It was hard and I was lucky with my previous pre-IPO gigs at Airbnb and Twitter so I had some bootstrap fund. In retrospective a dev tools startup in 2017 with no network and no VC support was a crazy idea but I was young and didn’t think thought too much.
Then it was long 8 years of raw work and constant questioning this choice. Then finally a third component: luck. In 2024-2025 it kind of grew organically due to market changes and back in October 2025 I finally stopped questioning the future of Cirrus Labs.
My only advice if I may, try to get your first dollar from your startup while you are employed.
I am too late for that as I am full time but also lucky to have had a previous exit.
I am planning to go the VC route this time, because the problem I am going after feels VC size.
However I feel bootstrap or small F&F round gives you more flexibility when it comes to exits.
Congrats again!