Tomasz Stanczak, co-executive of the Ethereum Foundation, discussed his decision to avoid early venture funding during Ethereum's development in a recent interview. Stanczak highlighted that the early stages of Ethereum client work lacked a fundable narrative, making venture capital unrealistic. He emphasized that limited credentials and investor skepticism led him to focus on building software rather than pitching ideas. Stanczak explained that bootstrapping allowed him to reduce pressure and risk, enabling progress that eventually validated his long-term vision of institutional Ethereum use. He noted that early development lacked a clear business model, and investors were skeptical about monetization and viability. Despite these challenges, Stanczak chose to let his work speak for itself, believing that proving ideas through working software was more effective than investor meetings. By relying on personal resources, Stanczak managed to sustain development without external pressure, which he believes could have increased risk. He reflected that this approach allowed him to align closely with the current institutional use of Ethereum, demonstrating the success of his initial vision.