Event Information

Some businesses are built on venture capital. Other businesses are bootstrapped by entrepreneurs. Some examples include: Dell Computers, Microsoft, and Cataphora.

Despite the dream of many entrepreneurs to meet investors with deep pockets that will enable them to live in style, while they employ teams of experts to build and market their idea, the fact is that 99.9 percent of businesses are bootstrapped. That is not necessarily a bad thing. With a lot of sweat and the occasional welcome dollop of luck, bootstrapping a business can be financially and emotionally rewarding. When done well, it can really get a company going fast, and without the founders having to give up much (if any) equity - or bankrupting themselves.

So, what does it mean and how do you bootstrap a company? This lively discussion with our panel of experts who have been there, done that – in some cases, several times! The following questions will be explored to help you figure out if bootstrapping is for you.

• What have you seen as the biggest indicators of future success, or failure, for bootstrapped startups?
• What are the first 2 or 3 key things you should do to help decide if you should bootstrap, or not?
• You have decided to bootstrap, but still need some money.  Where does it come from?
• You need a team to develop your product.  Should you round up people you know and pay them with equity, or outsource development somewhere cheap like Eastern Europe?
• You need equipment, even if it is just a couple of servers.  What are some cheap ways to get your hands on the stuff you need?
• It is tough enough to get first customers if you are venture funded.  How does a scrappy bootstrapped startup get in the door to make its first sales?
• You need legal services to establish the legal entity, set up a stock option plan, create terms & conditions of sales, and so on.  How do you get this done?

Moderator
Peter Werner, Partner, Cooley Godward Kronish

Panelists
Elizabeth Charnock, CEO & Founder, Cataphora
Ed Esber, Member, The Angels' Forum & Halo Fund
Rick Marini, CEO & Founder, SuperFan
Dan Martell, Co-Founder, Flowtown

Agenda:
6:00 – 7:00 pm Networking and hors d'oeuvres
7:00 - 8:15 pm Panel discussion and Q&A
8:15 - 8:30 pm Additional networking

To register, please click here. For more information, email Eileen Cheng or call (650) 843-5071.