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Show HN: Startup funding simulator

fundingsimulator.com

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Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#11

Post by lobsterthief »

sjwhevvvvvsj wrote: post #7

Bootstrapping a business with my savings to retain full control is both the wisest and hardest thing I’ve done. I don’t understand why people are so quick to start giving up control out of the gate for software companies. Servers are cheap, it’s not like in say, manufacturing where you need a factory. You’re gonna let some VC bro tell you what to do for a SaaS product? Why exactly? Just go to market on the cheap. I’v…

This also assumes you have the skills required to get your business to the point where it’s self-sustaining.

Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#14

Post by sjwhevvvvvsj »

lobsterthief wrote: post #11
sjwhevvvvvsj wrote: post #7

Bootstrapping a business with my savings to retain full control is both the wisest and hardest thing I’ve done. I don’t understand why people are so quick to start giving up control out of the gate for software companies. Servers are cheap, it’s not like in say, manufacturing where you need a factory. You’re gonna let some VC bro tell you what to do for a SaaS product? Why exactly? Just go to market on the cheap. I’v…

This also assumes you have the skills required to get your business to the point where it’s self-sustaining.

If you don’t maybe you shouldn't be starting a business in the first place.

The number of “zero interest rate” business that’s still need to be culled is too damn high.

Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#15

Post by sjwhevvvvvsj »

jacquesm wrote: post #8
sjwhevvvvvsj wrote: post #7

Bootstrapping a business with my savings to retain full control is both the wisest and hardest thing I’ve done. I don’t understand why people are so quick to start giving up control out of the gate for software companies. Servers are cheap, it’s not like in say, manufacturing where you need a factory. You’re gonna let some VC bro tell you what to do for a SaaS product? Why exactly? Just go to market on the cheap. I’v…

It works as long as you don't have funded competition. Especially if they start giving away the thing that you charge for. Then you need to have deep pockets to wait it out.

Therein lies the rub, but if you are turning a small, but real profit, and you then need a cash infusion you’ll retain far more control if you already have proved you can make money.

Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#16

Post by zikero »

teaearlgraycold wrote: post #6

Looks great! Personally I’d make it so state changes don’t push history into the stack. Users don’t consider those inputs comparable to a page change. It’s more like typing into a form.

wanted to make any simulation shareable by copying the url. but you're right, there has to be a better way ...

Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#17

Post by teaearlgraycold »

zikero wrote: post #16
teaearlgraycold wrote: post #6

Looks great! Personally I’d make it so state changes don’t push history into the stack. Users don’t consider those inputs comparable to a page change. It’s more like typing into a form.

wanted to make any simulation shareable by copying the url. but you're right, there has to be a better way ...

Share link in the corner is the way. Or just do a “replace” instead of “push” (using NextJS terminology)

Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#18

Post by Draiken »

I'd love more help bubbles, since I'm not familiar with a ton of these toggles and boxes.

I'd also love to see how much employees would get, not just me. I know people generally care more about themselves, but seeing how it would work if you gave a lot more to employees would be great.

Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#19

Post by eigenvalue »

Very cool and has a nice, easy interface. Would be awesome if you could assign time intervals to the vertical lines connecting events, and then at the end you could show the IRR and multiple on invested capital for each participant (except where that doesn't make sense, like for employees). Would also be nice if it had reasonable assumptions for fixed costs such as lawyer fees for each round, or investment banking fees for the exit sale.

Re: Show HN: Startup funding simulator

#20

Post by codegeek »

sjwhevvvvvsj wrote: post #7

Bootstrapping a business with my savings to retain full control is both the wisest and hardest thing I’ve done. I don’t understand why people are so quick to start giving up control out of the gate for software companies. Servers are cheap, it’s not like in say, manufacturing where you need a factory. You’re gonna let some VC bro tell you what to do for a SaaS product? Why exactly? Just go to market on the cheap. I’v…

I run a bootstrapped business and I hear you. However, VC Funding can make sense for certain cases. I do think that too many people raise VC prematurely. The best path in my opinion is:

0-PMF/100 customers: Bootstrap it

PMF-Scale: VC Fund if you can show 100% growth each year and forward. If the market is big enough (TAM etc), This can become a billion dollar company and for this to happen fast enough, you will need funding. Also, the reason you need funding here is because it is very tough to scale a business slowly. Either you grow fast from here or die/stay average growth.

Again, like you said, nothing wrong with "chart my own path" but VC funding has its needs. It's just that most people try to raise funding way too early and hence cannot keep up with the growth requirements and eventually either die or sell/pivot for peanuts.

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