Ideation

The birth of the product/service.

Ideation involves the newly minted bootstrapper dedicating time and energy towards creating a Demo of the product or service they wish to offer. This stage involves finding a complementary dance partner - a cofounder - who will serve as a key collaboration partner.

There is a misplaced myth in the importance of finding investor capital during this stage. The Bootstrapper must have the discipline to avoid taking this step.

This stage is similar to the Road of Trials as described by Joseph Campbell.

• Previous Stage: Preideation
• Next Stage: Valley of Death