View
5.878
Download
3
Category
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Slides from this year's Webvisions talk, where I talk about how to run a web business that doesn't need to take funding.
Citation preview
Avoiding the VC TrapMatt Haughey | Webvisions 2008
How to run a successful web
business you actually like, doing what you
love, and on your own terms
Defining some terms
Why talk about funding?
Paul Graham
Paul Graham
“You might as well be running a shoe store”
What does venture capital do right?
It funds innovation
Gets grown-ups involved
It fuels a cycle that lets really big ideas
take off
The downsides
Strings attached
Not the finish, just the begining
Investors want exits, not zombies
Too much
The Myth of the
Superstar
What about the great big middle?
2007 2008 2009 2010
Lifestyle Business
“Lifestyle Businesses are businesses that are set up and run by their founders primarily with the aim of sustaining a particular level of income and no more; or to provide a
foundation from which to enjoy a particular lifestyle.”
“Lifestyle Businesses are businesses that are set up and run by their founders primarily with the aim of sustaining a particular level of income and no more; or to provide a
foundation from which to enjoy a particular lifestyle.”
Lifestyle Business
“Lifestyle Businesses are businesses that are set up and run by their founders primarily with the aim of sustaining a particular level of income and no more; or to provide a
foundation from which to enjoy a particular lifestyle.”
“Lifestyle Businesses are businesses that are set up and run by their founders primarily with the aim of sustaining a particular level of income and no more; or to provide a
foundation from which to enjoy a particular lifestyle.”
Some ideas for running a successful
business online
Find your passion
Build the app you always wanted
Continually improve it
Be the best, most active user of the product
Start small,stay small
Keep your dayjob
Figure out a way to make it pay
Charge something
Do the math
$5 x 1,700 users x 12 months = $102,000/year
Free versionPro version
Everyone pays(but with a free trial)
Advertising, sponsorships, memberships,
donations
You gotta make it through the slog
Some examples
Web app model
Software house
Community model
Sole Writer/Designer
Conclusions
It’s 2008
Hardware: cheap
Software: cheap
Programming frameworks: plentiful
Chances you will make $1 billion: slim
Chances you will make $100k: good
Total funds needed to launch: $100/mo
Thanks.Questions?
Background photos used:cash: Tracey O http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracy_olson/
office building: *Solar ikon* http://flickr.com/photos/chunyang/2210171888/shoes: Kai Hendry http://flickr.com/photos/hendry/298879660/grownups: laffy4k http://flickr.com/photos/laffy4k/52061780/
strings: Meanest Indian http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/328065491/finish line: Chris Breeze http://www.flickr.com/photos/92833011@N00/270157428/
zombies: atp tyreseus http://www.flickr.com/photos/tyreseus/219645014/light bulb: greg westfall http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregwestfall/2049488135/
bigwheel crash: sloanro http://www.flickr.com/photos/rs/129806614/small bug: woodleywonderworks http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2313927146/
work desk: ten safe frogs http://www.flickr.com/photos/tensafefrogs/7393410/passion: torroid http://www.flickr.com/photos/torroid/2507357073/in/photostream/
webappschematic: jazzmasterson http://www.flickr.com/photos/jazzmasterson/3038597/bestuser: top pocket man http://www.flickr.com/photos/mightyjc/111784097/
treadmill: maHidoodi http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahidoodi/199747855/
Recommended