Course: How to Finance and Grow Your Startup – Without VC
Modules:
0.1 Why this course?
1.1 Introduction to Module 1, Part 1: John Mullins, 1.2 Introduction to Module 1, Part 2: John Mullins, 1.3 A customer-funded success story - Thomas Knobel, 1.4  A Silicon Valley perspective - Interview with Sramana Mitra, Part 1. Sramana Mitra on bootstrapping; on why many great companies are not VC backable; on how to go to VCs as kings, not as beggars; and more., 1.5 A Silicon Valley perspective - Interview with Sramana Mitra, Part 2, 1.6 A Silicon Valley perspective - Interview with Sramana Mitra, Part 3, 1.7 A growth guru's perspective - Interview with Verne Harnish, Part 1. Verne Harnish on managing cash; on scaling up; on creating rhythm in your business; and more., 1.8 A growth guru's perspective - Interview with Verne Harnish, Part 2, 1.9 A venture capitalist's perspective - Interview with Bruce Golden, Part 1. Bruce Golden on why capital efficiency matters; on controlling your destiny; on unicorns; and more., 1.10 A venture capitalist's perspective - Interview with Bruce Golden, Part 2, 1.11 A venture capitalist's perspective - Interview with Bruce Golden, Part 3, 1.12 A venture capitalist's perspective - Interview with Bruce Golden, Part 4, 1.13 Module 1: Wrap-up, lessons learned, and a look ahead: John Mullins
2.1 Introduction to Module 2, 2.2 A matchmaker success story - Budgetplaces.com, 2.3 A matchmaker failure story - ProFounder., 2.4 The 'Inside Story' - interview with Amelia Armstrong. A DogVacay dogsitter provides an inside view of life as a supplier to a matchmaker business., 2.5 Matchmaking: An entrepreneur's perspective - Interview with Nitzan Yudan, Part 1. Nitzan Yudan on pivoting; on the value of customer-funded traction; on building relationships with investors with lines, not dots; and more., 2.6 Matchmaking: An entrepreneur's perspective - Interview with Nitzan Yudan, Part 2, 2.7 Lessons for matchmakers - Interview with Ivan Nikkhoo, Part 1. Ivan Nikkhoo on the Uber phenomenon; on striking the right balance and timing between supply and demand; on choosing VCs; on building a matchmaker model in emerging markets; and more., 2.8 Lessons for matchmakers - Interview with Ivan Nikkhoo., 2.9 Module 2: Wrap-up, lessons learned, and a look ahead: John Mullins.
3.1 Introduction to Module 3: John Mullins., 3.2 A pay-in-advance success story - Funovation., 3.3 The 'Inside Story': From garage to global leader - Interview with Erick Mueller., 3.4 Eric Mueller on entrepreneurial teams; on why pay-in-advance works even for fledgling companies; on how to choose your first customers; and more., 3.5 A pay-in-advance failure story - The Loot., 3.6 When customer funding is all there is - Interview with Jon Smith. Jon Smith on addressing a real social problem - kids' literacy; on starting with no money; and on raising a first angel round. Part 1, 3.7 Celebrating kids' writing - Jon  Smith Part 2, 3.8 Entrepreneurship in Latin America - Interview with Carlos Varela. Carlos Varela on the entrepreneurial landscape in Latin America; on government handouts for entrepreneurs; and more., 3.9 Module 3: Wrap-up, lessons learned, and a look ahead: John Mullins.
4.1 Introduction to Module 4, 4.2 Customer-funding winemakers - NakedWines.com, 4.3 Building customer-funded SaaS Ventures - Interview with Bill Flagg, Part 1. Bill Flagg on winning your first customer; on identifying and delivering customer value; on earning ROI on new hires; on accelerators; and more., 4.4 Customer-Funding SaaS Ventures - Interview with Bill Flagg, Part 2., 4.5  Customer-Funding SaaS Ventures - Interview with Bill Flagg, Part 3., 4.6 Customer-Funding SaaS Ventures - Interview with Bill Flagg, Part 4., 4.7 A VC's perspective - Interview with Hussein Kanji, Part 1. Hussein Kanji on the hard part about SaaS models; on early metrics that matter; on proving scalability;  on the trade-off between organic growth and scale; and more., 4.8 A VC's perspective - Interview with Hussein Kanji, Part 2., 4.9 A VC's perspective - Interview with Hussein Kanji, Part 3., 4.10 How not to do it: Lessons from failure., 4.11  Module 4: Wrap-up, lessons learned, and a look ahead: John Mullins.
5.1  Introduction to Module 5: John Mullins., 5.2 Speed and scarcity wins for Zara., 5.3 The hands-on nitty gritty of getting customer funds - interview with Rud Browne, Part 1. Rud Browne on getting customers to pay in advance and buyers to play ball; on managing through a downturn; on advice for entrepreneurs getting started today; and more., 5.4  The hands-on nitty gritty of getting customer funds - Interview with Rud Browne, Part 2, 5.5 The hands-on nitty gritty of getting customer funds - Interview with Rud Browne, Part 3., 5.6 Easy money in India? - Interview with Ajeet Khurana, Part 1. Ajeet Khurana on 2015's easy money in India: Would it last?; on valuations in India; on mobile-first or mobile-only?; on positive cash flow; and more., 5.7 Easy money in India? - Interview with Ajeet Khurana, Part 2., 5.8 Easy money in India? - Interview with Ajeet Khurana, Part 3., 5.9 Module 5: Wrap-up, lessons learned, and a look ahead.
6.1 Introduction to Module 6: John Mullins., 6.2 A customer funded journey (Part 1) - Interviews with Claus Moseholm, Jimmy Maymann, and Hillel Zidel. Claus (co-founder), Jimmy (CEO mid-journey) and Hillel (investor) on getting started; on raising their aspirations; on growth capital as a funding source; and more., 6.3 A customer funded journey (Part 2) - Interview with Jimmy Maymann., 6.4 A customer funded journey (Part 3) - Interview with Claus Moseholm., 6.5 A customer funded  journey (Part 4) - Interviews with Hillel Zidel., 6.6 A customer funded  journey (Part 5) - Interview with Jimmy Maymann., 6.7 A customer funded  journey (Part 6) - Interviews with Hillel Zidel., 6.8 Module 6: Wrap-up, lessons learned, and a look ahead: John Mullins.
7.1 Introduction to Module 7: John Mullins., 7.2 The Mom Test - interview with Rob Fitzpatrick (Part 1), 7.3 The Mom Test - interview with Rob Fitzpatrick (Part 2)., 7.4 Module 7: Wrap-up, lessons learned, and a final look ahead: John Mullins.