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Bootstrapped: meaning, definitions and examples

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bootstrapped

 

[ˈbuːtstræpt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

startup finance

Bootstrapped refers to the process of starting and growing a business with little to no external funding or capital. The entrepreneur typically relies on personal savings, revenue generated from the business, or early-stage customer investments to fund operations. This approach promotes financial discipline, as the business must generate enough income to sustain itself and grow. It often leads to a greater degree of ownership and control for the founder, as they are not beholden to outside investors.

Synonyms

independent financing, self-funded, self-sustained.

Examples of usage

  • She bootstrapped her tech startup without any loans.
  • Many successful entrepreneurs bootstrapped their companies from the ground up.
  • Bootstrapping allowed them to maintain full control over their vision.
  • He managed to bootstrap his business through clever marketing strategies.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The term comes from the phrase 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps', which means to improve your situation with little assistance.
  • Originally used in the early 19th century in the United States, before evolving into the entrepreneurial context we have today.

Business

  • Many startups begin as bootstrapped ventures, where founders use personal savings to fund their business's initial phases.
  • Famous companies like MailChimp and Basecamp started as bootstrapped businesses, growing without venture capital.

Technology

  • In programming, 'bootstrapping' refers to a process where a simple system activates a more complex system without external help.
  • The term is also used in machine learning, where initial data is used to build models progressively.

Psychology

  • The bootstrapped mentality promotes self-reliance and personal responsibility, often leading to higher job satisfaction and achievement.
  • In therapy, bootstrapping can refer to individuals using their own mental resources and resilience to cope with challenges.

Cultural References

  • Bootstrapped stories often promote the 'American Dream', emphasizing hard work and self-made success.
  • In music and literature, themes of bootstrapping can be found in narratives that highlight overcoming adversity through personal effort.

Translations

Translations of the word "bootstrapped" in other languages:

🇵🇹 financiado de forma independente

🇮🇳 स्वावलंबी

🇩🇪 eigenständig finanziert

🇮🇩 dibiayai sendiri

🇺🇦 самофінансований

🇵🇱 finansowany niezależnie

🇯🇵 自己資金による

🇫🇷 financé de manière autonome

🇪🇸 autofinanciado

🇹🇷 kendi finansmanı ile

🇰🇷 자체 자금 조달

🇸🇦 تمويل مستقل

🇨🇿 nezávisle financované

🇸🇰 nezávisle financovaný

🇨🇳 自筹资金

🇸🇮 samo financirano

🇮🇸 sjálf-fjármagnað

🇰🇿 өзін-өзі қаржыландыру

🇬🇪 თვითფინანსირებული

🇦🇿 özünü maliyyələşdirmək

🇲🇽 autofinanciado

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,065, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.