There's a hybrid approach: Indie.vc. It's a VC investment, but the focus is on profitability and sustainability. The terms of an Indie.vc deal let them get paid

There's a hybrid approach: Indie.vc. It's a VC investment, but the focus is on profitability and sustainability. The terms of an Indie.vc deal let them get paid back via traditional methods (IPO, acquisition), but more importantly, there's also an optional/alternative cash distribution sharing mechanism for paying out via profits over time.