>> If you start from a wrong set of axioms, you would eventually end up with a flawed conclusion.
While cash flow comes into it, I think the primary axiom which is different (between VC and bootstrap) is the definition of success.
A bootstrap company is successful if it makes a profit, and remains in business. Some growth is nice, but there are plenty of one-man / familiy businesses to show that growth is not required.
By contrast a successful VC business goes out of business early, or with (these days) a multi-billion $ exit. Like a company that exits with a $50 million OVER investment is a failure.
If you want to win huge or nothing, then VC is the path to that. As a founder if you want to retire with money in the bank, then VC is "probably" not the right choice.
Of course the optimum might be a mix- take VC money till you're 30, if it doesn't work out you still have time to build a nest-egg the old fashioned way.
While cash flow comes into it, I think the primary axiom which is different (between VC and bootstrap) is the definition of success.
A bootstrap company is successful if it makes a profit, and remains in business. Some growth is nice, but there are plenty of one-man / familiy businesses to show that growth is not required.
By contrast a successful VC business goes out of business early, or with (these days) a multi-billion $ exit. Like a company that exits with a $50 million OVER investment is a failure.
If you want to win huge or nothing, then VC is the path to that. As a founder if you want to retire with money in the bank, then VC is "probably" not the right choice.
Of course the optimum might be a mix- take VC money till you're 30, if it doesn't work out you still have time to build a nest-egg the old fashioned way.