VC-backed founders who brag about vanity metrics are LOSERS.
❌ "We raised $10M!" → Cool, but can you actually make money?
❌ "We’re now 100 employees!" → Sounds expensive. Are you profitable?
I know this game because I’ve played it myself.
When I went through YC and raised $6M, I fell into the same trap—thinking funding was an achievement in itself.
The results?
Like most startups, I’ll let you guess...
(hint: it didn’t end in a billion-dollar exit)
Somehow, we’ve created a culture where fundraising is treated as success instead of what it really is — a stepping stone.
Hiring a massive team is seen as an achievement, even if the business isn’t sustainable.
But at the end of the day, none of this matters if you can’t build something that lasts.
Instead, let’s normalize bragging about what actually counts:
✅ MRR growth → Because that’s what keeps the lights on.
✅ Customer success stories → Because happy customers = sustainable business.
✅ Profitability → Because real businesses don’t burn cash forever.
VC money isn’t validation.
Headcount isn’t a milestone.
What actually matters is whether your business can stand on its own.
Let’s stop celebrating vanity metrics and start recognizing real wins—the ones that drive sustainable, profitable companies.
Agree?
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👋 Don't know me? I'm J.Y! I've been building things and making money online since 2017, and I share my entrepreneurial journey here on LinkedIn.