Bootstrapping or taking venture capital money – that is the question!
Ron Rudzin self-financed his online mattress company, Saatva. Credit Bryan Anselm for The New York Times
Is it possible to grow to a mega-sized company without venture capital or angel funding? Is it possible to grow organically over time, be self-funded and eventually become a mega company?
There are no rights and wrongs, just the risks that start-up company founders have to weigh very carefully before taking any type of investment from a third party, or going it alone with no outside funding.
This article in the NY Times Entrepreneurship column a few weeks ago focused on start-up companies that have taken the road less traveled and did not seek or receive venture capital, but have achieved mega company size.
I encourage you to read the entire article, and let me know if you know of any company in the last twenty years that arrived at an IPO without venture capital or debt financing!