Lost in this argument is any consideration of whether the VC money is necessary for growth. I took DHH's argument to be that the award of VC money is what's cel

Lost in this argument is any consideration of whether the VC money is necessary for growth. I took DHH's argument to be that the award of VC money is what's celebrated instead of accomplishing the task of building a successful business. While I certainly agree that there are several cases of startups taking VC money and becoming acquired or building huge, lasting businesses, it is tough to produce much evidence that that route has a high expected value. I would also say that based upon my own interactions with hopeful entrepreneurs, WAY too many are asking questions centered on raising investment cash instead of doing the hard stuff like building and selling.