How to Build a Bootstrapped Consumer Business

Stella Ma
Little Passports

During the 2008 economic downturn, Stella Ma and her business partner, Amy Norman, created a children’s education subscription business called Little Passports. Her passion to make travel more accessible and affordable to all children has led Ma to achieve a $25 million run-rate business. Her Perseverance these past nine years led to a household brand name that continues to innovate with expanded products including digital animation, books and localized goods. In her talk, Ma reveals the five strategies that have helped her consumer-brand company grow profitably without outside capital. Recently, Little Passports was named one of the top 10 best places to work by the San Francisco Business Times.