When you start-up you are building a fire and there is lots of wood to chop. Most founders could bring down trees by hand and snap the logs into fire wood over your knee. You have a vision, you are consumed, you will get it done with tools or with your bare hands — somehow, some way it will get built and it will burn.
VCs are tools. Tools are heavy, hard to carry and if not handled properly, they can hurt you. But, a good tool applied to the right problem at the right time can make you more efficient and help you build with higher quality and greater precision. The best tools can open up new worlds of possibility and help you focus on hitting exactly what you’re aiming for; remove friction and point all your energy at blasting through the market you are attacking.
When you are ready to build, tool choice really matters.
The best builders know what they need, how to choose the best tools and get the massive leverage from a great match of tool/builder/project. When you are about to put metal to wood, ready to make the first cut, take the time to carefully evaluate and select your tools. There are a ton of options out there and most are great for a specific job — each offers specific advantages and all have specific limitations.
There are lots of axes you can choose to pick up and swing. Make sure you don’t bring an ice axe to get shit done in the wood shed.