The vast majority of businesses should not raise venture capital, as venture capitalists are not interested in investing in most businesses.

In the early days, there wasn't a venture capital industry, and it was unusual for a 16-year-old to have a profitable business.

Venture capital is funding from professional investment firms in exchange for equity, suitable for businesses with significant growth potential that need substantial cash to grow quickly.

None of the trillion-dollar software companies have been bootstrapped without venture capital; it's important to recognize that achieving such scale typically requires VC funding.

Venture Capitalists (VCs) invest small amounts of money to acquire equity in startups, hoping that a few will grow large enough to cover the losses from unsuccessful investments.

We realized that venture capital is a mediocre product for entrepreneurs, offering little more than money and occasional advice, which diminishes quickly over time.

The decision to bootstrap or seek venture capital is crucial; most entrepreneurs do not rely on VC funding.

Fundraising does not guarantee success; most startups that raise money do not achieve significant revenue.

Venture capitalists can offer substantial capital, assist with hiring executives, and provide operational support, but they require significant equity and expect rapid growth to generate returns.