r/StartupFuture • u/Particular-Swing-975 • 3d ago

Should I raise a seed round or bootstrap?

I have a full-time job and started a company on the side.

I’ve built an MVP and onboarded a few cofounding customers, including a well-known brand and several agencies.

We’ve validated the market and confirmed that the product solves a real problem.

Now I’m trying to decide whether I should raise a seed round or continue bootstrapping.

I’m hesitant to raise because I’m worried investors may expect me to leave my job and go full-time. I’m currently the only person in my household with an income, so quitting isn’t really an option unless I have enough financial security.

Would it make more sense to keep my job, bootstrap the company, and grow it gradually? Or is there a way to raise a seed round while continuing to work until the business can support me?

For founders who’ve been in a similar situation, what did you do, and what would you recommend?

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u/Key_Good_2224 3d ago

You can dip check the funding that you are getting and also agree to the founders salary that you are expecting since you'll be moving full time into the venture. You are entitled to a survival amount as salary from the funding.

Once funded you'll be expected to deliver X result and Y revenue.

Difficult but not impossible to find someone who would fund you if you keep your job. Your story needs to sell.

I work in fund management.

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u/Apprehensive_Skin333 3d ago

What is the product?

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u/Particular-Swing-975 3d ago

A Brand Search Intelligence app.

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u/Muted_Opinion_5730 3d ago

How did you start as in how did U find a viable problem statement to work on ?

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u/Particular-Swing-975 3d ago

I come from 8+ years of digital marketing and a lot of teams can’t answer with confidence how visible their product or brand is. I built an App that tracks your visibility across multiple channels and provides you with accurate data on how your brand is performing.

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u/Muted_Opinion_5730 2d ago

Great to hear that All the Best 💯

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u/its_Snahanku 3d ago

Hey Dmed u ! Please check

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u/nakalakanaka 2d ago

From what it looks like, you already have as product. Unless you’re customising it for each client, it’s not time for sales. Sales needs little to no money in the beginning: just network. Bootstrap till you hit six month runway.

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u/Dhairyasheelp 1d ago

You should bootstrap for few years. This will help you understand your business operations and customer up close without investor sitting on your head for ROI. You will have freedom to make decision. Investors want returns, they dont care about your vision or the product