This post is for my Xitter followers and a way to finally write down something I wish I’d found before starting. I run AikoCORP, an AI research startup doing offensive security. Started around November 2023. Wasn’t active on Twitter then, mostly lurked, until the Dingboard incident—had the silly idea to run the first Aiko prototype on it, it took it down. Then Yacine Effect happened, rest is history. I planned to bootstrap at first, especially after the crazy revenue in the first month. But things changed, VCs started reaching out. Said no to most offers, some said no to me, but one VC really “got it.” and I partnered up with them. I still don’t regret that call. ...