When Bhavik Vasa asked a room full of founders, “How many of you feel debt is scary and expensive?” almost every hand went up. It was one of those moments that said more than words ever could, a simple question revealing a deeply ingrained fear shared by countless entrepreneurs.
This happened at the Kula Conclave hosted by 200 Million Artisans, where conversations went far beyond funding and numbers. Watch here
As founders opened up about their journeys, one thing became clear: the story we’ve been told about debt is changing.
We grew up in a culture that taught us debt was dangerous, a sign of failure, not ambition. For decades, it carried a heavy reputation, something to be avoided rather than embraced. But debt itself was never the villain. It was the system around it, rigid structures, long approval cycles, and endless paperwork that made borrowing feel intimidating.
As Bhavik said at the Kula Conclave, “Debt doesn’t have to be feared; it just needs to be understood.”
Today, that understanding is reshaping the way businesses access capital. Modern financing has evolved to match how businesses actually operate fast, digital, and dynamic. Cash flow-based financing, for instance, aligns repayments with revenue cycles, letting founders repay when they earn. It’s flexible, founder-friendly, and built for real business rhythms.
(Explore smarter funding options like cash flow-based financing that grow with your business.)
When used wisely, debt isn’t a burden; it’s leverage. It fuels growth, funds inventory, drives marketing, and helps businesses scale without giving up ownership. The real difference between good and bad debt comes down to one thing: control. Understanding your cash flow and planning repayments turns borrowing into a strategy, not a risk.
When built on timing, trust, and transparency, debt becomes more than an obligation, and maybe it was never the problem at all, just a story we needed to rewrite.
