As a YC B2B alum, not totally impartial, but also not totally uninformed.  I think you may have the wrong take-away from your experience.<p>I&#x27;m sorry you had a bad experience in LA. I agree a lot of the stuff you wrote about that accelerator sounds like unconscionable bullshit.  The amazing thing is it is far from the worst I&#x27;ve read about.  I&#x27;m glad you realize it was crappy.<p>Yes, there are ways to bootstrap a B2B business: early sales&#x2F;revenue.  The risk is becoming a consultancy, or losing your market to someone who is better funded.  I wouldn&#x27;t say you <i>have to</i> raise (even for consumer), but I also wouldn&#x27;t say you shouldn&#x27;t, and in the current market, raising is probably the best choice for someone who fits the scale&#x2F;size&#x2F;winner-take-all model, even in B2B.<p>2.9%? Why does a specific percentage matter?  If someone takes 10% and tanks your business, that&#x27;s bad.  If I could get YC level value-add (network, advice, reputation) as a developer tool company focused on startups for 25% of common from a huge value-add investor, I&#x27;d seriously consider it.  But of course I&#x27;d rather take YC for 7% and all the other YC benefits.