Hi, I’m Heidi. 👋
A serial business bootstrapper turned angel investor and advisor (oxymoronic, I know).
I’ve built companies from $0. I’ve bootstrapped a multi-million dollar business from my kitchen table. I’ve navigated debt, dysfunction, scaling, and exits — all without venture capital. I didn’t realize how rare that was until I dipped a toe into the world of VC (turns out I’m a bit of an anomaly). 🤷♀️
I didn’t build a unicorn, nor have I achieved “private-jet wealth” (not sure if I even want that) — but I have beaten the path to success on my own terms using my intuition, some ironclad audacity and good-old-fashioned work ethic.
I feel compelled to share what I’ve learned with the bootstrapping community (and since I refuse to dance on Tik-Tok), I’m starting this newsletter; for the founders who are betting on themselves, for the scrappy small business owners, and the creative problem solvers who eat chaos for breakfast (on 5 hours of sleep). I’m committing to this newsletter for those of you daring to go all-in on the dream of a lifestyle you can’t shake the thought of having. Building Bold is for YOU!
As a subscriber, here’s what you can expect:
🙊 The quiet part out loud. I’m going to share what everyone else might be thinking or feeling about building a business (but perhaps too afraid to say). I’ll share real-life stories from my journey past and present. I won’t sugarcoat.
—Because we need more real talk and less noise.
🔮 The forecast from my vantage point. I’ll share the trends that I see coming in the worlds of entrepreneurship, business, tech, AI, and finance.
— Because the future is already here.🛠️ Some useable things. I’ll be giving you some hacks on ways start, scale, and/or streamline your operation. — Because time is money.
🙋 Advice. I’ll answer your burning questions (as you remain anonymous, or not — up to you) and share our Q&A with subscribers. —Because you’re not alone, I promise.
🎵 And I’ll sprinkle in some good memes, music, humor, and art here and there.
— Because balance.
My 10,000 Hours
My story started with a childhood business at eleven, a clothing line at nineteen and eventually led to founding and scaling a multi-million dollar, Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company, with 65 employees and four offices around the globe.
I’ve been the in the trenches, I’ve been on the brink of missing payroll, I’ve had my top-performers quit and form a competing company together (that day sucked). I built and bootstrapped a company in its own category with no playbook, and celebrated in a cloud of confetti on that same company’s 10th anniversary! (That was a fantastic day). I’ve taken home a few dividend checks, had a few (modest) exits and seen my name grace the pages of world renowned press outlets. I’ve navigated a global pandemic while running an events company (and later pivoted it — profitably). I started in a recession. Mixed business with pleasure (and later married him). I’ve said the wrong things, made the wrong moves and chose the wrong battles. And regardless of how much I accomplish, I still feel imposter-ish some days. (If any of this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place). 🫂
All of these experiences; the exhilarating, the frustrating, the delightful, the painful, built me into the human I am today but more importantly, has afforded me the opportunity to extract these hard-won lessons and turn them into something helpful to share them with you, the bootstrapper.
Going With the Flow
I plan to write this bi-weekly or monthly — enough to stay consistent without slipping into the contrived, the boring, or the “I’m just writing this to write it” territory. I’m going to go with the flow if that’s ok with you.
The first official edition drops in a few weeks. This is just an introduction.
In the meantime, I hope you stick around. And if you feel inclined hit reply with your burning questions or just to give me some feedback (feedback, like entrepreneurship, makes the world go-round).
✌️ -H
📫 NEXT LETTER: ✨My Magic Bootstrapping Cash Flow Formula ✨
Hi, I’m Heidi. 👋
I’m a two-decade bootstrapping serial business builder (2.5 exits), author, advisor, and non-technical tech founder turned angel investor & advisor. I’m also mom to two doodles and two small humans, a wife, and a classic eldest daughter — no hobbies (unless building equity counts).
I believe entrepreneurship makes the world go round, and creativity is our greatest asset. I help founders and business owners start, scale, and streamline profitably and sustainably.
I write small angel checks — but I’m still bullish on bootstrapping. 🥾
Thanks for reading Building Bold: A No-Nonsense Newsletter for Bootstrappers! Subscribe for free.
🔥 Hit reply to ask me your burning questions, or give me feedback — I read every one!
💻 Visit my Website
🔨 Building something? I can help!
🌈 Is your business struggling? Let’s turn it around!
💸 Fundraising? Shoot me your Deck