Should Startups Focus on Profitability or Not?

One issue many founders never think of is that if you get VC and focus on growth and not profit, you are putting yourself in a riskier position where your shares could be worthless.

If the company ever sells, they will definitely be looking at profit when it comes to valuation and if it's over-valued, VC gets paid out first.

I think many startup founders have it backwards: They have a good idea and they try to shoe-horn in a business model (that sometimes works).

Instead, come up with the business model first and then come up with a great idea around it. I've done this with my last two companies and I was profitable from day 1.