Hey bootstrappers,

Ever had an idea strike you when you least expected it?

That funny moment when you think, “Wouldn’t it be cool if...”

Now, imagine taking that thought and making it a reality. 

Would feel like magic, right?

Most of us pass off those moments as interesting interludes and nothing more. 

But this week’s founders thought, I’m going to make that happen.

They needed something that didn’t exist so they built it. 

It’s an easy on-ramp to entrepreneurship. 

If you wish something were true, others might too and – boom! – you just landed a great business idea. 

Read this week’s stories and the next time you ask, “Why doesn’t this exist?”, you’ll know what to do. 

This founder’s dream car didn’t exist, so he decided to build a business to fund its creation. Nearly 12 months later and he’s on track (pun intended) to make $1.5 million in revenue.

To Support Developing a New Sports Car, This Founder Built a Speciality Automotive Sales Startup

“At The Starting Line, we don’t see any of our individual sales as a transaction. It’s the beginning of what we hope is a relationship, even if the person never buys from us again. We’re creating a network of like-minded car enthusiasts.”

Susanne Barsoum entered international development only to struggle with managing contractors. Guessing others experienced the same, she built a marketplace to solve the problem with no tech background or experience.

She Taught Herself to Be a Tech Founder and Is Now Bringing Global Aid Into the Modern Age

“You don’t need to be a tech founder. If you are curious you can teach yourself. I’ve taught myself and been taught by hundreds. The trick is to be both curious and disciplined.”

Friends Jen and Marcy started swapping plus-sized clothes to clear out their wardrobes. In just a few months, they’d built an inclusive community and thriving ecommerce business.

How Two Friends Built a Successful Retail Business That’s Changing Women’s Perception of Plus-Size Fashion

“The average American woman is over a size 14. So the fact that women don’t feel welcome in many stores or don’t feel accommodated by most brands is so frustrating. We’re one of the only places where you can try things on and have someone help you and not have to order five sizes online to figure out which one is going to work.”

 - Susanne Barsoum, Keylime

If you've got a great story about your bootstrapped company, we want to help tell it. Fill out this form and we'll be in touch soon. 

What did you think of this week's stories?