Why Not? I don't need a $1B return, the VC does! It's critical not to confuse what a VC considers successful to what a founder would consider successful. The t

Why Not? I don't need a $1B return, the VC does! It's critical not to confuse what a VC considers successful to what a founder would consider successful. The two are not one and the same. Getting a VC to fund you is a means to an end, and you do it when you think (as they say) that you have a $1B idea, since you'll need all that cash to make it worth anyone's time. Bootstrapping a company though doesn't have those issues. You should use this approach when you have an idea that may be profitable and good to you, but isn't going to change the world. (Note that this definition classifies 95% of startups out there today) You only get into trouble when you're looking for VC money for something that isn't likely to pay off. VC's don't care, because they leverage you as a 1/10 chance already.