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Bootstrapped Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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bootstrapped

[หˆbuหtstrรฆpt ]

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.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

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.

Origin of 'bootstrapped'

Main points about word origin

  • 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.

The term 'bootstrapped' originates from the phrase 'to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps.' It conveys the idea of starting with nothing and creating something successful through one's efforts. The phrase is believed to have first appeared in print in the early 19th century. The 'bootstrapping' approach became particularly popular in the tech and startup communities since the late 20th century, where entrepreneurs aimed to retain full control of their companies while minimizing reliance on outside funding. This method emphasizes creativity, resourcefulness, and a strong focus on building a viable business model before seeking larger investments.

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.