The entire VC model is to give a companies money so they can grow faster than they could on their own income. Most fail, some succeed so big it makes up for all

The entire VC model is to give a companies money so they can grow faster than they could on their own income. Most fail, some succeed so big it makes up for all the rest. So you shouldn't consider the money wasted even when you see one of the many failures. Even very rich people starting their second startup still take VC money instead of using their own, because 1) why lose your own money and 2) the VCs will pull all their connections for you once they have skin in the game.