​Every founder reaches the same decision: raise, or keep building on her own terms. Venture capital can speed up growth, and it also changes who you answer to, how fast you need to move and what your exit has to look like. Bootstrapping keeps you in control, and it ties your pace of growth to your own cash flow. The right answer depends on your category, your margins and the business you want to own five years from now.

​To kick off Art Basel week, we’re bringing together founders and investors who have taken different paths to growth. You’ll hear the case for venture, angel and bootstrapped growth side by side, from the people who have lived each one, so you can decide which fits your business.

​In this session, you’ll learn:

• ​How to tell whether your business is ready for outside capital, and what investors look for before they write a check
• ​What bootstrapping makes possible, and how founders fund growth from revenue
• ​How angel, venture and private equity capital differ, and what each one asks of you as a founder
• ​What to have in place before you start a raise, and how to choose your investors as carefully as they choose you
• ​How founders who went from bootstrapped to venture backed decided it was time

​Speakers
We’ll announce our panel of founders and investors soon. Register now to save your seat, and we’ll share the lineup as speakers are confirmed.

​How the morning works
9:30am Coffee, breakfast and arrivals
9:45am Panel conversation
10:30am Audience Q&A
10:50am Strategic networking
11:30am Close

​Strategic networking
When you register, you’ll share a few details about your business, like your funding model, your stage and whether you plan to raise in the next year or two. We’ll use that to send you suggested connections before the event: the speaker whose path best fits yours and a few founders at a similar stage. That way you’ll know exactly who to find when networking starts. Our speakers stay through networking to keep the conversation going.

​Who this event is for
This session is for current and aspiring founders, especially those building in health and wellness, beauty, fashion, food and beverage, business services, and CPG. It’s for you whether you’re raising now, bootstrapping, or still deciding.

​What’s included

• ​Access to the panel conversation and audience Q&A
• ​Coffee and breakfast
• ​Strategic networking with speakers and fellow founders
• ​Suggested speaker and founder connections, sent before the event
• ​The chance to submit your questions for our speakers when you register

​Tickets
10th House members: free with your members-only code
Non-members: $49
Space is limited to about 50 founders.

​In partnership with Taikun
Taikun is a real estate investment brand that helps high-earning professionals build wealth outside their businesses. Learn more about Taikun.

​About Female Founder Collective
Female Founder Collective, co-founded by Rebecca Minkoff and Alison Wyatt, is a network built to help women-led businesses grow. The 10th House is our membership for early-stage founders. It includes year-round programming, free access to FFCExperts, and a community of founders building alongside you. Join The 10th House here.