Hi {{first_name OR "there"}},
thank you for being part of this newsletter.
As I mentioned before, the main goal of The Bootstrap Insider (Basic) is simple:
to help you find equity-free prize money and opportunities that actually move your startup forward.
Right now, many of us are in holiday mode. We’ll start delivering the regular competition content again in the second week of January, so you’ll need a little patience 😊
But on Sundays, I’m sharing something different: Thoughts of the Week.
Personal learnings. Reflections. Things that stuck with me.
It’s not a fixed category yet—but if you enjoy this kind of content, give me a sign.
Best,
Bartosz
Greetings from my desk
Personal NOTE:
Donations Instead of Gifts
Every year I ask myself the same question:
Should I send my clients a small Christmas gift?
This year I consciously decided not to.
Why?
Last year I realized: public-sector clients often have strict limits on gifts. Many parcels were returned or sat for weeks in mailrooms. On top of that there’s CO₂, packaging, and shipping costs—lots of effort for something that often doesn’t arrive or isn’t really needed.
So: what would be the better gesture?
My decision:
For all of my clients from 2025, I will donate €10 each.
On top of that, I will add 1% of my profit after taxes.
And there’s a very personal reason behind this:
As a self-employed person, I know how closely revenue is tied to your own health. Without health there’s no energy, no clarity, no daily routine, no progress. I’m incredibly grateful for that—for this healthy year 2025.
At the same time I know: this is not something to take for granted. There are people—children too—for whom fate has decided differently. They get sick without having done anything wrong. That’s exactly where I want to help. And I know this support truly reaches those who need it.
Where will the donation go?
To Deutsche Leukämie-Forschungs-Hilfe – Aktion für krebskranke Kinder – Ortsverband Mannheim e.V.
A non-profit charitable organization that supports families whose lives can come to a standstill from one day to the next.
I was there in person to see for myself. In the next few days, I’ll also share some photos.
If you’d like to join in, you’re warmly invited:
Bank: Sparkasse Rhein-Neckar Nord
Account no.: 3800 3801
Bank code (BLZ): 670 505 05
IBAN: DE93 6705 0505 0038 0038 01
BIC (SWIFT): MANSDE66XXX
Reference: Science
If you use the reference “Science,” I will share transparently here at the end of 2025 how much we’ve collected together. ❤️
Thank you!
More information: https://www.krebskranke-kinder.de/unterstuetzen-sie-uns/
One Quote That Changed My Wishes for 2026
This Christmas, we spent some wonderfully calm and slow days as a family.
And here in Germany, in some households, it’s not Santa Claus who brings the presents—but the Christkind.
The Christkind brought me a book called:
“Über die Kunst, Geld bewusst einzusetzen”
(The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life)
In very simple terms, the book is about this:
Money is not the goal.
Money is a tool.
How we spend it shapes our life.
And small choices often matter more than big ones.
Not a recommendation
If you’re already hovering over the Amazon buy button: I can’t fully recommend the book. There’s nothing fundamentally new in it, and the German translation is… okay. Maybe the English version is better—but the Christkind decided otherwise.
Still, in the entire book, there was one page.
One story.
One gem.
And that’s what I want to share with you.
The Story From The Book
I once heard an unforgettable story about a priest. This priest spent decades in hospitals, giving last rites to dying people.
Through this, he gained a unique perspective: he witnessed how people say goodbye at the very end of life. When a parent was dying, children often turned to him in despair. “How do I say goodbye to a parent who was so important to my life? How do I express what they meant to me?”
The priest advised them to go into the room one by one and thank the dying parent for the single thing they were most grateful for.
“In families with many problems and strained relationships,” the priest said, “children often thanked their parents for something that cost money.”
“Thank you for paying for my education. Thank you for putting food on the table. Thank you for buying me a car.”
“But in families with healthy and strong bonds,” he continued, “the children always said the same thing:”
“Thank you for believing in me.” (p.168, Morgan 2025)
WOW.
That sentence went straight to my heart.
Thank you for believing in me.
How powerful is that?!
And then I asked myself a very uncomfortable question.
What am I actually planning for 2026?
Before reading this book, I had already started working on my growth plans:
better, faster, more efficient.
More impact.
More reach.
More clients.
But where, exactly, do I plan space for the small things?
Spending time with my family.
Supporting my children in reaching their goals.
Being present.
Believing in them.
Supporting my wife—not just logistically, but emotionally.
None of this appears in a spreadsheet.
There’s no KPI for it.
No dashboard.
No growth metric.
And yet, this one page reminded me of something very simple:
Life is more than chasing more money, more clients, more whatever.
So for 2026, I’m taking this personally.
I’m asking myself one guiding question:
How can I become a person that my family and friends will one day say:
“Thank you, Bartosz, for believing in me.”
If I get that right, growth will take care of itself.
Do you want to read more of that stuff?
With that, I wish you a wonderful start into the new year.
May 2026 bring you great opportunities—and the clarity to choose what truly matters.
See you next year 😃
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About The Bootstrap Insider
The Bootstrap Insider is a newsletter that helps startups discover and apply for pitch competitions, ensuring they never miss out on valuable opportunities. It addresses the problem of missed funding and exposure chances due to lack of information. Created by Bartosz Kajdas, an experienced entrepreneur, venture builder and Pitchtrainer, the platform leverages his expertise to provide timely and relevant updates.
Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. We shall not be liable for any damages arising from the use or non-use of the information provided.