Go-to-market strategy 
What’s the best “starter” acquisition channel for bootstrapped startups?
Facing a similar challenge?
- Talk to someone who has been there before
- Get unbiased insight from industry veterans
- Work through the issue with a mentor by your side
With very few exceptions, sales is the best way to go.
Not only will the outreach to individuals give you an opportunity to hone your marketing and verbiage (by measuring what gets the best response) but if you can get people on a call, you’ll pick up a ton of great information from the way they react to certain sentences.
If it lands, do it again.
If it doesn’t, tweak it the next time.
It’s the fastest, most direct, cheapest way to refine your positioning. One other tip on sales, do as much of it as you can. You’ll learn more on 5 phone calls than you will in a month of marketing campaigns.
MENTORS WE RECOMMEND FOR THIS TOPIC
Kosta Panagoulias
Founder at Web4realty.com
Over a decade growing a SaaS company from the ground up, I've done it all from sales, marketing, accounting, design, support, and everything else in between. We're still growing the company today, with a remote team of 20 people in eight countries around the globe. While remaining bootstrapped, we've grown to well past 7-figures in annual recurring revenue, and climbing.
On point!
When asked ‘What would you do if you were in my situation’, Kosta had extremely solid advance, particularly understanding the bootstrapping situation.
A pleasure to talk to and get specific actionable next step advice!
Paul Prudden
Founder at Amazing Author Ads
“Kosta was super helpful and raised some really important points that I was able to take onboard. It’s awesome to know I was speaking to someone who managed to bootstrap a very successful SAAS company. That knowledge is priceless. Thanks Kosta.”
Sarah Beardmore
Founder at
Harri Thomas
Head of Research and Strategy at Picnic.ventures
In my time at Respondent I helped grow the company from my Co-Founders spare bedroom to ~ 30 employees. My responsibilities were to scale the Sales, Customer Success and Professional Services offering. Whilst bootstrapped for the first 2.5 years of the companies existence, we ended up raising 3 rounds of venture capital.
I’m a founder, and I reached out to Harri for advice on fundraising versus continuing to bootstrap. Harri gave excellent advice based on his own experience. He provided clear, concrete examples and responded to all of my questions. I would highly recommend him as a mentor.
Tammy Bjelland
CEO at Workplaceless
“Harri is a very thoughtful, carrying mentor who is eager to provide value to his mentees. I received some important recommendations that made me reconsider my objectives; also, I felt really supported and listened to through the conversation. I would recommend Harri to anyone who is launching a company and needs some guidance on bootstrapping, product market fit and business model.”
Anya Massalova
Founder at 
I had an interesting and friendly chat with Lukas. We discussed different ways to find customers and had ideas way beyond of my little box. Very interesting stuff and happy to jump on a next call in 1 or 2 months.
reviewed by
Carsten Schaefer
Founder at Crowdy.ai
Mentor Lukas Hertig
Jessica helped me identify communities and pockets of people that can lead to my first customers. She has a vast network and has a good strategic approach on how to creatively find and get in front of your audience. She was very helpful, kind, and was genuinely interested in seeing me succeed. She is a great person to know and will surely be valuable throughout the duration of my business! People like Jessica enable you to bridge networks and open up new doors that would take you much longer on your own. She is great.
reviewed by
Mitch Kessler
Founder at Melcalfe
Mentor Jessica Volbrecht