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Salguero: As funding rounds grow, VCs scrutinize the business less

Mike Salguero · He raised $30M & failed. Then raised $0 & grew to $550M in revenue. Here's what he learned. | Mik... · PMF Show · Apr 21, 2025 · at 14:30

ButcherBox founder Mike Salguero reflects on raising multiple venture rounds for CustomMade, noting that later and larger funding rounds involved significantly less scrutiny.

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“The thing that I think people don't realize is the more money you raise, the less people actually look at your business.”

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