Most founders think VC-backed means rich, but bootstrapping means poor. Not true. I’ve done both: VC exits are rare: most are small, and only a tiny few are big. Founders are diluted to 10%, locked for years with an earnout. Bootstrapping to $3.7M/y at 80% margin equals $3M/y in profits, which is $30M/10y. But the VC path means hoping for a big exit after years. I raised pre-seed to Series A 10+ times and stayed poor, dreaming of billions that never came. I knew 1,000+ founders, but only a few achieved life-changing exits. My profits fund whatever I want here & now, not in some imaginary future. I'm my own boss, earning money now while spending time with my family and living life on my terms. Ofc, if you wanna make a billion-dollar exit, VC path is the way to go, but idk, that's a fking lottery to me.