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Obviously not written by an entrepreneur. Some people can be satisfied by working for someone their whole lives, others can't.


It's not like anyone is forcing these people to sell the company. You have the option.

If you're a whole-hearted entrepreneur, then don't sell.

Otherwise, a startup is a great way to get some experience, prove your value, and get a great job afterward.

If the option to sell to a large company who wants talent didn't exist, the downside to startups would be significantly greater.


The naive assumption here is that the sellout option is the entrepreneur's decision alone. If you've taken VC cash, you're answerable to a board of directors and a group of investors. If the money guys are getting cold feet, and want their cash out now, it's very hard (often impossible) to NOT sell.

If you've raised an A round, the easiest place to get your B round is the original set of investors (not least because it can keep the number of board seats/turnover low). If the A round guys want an acquisition exit and you refuse, not only are you spiting your best option for B round funding, you now have to raise money in an environment when all the other VCs know you ignored the last round of VCs' desires. Good luck getting your B round in that scenario.

Entrepreneurs may not want to be part of a talent acquisition, but often VCs do. If you're determined to never work for a big corporation you don't own, you better bootstrap forever and never take VC cash.




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