Hey bootstrappers,

It’s been over 25 years since Clayton Christensen coined the phrase “disruptive innovation,” but you still find plenty of it happening today.

Across banking, retail, and education, a new generation of entrepreneurs has taken up the disruptor’s mantle to forge new industries and unseat titans.

In today’s issue, you’ll discover how a crypto debit card shook up finance, who started the Belgian ecommerce boom, and why companies are turning to students to solve their problems.

Three flavors of disruptive innovation with one thing in common – they’re all bootstrapped companies. 

– Chris Roper

A crypto debit card is every Web3 startup’s dream – and nightmare. The regulatory waters are as rough as the Drake Passage, but one determined founder made it to port.

How a Complimentary Feature Became This Multimillion-Dollar Crypto Bank’s Entire Business Model

Ian Kane’s partnership with Visa turned more heads than a Formula One race. Originally set up to pay advertisers, Ian’s crypto debit card was a first for the industry – and everyone wanted one. Today, he’s issued crypto debit cards and bank accounts to over 200 countries.

What was his secret?

“Ninety-nine percent of banks weren’t crypto-friendly when I started. Banks have a strong regulatory moat so they’re not incentivized to take risks or push new technologies. Bigger banks and even second-tier banks would always say no. However, third-tier and community banks were looking for a differentiator to gain a competitive edge.”

Back in 2013, Belgian's ecommerce market was worth just $2 billion. With so few choices online, Sophie Claes decided to take matters into her own hands, kickstarting what's an $11 billion industry today.

This Belgian Founder Grew Her Online Store to $6.8 Million Before Ecommerce Was Popular in Her Country

For a long time, ecommerce didn’t have much of a foothold in Belgium. The problem was choice, or rather, a lack of it.

Sick of only finding what she wanted in the UK or US, Sophie Claes forged international partnerships to launch new brands to the Belgium market.

But why had Belgium suppliers been so fearful?

“They were worried that their product wouldn’t sell, because ‘it wasn’t a real store.’ So, I went to my first conference in London where, of course, ecommerce was more common. That’s where we partnered with our first brands who saw the value of having a reseller located in Belgium.”

Higher education can feel disconnected from the real world, alienating students from their courses. Bram Kuijken wants to change that and has enlisted local businesses to help him.

How This Academic Entrepreneur Disrupts Higher Education by Preparing Students for the Real World

Former teacher, Bram Kuijken, had listened to the same complaint for years: Why are we learning this stuff? How will it help us find jobs? Rather than give some lame excuse while he returned to marking papers, Bram saw an opportunity to provide students meaningful work.

What if he matched students with companies that had real problems to solve?

“I started building a platform to streamline the process by matching challenges to professors. Companies submit challenges that the classes then approve. We use an algorithm developed in the seventies called the stable marriage algorithm. It’s also used in the dating industry.”

Advice of the Week

“I think persistence is key. Progress is always two steps forward and one step back. There were plenty of times when I thought we were going out of business. People who give up early end up working for somebody else.”

 - Ian Kane, Unbanked

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