EP #87 - Dennis Just: Bootstrapping Your Company To Scale

Timestamps:

0:45 - What mistakes do Swiss startups make repeatedly when it comes to bootstrapping?

14:20 - Boostrapping and growing fast

17:43 - Constant AB testing

25:48 - Building a solid user base

32:45 - Organic traffic & relying on Google

The Episode in 60 seconds:

Considerations when deciding whether to bootstrap:

• Bootstrapping is a long term project which needs time and dedication.
  
• Once you decide to get on the VC train, you can’t go back.
  
• External funding rounds also mean valuation rounds, which you have to keep driving up. A downround can be detrimental.
  
• If you cannot get a top tier international investor, it may not be worth the trouble.
  

Bootstrapping a user base:

• Brand: building trust and recognition is a long term game that will pay off.
  
• SEO / organic search: quality content and a product that truly meets the user needs will go a long way. Of course, this makes you dependent on the search engine algorithm.
  
• Community: know your target audience and build a community around your product.
  

Running experiments:

• Once you have a user base, experiment everything and optimize whatever you can.
  
• Always test on a subset of users to minimize overall impact of negative test results.
  
• Monitor all KPIs, not just conversion (e.g. customer retention, customer lifetime value, satisfaction, etc.).

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