They often get a first pass free but they still have to succeed in the normal way.
My next thing is unlikely to be venture backed until it already has some success or momentum.
Which is not at-odds with your comment, although as a previously-successful entrepreneur, perhaps you can speak to whether or not there really is that backlash and premature judgment that he posits.
(Personally, as someone without much of a brand name, I relish the freedom that gives me to try stupid stuff. There's no way I'd be brave enough to try my current startup attempt - which is really quite humble - if everyone expected me to invent the next big thing.)
Can you elaborate a bit, Joshu? I took this to mean that you're electing not to seek venture backing early because of how it might skew incentives, but I can imagine some alternate readings as well.