Exactly

If you cant afford it, why force it? No need to find a partner JUST to fund your forums...that will end up a total mess for you in the end. I can already see your partner taking everything and running with it....afterall, he/she technically owns it.

Find a good free host...or win a hosting package through a contest...and put phpBB on it. Once you make revenue, then buy vB down the road and convert. You dont HAVE to start with vB...it is always good to do it, but not required...like I already pointed out, the busiest forums on the net have always run on phpBB