Traditional startup wisdom says you need to raise capital early and often. But is a funding-first mindset really the best way to build a sustainable business? For many founders—especially those who don’t fit the Silicon Valley mold—there’s an alternative approach: building business credit, not chasing venture capital.

This post digs into how a credit-first strategy can help small tech teams, indie hackers, and bootstrappers unlock new funding sources, improve resilience, and avoid diluting their vision or ownership.

Credit isn’t often discussed alongside venture capital, but a strong business credit profile can dramatically change a startup's trajectory. Have you or your team thought about building business credit as a buffer or alternative to equity funding? Are there pitfalls founders should know about—like personal guarantees, reporting agencies, etc.? Really curious to hear from founders who’ve bootstrapped with credit or who see advantages (or downsides) to this approach.

What’s worked? What hasn’t? Let’s share some lessons here.