Why bootstrapping your startup is worth the struggle
Back in 2005, I had a predictable routine.
I’d get up early, leave my apartment in Brooklyn Heights and tote my laptop to the local Starbucks.
After a few hours of work, I’d stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge to the West Village and settle in at another coffee shop.
By mid-afternoon, I was so caffeinated I could barely type. I had to switch to decaf if I was going to make it to my NYU marketing class that evening.
These were the early days of building my company, JotForm. I was so excited about my idea to create drag-and-drop web forms. But, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t challenging — or overwhelming at times.
We often view the past through a nostalgic, soft-focus lens: our first months of college. The hazy thrill of new love. The tough-but-invigorating months spent building a business or chasing a dream. All the rough parts get smoothed away and we’re usually left with happy memories.
Fourteen years later, I remember those long New York days with great fondness. I’m humbled and grateful that my simple idea grew into a thriving product with 4.5 million users and over 140 employees.
But if you’re in the scrappy, early stages of starting a business — without venture capital or investors — you’re not alone. I…
