Bootstrappers Breakfast: price, who can join and alternatives
Bootstrappers Breakfast runs moderated roundtables for founders building with limited resources and their own money. The Silicon Valley chapter has met since October 2006 and lists online sessions plus in-person breakfasts in Redwood City. Each event is listed at $10.00 and attendees pay for their own food.
Bootstrappers Breakfast at a glance
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Founders building with limited resources and their own money | meetup.com |
| Focus | The bootstrap model rather than VC fundraising | meetup.com |
| Next online session | Friday 30 October, online | meetup.com |
| Next in-person breakfast | Friday 6 November in Redwood City | meetup.com |
| Price | $10.00 per event listed, plus your own breakfast | meetup.com |
| History | Meeting since October 2006 | meetup.com |
| House rule | No selling or pitching to other attendees | meetup.com |
| Session length | Online roundtables run for 90 minutes | meetup.com |
| Chapters | Chapters in California, an online Midwest chapter and Las Vegas | bootstrappersbreakfast.com |
| Group size | 2,246 members in the Silicon Valley group | meetup.com |
Who it suits
- Self-funded founders who want peer advice on real problems
- Founders in Silicon Valley or anyone able to join online
- People who like small, moderated discussion
Who it doesn't suit
- Founders looking for investors or a pitch night
- Anyone hoping to sell to other attendees
- People wanting a daily online chat community
Alternatives to Bootstrappers Breakfast
| Community | Price | Entry rule |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier Tower | $190 a month or $1,800 a year (currency not named) | Apply online for citizenship |
| Hacker Dojo | Standard $150 a month or $1,350 a year (currency not named) | Sign up online; no approval for standard membership |
| Solo Founders Program | No fee published; 2.5% equity to participate, plus $100K on an uncapped MFN SAFE (currency not named) | Application; apply by Feb. 2027 |
| 1871 | Individual $200 a month or $2000 a year (currency not named) | Fill out an application form |
| 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub | Not published | Apply to join |
| Bay Area Founders Club | Not published | Subscribe to the newsletter; register for each event |
| Bootstrapped Makers | Free tier; Pro $19/mo or $190 for 12 months (currency not named) | Free signup with email; Pro optional |
| Capital Factory | Not published | Register for events; All Access network for experienced founders |
Compare all 471 founder communities, each row dated.
Questions about Bootstrappers Breakfast
- How much does a Bootstrappers Breakfast cost?
- Events on the Silicon Valley Meetup page are listed at $10.00, and everyone pays for their own breakfast, tip and tax.
- Can I join online?
- Yes. The Silicon Valley group lists online roundtables, including one on Friday 30 October, and there is a Midwest Online chapter.
- Is it about raising venture capital?
- No. The group says the emphasis is not on VC fundraising and that it focuses on the bootstrap model.
- Can I pitch my product?
- No. Selling or pitching products or services to other attendees is not allowed.
- Website
- meetup.com
- Price
- $10.00 per event on Meetup (currency not named)
- Entry rule
- Open; book each event; no pitching
- Format
- Moderated roundtables, online and in person
- Checked
Bootstrappers Breakfast isn't connected to Remote Builders. Prices and entry rules change, so check meetup.com before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the members' chat.