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Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

balsamiq.com

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Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#31

Post by asmosoinio »

ericb wrote: post #24
SwellJoe wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's merely a difference of approach. Balsamiq seems to be a very nice business...but it's not a startup according to pg's definition. The goal does not seem to be "get acquired or have an IPO". Building a lifestyle business as a solo founder is entirely feasible...if a little exhausting after a while (I ran a solo founder business for seven years before starting my current business).

I guess, to me, maybe that's a part of the issue. I define a third route for a startup. Make money. So I have trouble with that lesser definition. I'd have called 37 Signals a startup (still might, when does being a startup end--I don't know how to draw the line). I worked at a software company which has 5 buildings it owns outright, employs thousands of people, and has 300 million+ in annual revenue. In the 70's it…

Earlier discussion about startup (DHH) vs startup (pg):

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=173000

Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#32

Post by agentbleu »

wrigley wrote: post #29

Congratulations on your success, I suppose minus the costs for an individual this would be a healthy income, it or depends on your driving vision for the site, if it is to maintain that traction then I must agree with other comments that doing this alone simply wont work. If youve got good numbers as youve showed theres every chance you can try for funding. I must also note that while I am very glad you have succeded…

wrigley "My own startup (Travel social networking / Commerce site) is in private until september time yet from friends, family and testers our turnover and profit in the last 4 weeks dwarfs this figure."

wrigley "At present I cannot personally fund this project and in order to get to demo phase need to bring a hacker on board to work in partnership, what resources or methods would anyone suggest in trying to attract a hacker on an equity only option at present?,"

whats the truth then?

Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#33

Post by agentbleu »

ericb wrote: post #4

When will you startups learn? Single founder companies can't succeed. badness=true

;)

I ran a startup for 7 years, was very successful, but as a single founder, I understand fully the problems and concerns of PG et al. My biz (electronic products design/manufacturing/distribution) was very demanding, maybe / (shouldbe) a software company will be less so. In which case the rules change?

Im hoping....

Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#36

Post by icey »

ericb wrote: post #27
SwellJoe wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference perhaps revolves around "startup appropriate for Y Combinator" vs "startup." Actually, it would be "startup appropriate for any investor". If there is no exit planned, then it's not something an investor wants to be involved in. It's purely semantics, which is why I specifically said, "according to pg's definition". Your definition may be different...but if you're talking about pg's rules of thumb for…

It's a good point, and those may be his definitions, but I don't see the rules mentioned in the essay in particular. There are all sorts of investment that don't fit the Silicon Valley VC short-term mold, so appropriate for "any investor" might be over-stating things, even for startups. Investing in cash-cow businesses is not a bad strategy--I wish I could have invested in the private company I mentioned above in the…

Successful entrepreneurs are the ones who break the rules.

Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#37

Post by terpua »

scott_s wrote: post #35
terpua wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Balsamiq has come full circle (concept, dev, launch, business).

Then wouldn't it be 2 pi r, ~6.28 if we assume a unit circle?

I wasn't actually talking about the circumference per se, just that Balsamiq has come "full circle" which I represented using pi.

Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#38

Post by scott_s »

terpua wrote: post #37
scott_s wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then wouldn't it be 2 pi r, ~6.28 if we assume a unit circle?

I wasn't actually talking about the circumference per se, just that Balsamiq has come "full circle" which I represented using pi .

I know it's just a saying, but taken literally, "coming full circle" would mean the circumference. That is, going around in a circle.

Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#39

Post by wrigley »

agentbleu wrote: post #32
wrigley wrote: post #29

Congratulations on your success, I suppose minus the costs for an individual this would be a healthy income, it or depends on your driving vision for the site, if it is to maintain that traction then I must agree with other comments that doing this alone simply wont work. If youve got good numbers as youve showed theres every chance you can try for funding. I must also note that while I am very glad you have succeded…

wrigley "My own startup (Travel social networking / Commerce site) is in private until september time yet from friends, family and testers our turnover and profit in the last 4 weeks dwarfs this figure." wrigley "At present I cannot personally fund this project and in order to get to demo phase need to bring a hacker on board to work in partnership, what resources or methods would anyone suggest in trying to attract…

Very misleading quote, you should be a journalist..

You are pointing to a new project I was looking to startup - NOT my current project, if you quote the whole item you will see that "I cannot personally fund this project" - relating to the new project I was looking to startup.

The existing company (Travel website) I currently work for and manage is doing quite fine thanks, hence the comment in this post.

Re: Balsamiq, a bootstrapped startup featured here some time ago, makes $10k in 6 weeks

#40

Post by smanek »

agentbleu wrote: post #32
wrigley wrote: post #29

Congratulations on your success, I suppose minus the costs for an individual this would be a healthy income, it or depends on your driving vision for the site, if it is to maintain that traction then I must agree with other comments that doing this alone simply wont work. If youve got good numbers as youve showed theres every chance you can try for funding. I must also note that while I am very glad you have succeded…

wrigley "My own startup (Travel social networking / Commerce site) is in private until september time yet from friends, family and testers our turnover and profit in the last 4 weeks dwarfs this figure." wrigley "At present I cannot personally fund this project and in order to get to demo phase need to bring a hacker on board to work in partnership, what resources or methods would anyone suggest in trying to attract…

Wow, I just looked at his comment history, and you're right. The guy is a bloody moron and is self contradictory more than once.

wrigley: "I think when the net goes to the IPv6 there will be many more domain options"

There's nothing wrong with not knowing what IPv6 is, it's relatively domain specific knowledge. I know next to nothing about organic chemistry functional groups - but I don't go spouting bullshit in organic chemistry forums.

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