English · Work & Business
bootstrap
/ˈbuːtˌstræp/
[/ˈbuːtˌstræp/]
start without outside funding
Advancedverb
Definition
To start and build a business using only personal resources, without external investment.
Example
They bootstrapped the company for two years before taking any outside money.
They bootstrapped the company for two years before taking any outside money.
Etymology
From the phrase 'pull oneself up by one's bootstraps'; the startup sense is modern.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in startups and entrepreneurship.