By Tara Hunt (Co-Founder & CEO, Buyosphere)
Hi, I'm Tara Hunt, co-founder and CEO of Buyosphere, a Montreal-based bootstrapped startup that is aiming to positively impact the world by giving consumers access to their buying history. All sorts of revolutionary stuff is going to come of it and we're just getting started, but we've already gotten lots of people excited!
Earlier this year, me and my company applied to be part of the prestigious Astia program in NYC. It's a really great program for first time women CEO's of which I'm one. From their website:
"Astia is a unique, global not-for-profit organization. We provide innovative programs that ensure companies gain access to capital, achieve and sustain high-growth, and develop the executive leadership of the founding team."
When we applied, I thought we'd have raised some seed money by now... and because of the high number of applications and great candidates, it was a long shot to get into the program at all. I applied, then waited. Then found out we were short-listed and had to get to New York to present in front of a panel of judges. When I found out we got through the screening and were one of the chosen few accepted to the program, I was elated... yet saddened.
Entry to the program costs $5000. And we just don't have that kind of money. We're so bootstrapped we are sandal-strapped (see my TEDxConcordia talk)! And though we do what we can to keep paying the awesome people building Buyosphere, I can't justify paying for this program out of our teensy bits of bootstrapped money left because it would mean not paying a developer or designer.
So... I've come here to see if I can micro-fund my participation in this program!
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