Debate: Bootstrapping vs VC funding after my Atlanta pitch tanked

I pitched at a startup event in Atlanta last month and got grilled by an angel investor who said my slow growth plan was a waste of time. He argued I need VC money to scale fast or I'll get crushed by competitors, but another founder there said bootstrapping kept him in control and profitable. Which side has actually worked for you guys in the real world?

2 comments

2 Comments

martinez.anna1mo ago

Man, getting grilled by an angel investor sounds about as fun as a root canal. My take is bootstrapping all the way, your mileage may vary. I watched my friend bootstrap his landscaping business for two years before he even thought about taking outside money, and now he's sitting pretty. Meanwhile, I've seen three VC-backed startups in my neighborhood burn through cash and shut down in less than a year.

aaron_ellis421mo ago

Right, get grilled and then have to choose between getting owned or staying broke.