WHERE’S THE FUNDING?

"The boostrapping life is not cool, so yes, please take the money." —Walle Mafolasire

The secrets to bootstrapping are revealed. Walle Mafolasire (pronounced Wall-AY Mafo-LAH-shee-ray) stops by WHERE' THE FUNDING? to share his bootstrapping journey and why you shouldn't if you don't have to, and what he thinks is the hardest part of bootstrapping.

Tom Preston-Werner is quoted as saying that "bootstrapping is a way to do something about the problems you have without letting someone else give you permission to do them". Wale didn't wait for VCs to give him permission to solve a major problem for many churches, nonprofits, and causes that were looking for opportunities to fundraise.

He solved the problem by bootstrapping the growth of Givelify when he struck out with VCs. Today Givelify is the most popular online and mobile giving platform with an easy donation app and a powerful donation management system. 

What you'll learn from Walle in this episode:

• How to become the type of person that people want to take a risk on.
• When you don't have a plan B, plan A has a way of making itself work. Don't give up!
• Bootstrapping is what you do when all the doors are closed and you can't find a window. 
• Why he did it and why he thinks that you shouldn't. Hint: it's really hard!
• What he considers the hardest part of bootstrapping and how he deals with it.
• Why he thinks it's important to put good into the world and how Givelify does that.

To learn more about Givelify visit givelify.com or download the app in the App Store or on Google Play.

Follow the podcast on Instagram at whereisthefunding_podcast and me, your host Michelle J. McKenzie on LinkedIn.