Boot Rap: The voice of the Bootstrap Network

Boot Rap: The Voice of the Bootstrap Network

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 04:45:00 GMT

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What is Bootstrap?

Fri, 22 May 2009 01:02:00 GMT

Bootstrap Austin engages its members in the key QUESTion: what is bootstrap?

Bootstrap members provided their answers to the question at the May 11, 2009 meeting. This 20 minute BootRap Podcast provides highlights of the discussion. Two key points emerge: first, bootstrap members have some of the most incredible insights and wisdom to share with each other! Second, there is no ONE definition of bootstrap - we all come to it in our own way and in our own time. Bootstrap members featured in the conversation: Kim Brushaber, Jason Howell, Marcy Hoen, Kevin Koym.

Follow the conversation on twitter - @bootstrapaustin and tweet your answers!

Rod Beckstrom, Starfish and Spider

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:21:00 GMT

Coauthor of The Starfish and Spider, Rod Beckstrom, joined the Bootstrap Bookclub to discuss the book and its application for bootstrappers. These and related topics will be discussed in the Community Subgroup.

Kevin Koym: How Will Social Networks Affect Entrepreneurship?

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 06:31:51 GMT

Kevin Koym is the founder of Enterprise Teaming and authors the Enterprise Tribe blog. He explains how the four conceptual shifts, outlined in his upcoming book, offer unprecedented opportunities for bootstrap entrepreneurs to build their businesses using “Enterprise Tribes.” Bootstrap Austin is an example of an Enterprise Tribe.

Barry Thornton on Ideation

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:55:01 GMT

Talk to customers, get feedback, and shape your product into something customers will pay for. These were some of the words of motivation that Barry Thornton offered in talking to the Bootstrap Austin Ideation group on July 21, 2008. Thornton, founder of Clear Cube and current owner of startup Austin Medical Research, offered a number of insights into the bootstrap process, one that he has repeated frequently since launching a concert promotion business in college.

Thornton’s philosophy involves starting from wherever you are. He said the startup idea doesn’t have to be perfect. All you need is an idea and a passion to get started. By talking to customers, you will mold the idea into a workable form. Then by injecting passion into the idea, others will follow.

“I don’t ever think of anything myself,” he said. “Ego gets in the way a whole lot. I find the best people to come up with ideas for me are customers, people who will give me money for the idea.”

Read the rest of the article on the Bootstrap Austin Blog.

A Predictably Irrational Conversation with Dan Ariely

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 05:56:01 GMT

Since spending three years in recovery from severe burns,Dan Ariely has fashioned himself as an observer of human nature, and
especially of how humans are influenced by irrationality when making supposedly “logical” decisions.

Brian Massey interviews Dan to gain his insight into human behavior and help us solve some of the problems we solve every day
as marketers, businessmen and, in general, persuaders trying to influence our prospects decisions.

Dan is the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Behavioral Economics at MIT, where he holds a joint appointment between MIG’s Media Laboratory and the
Sloan School of Management. He is also a researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and a visiting professor at Duke University,
where he is calling us from. Ariely wrote his book while he was a fellow at the Insitute for Advance Study at Princeton.

In addition to his book, you can read his blog at www.predictablyirrational.com.

Bootstrap FilmFest

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:52:01 GMT

Bootstrap held its first Bootstrap FilmFest on June 26, 2008. Five films by Bootstrap Film members were featured: Little Dove, Open House, Snake Pit, Art Erotica and Mystic Cab. Bootstrap member, BSide powered the film fest website.

This BootRap Podcast includes an introduction by Bootstrap Film Subgroup lead, Brandy Rainey Amstel and a dialogue with the filmmakers: Nils Juul-Hansen (Mystic Cab - director), Jason Howell (Art Erotica), James Mays (Mystic Cab - actor) and Bijoy Goswami (Mystic Cab - writer/actor).

The bootstrap filmmakers share their stories of bootstrapping their films, leveraging social capital with an effective value 10x more than the cash budget, how constraint creates innovation, demo/sell/build, the difference between a “bootstrapper who makes films” vs a “filmmaker who bootstraps,” bootstrap vs indie filmmaking, stages of bootstrap, and distribution.

Pictures on facebook.

David Galenson speaks with Bootstrap Art

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:35:12 GMT

David Galenson, author of Old Masters and Young Geniuses, spoke with the the Bootstrap Art Subgroup. Marcy Hoen, Bootstrap Contributor and founder of Austin Art Start, interviewed David. Bootstrap Art member Dara Chambers shared her reactions on the Bootstrap Austin Blog. Beyond art, a bootstrap analogy was struck, particularly that Galenson’s old masters/experimentalists correspond to bootstrappers, while young geniuses/conceptualists are similar to funding-driven entrepreneurs.

Brian Massey: Online Conversion

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:35:27 GMT

Brian Massey is a Conversion Scientist for Conversion Sciences and the author of the Customer Chaos blog.

Since founding Conversion Sciences, Brian has helped small and medium-sized businesses turn their Web traffic into leads and sales. In this presentation, Brian discusses six ways a business owner should look at their Web site:

Get Upside Down
Know your Conversion Rate
Advertise on your own site
Action Drives Strategy
Conversion happens over time
Email is your Social Network

Brian Massey’s Conversion Presentation Slides

Links

Cluetrain Manifesto
Google Analytics
FutureNow WeWe Meter
Feedburner.com
Startup Metrics for Pirates
GrokDotCom Conversion Rate Blog

Paul Carroza

Thu, 6 Mar 2008 01:19:00 GMT

Paul Carroza of RunTex presented to the Bootstrap Network on February 11, 2008.