My life as a startup founder is way better because I didn't take VC money. Here are 8 upsides.

• Melissa Kwan is the CEO and co-founder of eWebinar. 
• She says she doesn't have to answer to anyone else because she's bootstrapped. 
• Kwan also says she can put happiness above maximizing profits. 

I've built three startups over the past 13 years and consciously chosen not to raise venture capital for any of them, also known as "bootstrapping."