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How Mailchimp “Forrest Gumped” it’s way into being the biggest bootstrapped startup sale (at $12B) bootstrapping brand storytelling funding tips May 27, 2024

Ever wondered how a business can stumble its way into a $12 Billion dollar sale after being 100% bootstrapped? That's the story of MailChimp and its co-founder, Ben Chestnut. 

"Business isn't always a straight line. Sometimes, you just Forrest Gump your way into success." - Ben Chestnut

Ben...

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Businesses Fail. Your partnership doesn't have to. Aug 18, 2023

One of my biggest personal accomplishments is remaining close friends with my last business partner, Catherine, after our business failed.  There was no greater comfort than to know that we'd done everything we could and were still there for one another in the darkest days.  

Most...

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Why VC funding is Overated funding tips vc's we love Jul 31, 2023

I’m gonna go ahead and take one wiiiiiiiild guess that you’ve started on your path to secure startup funding. 

That it’s full steam ahead and all aboard the VC Express. 

But what if I told you that only .05% of startups receive funding from venture capital?

Yeah, you...

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CRICKETS? How to find your customers! Jun 29, 2023

10 Customer Acquisition Strategies for Early Stage Entrepreneurs

There you are, finally ready to launch your startup “baby” into the world and you couldn’t be prouder of what you’ve accomplished.  Your website and social media looks great, and you’re ready to...

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How Startups Can Use Factoring To Generate Cash Flow funding tips how to find funding Apr 19, 2023

Let’s say you’re a founder selling a physical product that requires you to manufacture something. And let’s say that manufacturing something means that you have to pay a percentage of the cost of your inventory upfront.  If you have a long lead-time product that ships from...

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8 Creative Ways Entrepreneurs Can Use Pre-Sales to Boost Cash Flow funding tips how to find funding Mar 15, 2023

8 Creative Ways Entrepreneurs Can Use Pre-Sales to Boost Cash Flow

Hey there, fellow entrepreneurs! Are you looking for effective ways to generate cash flow for your startup – without giving up equity to investors? 

Look no further! Pre-sales are a fantastic way to achieve just that....

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7 Ways to Launch Successful Donation-based Crowdfunding Campaigns funding tips how to find funding Feb 28, 2023

I used to wonder why entrepreneurs would waste time on donation-based crowdfunding for their early-stage ventures. You typically don’t raise much more than $10,000, if that, so why bother?

Now that I’ve seen some clever campaigns that have gotten PR , raised significantly more than...

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10 Ways Founders Can Create New Communities & Feel Less Isolated team building Dec 09, 2022

After the death of my son and my father (both named Clark) within 15 months of one another, I moved to Austin in 2020 to be near my other 2 children. Along with a steady diet of reality TV, I built my own community of entrepreneurs – deliberately –  to minimize loneliness and...

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VC's We Love! With Bob Hower of G20 Ventures funding tips how to get funding team building vc's we love Oct 31, 2022

Bob Hower, Founding Partner, G20 Ventures, is one of my favorite VCs because he is an entrepreneur himself, and he empathizes deeply with the challenges that founders face each day.  I also love Bob because he's my brother and has spent more time that I can count helping me with my own...

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3 Ways To Make Funding Easier funding tips how to get funding Jul 26, 2022

How To Get Funding For Your Startup: 3 Ways to Make it Easier 

There are many exciting things about being an entrepreneur, like developing a product that connects with customers, filling a gap in the market, building something of your own, being your own boss, and setting your own...

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VC Mike Troiano Minces Zero Words. funding tips team building vc's we love Jul 06, 2022

I first met Mike Troiano years ago when my partner and I were struggling with messaging for our Cat Perkins shoe line. My brother, Bob Hower, a VC at G20 Ventures, recommended his partner, Mike, because he was the best storyteller he knew. I reached out to Mike to kick off our VCs We Love segment...

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How To Create “Truth Well Told” brand storytelling funding tips Jul 04, 2022

As an entrepreneur trying to raise a Friends & Family round of financing, I often felt nervous about presenting the dirty little secrets of an under-funded and under-staffed start-up to potential investors; Early-stage founders are tempted to embellish the truth. I’ve felt this...

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You’re a Founder, not a Financier!

And the most important job on your plate? Focusing on building your business—not learning how to speak "CFO". Take our mini-course which lays out all the startup funding options by business stage so that you can learn what's most likely to work for you!

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