under Processing Under Processing...

1Mby1M Accelerator Curriculum for Solo & Bootstrapped Startups

Sramana Mitra, founder of 1Mby1M, introducing the 1Mby1M Accelerator Curriculum, a case study based entrepreneurship education framework for solo founders and bootstrapped startups

The 1Mby1M Curriculum is a comprehensive, case study-based entrepreneurship education framework developed from lessons shared by over 1,000 successful founders worldwide. Designed to empower solo founders and bootstrapped startups, this curriculum focuses on practical execution and building capital-efficient businesses through real-world insights.

The 1Mby1M Curriculum is available through 1Mby1M Premium and 1Mby1M Basic, two membership programs designed for founders at different stages.

Get a Strategy Audit for Your Startup from the 1Mby1M AI Mentor, Your 24/7 Co-founder, in 57 Languages

Try AI Mentor – 3 Free Messages

No equity. No relocation. Start immediately.

Case Study Based Learning Philosophy

At the core of the 1Mby1M Curriculum is case study based learning. Instead of abstract theories, founders learn from real startup journeys, practical challenges, and proven strategies used by entrepreneurs who have built sustainable companies. This approach ensures every lesson is actionable and grounded in reality.

Core Curriculum Topics

The curriculum covers essential topics every founder needs to master:

Elective Curriculum Topics

Electives provide deeper expertise in emerging technologies, industry verticals, and entrepreneurial perspectives:

How Founders Use the Curriculum

The 1Mby1M Curriculum supports founders at every stage of their startup journey:

  • Idea Stage: Learn to identify viable opportunities and validate concepts.
  • Validation Stage: Develop customer insights and refine product-market fit.
  • Scaling Stage: Master growth strategies and team development for sustainable success.

A Living Curriculum

The curriculum evolves continuously to stay relevant with the latest market trends, technological advances, and entrepreneurial best practices. New case studies and electives are regularly added to reflect emerging sectors and innovation.

About the 1Mby1M Methodology

The 1Mby1M Methodology emphasizes capital efficiency, bootstrapping-first strategies, and building businesses designed to succeed with or without venture capital. It combines rigorous analysis, founder experience, and practical execution to maximize startup potential.

Try AI Mentor – 3 Free Messages

Testimonials

“1Mby1M is a very helpful program, and Sramana is very well connected in the industry. When we were looking to talk to investors, Sramana introduced us to multiple investors, and also acted as an advisor helping us navigate complex term sheet clauses like tranche financing and liquidation preferences. 1Mby1M also helped us win the $40,000 Microsoft BizSpark Startup Challenge Grant by helping us refine our pitch, market sizing analysis, and other details. I would enthusiastically recommend the 1Mby1M program for first time entrepreneurs and technical founders who need help with understanding other aspects of running a business.”

Girish Mathrubootham,  Founder & CEO at Freshworks – Raised $484 Million in Funding and went Public on Nasdaq with a $10B+ Valuation

“Working with the 1Mby1M team is perhaps one of the best decisions I’ve made on the spur of the moment. I was tracking 1Mby1M for a while and used to get their e-newsletter. I was always cynical about the pay to play model in the Bay Area. I tested the model quite late in our evolution on a whim and was surprised by everything. It was the best $1000 spent. I would strongly urge founders who are at the ideation stage to sign up – you will save yourself a lot of time, trouble and resources. Through 1Mby1M, I was introduced to Warren Weiss, a renowned former sales executive who worked with Steve Jobs at NeXT, and is now a successful VC in Silicon Valley.”

Dharmesh Singh,  Co-founder and CEO, Fullcast - Raised $4 Million in Series A Funding

“I joined the 1Mby1M Premium program in 2020 and had a very good experience interacting with Sramana. Her inputs during the private roundtable sessions added a lot of value; she addressed the exact objectives I had. She also made a number of valuable introductions. Overall, the program had a very positive influence on our journey.”

Abinash Saikia,  Co-founder of EnCloudEn, Acquired by Quantum Corporation in 2021

“The 1Mby1M program has been a phenomenal help to us. Within days of joining, Sramana introduced us to some key folks in the industry and helped open new doors for us. Her advice is real, focused, and actionable. I would highly encourage entrepreneurs, especially first-time entrepreneurs, to leverage the program. Many thanks for all the help, support and mentorship through the years.”

Vikrant Mathur,  Co-Founder at Future Today

“Working with Sramana Mitra and the 1Mby1M Premium program has been invaluable for Adya as a bootstrapped company to better understand how to best position the product and the company while working within constraints. Sramana has a very fresh perspective that promotes bootstrapped startups making slow, steady progress while rejecting the need for institutional investments. This also makes companies better targets for acquisitions. Thanks to her introductions, we were able to pitch Adya to the right companies at the senior executive levels. This led to, I am happy to say, an acquisition of Adya by Qualys! Without Sramana, this happy outcome would likely not have happened.”

Deepak Balakrishna,  Co-Founder and CEO, Adya (Acquired by Qualys)