Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

by Tony Fadell

in marriage, you can’t just throw yourself at anyone who shows a little interest. You have to take time to find someone you’re compatible with—who doesn’t play games or pressure you too much—and make sure it’s the right moment for you to settle down. You don’t want to get married when your company is so young that you don’t know who you really are or what you want to become, or just because all your friends are doing it, or because you’re scared that if you don’t make a commitment now you won’t be able to find another relationship. You also have to understand your partner and their priorities. For example, a VC is beholden to the limited partners (LPs are large-scale investors or entities like banks or teachers’ unions or very wealthy families) who fund that VC—so they may push you to sell or go public before you’re ready in order to show value to the LPs. And a company with a VC arm, like Intel or Samsung, may use their investment in your company to wrangle a better business deal for themselves at your expense. Even if your funders have your best interests at heart—even if your mom is your angel investor—that doesn’t necessarily mean her money comes risk-free or with no strings attached.