Comments on: The TechCrunch Europe Guide to Bootstrapping – Your Advice http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/ Tracking European web and mobile start-ups Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:35:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bootstrapping Tips from Start Up Owners « Bootstrapper Handbook for Startups http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-249066 Bootstrapping Tips from Start Up Owners « Bootstrapper Handbook for Startups Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:17:18 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-249066 [...] 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment The TechCrunch Europe Guide to Bootstrapping – Your Advice is really a very good read. There are 9 very useful bootstrapping tips from different experts and [...] [...] 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment The TechCrunch Europe Guide to Bootstrapping – Your Advice is really a very good read. There are 9 very useful bootstrapping tips from different experts and [...]

]]> By: What is bootstrapping and bootstrapping tips | Chat Badge http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-246911 What is bootstrapping and bootstrapping tips | Chat Badge Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:49:27 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-246911 [...] The full article can be found on the TechCrunch website here: http://uk.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/ [...] [...] The full article can be found on the TechCrunch website here: http://uk.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/ [...]

]]> By: Julia http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-246060 Julia Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:47:16 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-246060 In contrast, I'd recommend to quit your day job as soon as you know that your product meets a market need – even if you can't really afford it. This way, you'll be forced to focus 100% on how to make your bootstrapped company profitable fast. You won't have an excuse left not to spend every minute & brain cell on this one goal. Constraints can do magical things to you, at least in our experience. In contrast, I’d recommend to quit your day job as soon as you know that your product meets a market need – even if you can’t really afford it.

This way, you’ll be forced to focus 100% on how to make your bootstrapped company profitable fast. You won’t have an excuse left not to spend every minute & brain cell on this one goal. Constraints can do magical things to you, at least in our experience.

]]> By: @agentoffortune http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245922 @agentoffortune Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:55:31 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245922 Ummm I've faced the need to market during the early phase a couple of times now. I think it really depends on what the product is. Different ideas have different routes to market. With one of our ideas we were lucky in that it was fairly cheap and easy to generate good quality leads via google adwords but your mileage may vary. Ummm I’ve faced the need to market during the early phase a couple of times now. I think it really depends on what the product is. Different ideas have different routes to market.
With one of our ideas we were lucky in that it was fairly cheap and easy to generate good quality leads via google adwords but your mileage may vary.

]]> By: Feargal Finnegan http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245869 Feargal Finnegan Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:50:23 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245869 No problem. I have also in the past had UI design completed offshore and the results were excellent. The designer I worked with was a referral and I had a portfolio to review before the start of the project. No problem. I have also in the past had UI design completed offshore and the results were excellent. The designer I worked with was a referral and I had a portfolio to review before the start of the project.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1070272631">Nick Franklin</fb:name> http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245827 Nick Franklin Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:36:57 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245827 ah OK apologies - I think your phrasing gave me the wrong initial impression. Nick Franklin - Business Development (EMEA) at Zendesk www.zendesk.com ah OK apologies – I think your phrasing gave me the wrong initial impression.

Nick Franklin – Business Development (EMEA) at Zendesk
http://www.zendesk.com

]]> By: Feargal Finnegan http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245818 Feargal Finnegan Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:11:30 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245818 @Facebook User I'm not referring to UI design. I'm referring to things like breaking up the photoshop image into CSS, HTML and images. I work with people who are very skilled at this in South Africa and can produce beautiful well designed CSS at a much lower cost than getting it done in europe. @Facebook User

I’m not referring to UI design. I’m referring to things like breaking up the photoshop image into CSS, HTML and images. I work with people who are very skilled at this in South Africa and can produce beautiful well designed CSS at a much lower cost than getting it done in europe.

]]> By: Dylan http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245804 Dylan Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:43:40 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245804 I'm with you, but think that maybe what he (FF) means is cheaply outsourcing the UI building. It would be stupid to do the UI design too cheaply, or to be too far away from the user testing, since these provide huge amounts of value and differentiation to the end product. Building UIs can be done by monkeys, but make sure the quality is there... UI design and test can be done cheaply - there are plenty of hints n tips out there on doing effectively with tiny or no budget. I’m with you, but think that maybe what he (FF) means is cheaply outsourcing the UI building. It would be stupid to do the UI design too cheaply, or to be too far away from the user testing, since these provide huge amounts of value and differentiation to the end product. Building UIs can be done by monkeys, but make sure the quality is there…

UI design and test can be done cheaply – there are plenty of hints n tips out there on doing effectively with tiny or no budget.

]]> By: Julian Ranger http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245781 Julian Ranger Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:49:15 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245781 When you finally come to an investor for cash the number one thing they will be looking for is the quality of the person they are investing in, i.e. you. As you are bootstrapping remember this and ensure, as far as you are able, that your commitment to the project is clear. If you are not prepared to take a risk for your idea, then why should anyone else? Hence, whilst nice if it can be avoided, a bit of personal discomfort/difficulty in the beginning can (eventually) have its upside. When you finally come to an investor for cash the number one thing they will be looking for is the quality of the person they are investing in, i.e. you. As you are bootstrapping remember this and ensure, as far as you are able, that your commitment to the project is clear. If you are not prepared to take a risk for your idea, then why should anyone else? Hence, whilst nice if it can be avoided, a bit of personal discomfort/difficulty in the beginning can (eventually) have its upside.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1070272631">Nick Franklin</fb:name> http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245772 Nick Franklin Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:56:27 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245772 @Feargal Finnegan "offshore tasks which can be done on the cheap, e.g. UI work" I disagree with this attitude towards UI, I think UI is extremely important to the success of a web company and doing it on the cheap is a mistake. @Feargal Finnegan “offshore tasks which can be done on the cheap, e.g. UI work”

I disagree with this attitude towards UI, I think UI is extremely important to the success of a web company and doing it on the cheap is a mistake.

]]> By: David Thompson http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245763 David Thompson Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:31:33 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245763 The comment from Stefan about a small operation with no real sales and marketing expertise is probably quite a common problem - I know it's something we are experiencing! Does anyone have any good advice about marketing your product during the bootstrapping phase? The comment from Stefan about a small operation with no real sales and marketing expertise is probably quite a common problem – I know it’s something we are experiencing! Does anyone have any good advice about marketing your product during the bootstrapping phase?

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="683805300">Steven Renwick</fb:name> http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245759 Steven Renwick Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:06:43 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245759 "...it’s worth talking to your employer about moving to part-time working, or even switching to a consultancy arrangement to provide you with time to manage your start-up. " That's exactly what I've done today! “…it’s worth talking to your employer about moving to part-time working, or even switching to a consultancy arrangement to provide you with time to manage your start-up. ”

That’s exactly what I’ve done today!

]]> By: The TechCrunch Europe Guide to Bootstrapping - Your Advice | LatNet.BIZ Internet Business News http://eu.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/the-techcrunch-europe-guide-to-bootstrapping-your-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-245753 The TechCrunch Europe Guide to Bootstrapping - Your Advice | LatNet.BIZ Internet Business News Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:46:21 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/?p=7571#comment-245753 [...] the original post here: The TechCrunch Europe Guide to Bootstrapping - Your Advice ebusiness, income [...] [...] the original post here: The TechCrunch Europe Guide to Bootstrapping – Your Advice ebusiness, income [...]

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