Show you don't need to raise
Walsh, a Techstars mentor, says raising venture is not the first step in building a company and that raising too early is a death trap for 99% of first-time founders. He says to build something, sell it to your first 5 to 10 customers and stack early wins, and that then investors start chasing you and you negotiate from strength.
“The best way to raise is to show you don’t need to.”— Steve Walsh, Stop Raising. Start Building., Sep 2025
Do this
Contact five prospects this week and ask for a paid first order before you prepare any pitch deck.