Zip Co founder and chief Larry Diamond. Source: supplied. Photographer: Wesley Nell. The founders of both Afterpay and Zip have suggested their respective buy-now, pay-later businesses may have listed on the ASX before they were truly ready, in order to ensure their very survival. But in the years since, the ecosystem has evolved. There’s more VC funding around, more angel investors spreading their wings, and more successful entrepreneurs reinvesting their wealth. So, have we moved past a time where startups feel pressure to embark on a significant liquidity event? Or, are there other options for the Anthony Eisens and Larry Diamonds of today?