If you haven't already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. Ukrainian entrepreneur Vladimir Gendelman started as a solo entrepreneur in Detroit and has bootstrapped a $5M+ niche e-commerce company called Company Folders. Sramana Mitra: Let's start at the very beginning of your journey. Where are you from? Where were you born and raised? What kind of background? Vladimir Gendelman: I was born and raised in the former Soviet Union in Ukraine. We came to America when I was 16. Sramana Mitra: What brought you to America? Vladimir Gendelman: We're Jewish. Antisemitism was very big in the Soviet Union. The family made the decision to go to the US. Sramana Mitra: Where did you come in the US? Vladimir Gendelman: Detroit. Sramana Mitra: Then what happens? Vladimir Gendelman: A lot of unknowns from language, culture, to food. I was 16 years old and I was trying to brush it off that it's not a big deal. I just worked
Vladimir Gendelman: We also included a lifetime warranty. We are the only printing company that offers that. The standard is your order, you get it, and then
Sramana Mitra: What were you offering people to buy? Vladimir Gendelman: I started selling online right away. The very first version of the website was very
Ukrainian entrepreneur Vladimir Gendelman started as a solo entrepreneur in Detroit and has bootstrapped a $5M+ niche e-commerce company. Sramana Mitra: Let's start at the very beginning of your journey. Where are you from? Where were you born and raised? What kind of background? Vladimir Gendelman: I was born and raised in the former Soviet Union in Ukraine. We came to America when I was 16. Sramana Mitra: What brought you to America? Vladimir Gendelman: We're Jewish. Antisemitism was very big in the Soviet Union. The family made the decision to go to the US. Sramana Mitra: Where did you come in the US? Vladimir Gendelman: Detroit. Sramana Mitra: Then what happens? Vladimir Gendelman: A lot of unknowns from language, culture, to food. I was 16 years old and I was trying to brush it off that it's not a big deal. I just worked a lot. We didn't have any money. My parents had minimum-wage jobs in the beginning. They were making $3.25 an hour. I always wanted to own