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McGee: Bootstrapped startups cannot afford Microsoft partnerships due to slow sales

Laura McGee · How to Bootstrap Through Partnerships | Laura McGee, Founder of Diversio · PMF Show · Nov 1, 2022 · at 12:45

Laura McGee, founder and CEO of workplace diversity software platform Diversio, explains why early-stage bootstrapped startups should avoid massive corporate partnerships.

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“I think if you're bootstrapping, you don't have the luxury of trying to partner with Microsoft, frankly. We've explored a few partnerships like that and you're like, okay, it's like a year and a half long sales cycle. So unless you're going to make no money for a year and a half, when you're bootstrapping, that's not an, Option.”

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