At the seed stage, investors are more interested in your market potential than in detailed financial forecasts, which are more critical by Series A.

It's important to communicate the enormous business opportunity your startup presents, even if you can't provide precise long-term financial projections; focus on the potential customer base and market need instead.

Startups should avoid creating financial models based on linear growth assumptions, as this can lead to unrealistic hiring and spending expectations.

If you have six months of runway left, you should start thinking about raising money or achieving profitability, as waiting too long can reduce your leverage with investors.

Investing six to twelve months after initial contact can lead to better valuations and more information about the startup.

When considering the future of a company, it's vital to ask whether it will still be the leading company in 10, 15, or 20 years.

When advising early-stage companies, it's challenging to tell them they won't raise the funds they expect or execute their unrealistic spending plans for achieving product-market fit.

When pitching to investors, it's important to focus on the potential for significant growth rather than hedging against failure; confidence in your vision is key.

When a startup's runway decreases to about 12 months, founders often start making better decisions as they face pressure to perform.