Lighter Capital Newsletter: A Bootstrapping Boom
Lighter Capital
The leader in Revenue-Based Financing. Non-dilutive, quick, and easy financing to empower your startup’s growth.
If you had to do it over again, would you raise more or less venture capital? SaaStr Fund recently asked its LinkedIn audience this exact question. Of the 1,260 votes, 43% said they would have bootstrapped instead.?
That answer might have surprised the team at SaaStr, but it's something we hear all the time. VC funding isn't bad — it can, however, lead to buyer's remorse when founders don't fully understand the game. Chasing growth on an investor's terms and timetable can trigger missteps that lead to wild pivots, layoffs, worthless equity, and founders being ousted from their own companies.
We're excited more startups are finding a path to success by bootstrapping. Check out our article on navigating startup funding rounds to explore whether VC is right for you.
Scroll on for more useful founder resources, Community highlights, info on AWS's Generative AI accelerator, new client perks, and upcoming events.?
From the Founders' Hub ??
Raising prices is the most effective way to increase revenue. How do you do it right? We've got answers.
Should you be targeting enterprise customers? Learn the risks, rewards, and what's necessary for success.
Debt financing offers startups many advantages over equity, but has its own risks. Learn the pros and cons.
Startup Calculators ??
Compare what happens when you sell equity to grow versus using founder-friendly debt financing and learn what diluting equity could cost you.
Our free valuation calculator uses the latest market data, insights from our own investment portfolio, and a decade of experience financing startups.
?Podcast ? Bootstrapped: The Lighter Side ???
Galaxy Semiconductor isn't a new company, but it is a startup. Founded in 1998, Galaxy was bootstrapped for many years before it was acquired by Siemens in 2016. Four years later, Siemens divested the company in a management buyout. CEO Wes Smith discusses moving the newly independent company upstream into chip manufacturing, funding a new technology stack and getting it to market, the value of a consistent sales process, Rolodexes, and more.?
What are we reading this month? Loonshots by Safi Bachall. Find out what it's about and why it's worth a read here.
Startup Spotlight ??
Tavis Schriefer , founding CEO of teleCalm , has been a caregiver twice. After supporting his mother who had dementia, Tavis channeled his decades of experience working in both telecommunications and consumer electronics to solve a problem that’s proving to be invaluable to people caring for anyone experiencing cognitive decline or impairment.
teleCalm? stops problem calls for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive challenges, both at home and in senior living communities. Learn more at https://www.telecalmprotects.com/.
Lighter Community ???
Our capstone Community event is coming up! The Fourth Annual Lighter Summit will be in Boulder, CO. If you're a Lighter client, check your email for a private link and special ticket offer.
Thank you to our sponsors Allied Advisers and Mod 4 Finance ! If you're interested in becoming a Lighter Summit sponsor, reach out to Caitlin Goetze , Head of Partnerships and Community, at [email protected] — limited spots are still available.
Get Capital to Grow. Keep Your Equity. ??
The equity capital you raise early on will be the most expensive, and too much dilution too soon can have an outsized impact on what you take home at the end of your startup's journey. A better strategy is to delay costly equity dilution as long as possible by building your business on your own.
If you have recurring revenue, you can get up to $4M of non-dilutive capital to fuel your startup's growth. Complete our quick pre-qualifying application to get started.
Partner Network ??
New partners have generously added to our Client Perk Program this month. As a client of Lighter Capital, you have access to over $100,000 in product and service discounts. We are continually adding resources that help you grow your startup more efficiently.
AWS Global Generative AI Accelerator
The Global Generative AI Accelerator program is a hybrid 10-week program for 80 Seed+/Series A stage startups across the globe. Applications close July 19th. The program runs from October to December. Early-stage startups in ANZ can also apply to the Regional Generative AI Spotlight program, a 4-week program to fast-track the development of your product.
Justworks ' modern, simple HR software, human support, payroll, and benefits access means fewer HR headaches and more time back to tackle your business.
Contact your Investment Director about Lighter client perks.
Say hello to Cake , a one-stop solution for equity management. Automate your equity with Cake's cap table, equity grant templates, raise simulation, and scalable equity platform.
Contact your Investment Director for special offers.?
Upcoming Events ???
Connect with the U.S. Lighter Capital team at an event near you:
Seattle Tech Week ? July 29-August 2 2024 ?? Seattle, WA | US
Many events are happening across the Seattle area during Tech Week. If you're in town or attending any Tech Week events, reach out to Anne Gilbert to meet up and connect while you're there.
SaaStr Annual ? September 10-12 2024 ?? SF Bay? Area | US
13,333+ SaaS executives, founders, and VCs all come together at SaaStr, the world's largest SaaS community event. Tanner Kovacevich , Anne Gilbert , and Caitlin Goetze from the Lighter Team will be there too! Grab your ticket and connect with us this fall.
Connect with the Australia Lighter Capital team at an event near you:
Something Tech ? August 29-30, 2024 ? ?Brisbane, QLD | AUS
People over pixels. Empathy before algorithms. Heart over hardware. This showcase of emerging technology and its journey to the world is part of Australia's Something Fest, spearheaded by Something Digital, the Labs, and Proptech BNE. Get your tickets and meet up with Matthew Dowling during this awesome 2-day event!
Startup to Scaleup (S2S) Summit ? September 26, 2024 ? Museum of Contemporary Art Australia | AUS
Hosted by Tank Stream Labs, this annual full-day event offers keynote presentations, panel discussions, education, leadership development, and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Get your early bird tickets here and connect with Matthew Dowling at this year's S2S Summit.
SXSW Sydney ? October 14-20, 2024 ?? Sydney, NSW | AUS
At SXSW Sydney's Tech & Innovation events, you'll discover and explore the ground-breaking technologies and ideas that are changing the way we live our lives. Grab an early bird ticket to attend networking sessions, pitch events, the 3-day Expo, and to meet up with our Aussie crew.
Investment Team ? Connect With Us ??
Grow Steady,
The Lighter Capital Team