The recent trend in funding shows that companies are now expected to raise more money upfront to prepare for potential market changes, ensuring they remain fully funded during downturns.

Consider other funding options like crowdfunding, revenue-based financing, and small business loans, as each has its own benefits and trade-offs for launching and growing a company.

Many hard tech founders mistakenly believe they need large amounts of funding upfront, but Y Combinator encourages them to think like software companies and find ways to progress with less money.

Government partners are increasingly recognizing that the iterative process of developing technology is a feature, not a bug, and that it leads to better outcomes than traditional funding models.

To fund hardware companies, it's essential to secure customer purchase orders and not rely solely on venture capital funding.

Many founders extend their magical thinking to believe that funding comes from luck rather than understanding how the world truly works. They often think that if others got funded through luck, they can too, without studying the actual processes involved.

Offering multiple funding options helps people maximize their experience and meet their specific needs.

Having extra funding helps founders approach fundraising with confidence, making it easier to negotiate and plan without being influenced by fear.

Investors prefer to back entrepreneurs who are determined to succeed with or without their funding, as it reduces their risk.