bootstrapped
/ˈbuːtstræpt/
CommonBuilt and run without outside investment, using only the founder's own money or revenue from the business.
Often said with pride, especially in contrast to the venture-funded world. Has a slightly countercultural feel in startup circles.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | fully bootstrapped, $200k mrr, no investors. they tried. i said no. | The founder turned down investment and built a sustainable business on their own. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | we were bootstrapped for three years before we ever talked to a vc. had to actually figure out the business. | They had to get real customers and revenue before chasing investment. | linkedin, 2023 |
| 03 | competitor raised 20m. we're bootstrapped and still beating them on retention. weird how that works. | Without investor pressure to grow fast, the product is actually better. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- A founder built their business without taking outside investment.
- A company grew using only its own revenue.
- Contrasting an indie project with a VC-backed competitor.
Do not use it when
- A company raised a small friends-and-family round.
- You mean someone is frugal but they did take outside money.
Variations and related forms
Bootstrapped vs venture-funded
bootstrapped
Bootstrapped means self-funded. You own the whole thing but grow slower.
venture-funded
Venture-funded means investor money. You grow faster but share control and equity.
Origin and context
From 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps', meaning to accomplish something with only your own resources. Applied to startups and small businesses to mean building without outside capital. Common in entrepreneurship circles long before the startup boom, but became mainstream startup vocabulary in the 2010s.
- First seen
- pre-2010s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/bootstrapped