Bootstrapping Course: Welcome

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Featured Videos

The Startup Velocity Question: What Hinders Acceleration in VC Funded Companies?

I have been running 1Mby1M since 2010. I find myself saying to entrepreneurs ad nauseam that VCs want to invest in startups that can go from zero to $100 million in revenue in 5 to 7 years.

Startups that do not have what it takes to achieve velocity should not be venture funded.

Experienced VCs, over time, have developed heuristics to gauge what constitutes a high growth venture investment thesis. 

The Accelerator Conundrum: Navigating Your Path to Startup Success

The Accelerator Conundrum is a multipart series that challenges the prevailing wisdom of the tech startup ecosystem that entrepreneurs should Blitzscale out of the gate. Written by Sramana Mitra, the Founder and CEO of One Million by One Million (1Mby1M), the world’s first global virtual accelerator, it emphatically argues that a better strategy is to Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later, focus on customers, revenues and profits. 1Mby1M’s mission is to help a Million entrepreneurs reach a million dollars in annual revenue and beyond. Sramana’s Digital Mind AI Mentor virtually mentors entrepreneurs around the world in 57 languages. Try it out!

Alright, let’s cut through the noise and get to the brutal truth of the startup accelerator world. Many entrepreneurs, starry-eyed and naive, leap headfirst into 3-month accelerator programs without truly understanding the long-term implications. It’s time for an incisive commentary, a necessary dissection.

April 16 – 723rd 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are invited to the 723rd FREE online 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 8 a.m. PDT / 11 a.m. EDT / 5 p.m. CEST / 8:30 p.m. India IST.

If you are a serious entrepreneur, register to Pitch and sell your business idea. You’ll receive straightforward feedback from Sramana Mitra, advice on next steps, and answers to any of your questions. Others can register to Attend to watch and learn.

You can learn more here and REGISTER TO PITCH OR ATTEND HERE. Please share with any entrepreneurs in your circle who may be Interested.

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Featured Videos

722nd 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable Recording

In case you missed it, you can listen to the roundtable recording here:

Roundtable Recap: April 9 – Bootstrapping with a Paycheck is Highly Recommended to Hedge Against Layoffs

Folks, please start bootstrapping a startup with your paycheck if your firm has announced layoffs. In fact, ALL tech industry workers are at risk right now. 

You must create a Plan B before layoffs touch you.

CleanBin

As for our entrepreneur pitches, first, Preeti Dawane from Thane, India, pitched CleanBin, a physical product for wet waste management.

Crizzen

Then, Raghav Vohra from Mumbai, India, pitched Crizzen, an AI services venture.

Video FAQs

Oracle’s Layoffs Need Rethinking of the Future of Employment

Last month Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) announced impressive third quarter results. The results helped the stock climb 10% in the after-hours trading session. But the stock has still fallen nearly 25% so far this year. Despite the strong financial performance, Oracle’s workforce was not immune to layoffs as it announced a more than 15% reduction in workforce.

Top Startup Accelerators for Entrepreneurs Bootstrapping with a Paycheck in Lucknow

This article summarizes the top startup accelerators for entrepreneurs bootstrapping with a paycheck in Lucknow, comparing them to 1Mby1M.

Guest Author Kaushank Nalin Khandwala | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

In The Accelerator Conundrum series, Sramana Mitra highlights how most accelerator models are designed for full-time founders pursuing rapid scaling. This creates a gap for entrepreneurs who are building ventures while maintaining a steady paycheck, a common reality in emerging ecosystems like Lucknow.

Top Startup Accelerators Focused on Bootstrapping Before Blitzscaling in Lucknow

This article summarizes the top startup accelerators focused on bootstrapping before blitzscaling in Lucknow, comparing them to 1Mby1M across key dimensions like bootstrapping alignment and equity.

Guest Author Kaushank Nalin Khandwala | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

In The Accelerator Conundrum series, Sramana Mitra highlights how many accelerator models prioritize rapid scaling and fundraising over disciplined, validation-driven growth. For founders in emerging ecosystems like Lucknow, bootstrapping before blitzscaling often provides a more resilient pathway to building sustainable ventures.

Top Startup Accelerators for Long-Term Mentoring in Lucknow

This article summarizes the top startup accelerators for long-term mentoring in Lucknow, comparing them to 1Mby1M across key dimensions like mentoring model and equity.

Guest Author Kaushank Nalin Khandwala | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

In The Accelerator Conundrum series, Sramana Mitra critiques the short-term, cohort-driven nature of many accelerator programs that emphasize rapid scaling over sustained business building. For founders in ecosystems like Lucknow, long-term mentoring is often more valuable than short bursts of guidance.

Top Startup Accelerators for the Marathon, Not the 3-Month Sprint, in Lucknow

This article summarizes the top startup accelerators for the marathon, not the 3-month sprint, in Lucknow, comparing them to 1Mby1M across key dimensions like engagement style and equity.

Guest Author Kaushank Nalin Khandwala | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra

In The Accelerator Conundrum series, Sramana Mitra questions the effectiveness of short, high-intensity accelerator formats that prioritize speed over substance. Building a sustainable venture is typically a long-term process requiring iterative validation, customer engagement, and strategic refinement, particularly in emerging ecosystems like Lucknow.