Bear Grips Pro ShopsPre-Seed Startup Swag on a Bootstrapped Budget
- Pre-seed means no warehouse, no $2,000 bulk order, no boxes of unworn sizes
- Order one hoodie per team member at the same per-piece price as a 100-unit order
- Total apparel cost for an 8-person pre-seed team stays under $300 on the VIP plan
- The shop scales with you from pre-seed to seed to Series A without rebuilding
Pre-seed startup swag means three to eight people, no warehouse, no $2,000 bulk apparel order, and no budget for inventory that might not get worn. A no-minimum on-demand shop fits the pre-seed stage exactly. Here is the lean apparel setup for a bootstrapped pre-seed team that scales with the company through seed and Series A.
Why Bulk Apparel Breaks at the Pre-Seed Stage
The bulk apparel model assumes 25 to 50 units minimum, 2 to 4 weeks lead time, and a warehouse to receive the order. None of that fits a 5-person pre-seed startup operating out of two cities, two coffee shops, and one Slack channel.
The on-demand model removes every constraint. One hoodie per team member, ordered when needed, shipped to the team member directly. The pre-seed team gets branded gear without the inventory commitment that comes with bulk ordering.
The Lean Pre-Seed Apparel Setup
The minimum-viable pre-seed apparel set is two items.
- One hoodie style: Pick the heavyweight pullover. Each team member orders their size. Total for an 8-person team runs around $295 on the VIP base price.
- One hat style: Pick a 5-panel or rope hat. Lower per-unit cost, ships small, works for any climate. Total for 8 hats runs about $215.
That gives the team branded gear at a total spend under $510 and zero warehouse footprint.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Pre-Seed Cost Math at 3, 5, and 8 People
| Team size | Hoodie cost | Hat cost | Total spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 people | $110 | $78 | $188 |
| 5 people | $184 | $130 | $314 |
| 8 people | $295 | $207 | $502 |
The Free tier covers three products live for $0 per month. The Self-Service VIP plan at $59 per month unlocks the lower base pricing above, breaking even after about 6 to 10 apparel orders per month.
How the Shop Scales as You Raise
The same shop link scales from pre-seed to Series A without rebuilding. Add new products as the team grows. Add a customer appreciation tee at seed stage. Add a conference booth polo at Series A. The brand stays consistent. The infrastructure does not change.
Read the Series A swag rollout post for the playbook when the team passes 15 people.
Set Up Your Pre-Seed Startup Shop
Lean apparel setup for a 3 to 8 person team. No minimum, no warehouse, US-printed, free shipping.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Can pre-seed founders use the free plan?
Yes. The free tier supports three products live at the higher base price. Most pre-seed teams start there and upgrade to the VIP plan after about 6 apparel orders per month.
How much budget does a 5-person pre-seed team need for swag?
About $315 in base cost on the VIP plan covers one hoodie and one hat per team member.
Do we need to commit to a bulk order to get good unit pricing?
No. The per-piece price is the same whether you order 1 unit or 100. Pre-seed teams pay the same per-hoodie rate as a 50-person company.
