20% Bootstrapper Discount For Tomorrow’s Women 2.0 Startup Weekend
Add comment August 27th, 2009
We have some 20% discount tickets available, please contact us for details and register here. See the Woman 2.0 / Startup Weekend site for more details.
Archive for August, 2009
Some Events That are Unlike a Bootstrappers Breakfast
Add comment August 26th, 2009
In contrast to “Events Like a Bootstrappers Breakfast” these are networking events for CEO’s and founders that typically draw 100 or more people and are focused on various aspects of the venture fund raising process.
- Startup2Startup They have an unusual signup process. But some Bootstrappers Breakfast attendees have found these meetings useful.
- The Silicon Valley New Tech Meetup always fills up with about 100 people: sign up early.
- There are several large Meetups in San Francisco that have drawn large attendance for more than two years:
- Stirr had been going great guns a year ago but has tailed off
- VCTask Force runs a number of events, including a monthly pitch preparation workshop.
FAQ: You are Welcome to Attend
Add comment August 25th, 2009
One of the most common questions we get is: “Should I come to a Bootstrappers Breakfast?”
We offer guidelines for first timers but I thought I would try and write down how I normally answer this question.
Our most common discussion items relate to the operational issues that challenge early stage technology companies. Many are consulting as a way of bootstrapping a product. If this conversation sounds like one you would like to take part in you are welcome to attend. We ask that you bring issues that you want to discuss and avoid offering a sales pitch or soliciting investment from other attendees.
We focus on practical issues related to bootstrapping technology companies.
We don’t dwell on venture funding issues because there are already so many venues that do so. But we do discuss them if someone brings them up and there are frequently attendees who can comment from their direct experience.
Other benefits to attending: you are invited to join a Bootstrappers Breakfast LinkedIn group of other bootstrappers and can take part in a private members’ workspace that contains meeting minutes and discussion threads. We also make a number of discounts available on products and services bootstrappers can use.
Please feel free to contact us if you still have questions, or consult the calendar of meetings and join us when it’s convenient.
Our next breakfast is in Mountain View Friday August 28 at 9am upstairs at Red Rock Coffee in Mountain View.
Other Events Like Bootstrapper Breakfast
1 comment August 24th, 2009
I have started to map events like the Bootstrappers Breakfast, roundtable and networking events focused on the operational issues of early stage technology startups. If you are aware of other events that I have overlooked please let me know.
- California
- Berkeley: Berkeley Lean Startup Practicum
- Los Angeles:
- San Francisco:
- Bootstrappers Breakfast
- Lean Startup Circle (blogged about this new group in June)
- Silicon Valley
- Illinois
- Chicago: Chicago Lean Startup Circle
- New York
- New York City
- http://www.meetup.com/CDP-NYC/
- http://www.meetup.com/ultralightstartups/ (I blogged about Ultralight Startups earlier this year)
- Tennessee
- Nashville: Nashville Geek Breakfast
- Washington
- Seattle: Seattle Entrepreneur Meetup
Sources (if I have overlooked yours please let me know)
- The recently launched Lean Startup Wiki has a page devoted to Meetups that are related to bootstrapping and customer development.
- http://geekbreakfast.org/
- http://www.opencoffeeclub.org/
- http://www.gabrielweinberg.com/startupswiki/Hacker_Groups
- http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces
- http://sacstarts.com/event
- http://entrepreneur.meetup.com/
- http://www.bootstrapaustin.org/ (the Community Playbook offers some interesting ideas)
- http://www.springstage.com/
Green Software Unconference Wrap-Up
Add comment August 22nd, 2009
The first Green Software Unconference attracted more than 100 people (see pre-registered attendee list) to spend a day at the Computer History Museum on August 19. Participants self-organized 24 break out sessions including:
- Role of Software in Management Performance of Sustainability Initiatives
- Social Media & Online Community for Social Change
- Green Software Mash-Up
- Create Software to inform/educate individuals about impact of their choices
- Protecting IP Rights of your Green Technology
- Clean Tech Economics
For more information
- Green Software Unconference Wiki (Kevin Cameron, a frequent Bootstrapper Breakfast attendee, has put a lot of work into this)
- “Trading Bows and Arrows for Laptops” (Video played for conference kickoff session)
- Zen Kishimoto blogs on Green Software Unconference: Part 1 & Part 2
- Green Software Twitter Feed (See also #greensoft tweets )
Discounts on for Bootstrappers on Intuit Products and Services
Add comment August 16th, 2009
We continue to expand our discount program for the typical goods and services that bootstrappers need and have added a discount program for Inuit products. Typical discounts will range from 10-20% for Intuit’s products and on-line services. Four of these may be of particular interest to bootstrappers:
- 20% off QuickBooks Pro
- 20% off QuickBooks On-line Plus which includes logins for three team members and your accountant.
- Save $30 when you form a Corporation or LLC with Intuit MyCorporation.
- Save $30 on a DBA or Trademark with Intuit MyCorporation.
Full Disclosure: SKMurphy, Inc. will receive up to 5% of the purchase price which we use to offset expenses for the Bootstrapper Breakfast programs. We are satisfied users of QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks On-line. We have not used Intuit’s MyCorporation services but have been impressed with the quality of the on-line resources and reviews and on-line comparisons that we have read.
Alternatives to Intuit MyCorporation (in alphabetical order):
Special Discount for Startup Weekend
Add comment August 13th, 2009
Startup Weekend– Friday, August 28, 2009 at 6:00 PM - Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Startup Weekend is a conference focusing on learning by creating
Sponsors provide the space and brain fuel — attendees bring the energy and innovation to build something big over the weekend. It is known for its quick decisions, ‘out of the box’ thinking, unique facilitation technique and letting the founders show what they can do. The program has already met with success worldwide.
The participants who attend a Startup Weekend decide what they want to tackle over the weekend and come out at the end with several developed companies or projects. Attendees are responsible for bringing the same desire and passion to the project and walk out of the room with the task at hand, in a short 54 hours. Sound intense? It is.
How this Startup Weekend works:
After initial panel discussion from speakers, teams form early with a self-selection process around ideas that they think are interesting and would like to work on for the weekend. Ideally, you’d like a group between 5 and 10 people — but groups of 2 or as large as 20 are acceptable. (Teams are not limited to working on web only applications. Generally, these make the most sense given the nature of the weekend and those who register. But if you really feel like working on that new cupcake business, go for it!)
Concepts are discussed and developed – prototypes are built — Special guest drop-ins (generally generally angel investors, VCs, or sponsoring companies) hear pitches and business plans from the teams.
Weekend ends with a presentation from each company. Talk about what worked, what didn’t, what could go better. – There will be “cool” giveaways and prize money to the wining team. Perhaps your winning team will be continue to work together. For more information http://startupweekend.com/
REGISTRATION and official agenda and more information: http://w2sf.startupweekend.org/
Limited number of Bootstrapper Breakfast Members 20% discounts. Contact us for code.
Bootstrapper’s Breakfast Announces Roundtable Conversation on Early Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make
Add comment August 12th, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO, Sean Murphy, CEO of SKMurphy, Inc., will speak at Bootstrapper’s Breakfast(R) August 21, 2009 in San Francisco. ‘Join other entrepreneurs who eat problems for breakfast’ on August 21, 2009 at Boudin Bakery, 4 Embarcadero Center at 7:30 a.m. Please register as seating is limited.
Sean will lead a roundtable discussion on Early Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make when starting their business. Attendees are invited to share their own mistakes and participate in this lessons-learned topic.
Sean Murphy has taken an entrepreneurial approach to life since he could drive. He has served as an advisor to dozens of startups, helping them explore new options and bring their businesses to new levels. His firm, SKMurphy, Inc., focuses on early customers and early revenue for software startups, helping engineers to understand business development. His clients have offerings in electronic design automation, artificial intelligence, web-enabled collaboration, proteomics, text analytics, legal services automation, and medical services workflow.
“At a Bootstrappers Breakfast we have serious conversations about growing a technology business based on internal cash flow and organic profit. You will find this group to include a seasoned venue of serial entrepreneurs, C-level execs and passionate innovation people for coffee and good conversation. The format starts with introductions and a roundtable discussion about business issues the group brings up. Think of it as sort of an ‘informal board’ to run ideas off of and get insight on a variety of topics. We have been offering the breakfasts for years in Silicon Valley and now offer two in San Francisco,” said Brandon Farrell, facilitator of San Francisco’s Bootstrapper’s Breakfast.
Please register at https://www.123signup.com/register?id=jqdbn as seating is limited.