Contrary to simple definitions centered around eschewing investor funding, bootstrapping is a third way of entrepreneurship. Differentiated from the cookie-cutter/franchise and VC/funding-driven approaches, it is an integration of these two paths. Bootstrapping brings together the low-cost features of the cookie-cutter, while generating the innovation of the VC. It can be described by its stages, actions and principles. The key stages are Ideation, Valley of Death and Growth; the key actions of each stage are Demo/Sell/Build; its principles include: right action right time, constraint creates innovation, dance with duality & use everything. Bootstrappers delay funding rather than reject it outright and bootstrap business models emerge from the process, rather than from up-front design or mimicry. This panel comprises Contributors at Bootstrap Austin, a community of bootstrappers building their businesses together. Active bootstrappers working on our ventures, we will debate the differences between bootstrapping and other models and explain the unique bootstrap approach and mindset. You will gain a conceptual and hands-on understanding to get started on your venture. This panel is linked with link "Bootstrapping through Entrepreneur Collaboration Networks", which describes how bootstrappers leverage each other to build their businesses.
http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/programming/panels_schedule/?action=show&id=IAP060345
