Across dozens of first-time founders, the pattern is the same. They think raising money should be fast. Just send a deck, say the right things, and boom, money in the bank! Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.

The Reality

Investors want to get to know you before they wire you a million dollars. They want to see you actually make progress, not just talk about it. That takes time. Several months of it.

It’s Normal

So if you’re not getting checks right away, it’s normal. Nearly everyone goes through it, and news headline fast rounds are an edge case. Those mostly happen for founders with 1+ previous exits, celebrity founders, or those with massive networks.

If you’re new to the finding funding experience, understanding this reality upfront will save you a lot of frustration.

Who Gets Funded

The founders who stick with it, keep building, keep checking in, they’re the ones who get funded. If you’re in a hurry, this game will drive you nuts. If you play the long game, you’ll win.

Many founders make the mistake of going in broke and expecting quick results, which only adds unnecessary pressure to an already challenging process.

Conclusion

Raising money takes time. Investors need to see real progress and build trust with you before writing checks. Fast rounds make headlines, but they’re the exception, not the rule.

The founders who succeed are the ones who keep building and stay consistent, even when the checks aren’t coming in right away.

Play the long game, and you’ll win.