Can You Bootstrap a $ Billion Business?

Can You Bootstrap a $ Billion Business?

Of course you can. It isn’t common but it can be done and there are some well known ones – Mailchimp for example. Here’s an example of one that you probably haven’t heard of – PDQ.com

Shawn Anderson, co-founder and (ex)CEO of PDQ.com has been to 21 Business of Software Conferences, first time in 2008. I guess he’s learned some good things along the way.

Shawn will be joining us to speak at BoS Conference USA, 23-35 September, Raleigh, NC and will share the story of his 20 year journey from consulting company, through utterly unfundable product business, to growth, acquisition, and his retirement from a $billion business. We’re sharing a little of the story here, part preview, part inspiration, part reminder that it takes work to build a company but there is no single right way.

Who is Shawn Anderson and What is PDQ.com?

Shawn explains who he is and what that company you have never heard of does.

Founding PDQ and the Difficult Transition from Consulting to Product Company

Every software consultancy wants to be a product business. It’s rare to make it. Shawn shares the origins of the company and the moment they decided to go all in on product.

No Venture Everything Gained

VCs are renowned unicorn hunters so looking back, funding should be easy. Shawn explains why VCs refused to invest and the implications of having to build the company without external funding. Turns out, there is a significant upside…

What Will You be Talking About At BoS Conference USA 2024, 23-25 September?

Shawn shares a short preview of some of the insights he wants to share at this year’s conference.