One of the questions I get often from founders: “Should I raise money or bootstrap?”
I think this is like asking “should I get married?”
The right answer is: marriage is wonderful. But only if you marry the right person.
Likewise, raising money can be great – if you raise from the right investor.
Good investors will do many things to help you succeed, from giving honest product feedback to navigating an exit. Raising money from a good investor works as a great signal for PR and hiring.
But if you can’t find great investors, and you’re in a lucky position where you don’t have to raise, then don’t raise – you get less diluted and have fewer people potentially giving you stress.