What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
31–40 of 75 posts
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#32HubSpot startup program is weird. We saw it advertised as 90% off on a startup platform we're part of, applied, and we were told since we're a bootstrapped business and haven't raised any money, we can only get 30% off. It left a sour taste in my mouth. If you're bootstrapping a business counting every penny of your own money, you're at disadvantage, but if you raised $2 million, we're happy to save some of your VC m…
Datadog did something similar to me at a previous company- they were miserable. We tried to use their credits from the AWS program, but then they kept adding more and more requirements to the program. They eventually wanted to go full MLM, telling us that if we want the credits we have to setup meetings with other startups we work with and that at least three (I believe) of the startups had to turn into customers.
It was absolutely ridiculous. I went from being eager to use their product to vowing never to recommend it again. They were just so condescending during the entire process too.
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#33Stream chat https://getstream.io/pricing/
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
The whole VC startup/tech bubble needs external money to go into the system. They aren't very interested in taking VC-funded companies money because it will be like taking something out of your right pocket and putting it into the left one - it doesn't do anything to prevent the bubble from popping. External money (from outside the bubble) however is very important since it's the only thing that will stave off the ev…
There is no conspiracy here. It makes a lot of sense to offer a service for free (as a customer acquisition tactic) to a VC funded company because the 2 options are either they go bankrupt or they can be charged 100 times more revenue in 2 years. On the other hand what is the point of subsidising a bootstrapped business potentially forever?
https://www.hubspot.com/startups
90% off year 1
50% off year 2
25% off ongoing
HubSpot charges ~$1,200 p/m for their professional Marketing & Sales plans.
I assume 25% off almost $15k annual with pretty much zero CAC is not far off from what HubSpot sales would offer themselves to a multi-year deal.
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#35HubSpot startup program is weird. We saw it advertised as 90% off on a startup platform we're part of, applied, and we were told since we're a bootstrapped business and haven't raised any money, we can only get 30% off. It left a sour taste in my mouth. If you're bootstrapping a business counting every penny of your own money, you're at disadvantage, but if you raised $2 million, we're happy to save some of your VC m…
Same story with AWS. If you got VC money they give you up to $100k in credits, if you're bootstrapped they give you only around $1k
AWS will give you the extra money if you're bootstrapped, you just have to put a bit more effort into it.
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
The whole VC startup/tech bubble needs external money to go into the system. They aren't very interested in taking VC-funded companies money because it will be like taking something out of your right pocket and putting it into the left one - it doesn't do anything to prevent the bubble from popping. External money (from outside the bubble) however is very important since it's the only thing that will stave off the ev…
There is no conspiracy here. It makes a lot of sense to offer a service for free (as a customer acquisition tactic) to a VC funded company because the 2 options are either they go bankrupt or they can be charged 100 times more revenue in 2 years. On the other hand what is the point of subsidising a bootstrapped business potentially forever?
Do you have any data to back that up claim?
My experience with bootstrapped companies is that they are just as subject to pressure to grow as startups, and probably have a higher success rate.
Atlassian, Github, Mailchimp and Shopify are all companies that initially started as bootstrapped companies and, in my mind, stand out as some of the most sustainably successful startups of recent history.
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#37We offer an HN reader discount which, by some accounts, is analogous to a startup/founder discount.
It doesn’t change/expire if you hit it big.
Just email us.
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#38Stripe is an obvious one
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#39Notion definitely do.
Re: What companies offer noteworthy discounts or startup programs for bootstrappers?
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is no conspiracy here. It makes a lot of sense to offer a service for free (as a customer acquisition tactic) to a VC funded company because the 2 options are either they go bankrupt or they can be charged 100 times more revenue in 2 years. On the other hand what is the point of subsidising a bootstrapped business potentially forever?
Do you have any data to back that up claim? My experience with bootstrapped companies is that they are just as subject to pressure to grow as startups, and probably have a higher success rate. Atlassian, Github, Mailchimp and Shopify are all companies that initially started as bootstrapped companies and, in my mind, stand out as some of the most sustainably successful startups of recent history.
Errr all these companies eventually took VC