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Fundraising: KO is guaranteed. Honesty, no

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 08/10/2026, 08:41:24 UTC.

Briefings

The article argues that fundraising is not a guaranteed success and warns against treating rejection as a failure. It cites a 2016 study showing 101 investment opportunities per successful deal and a 2025 Sifted survey where 54% of founders reported exhaustion and 75% anxiety before fundraising. The author emphasizes that emotional resilience is not required for investment and that honest, direct conversations are superior to prestigious venues.

Key points

• A 2016 study of 885 venture capital investors analyzed 101 investment opportunities per successful deal, indicating a high volume of rejections.
• A 2025 Sifted survey of 138 founders found that 54% reported exhaustion and 75% anxiety before fundraising, highlighting the psychological toll of the process.

Context

The article challenges the common narrative that fundraising is a guaranteed path to success, using psychological research to suggest founders often endure significant stress. It advocates for direct, honest communication over prestigious venues.

Limitations

The 2016 study sample size of 885 investors is insufficient for generalization, and the 2025 Sifted survey of 138 founders is explicitly noted as a small sample rather than clinical diagnostics.

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