A guide for founders, investors and corporate innovators
on turning ideas into financially sustainable businesses.
“Doesn’t matter if you’re building a startup, a department or a nonprofit, these bootstrapping lessons are universal.”
James Benham’s education in entrepreneurship started at an early age, from a father whose own education in entrepreneurship started even earlier. James has now spent over 20 years starting and scaling profitable, bootstrapped technology businesses while helping his clients do the same. From international insurers to the world’s largest construction companies, he’s helped thousands of businesses and innovators learn the bootstrapping mindset that has helped him maintain focus of his vision, maximize his equity in every business endeavor and ultimately earn him the freedom to build what he loves. If that’s your end goal, this book is your next read.
About the Author
James Benham is a serial entrepreneur, technologist, speaker, podcast host and pilot who is helping lead the insurance industry into the next age of innovation. As the CEO of JBKnowledge, James and his team have served as strategic business and technology advisors and as software development partners over the past 20 years.
James started his journey as a tech entrepreneur in his Texas A&M University dorm room in 2001 and has harnessed his passion for innovation to bootstrap multiple businesses to financial sustainability. James’ most successful bootstrapped exit occured in 2018 when he and his team sold their construction bid management software, SmartBid, in a multi-million dollar groundbreaking deal with ConstructConnect.
James is a sought after consultant and speaker at the forefront of innovation in the tech industry. His no-nonsense style and love for “geeking out” on technology has landed him keynote opportunities on over 400 conference stages in the last 15 years. James is also the host of the growing 70+ episode show, The InsureTech Geek Podcast, where he interviews leading insurance industry experts including the Chairman & Co-Founder of InsureTech Connect, Caribou Honig, and AXA XL executive, Rose Hall.
When James isn’t working hard on improving companies—his own or his clients’—he keeps himself busy as a Regent at Texas Southern University or with his many hobbies as a pilot, musician, Star Trek fan, tech gadget aficionado, and Lean Methodology “life hacker”.
Download a Free Chapter
In this chapter of Be Your Own VC, James shares his experience building, funding and empowering an R&D team at a startup. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or corporate innovator, learn from his process and insights to bootstrap your next breakthrough.
“I bootstrapped and sold my first startup, and James’s principles are valuable for any company no matter the size.”
“James knows firsthand that bootstrapping doesn’t just apply to startups—some of the oldest industries, like insurance, have only been disrupted from within by bootstrapped efforts of corporate innovators. This book is for those visionaries, too.”
“The reality is that we all exit our business one day. James Benham is a compelling thought leader on how bootstrapping can maximize the value you exit with. Whether you’re one or twenty years away from an exit, Be Your Own VC offers bootstrapping principles that every innovator can apply.”
“Benham nails it, as expected. Sometimes your best investor is yourself. Nobody understands cash flow management and bootstrapping as well as James, and the book is jam-packed with insights and war stories for the growing entrepreneur.”
“As construction is the world’s oldest industry, James and I have had to work hard to pull it into the future through technology. His experience has inspired me and many others to bootstrap their vision, think like a startup, and find the right partners to have an impact.”
