bootstrap
BOOT-strap
/ˈbuːtstræp/
To start and grow a business using only personal savings and initial revenue, without external investment.
It carries a connotation of self-reliance, grit, and extreme frugality.
The story behind the word. The term comes from the 19th-century expression 'to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps,' which originally described an impossible task (since you can't actually lift yourself). Over time, it evolved to mean succeeding through one's own efforts without outside help.
Word relationships
- self-fund: Self-fund is a more literal, formal term; bootstrap implies the struggle and resourcefulness of doing so.
- venture-backed: A venture-backed company relies on external investors rather than its own internal resources.
Commonly confused with
- crowdfund: Crowdfunding involves getting small amounts of money from many people; bootstrapping uses only the founder's own money.
Word family
- bootstrapping (noun): The process of starting a business without external help.
Collocations
- bootstrap a startup
- bootstrapped company
- bootstrap growth
Idioms & expressions
- pull oneself up by one's bootstraps
Example sentences
- "Instead of seeking investors, they decided to bootstrap the company for the first three years." Describing a self-funded startup.
- "Bootstrapping allows founders to maintain full control over their company's vision." A common business philosophy.
Memory hook
Imagine pulling on the straps of your boots to stand up on your own two feet. Bootstrap = No outside help.
When not to use
Don't use 'bootstrap' if the company has taken even a small amount of venture capital or angel investment.
Fun facts
- In computing, 'booting' a computer comes from 'bootstrapping,' as the computer must load a small program to load the larger operating system.
Explore more words
self-sufficient, self-reliant, frugal, grit, thrift, self-contained
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