Bootstrappers sell

Startups are everywhere (especially if you just started yours), we usually hear about the funded startups, and as a bootstrapper it’s usually these that we compete with, if only in our own minds.

However it is worth remembering that a funded startup is not selling, they’re spending. Even if they are winning customers, they’re more than likely spending not selling. If you’ve ever worked in a well funded startup, this is usually called “Marketing”. This means the huge discount your best sales guy just gave to your new big named customer was covered by the marketing budget.

As a bootstrapper your goal is to sell, not spend.