Yeah -- but what are the chances SpaceX would exist if Musk hadn't personally invested the first $100m?
And Tesla might have been cheaper at first, but Musk led the A round and participated in every funding until the F round (!).
Without a deep pocketed founder willing to absorb years of losses, what are the chances Tesla ever makes it to market? Even so they nearly died before they shipped the roadster.
He funded his own idea. The definition of "VC funding" isn't a concrete thing. What's important is the distinction between the way companies like Tesla and SpaceX came to where they are today when compared with companies like Instagram and Facebook.
And Tesla might have been cheaper at first, but Musk led the A round and participated in every funding until the F round (!).
Without a deep pocketed founder willing to absorb years of losses, what are the chances Tesla ever makes it to market? Even so they nearly died before they shipped the roadster.