How we bootstrapped to $65m ARR, 500k Customers, and the slide deck we used to IPO in 2021
“How we bootstrapped to $65m ARR, 500k Customers, and the slide deck we used to IPO in 2021 Gleb Budman CEO and Co-Founder, Backblaze”
Founder resourceUnicorn $50m+
How we bootstrapped to $80m Revenue, 500k Customers
Backblaze's CEO on when to go public, how much it costs, and how to reframe your story rather than rewrite it for investors
Gleb Budman · BackBlaze
Published September 6, 2023About this resource
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Topics covered: How we bootstrapped to $65m ARR, 500k Customers, and the slide deck we used to IPO in 2021; Most Important Step: Finding your “Why”; Reframe your story, don’t rewrite it.
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Most Important Step: Finding your “Why”
“Most Important Step: Finding your “Why” “When to Go” might be sooner than you think Who decides, how much it costs, what it’s worth Section 1: Deciding I’m going to show you Why to Go Stay Ready Make The Call”
Reframe your story, don’t rewrite it
“Reframe your story, don’t rewrite it Build Teams that Work How to Not Give Up (Repeatedly) Section 2: Preparing I’m going to show you Reframe Recruit Resilience”
Survive: Test the Waters Without Drowning
“Survive: Test the Waters Without Drowning”
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Slide Deck Gleb Budman Saastr
Gleb Budman is one of our co-founders and has served as our Chief Executive Officer since 2007. Mr. Budman has also served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2009 and Chairperson since January 2021. Prior to Backblaze, Mr. Budman served in various senior roles at SonicWall, Inc., MailFrontier, Inc. (acquired by SonicWall, Inc.) and Kendara, Inc. (acquired by Excite@Home, Inc.).
Mr. Budman also previously founded two other startup companies. Mr. Budman earned a M.B.A. and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. We believe that Mr. Budman is qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his extensive experience in leadership roles at various technology companies, and the continuity that he brings to our Board of Directors as our co-founder and Chief Executive Officer.
- Company revenue
- $101M
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How we bootstrapped to $65m ARR, 500k Customers, and the slide deck we used to IPO in 2021
How we bootstrapped to $65m ARR, 500k Customers, and the slide deck we used to IPO in 2021 Gleb Budman CEO and Co-Founder, Backblaze
How did we go from this… 2007 Palo Alto Apartment
…to this? 2021 Times Square
Over the next 20 minutes I’m going to show you Deciding Most Important Step: Finding your “Why” “When to Go” might be sooner than you think Who decides, how much it costs, what it’s worth Preparing Reframe your story, don’t rewrite it Build Teams that Work How to Not Give Up (Repeatedly) Executing How To Test the Waters Without Drowning Ringing the Bell the Right Way Sticking with Your “Why”
Our Revenue Growth
What Do We Do:
Most Important Step: Finding your “Why”
Most Important Step: Finding your “Why” “When to Go” might be sooner than you think Who decides, how much it costs, what it’s worth Section 1: Deciding I’m going to show you Why to Go Stay Ready Make The Call
Why Bootstrap? Build a Better Product
Why Bootstrap? Build a Better GTM
When Can You Go Out? Could Be Sooner Than You Think
$10M Making the Call: What it Cost Approximately
Making the Call: Picking the Moment
Reframe your story, don’t rewrite it
Reframe your story, don’t rewrite it Build Teams that Work How to Not Give Up (Repeatedly) Section 2: Preparing I’m going to show you Reframe Recruit Resilience
Reframe Your Story
Build Teams That Work: Finance
Build Teams that Work: The Syndicate
Build Teams that Work: The Board
Build Teams that Work: Rest of the Team
Build Resilience Syndicate collapse Board member departure Partner launches competitor SEC staff retires Disappearing banks
Test the Waters Without Drowning Ringing the Bell the Right Way Stay on Target Section 3: Execute I’m going to show you Survival Lift Off Focus
Survive: Test the Waters Without Drowning
Survive: Test the Waters Without Drowning
Thrive: The Roadshow Ask Founderpath for the Full IPO Deck
Focus: Be Ready to Pivot…
…But Stay On Target
Over the last 20 minutes I showed you Deciding Most Important Step: Finding your “Why” “When to Go” might be sooner than you think Make the Call: Who decides, how much it costs, what it’s worth Preparing Reframe your story, don’t rewrite it Build Teams that Work Resilience: How to Not Give Up (Repeatedly) Executing How To Test the Waters Without Drowning Ringing the Bell the Right Way Stay on Target: Sticking with Your “Why”
Gleb Budman CEO and Co-Founder, Backblaze