I’ve just had a fascinating chat with a founder who’s turned down VC funding, and opted for bootstrapping. They’re now profitable, growing, and, get this, t๐ฉ๐ฆ๐บ ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ 100% ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ช๐ณ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ! ๐ฒ
Venture capital has its place, but there’s an old industry joke that VCs only invest in “lemons” – businesses that couldn’t sell their product well enough to fund themselves. The truly delicious fruits? They’re self-sustaining from day one.
It’s worth remembering that bootstrapping isn’t settling for less, for many businesses, it’s choosing sustainable growth, maintaining control, and building on real customer value rather than pitch decks.
Not every journey needs rocket fuel. Sometimes organic growth gets you exactly where you need to go… just without the pressure to become a unicorn by Tuesday! ๐๐๐
What’s your take? Bootstrap or raise? We’re happy to discuss your experiences with either path.

Exit Strategy
The Mean Startup: Building a Business on a Budget That Actually Works
Starting a business doesn’t always require massive capital investment. At Exiteers we recommend adopting a strategic “mean” approachโbeing intentionally frugal without compromising qualityโfounders can extend