I actually boot-strap my own projects. So in a sense, you're right. I probably never would take VC funding. I don't think terribly highly of them, but I do think it would be naive for them to not want you succeed.
Thank you for finally highlighting something pivotal in our discussion: the shared interest (or lack thereof) in your success. Like I said, it doesn't totally add up to me. If you remain majority shareholder in your business, it seems hard for them to walk off with more than you would at the liquidity event (e.g, your company is acquired, an IPO, etc).
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. They're not 100% against your interests, but not necessarily 100% for them, either.
Sure, sometimes VC align with your interests. But I'm just trying to make the point that taking their advice without thinking about it is ... inadvisable.
I've seen super terrible things happen to people. Sometimes you have to jump up and down and make a lot of noise that "notes on how to start a startup by YC" should be taken with much salt.
Thank you for finally highlighting something pivotal in our discussion: the shared interest (or lack thereof) in your success. Like I said, it doesn't totally add up to me. If you remain majority shareholder in your business, it seems hard for them to walk off with more than you would at the liquidity event (e.g, your company is acquired, an IPO, etc).
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. They're not 100% against your interests, but not necessarily 100% for them, either.