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The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

sive.rs

21–30 of 58 posts

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#21
>the desks were just planks of wood on cinderblocks from the hardware store

While used as an example of bootstrapping, I have to say that one of my favorite desks ever was a solid-core door on cinderblocks.

You can adjust the height to your specifications with bricks or wood shims; the cinderblocks can become cubbies for holding various bits and bobs; you can paint the door whatever color you want cheaply; it can take a huge load, as I had two giant 20" Radius monitors on it.

I even experimented with giving the desk a slight upward angle with shims, which worked pretty well.

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#23

>the desks were just planks of wood on cinderblocks from the hardware store While used as an example of bootstrapping, I have to say that one of my favorite desks ever was a solid-core door on cinderblocks. You can adjust the height to your specifications with bricks or wood shims; the cinderblocks can become cubbies for holding various bits and bobs; you can paint the door whatever color you want cheaply; it can tak…

Solid-core doors (new) seem to be a bit north of $250 at the lower end: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Masonite-30-in-x-80-in-Roman-Smo...

I think I have seen standing desks for not much more

At least the cinder blocks don’t add much cost at $2 each retail

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#24

>the desks were just planks of wood on cinderblocks from the hardware store While used as an example of bootstrapping, I have to say that one of my favorite desks ever was a solid-core door on cinderblocks. You can adjust the height to your specifications with bricks or wood shims; the cinderblocks can become cubbies for holding various bits and bobs; you can paint the door whatever color you want cheaply; it can tak…

Solid-core doors (new) seem to be a bit north of $250 at the lower end: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Masonite-30-in-x-80-in-Roman-Smo... I think I have seen standing desks for not much more At least the cinder blocks don’t add much cost at $2 each retail

Seems cheaper and better to just pay $500 for this: https://www.fully.com/standing-desks/jarvis/jarvis-adjustabl...

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#25

>the desks were just planks of wood on cinderblocks from the hardware store While used as an example of bootstrapping, I have to say that one of my favorite desks ever was a solid-core door on cinderblocks. You can adjust the height to your specifications with bricks or wood shims; the cinderblocks can become cubbies for holding various bits and bobs; you can paint the door whatever color you want cheaply; it can tak…

You forgot to mention the door knob hole is perfect for cable management.

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#27
yep, this is common sense. now the next article we have someone will complain that they dedicated their life to some dumb startup and rejected funding and "their life is ruined" because they didnt take the easy $300K starting salary to make a techspam company.

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#28

>the desks were just planks of wood on cinderblocks from the hardware store While used as an example of bootstrapping, I have to say that one of my favorite desks ever was a solid-core door on cinderblocks. You can adjust the height to your specifications with bricks or wood shims; the cinderblocks can become cubbies for holding various bits and bobs; you can paint the door whatever color you want cheaply; it can tak…

Solid-core doors (new) seem to be a bit north of $250 at the lower end: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Masonite-30-in-x-80-in-Roman-Smo... I think I have seen standing desks for not much more At least the cinder blocks don’t add much cost at $2 each retail

You can get doors from a salvage store for a few 10s of dollars

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#29

>the desks were just planks of wood on cinderblocks from the hardware store While used as an example of bootstrapping, I have to say that one of my favorite desks ever was a solid-core door on cinderblocks. You can adjust the height to your specifications with bricks or wood shims; the cinderblocks can become cubbies for holding various bits and bobs; you can paint the door whatever color you want cheaply; it can tak…

Solid-core doors (new) seem to be a bit north of $250 at the lower end: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Masonite-30-in-x-80-in-Roman-Smo... I think I have seen standing desks for not much more At least the cinder blocks don’t add much cost at $2 each retail

You can usually find them second-hand, though that might get harder as wood prices continue to skyrocket.

Re: The Advantage of No Funding (2011)

#30
post #22

What if you're experiencing rapid growth and not sure if you can afford it? Investment is basically required at this point, no?

Not necessarily, you could:

1) get a loan - with good numbers, banks are easy(er) to persuade

2) put up a waitlist for new users (induce FOMO)

3) increase prices

Of course, these are antithetical to the VC mantra of maximum growth at all costs. But what's best for them is not always what's best for you.

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