Rework: outside money is plan Z.

Spending other people's money sounds great. There's a noose attached.

You give up control. Cashing out starts to beat building something good. Customers move down the totem pole. Raising money is incredibly distracting.

Mailchimp bootstrapped. Dyson kept control. Same rule I'm on — fund it myself until customers pay.

Take on as little outside cash as you can.