Amazon Bestseller!

#1 for Venture Capital

Bootstrapping Bronto

Bootstrapping Bronto tells the story of how Joe Colopy built a software company from scratch in Durham, North Carolina—without raising a dollar of venture capital—and led it to a successful acquisition by a tech giant.

This book offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the grit, creativity, and persistence it takes to build something real outside of Silicon Valley. It doesn’t sugarcoat the setbacks, false starts, or scrappy tactics that made Bronto thrive.

Aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, and curious readers alike, Bootstrapping Bronto shares Joe’s unorthodox journey, the lessons he learned along the way, and the vibrant community that helped shape the company’s success.

What People Are Saying

“Joe’s Bootstrapping Bronto captures the zeitgeist of the entrepreneur’s journey—genesis, growth, and graduation—from scrappy startup beginnings through scaling SaaS challenges to a successful exit. Every entrepreneur should read this book.”

– David Cummings

CEO of Atlanta Ventures and Co-Founder of Pardot

"The hero narrative of founders overemphasizes raising venture capital. Joe’s Bootstrapping Bronto redefines the expectations and outcomes of growing a business with grit, determination, and sales! His valuable experience is a must-read for any aspiring entrepreneur.”

  • Thom Ruhe

President & CEO of NC IDEA

  • “Bootstrapping Bronto celebrates a founder’s relentless focus on customers and revenue. Lessons here will resonate with entrepreneurs and investors alike.”

— Jenn Summe

Partner at Primordial Ventures and Co-Founder of LiLa

  • “Bootstrapping Bronto is a great guide for founders thinking about how to shape their startup journey. It was good enough to be added to my must read list for first time founders. Give it a try and enjoy. Great job Joe!”

  • Bill Spruill

First Speaker of 2ndF and Co-Founder of Global Data Consortium

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Deep Dive of Bootstrapping Bronto

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Past Speaking Engagements with write-ups and videos