to page content
to site navigation
The Foundation's primary site.
Global news, events, and resources.
The national learning program for entrepreneurs.
A new approach to developing the next generation of high-growth firms.
Access to university research and innovation.
The Kauffman Foundation's charter school serving Kansas City.
Encouraging the aspirations of young people.
The platform for business plan competitions.
College preparation and access for urban youth in Kansas City.
A guide to Kauffman Foundation and partner resources, for aspiring entrepreneurs.
News and announcements from the Foundation.
From our vice president of Entrepreneurship.
From our vice president of Advancing Innovation.
News from Global Entrepreneurship Week
News about this education program for entrepreneurs.
Tweets for the eMed Community at Entrepreneurship.org
News from the Kauffman Labs program.
From our business plan competition service.
Contribute to the community seeking to improve entrepreneurship and innovation measurement.
A look at entrepreneurship from the Kauffman Foundation's Thom Ruhe.
Tracks research and policies that are accelerating economic growth and changing the world.
Brings to light various policies and initiatives to advance innovation and drive economic growth.
A selection of our videos
Take our video and audio with you.
Explore many of our publications.
Join the discussion on our LinkedIn site.
Join us on Google's social service.
The Resource Center has all the info you'll need From content to user feedback, the resource center has the information you need for every level of the entrepreneurial process.
In the first three years of running her printing solutions company, Wendy Fergerson borrowed roughly $60,000 per month on credit cards without paying any interest. Out of that experience, she recommends credit cards as a way to bootstrap a company as long as you pay attention to the details on each card for which you apply.
How do you deal with things when your business is on the verge of going bust? This author lays out a financial plan for working through lean years to sustain a business. Key tips: stash away cash during good times, downsize quickly if need be, and consider relocating to a lower-cost area of the country.
In 2003, Alex Welch observed that e-commerce and social networking users were in need of an easy-to-use centralized hub to store and publish media. In this article, he explains how he founded a company based on this idea by bootstrapping his startup and later raising outside money.
Bootstrapping allows entrepreneurs to operate their startups with minimal investments from others, according to equity capital expert, Bill Payne. This allows entrepreneurs to postpone raising capital while their firms mature and retain ownership of their companies during that time.
The foundation of your company's brand is its logo. John Williams, creator of the original "do-it-yourself" logo Web site, explains how to create online a quality logo that can help build your brand quickly and inexpensively.
Dr. Susan Bragg bootstrapped her company by driving customer connections and partnerships. While bootstrapping with revenues, personal funds, and a small loan, she started her technology company and has grown it by penetrating her market via customer interaction.
Credit cards allow entrepreneurs immediate access to some levels of financing. This author, who used credit cards to launch a company, says business owners who take his approach should focus first on the key tasks of winning and keeping customers.
Operating virtually enables this entrepreneur to conserve cash and take advantage of new market opportunities. Clearly defined values, structures, and boundaries keep partners and employees focused on the primary goal: meeting the firm's obligations and making money.
MotiveQuest founder, David Rabjohns, describes how he addressed key challenges in starting and growing his company--via bootstrapping--to number three in the "brand monitoring in social media" industry sector.
When Art Reisman cofounded a tech company, they had little cash and a good technology idea. Reisman shares two key bootstrapping lessons they learned: use open source technology to develop new software applications and bag indirect selling for do-it-yourself direct selling.
Want to get connected? Sign up to receive regular news, polls and updates from The Kauffman Foundation.
