It’s a sensitive case when looking at VC’s and when they are appropriate to seek out and have

them help with the publicity of your company or business. An example comes to mind in one of
the biggest failures in internet business history and that was Pets.com which opened in 1998
and closed soon after in 2000. With so much publicity and marketing placed on the company
including spots on the 2000 Super Bowl, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and even an
interview with the mascot of the company, a sock puppet dog, their sales rose dramatically.
However, the company structure was weak, like a balloon with plenty on the outside but
nothing on the inside. They were not prepared or over prepared by the VC’s at the time who
supported the idea and ultimately closed, losing an estimated price of $300 million dollars of
investment capital. It’s true that VC’s give certain companies power in the global eye but if that
company or business is not ready to maintain the possible influx of buyers and competitors,
then the investment will be a waste. When looking at global successes like Microsoft, Apple and
Facebook, their effective use of publicity has risen them above the rest but this is a fairytale
ending, most companies are still on the fence of failure even with a multi-million-dollar VC on
the sidelines.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dileeprao/2017/03/13/getting-publicity-is-not-always-the-best-
strategy-for-entrepreneurs/#1e5bc6de1242