Evan Teshima: Bootstrapping ForeUP to a Massive SaaS Exit and the $400k Chess Game

Episode notes

In this episode of the Startup Ignition Podcast, we sit down with Evan Teshima, founder and former CEO of ForeUP, a massive bootstrapped success story in the golf tech SaaS space. Evan shares his incredible journey from meeting John in a BYU classroom, enduring 5-7 rapid pivots during an accelerator program, navigating a near-death convertible note crisis resolved by a $400,000 chess game and desperate calls to family, scaling to over 2,300 golf courses with only $200k in outside capital, and ultimately achieving a huge acquisition with tax-free gains. Hear war stories, lessons on founder-led sales, customer-funded growth, and the true reward of the entrepreneurial grind (including retirement on a beach in Hawaii!). (00:00:44) Met John in school, he was my teacher (00:13:59) My first idea was a toilet seat controlled by a lever (00:16:25) I literally stood up... mark my words, this is gonna be the best company (00:19:39) Literally you pivoted somewhere between five and seven major times in about three months (00:24:43) My stinking point of sale is a POS... This thing sucks (00:25:22) Literally the software looked like Oregon Trail (00:28:46) Judy Flint...

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