How does an entrepreneur go about getting a new business off the ground? We'll explore that question in the series "UPstarts" by presenting the stories of Texas entrepreneurs, with commentary on their experiences by McCombs experts in entrepreneurship, as well as a number of resources for budding entrepreneurs.
First upstart: Elayne Crain. When she decided to strike out on her own, Crain knew she wanted a company that was all hers. Foregoing investors, she's bootstrapping Austin Sugarworks, her new company that sells specialty sculpted sugars.
In this video, Crain shares stories from the first few months of her start-up, with commentary and analysis from the McCombs School of Business' entrepreneur-in-residence Louise Epstein. Related resources can be found further down the page.
Famous Bootstrappers
What is bootstrapping?
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In this Lingo video, finance maestro Jim Nolen explains the concept of "bootstrapping'" a start-up and why people who want to be their own boss try to avoid venture capital for as long as possible.
While there is no single clear-cut way to get a bootstrap enterprise off the ground, there are many resources available to those looking for guidance. We’ve gathered some of the best websites, articles, books, and multimedia to get you ready for your adventure in bootstrapping. <view "the list">
#1 Apart from being an efficient
Apart from being an efficient business model, bootstrapping seems to be a point of pride, a badge of courage, almost a romantic attachment for bootstrappers.
I wonder if bootstrappers continue to feel that way about it after they 'graduate' to more money, a bigger team. Do bootstrappers have the same romantic nostalgia that old couples do about the good old days when they had a lot of love w/o much money? Or are they just glad to be done with bootstrapping?