“it's just a lot easier when you when you don't take their money you can you can you can try all kinds of things and then the things that are working if you you know then it's a small bet for you to take the capital because now the thing's already working”

A working business has leverage; an idea with VC dollars has none

VC funding traps founders in a single bet they can't walk away from. Make the thing work first using small bets, then take capital only if it accelerates something already proven. The unfunded operator has the option to try ten things and keep what works; the funded one has to make the chosen thing succeed.