Bootstrap: How To Start Anything

Bootstrap’. A term that means starting with existing resources is often associated with startups, but its principles extend far beyond the business world. From tech companies and open-source projects to conferences and charities, countless successful initiatives began through bootstrapping.

Notable examples include Tenable, Sourcefire (acquired by Cisco for $2.7 billion), Malwarebytes, and SolarWinds, all of which were bootstrapped. In the open-source community, projects like Wireshark and OSSEC started the same way. Even the globally recognized BSides conferences, as well as charitable organizations like Charity: water and Kiva, were built through the power of bootstrapping.

You can bootstrap almost anything. There are many advantages to bootstrapping, including:

• Control: Bootstrappers maintain complete ownership and decision-making authority. With no external investors, they set their own priorities and direction.
• Speed: Without the need for external approval or funding rounds, bootstrappers can move quickly from idea to execution.
• Efficiency: Limited resources encourage lean, sustainable operations and creative problem-solving from the start.