a startup isn’t as glamorous as raising capital from investors, it’s a viable option for entrepreneurs and comes with many advantages such as full ownership of your business and complete control of decisions. In fact, I bootstrapped my first company to profit and acquisition in six years.

Bootstrapping is more common than you might think, and you’ve probably heard of or used a product that was initially bootstrapped. MailChimp, Shopify, and Shutterstock are just a few of the many successful businesses started without outside capital.

Earlier this month, I called for all bootstrappers on Twitter to drop their information in a thread with the goal of helping them get more customers and exposure for their businesses.

Nearly two hundred replies later, I think we achieved this goal! I am amazed by all of the entrepreneurs out there building companies and providing services that improve health and entertainment and the way people work and live.

Companies across 33 industries tweeted their company’s information and an ask. We took the responses and added them to a public Airtable so that you can easily digest each company

View the Airtable here to learn about these amazing bootstrapped companies and pay special attention to their asks so we can help them succeed.

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Note: This data was collected from responses to @myfriendjanine’s Tweet asking bootstrapping companies to provide their information. If you have any requests or changes please email jaime@overlookedventures.com.