Earlier today I got an invitation, as a startup founder, to pony up $500 to get some wisdom from a to be announced group of seasoned entrepreneurs. I made for the event website looking to find out if this event would offer me the opportunity to get a chance to meet Max Levchin, Mark Andreessen, or maybe even someone like Donald Graham or his new Chief Digital Officer. I’m a bit biased today because last night I stayed up late watching Mark Andreessen give a talk at Stanford talking about the fact that his new VC firm has two recruiters on staff. That video, along with many others, was free by the way. But this $500 paid lecture series, like the other one from that recent hit DC like a financial undertow got me to thinking about what a startup founder who is bootstrapping their company could spend $500 on instead. So I came up with a top ten list. Check my work and let me know if you would spend your $500 bootstrapping DC startup founder bucks any differently.
10. Hire a lawyer to incorporate your startup
9. Pay for 1 month of health insurance
8. Hire a freelance graphic designer to make your website or application UI shine
7. Two 24″ Monitors for you or you and your co-founder at $250 apiece
6. 20 Job Ads on Craigslist
5. Hire a CPA to help with your tax prep and filing
4. Hire a freelance PR Consultant to help you get some press
3. 1111 very creative ads on Facebook targeting potential customers at .45 cents apiece
2. 12 Lunches with investors or potential advisers at $40 apiece
1. 50 Coffees Meetings with potential co-founders, sweat equity employees, advisers and investors at $10 apiece
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