Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

Helping early stage SaaS and eCommerce companies grow into profitable businesses. manual.vc Ottawa, Ontario Joined March 2018

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

6 years ago

Did you become an entrepreneur to change the world or to play the VC game? Revenue based funding is the only alternative out there that allows you the have growth capital without pivoting. #funding #growthcapital #vc #entrepreneur #rbf #startup #ottawa medium.com/@sguidoz/https…

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Tanay Jaipuria @tanayj

7 years ago

RXBar took on no outside money and sold to Kellogg for $600M. The founder was discussing his plans to raise money when starting out, and his father told him: "You need to shut up and sell 1,000 bars" inc.com/robbie-abed/th…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

"Planning around these three realities — the need for profits, while experiencing dropping revenue, in a world where capital can’t be had at any valuation — is going to lead to unpleasant conclusions" #startup #Ottawa #optionality #bootstrap techcrunch.com/2019/02/08/how…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

Funders should have to pass an exam before raising VC money. Too many founders are playing with fire without understanding the real impact of their decision on the future of their company. #bootstrap #ottawa #startup #optionality avc.com/2019/02/raisin…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

"For years, my only metric of success was building a billion dollar company. Now, I realize that was a terrible goal. It’s completely arbitrary, and doesn’t accurately reflect impact" Why give up the chance to discover what success really means to you? link.medium.com/RPjvab2E7T

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

“Lots of businesses could be great $10 million, $20 million businesses, but they’re not allowed to be,” Nobody should tell you what YOUR company is ALLOWED to be. #startup #ottawa #optionality #bootstrap recode.net/2019/1/23/1819…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

Unfortunately only founders with direct experience of the VC model really understand the dangers of it. First time founders still fall for the unicorn storytelling. We are working to change this. Grow your company without giving up optionality. #ottawa theglobeandmail.com/business/small…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

“If anything has a timed outcome in a 3–7 year horizon, which most venture backed companies have, that dictates *everything*. Truly independent companies are meant to last forever" #startup #ottawa #bootstrap #optionality link.medium.com/iB48Khvz0T

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

RBF is simply a better tool to finance your startup. Retaining control and therefore optionality is the core of entrepreneurship. Happy to be at the front of this revolution and happy to educate founders about an alternative way #startup #ottawa techcrunch.com/2019/01/29/sta…

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Rafat Ali, Media Operator & Dad @rafat

7 years ago

Here's another digital media fallacy: That big venture money backed digital media startups are independent. They're not, boxed in to do whatever it takes to get to desired outcome promised. If anything has a timed outcome in 3-7 year horizon, that dictates *everything*.

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Josh Kopelman @joshk

7 years ago

Motorcycles are common (2018: Honda sold 18M motorcycles) Jet planes are rare (2018: 806 Boeing planes) VCs sell jet fuel, which doesn't work in motorcycles Bad stuff happens if VCs push jet fuel on a bike owner. Or if a bike owner thinks they can fly. nytimes.com/2019/01/11/tec…

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Paul Graham @paulg

7 years ago

I would be so excited to read an investor update where "we've achieved product-market fit" was followed by "now we're going to put our heads down and just grow" instead of "now we're going to spend months trying to raise money."

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

A great article that shows all the dangers of having "free cash" on hand and losing site of what really matters: profit. The author doesn't include the pressure from investors to spend, which makes the situation even worse. #startup #ottawa #fundraising techcrunch.com/2015/02/24/aft…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

We are happy to see how the whole ecosystem has become conscious of how much the VC narrative has gotten out of hand Data shows that there is no direct correlation between VC money and success So why give up control? Listen to this interesting conversation thetwentyminutevc.com/anandsanwal2/

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

"it’s crucial for founders to know that while followers are plenty and lead investors are few, rarer still are lead investors that live up to being force multipliers for founders after the money is in the bank." #Ottawa #startups #fundrasing #vc #bootstrap forbes.com/sites/valleyvo…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

"Stop playing games where you can’t set the rules. Start winning the ones where you can." Being an entrepreneur is all about freedom and we're here to make sure that you will stay "free" even when it comes to funding. #ottawa #startup #rbf #funding #tech link.medium.com/N71qLIsd4R

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

A great article about a decision that would look normal for any sector except in tech startup world. Stop believing the unicorn narrative. Build a real business that generates profit for you, your employees and your community #startup #Ottawa blog.asmartbear.com/rich-vs-king-s…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

"founders are designing businesses minimizing waste while maximizing longevity and profits over the longest horizon" powered by "alternative structures that can provide them with greater optionality" #ottawa #startup #vc #bootstrap medium.com/swlh/the-new-b…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

Another top tier VC firm in the valley is considering entering the credit market for startups. Every day more news emerges that confirms that our direction is the right one. #Ottawa #startup #rbf #Bootstrap recode.net/platform/amp/2…

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Manual Ventures @ManualVentures

7 years ago

That's another really ugly side of VC investments: not only you are forced to swing for the fences, but you can't even choose how to run your company. Don't fall into the trap, don't sell your freedom. #Ottawa #startup #vc #bootspotting #rbf