logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
1h 4m

Startup Funding - VC, Bootstrapping, or ...

Yaniv Bernstein, Chris Saad
About this episode

Are you a founder struggling to figure out how to fund your startup? With so many options available - from bootstrapping to VC funding - how do you know which path is right for you?


In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down the full spectrum of startup funding sources, exploring the pros, cons, and hidden pitfalls of each approach. Whether you're considering self-funding, equity financing, or debt, you'll gain crucial insights to make an informed decision.


In this episode, you will:

  • Discover the key differences between revenue-based, equity, and debt financing
  • Understand the pros and cons of bootstrapping vs raising external capital
  • Learn about alternative funding sources like float and cross-subsidies
  • Gain insights into the risks of over-relying on self-funding as a founder
  • Explore strategies for allocating and deploying capital efficiently
  • Understand how different funding approaches impact your startup's growth trajectory
  • Learn how to balance frugality with bold investment in scaling your business
  • Get advice on choosing the right funding mix for your specific startup


The Pact

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:


Key links


Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://chrissaad.com/advisory/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Chris on Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Credits

Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Justin McArthur⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Content Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/

Intro Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeremiah Owyang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Up next
Jul 7
Top 7 Mistakes Founders Make in Raising Early Stage VC w/ Amir Shevat (Edu)
Are you sure your startup should be raising venture capital?Most founders assume VC is the goal—but for many, it's the wrong fuel entirely. In this episode, we bust that myth wide open.Join Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad as they sit down with Amir Shevat, General Partner at Darkm ... Show More
53m 40s
Jul 3
Insiders React: Cloudflare Makes AI Pay + Figma Files For IPO, Grammarly Buys Superhuman
What happens when the internet starts charging AI to crawl its content?And can legacy tools like Figma or Grammarly survive the AI age, or will they be replaced by smarter, faster upstarts?In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad break down some of the most important shift ... Show More
46m 29s
Jun 30
Master Your AI Prompts and Unlock ChatGPT's Full Potential w/ Jonathan Mast (Edu)
Struggling to get good results from ChatGPT or other AI tools? You’re probably prompting it wrong, and you’re not alone.Many founders assume AI just knows what you mean. Without the right prompt structure, though, even the most powerful LLMs will fail to deliver.In this episode, ... Show More
59m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
The Best Financial Advice VCs Give Startups | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn
Todays show: Kruze’s Scott Orn joins Jason on the latest edition of Startup Finance Basics! In this episode, they break down the best financial advice that VCs give founders including, managing cash flow (0:21), accounting methods (5:19), building an effective financial plan (15: ... Show More
21m 12s
Feb 2025
What to Do With $100K: Invest or Keep It Safe?
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we're going to talk about what to do with $100k invest or keep it safe. How Andrew Can Help You: Don't let another year pass by without making significant strides toward your dreams. "Master Your Money Goals" is your pathway to a f ... Show More
35m 54s
Jan 2025
Why Index Fund and ETF Investing Could 10x Millionaires
Sign-Up for the FREE Investing for Beginners Workshop Here: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/10/7pn7war In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we're going to talk about reasons why index funds, and ETF investing could 10X millionaires in the coming decades. How And ... Show More
45m 16s
Dec 2024
What is the Point Of Investing in Non-Retirement Accounts Long Term - Money Q&A
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast Money Q&A, we're going to talk about what is the point of investing in non retirement accounts long term? Today we are going to answer these questions! Question 1: What is the Point Of Investing in Non-Retirement Accounts Long Term? ... Show More
40m 7s
May 2024
How to Negotiate Your Salary and Get a Raise (The Step-By-Step System!)
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we are going to talk about the step by step guide on how to negotiate your salary. How Andrew Can Help You: Don't let another year pass by without making significant strides toward your dreams. "Master Your Money Goals" is your pat ... Show More
35m 43s
Mar 2025
15 AI Prompts That Will SUPERCHARGE Your Finances
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we're going to talk about the 15 AI prompts that will supercharge your finances. How Andrew Can Help You: Don't let another year pass by without making significant strides toward your dreams. "Master Your Money Goals" is your pathw ... Show More
36m 26s
Dec 2024
E117: What Will Family Offices Invest into in 2025? w/Hansen Ringer
Hansen Ringer, Managing Director at Sepio Capital sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the asset class that delivers equity-like returns without the market risk, what distressed credit reveals about market cycles and investor behavior, and what happens when stocks and bonds m ... Show More
42m 10s
Dec 2024
How to start a 7-figure business in 2025: Advice from 4 millionaires
To get free fractional shares worth up to £100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link - https://www.trading212.com/join/ALI. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future ... Show More
38m 10s