This is a bit circular, but...it doesn't work because others will use VC. Those using VC will make more progress because they wont be hindered by side gigs to b

This is a bit circular, but...it doesn't work because others will use VC. Those using VC will make more progress because they wont be hindered by side gigs to bootstrap the company. If they have good metrics, they will also have access to growth capital which can either out-fund or flat out smother unfunded competitors. How do I know? I raised some funding for our startup (3yrs full-time) but bootstrapping further was unsustainable vs competitors who were fundraising. VC funded competitors could hire more, sell more, compensate more. The market becomes skewed. Is it good for the VC-backed competitors? Sort of. They survive. They have longer stories. But they get diluted. Many die as they try to swing for the fences (as VCs want, power law and all...) Some get fired by VC-dominated boards. Some are sent on wild goose chases by outsider funders. This probably happens less-so with better VCs.