Olson's early efforts to build Forage involved bootstrapping and self-funding, as he discusses the challenges of getting people to part with their money and the importance of finding ways to support oneself financially during the entrepreneurial journey.
The podcast episodes discussed demonstrate the journeys of several entrepreneurs who chose to self-fund and bootstrap their businesses, rather than taking on outside investment.
In episode 59994, Geoff Roberts of Outseta discusses the challenges and considerations of building a SaaS business on a multi-decade timeline through bootstrapping. Episode 7820 features Carolyn Aronson, who self-funded her haircare brand It's a 10 to over $20 million in revenue before taking on investors. Similarly, in episode 5710, Adriana Carrig discusses bootstrapping her jewelry brand Little Words Project.
These entrepreneurs demonstrate the challenges and rewards of building a business without external funding, as well as the importance of a long-term vision, perseverance, and creative problem-solving.