Welcome back fellow investopreneurs!

Before we jump into today’s newsletter…

…a quick celebration 🥳…

We finally broke 5k subscribers on the YouTube channel!

…a quick observation…

Almost 70% of our new subscribers have come from these ‘Build In Public’ episodes..

…thank you.

Building in Public: The $1B Bootstrapper Vision

Every fourth episode of Bootstrapping to Billions is a checkpoint. No guests. No theory. Just receipts.

Episode 9 was exactly that... me pausing to reflect on what’s working, what’s failing, and where we’re going.

But here’s the thing... this isn’t just about documenting my journey. It’s about making the lessons useful for you. I want you to see how I’m connecting the dots, and then decide how you might apply them to build equity in your own business.

1. Simplicity Wins

What I noticed: Bootstrapper V1 tried to do too much. The result? Complexity, friction, slower adoption.

Why it matters: Complexity kills momentum. If it takes too many clicks or too many hours, people stop using it... including me.

What we’re doing about it: Bootstrapper V2 is boiled down to one page. One page to run the company. One page to hold people accountable. One page to see progress. If it can’t be done in an hour a week, it doesn’t make the cut.

What you can do: Take inventory of your own systems. If you can’t explain your business on one page... or run it in an hour a week... you’re dragging unnecessary weight. Simplify. Cut. Focus on the 20% that drives 80% of results.

2. Equity is Built in Hours, Not Years

What I noticed: Since June, 219 owners on the platform have collectively stacked $10M in equity. That’s about $50K each. And it wasn’t through raising capital or chasing hacks. It was through structure.

Why it matters: We overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in a week. Equity compounds from tiny moves done consistently.

What we’re doing about it: We’re doubling down on the weekly process. Document one SOP. Remove one risk. Tighten one cash flow loop. That’s it. Week by week, the equity stacks.

What you can do: Don’t wait for the big strategy or perfect moment. Pick one thing each week that reduces risk or improves profitability. Stack the wins. They add up faster than you think.

3. Media is the New CAC Strategy

What I noticed: We’ve been ghosts... quiet on SEO, socials, YouTube. It showed up in our growth curve.

Why it matters: Media isn’t optional anymore. Media is distribution. Done right, it can create net-negative CAC (your acquisition pays for itself).

What we’re doing about it: Relaunching the Lemonade Stand. It’s becoming a public library of templates, tools, and ProfitFlows. Ungated. Value-forward. Built to drive reciprocity, audience growth, and trust.

What you can do: Stop hoarding your best stuff. Publish the template you use. Share the playbook your team runs on. Give away what feels like “too much.” It creates authority, builds trust, and attracts opportunity.

4. Capital is Getting Rewritten

What I noticed: There’s already $43M in committed capital inside the platform. But the bigger insight is this... founders still think capital is either impossible to access or predatory.

Why it matters: That mindset keeps bootstrappers from preparing until it’s too late. But capital is leverage. The earlier you get ready, the better terms you get when you need it.

What we’re doing about it: Redesigning private credit. A competitive marketplace. Multiple bids. AI-backed risk scoring. Lower costs for owners, better returns for funds.

What you can do: Don’t wait until you’re desperate. Get capital ready now. Clean your books. Tighten your cash flow. Document your systems. When the door opens, you’ll be in a position to walk through it.

5. Books as Bridges, Not Bibles

What I noticed: I’ve spent 5 years writing and the new book Ownable is 777 pages. That’s a problem. Nobody running a business has time to read 777 pages.

Why it matters: Knowledge is useless if it’s not digestible. Owners need systems they can actually use... not books they’ll never finish.

What we’re doing about it: Boiling it down into a one-page weekly process inside the platform. Read the book for context, but use the system to create value.

What you can do: Don’t wait to perfect your system before releasing it. Share the usable version now. Ship the bridge. Make it a tool, not a bible. Iterate over time.

6. The Bootstrapper Philosophy

What I noticed: People still confuse “bootstrapping” with being broke.

Why it matters: Bootstrapping isn’t about scarcity... it’s about discipline. About building something ownable, sustainable, and valuable on your terms.

What we’re doing about it: Building community around this philosophy... bootcamps, workshops, dinners. Because when owners come together, rising tides raise all boats. And that’s why the $1B equity North Star matters. It’s not mine. It’s ours.

What you can do: Define your why. Are you building for freedom? For legacy? For leverage? Once you’re clear, commit to the discipline of stacking equity... not for quick wins, but for long-term ownership.

Take This With You

• Cut complexity. Run your business on one page, one hour a week.

• Stack equity. Small wins each week compound faster than big strategies that never get executed.

• Give value away. Media is leverage. Publishing your playbooks builds trust and growth.

• Be capital ready. Don’t wait until you’re desperate to earn leverage.

• Ship the bridge. Make your systems usable now. Refine later.

Episode 9 wasn’t just a retrospective. It was me learning in public. And hopefully, it’s proof that anyone can do the same... simplify, adapt, share openly, and commit to building equity for the long game.

Your business is already sitting on hidden equity. The question is... will you start uncovering it, week by week?

Lets Partner?