Zero to Sold will empower entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into time-tested businesses. At an early stage, too many founders want to focus on securing outside capital. That pursuit can be their demise, given that raising money is a full-time job. The distraction undermines the energy required to run a new-to-market business. Once a company is formed and growing toward profitability, then there are plenty of opportunities to work with external investors or negotiate an outright sale. This book, while built on the back of a software-as-a-service case study, should inspire the entrepreneur to forge an independent path, keeping control of their unique vision, regardless of industry.
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Zero to Sold
How to Start, Run, and Sell a Bootstrapped Business
Arvid Kahl
Our firm introduces potential backers to startup founders so it may seem odd that we encourage founders to go-it-alone, at least for a period of time. There are a handful of reasons why we take that approach. Most importantly, the marketplace for outside capital is so noisy that ability to identify investors in the absence of a clearly-defined business strategy with proven sales metrics is a tough, rather, really tough slog. Friends and family can provide initial operational expense cover, but reaching beyond those close-in names quickly becomes an exercise in futility, particularly if business ideas linger as a commercial daydream. A core message in Zero to Sold is that if a business bootstraps properly, then investors will be drawn to invest in the company on their own accord.
Every entrepreneur creating a company from the ground up should read Zero to Sold. Those who run software-as-a-service companies should read it twice. The author admirably and thoroughly walks through the complex stages of startup development: validate, build, and grow. The text is packed with tips and ideas on how to propel a startup in the right direction. We especially appreciate his realistic approach to “minimum viable product.” All too often, founders are sidelined by their perfectionist sensibilities. While many suggestions in the book may be obvious to seasoned businessmen, readers benefit from the author’s enthusiasm in pushing forward with a fast-evolving company amid startup challenges. Understanding and resolving those problems are one of the great strengths in this narrative. All too often, Silicon Valley founders write books that are self-congratulatory, rather than honest. The candor here is intoxicating.
Zero to Sold is a hidden gem in the canon of startup literature. One reason may be that it was released mid-year 2020, amid the thick of the pandemic. The book is authored by Arvid Kahl. His brass-tacks knowledge oozes from the text. To some in the startup ecosystem, he is known for The Bootstrapped Founder Podcast. Zero to Sold wraps up years of experience in the style of a travel journal, making his grassroots knowledge accessible, if not profitable. ■
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