Bootstrapping: Weapon of Mass Reconstruction

“Sramana Mitra’s Bootstrapping: Weapon of Mass Reconstruction is a book for our time because it’s something real out of Silicon Valley. No more stories about legendary VC fundings of startup-to-IPO in six months. …This book has some fascinating histories of the different paths people take to entrepreneurship, and the difficulties they face. I would only have wished each of the interviews to be longer and deeper, because every story is worth telling.” – Fast Company

In a world battered by economic crisis, Sramana Mitra believes entrepreneurship is the only sustainable path forward to a healthy economic world order. And core to the success of entrepreneurial ventures today is the invigorating art of bootstrapping. Sramana Mitra–a serial entrepreneur, strategy consultant and Forbes columnist–takes aim at this essential route along the roadmap to startup success with Bootstrapping: Weapon of Mass Reconstruction (Entrepreneur Journeys Vol. 2; BookSurge; June 1, 2009; $16.95 paperback).

Along with the incisive analysis and commentary that have popularized popularized her blog “Sramana Mitra on Strategy” and Forbes columns, Mitra showcases a dozen successful entrepreneurs and their lessons from the bootstrapping trenches. Overflowing with lively entrepreneurial tangents, theories and behind-closed-doors-experience, the book rises to the level of economic policy discussion while simultaneously offering practical advice from experienced bootstrappers. Important issues like doing more with less, getting started with little or no capital, and validating the market on the cheap are discussed with the likes of Om Malik of GigaOm and Greg Gianforte of RightNow.

In her characteristic narrative style, Mitra shepherds established and aspiring entrepreneurs through another inspiring and page-turning expedition into venture land, a territory she hopes will be claimed by many more in the years to come.

“From my perspective it is clear that small business must be a top policy priority,” explains Mitra. “Let us hope that in the coming decade the number of small businesses will double, then triple and quadruple. For here is the most powerful engine of economic growth and sustenance. Here is our way back.”

More Praise for Bootstrapping:

“Mitra clearly has a passion for small businesses. This useful volume is largely comprised of interviews with the founders of such companies. Her skilled questioning prompts a discussion of the many issues involved in starting and growing a business. The entrepreneurs share wisdom and insight useful to any budding or existing business owner. The reader will be struck by the vision, inventiveness and sheer determination of these entrepreneurial heroes, who operate businesses that are successful but far below the radar. A highly relevant and timely work on entrepreneurship’s role in economic reconstruction.” – Kirkus Discoveries

“Sramana’s work on bootstrapped entrepreneurs is an inspiration in these tough economic times. The solutions to our economic problems ultimately lie with the entrepreneur who brings imagination, resourcefulness and good old-fashioned elbow grease to tackle old problems in new ways, create new solutions and new industries. It is all too easy to forget this, particularly when we feed on the depressing daily diet of endless bailouts and hear trillions of dollars being thrown around. A great entrepreneur can do a lot with ten thousand dollars. This book is a good antidote to the depressing mood of these times.” – Sridhar Vembu, CEO of AdventNet and Zoho, Bootstrapped to over $50 million in annual revenue

“In the end, a true entrepreneur will not be denied. What Sramana captures with simple grace are the riveting personal stories of modern day business alchemists, who mix vision, pragmatism and relentless effort to forge creative new and successful ventures. Her collection of interviews will make for an engaging, educational read, for those in the entrepreneurial space, those considering joining the game and those just plain curious about the formative innovators whose efforts provide outsize social returns of the most concrete and enduring nature.” – Don Hutchison, Silicon Valley Angel Investor

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sramana Mitra is a technology entrepreneur and strategy consultant in Silicon Valley. She has founded three companies, is a columnist for Forbes, and writes a business blog, Sramana Mitra on Strategy (www.sramanamitra.com). She has a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.

Via EPR Network

New Site Helps iPhone And iPod Touch App Developers And Publishers Generate More Publicity

Mobile app Developers and Publishers looking for exposure can now do so with a new website that allows them to giveaway their iPhone/iPod Touch apps by way of a promotional giveaway. App Giveaway (www.appgiveaway.com), allows Publishers and Developers to feature their apps on the website in return for promo codes which they receive from the Apple Store – and maximise potential revenue. The website has been created as a way of helping both mobile Developers/Publishers promote their apps whilst at the same time giving something back to the users of the iPhone/iPod Touch devices.

App Giveaway, (www.appgiveaway.com) went live this week and does exactly what it says on the tin – it features iPhone and iPod Touch apps that are ready to be distributed to the online community. What makes the site unique is that it’s free for all to participate and all we ask for in return are promo codes which we can distribute to our online users, thereby maximising exposure and potential revenue in the future from direct links and referrals.

Application Developers and Publishers that are already receiving exposure on the App Giveaway website include Game Systems with their iPhone application “T.A.N.K. Arena Battle” and an app called “Earth Quake Watch” developed by an aspiring 11 year old.

The idea developed after Apple agreed to provide developers 50 promo codes each: “I heard Apple was providing Developers upto 50 iPhone promo codes for new apps and/or updated apps featured in the Apple Store. I thought, ‘That’s it, why don’t I provide Developers and Publishers a central platform where they can giveaway their promo codes whilst promoting their app much more effectively?’ Then I thought I might as well include categories, too, as this will give visitors a much more convenient way of looking for apps.”Al says.

George Sutty of G.A.M.E.S. says “I am very excited to work with AppGiveaway to help me promote my game. After talking to other iPhone developers, it’s very clear, that without the right exposure, the odds of getting noticed among the other 40,000+ iPhone applications are pretty slim. It is hard enough to get a review noticed, and that’s assuming you can get the review written in the first place. The giveaway is such an easy way for a developer to get noticed”.

The site also maximizes exposure by serving as a useful app directory, because all iPhone and iPod Touch apps are categorized in a sidebar. Categories include Books, Business, Entertainment, Finance, Games, and many more.

Al has big plans for the site: “I want the www.appgiveaway.com website to be the biggest promoter of iPhone and iPod Touch applications. I also want to provide a service for people to feature and visit useful apps. I believe the app giveaway website will have a profound effect on the way we find, download and forward useful apps in the future. We also have plans to launch an iPhone app version of the app giveaway website very soon”

App Giveaway also features articles. Al says: “I’m a big fan of writing, so I would like to write a few words related to mobile applications on the website.”

Via EPR Network