VC money or control? This question no longer arises!

Our columnist Jessica Holzbach believes that founders shouldn't have to choose between VC and bootstrapping. Because they need both. And it's possible.

A founder recently said something to me that has stuck with me: “If I hadn’t had the infrastructure, know-how, and people I could ask from day one, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

I could immediately relate to that. This sentence shows that the question of financing isn't as simple as it often seems – and should be carefully considered. According to studies, only around ten percent of all startups survive the first few years. And less than one percent ever manage to become a unicorn . So, money alone is rarely the answer.

That's precisely why it's worth taking a closer look at the common financing options and asking yourself: Which option suits my idea, my market, and my own mindset?

The usual approach: You bring investors on board, give up shares and participation rights, and receive capital in return. This brings speed , reach, and access to networks .

Here, 100 percent control lies with the founder. Everything is financed from their own resources or initial sales. It sounds like complete freedom , but it also means that every euro counts, and growth is slower.

Both paths have their advantages and disadvantages:

• VC : Speed, but loss of control and pressure of expectations.
• Bootstrapping : Control, but usually unrealistic in capital-intensive areas such as fintech.

My journey with Penta and Pile has shown me: As is so often the case, the truth lies somewhere in between. VC gave us the opportunity to grow quickly back then – it wouldn't have been possible without it. At the same time, however, the companies were never 100 percent our own again.

And more importantly, in recent years, the startup world has taught us a crucial lesson: the best financing is of little use if the founders themselves don't grow with it.

Or, as Naval Ravikant put it:

“If you want to scale your business, you have to be able to scale yourself.”

At the beginning of a company, we are everything: CEO, marketing, PR, finance—and sometimes even the first customer service department. We have to make countless decisions, constantly acquire new knowledge, and find ourselves in roles we never planned for.

What we need is a framework:

• Capital to test innovations and bring products to market.
• Infrastructure to provide quick access to talent, know-how and proven processes.
• Coaching and sparring to help founders keep pace and avoid going under.

That's why I'm convinced: The new form of early-stage startup financing is a combination: Own money and venture capital, combined with infrastructure and support – something like an ecosystem in which you can build and access resources.

So, if you're currently considering which financing model is right for you, remember: money is only one component of the investment. At least as important is whether your setup gives you the opportunity to grow with your company—and to grow with it as a founder.