If tomorrow you decided to go and raise $100k from an angel (or if you received a $100k small business grant) to pay off your credit card debt and replenish some of your savings, I wouldn't immediately kick you out of the "bootstrapped founder" community.
I see your point though. There is "pure 100% bootstrapped" and "mostly bootstrapped, but not completely". IMO it's a spectrum. Just like the term "startup" - it's a spectrum, no binary definition.
I see your point though. There is "pure 100% bootstrapped" and "mostly bootstrapped, but not completely". IMO it's a spectrum. Just like the term "startup" - it's a spectrum, no binary definition.