The first time I tried to implement stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 at scale, everything broke. Not metaphorically. Actually broke.
I used to think seed funding was about luck. Then I discovered this counterintuitive approach that changed everything.
The Framework That Actually Works
I'm going to share the exact framework I use when evaluating stop doing seed funding like it's 2024. It's not complicated, but it requires discipline.
Step 1: the data tells a different story than your gut This is where most people go wrong. They skip this step entirely and jump straight to execution. Don't do that.
Step 2: the market doesn't care about your roadmap Once you have the foundation right, this becomes much easier. I've watched founders struggle with this for months when the answer was staring them in the face.
Step 3: Iterate relentlessly Nothing works perfectly the first time. The companies in my portfolio that nail stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 are the ones that treat it as an ongoing process, not a one-time project.
The Reality Nobody Talks About
Most people approach stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 with assumptions that made sense five years ago. The world has moved on. When I look at my portfolio companies, the ones that succeed are doing something fundamentally different.
The first thing to understand is that the market doesn't care about your roadmap. I've seen this play out across dozens of companies. The pattern is unmistakable.
At RemoteTeam, we learned this the hard way. We spent months going down the wrong path before realizing that simplicity beats complexity every time. Once we made the switch, everything changed.
What I've Learned From 47 Companies
After investing in 200+ startups and running two companies to successful exits, I've developed a pretty clear picture of what works with stop doing seed funding like it's 2024.
The biggest misconception is that you need to the market doesn't care about your roadmap. That's backwards. The companies that win are the ones that timing is everything in this game.
I remember sitting with the Anthropic team early on and discussing how they thought about stop doing seed funding like it's 2024. Their approach was counterintuitive but brilliant.
The AI Angle
I can't talk about stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 in 2026 without mentioning AI. As someone who's invested in Anthropic, OpenAI, Scale AI, and Hugging Face, I have a front-row seat to how AI is transforming this space.
The short version: AI makes good practitioners better and bad practitioners worse. It's an amplifier, not a replacement.
I've seen companies use AI to 10x their stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 capabilities. I've also seen companies waste millions on AI solutions that solved the wrong problem. The difference comes down to understanding what you're actually trying to achieve.
This connects to broader themes around fundraising timeline, revenue-based financing, seed funding that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
The Bottom Line
Look, stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 isn't rocket science. But it does require intentionality, consistency, and a willingness to learn from mistakes.
If you take one thing from this article, let it be this: start now, start small, and iterate. The founders who win at stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 aren't the ones with the best strategy on paper. They're the ones who execute, learn, and adapt faster than everyone else.
I've been doing this for over a decade. The patterns are clear. The companies that take stop doing seed funding like it's 2024 seriously outperform the ones that don't. Every single time.
If you're working on something interesting in this space, I'd love to hear about it. Drop me a line.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I apply this thinking to my own situation?
Start by identifying the core principle behind the opinion, not the specific example. Then ask yourself: does this principle apply to my context? If yes, test it in a small, low-risk way before going all in.
What experience informs this perspective?
This perspective comes from over a decade of building companies in Silicon Valley, two successful exits (RemoteTeam to Gusto, MovieLaLa to Gfycat), and investing in 200+ startups including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Scale AI. I write about what I've lived.
How has this view evolved over time?
My thinking on most topics has changed significantly over the years. Early in my career, I held many conventional views that experience proved wrong. I try to update my beliefs when the evidence changes.