Often I get asked the question: When is the right time to take venture capital? My answer is: Never. Unless you absolutely need to take a round, the best way to start a company is by bootstrapping it yourself.
When I founded Shutterstock in 2003, I decided to take a different route than most entrepreneurs. Way too typically, one would put together a business plan and find funding. What most people don’t realize is that there are plenty of tools out there to start your own company with just a few thousand dollars. If you can figure out how to avoid an angel or venture round, you will have much more control in the long run. This isn’t always possible - but I
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