Bootstrapping vs. Fundraising: A Fireside Chat with 2x Founder Daniel Haven
Seasoned entrepreneur Daniel Haven has successfully exitied two startups: one bootstrapped and one venture-backed.
He was a first-time founder when he bootstrapped ProctorExam to nearly $10 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and $1.5 million in profitability. ProctorExam was acquired by Turnitin in 2021. His next venture was Slauth.io, a Y Combinator-backed cybersecurity startup that was acquired by Arkinfotech.com in 2023.
In a fireside chat with Founders Network Founder and CEO Kevin Holmes on October 3, Daniel will discuss the unique challenges of both bootstrapped and venture-backed startups, including managing cash flow, scaling operations, and building a sustainable business model. He will explore how funding sources influenced company culture and operational strategies, and the impact of financial pressure on team dynamics and decision-making processes.
Opening Remarks @ 9:00am PT
Join us for opening remarks with Dina Fattom, Member Success Manager at Founders Network, to get the latest updates from the Network and opportunities for getting involved.
Keynote Speaker @ 9:10am PT
Daniel Haven is a seasoned serial entrepreneur with a track record of founding and successfully exiting two startups over the past decade. He founded ProctorExam.com, a bootstrapped EdTech startup, which was acquired by Turnitin.com in 2021. His second venture, Slauth.io, a Y Combinator-backed cybersecurity startup, was acquired by Arkinfotech.com in 2023. With experience spanning industries from EdTech to Cybersecurity and a market presence in the US, Europe, and the MENA region, Daniel offers valuable insights and expertise to new founders navigating the startup landscape.
Stage-Based Roundtables @ 10:00am PT
Community Partners:
Jeff leads the Partnerships Team at Forecastr — a leading FP&A software company that helps startups create kick-butt financial models to impress investors, confidently raise capital, and effectively run their businesses better.
Jeff serves on the advisory boards of several startup companies and is an active angel investor. He's passionate about startups and enjoys working with founders and mentoring entrepreneurs.
Jeff is an experienced entrepreneur and was the founder and CEO of a successful consumer goods company that he rapidly grew from $1M in sales its first year to over $40M in annual revenue in its fourth year of operations and was ranked #138 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies.
Prior to founding his own company, Jeff was a partner at Beanstalk Partners where he led the sales and business development activities. He also served as the National Sales Director for a venture-backed tech startup where he generated over $45M in client contracts and developed the company’s channel partner program.
Jeff has a degree in accounting and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah. After receiving his MBA in Finance from the University of Utah he served as the Vice President of Investments for Sentry Financial Corporation.
Guests Are Welcome!
Please bring a guest! Every member can bring one (1) guest to each event. Each guest must be a full-time tech startup founder so they can bring new perspectives, skillsets, and experience to your chapter.
All guests must be full-time tech startup founders and you can register them directly on this function page. See How to Register a Guest here.
Confidentiality Policy:
All information shared within Founders Network is strictly confidential. We are built on a foundation of trust, and the community takes confidentiality seriously. Investors, members, and staff all share experiences and opinions off the record. In this roundtable forum, we continue to model our fnValues of Reciprocity, Humility, Authenticity and Inclusivity.