[nostrademons]

It also helps build relationships and align incentives with powerful firms that can be very useful in arranging an exit and getting the best price for it.

Microsoft took a small mezzanine round right before they went public. They didn't need the cash, but it brought investment bankers on board so that they had an incentive to get the best possible price in the IPO. Similar story with Whatsapp; they didn't need the cash, but having Sequoia on board gave them a stamp of approval that probably helped their negotiating leverage both in attracting employees and in selling to Facebook.