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In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer & Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO & Co-Founder of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO & Co-Founder of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) dive into one of the most pivotal decisions for entrepreneurs: choosing between external funding and bootstrapping. They bring together insights from their own entrepreneurial journeys and perspectives from other founders, exploring how each approach shapes a business’s growth, control, and risk profile.

What You’ll Learn:
* The pros and cons of fundraising versus bootstrapping for new ventures
* How growth speed and business control differ between funded and self-funded businesses
* Key market trends, including crowdfunding and venture capital shifts
* How economic cycles influence funding opportunities
* Personal stories of fundraising wins, bootstrapping challenges, and lessons learned
* Tips for assessing whether to raise capital or stick to bootstrapping based on your goals

Whether you’re weighing funding options or simply interested in understanding how these choices impact long-term success, this episode offers a balanced guide to help entrepreneurs navigate growth, risks, and the evolving investment landscape.

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00:00 Teaser Trailer
00:09 Personal Experiences with Bootstrapping
00:43 Pizza Talk and Casual Banter
01:30 Starting the Podcast: Meet the Hosts
02:44 Fundraising vs. Bootstrapping: Key Considerations
10:22 Deep Dive: Timing and Growth in Fundraising
14:38 Investor Perspectives and Risk Tolerance
19:03 Mindset and Growth Strategies
26:01 Investor Relationships vs. Entrepreneurial Freedom
29:18 John’s Acquisition Journey
30:17 The Freedom of Entrepreneurship
32:38 Bootstrapping Challenges and Strategies
36:18 Fundraising Failures and Lessons
42:19 The Future of Investment and SaaS
48:54 Buy or Sell: Business Insights
52:21 Closing Remarks and Future Topics

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Follow Jimmy Kim at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim

Follow Bryan MacDonald at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad

Follow John Roman at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman

Follow Amer Grozdanic at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic

Contact us at [email protected] for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!

Subscribe to our newsletter! We drop weekly hot takes, totally unfiltered. Join us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://asompod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠