On this pointCovering the checkout area with one click feels like a horse kick exercise, but we’d be remiss to skip our usual math on the Bolt situation.
Bolt is one of the better-known one-click players in a cohort of startups offering software to e-commerce retailers similar to Amazon’s “buy now” feature. Our very own Mary Ann Azevedo dug into space in May after former competitor Fast imploded.
The Fast story has become a cautionary tale. The still-living Bolt, meanwhile, is digesting a fundraising campaign, a customer lawsuit, an outspoken CEO transitioning to chairmanship, a huge historic burn rate, and a revenue base that seems incredibly modest compared to the most recent private valuation. The problems facing the company are not unique; a large number of unicorns will face unequal income, burns and valuation numbers in 2022.
But with Bolt, we may have something of an extreme case. The Information reported on the company’s financial situation last week, giving us an inside look at how today’s top-rated startups in the market are resetting their goals and spending in a more conservative market.
Earlier today, Marketingwithanoy dug into the abundance of unicorn, the effect of many late-stage startups that suffered from recent fundraisers pushing their valuation to impractical levels compared to current prices. We also discussed the years it will take some companies to grow to their most recent valuations. The Bolt saga is one of those stories.
Bolt’s Results vs Bolt’s Rating
Based on Marketingwithanoy reporting on Bolt’s fundraising history and his layoffs, as well as The Information’s piece discussing the company’s financial results, the following: