The Dark Truth About Chasing Money in Startups
- Bonny Morlak
- Jul 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 4
The dark truth about chasing money in startups is that it often does more harm than good. Founders are told to raise fast, scale big, and grab every dollar they can. It feels like success, but chasing money for the wrong reasons can quietly kill your startup and burn out your team.
In this post, we break down why chasing funding isn’t always progress, how it can trap you in bad decisions, and what you can do instead. This article is based on this week’s YouTube video, where I share my experience as a founder who raised, burned out, sold, and learned the hard way.
Why Chasing Money in Startups Can Backfire
Many founders equate raising money with success. But funding is not freedom, it is an obligation. More capital can create pressure to grow faster than your product or team can handle. It can push you toward vanity metrics instead of meaningful outcomes.
When you chase money without clarity, you risk:
Making rushed hiring decisions that hurt culture
Accepting investors who do not share your values
Building features for growth headlines instead of customer value
Define Success on Your Terms
One of the biggest lessons I learned is this: not every startup has to be a unicorn. For some, a lifestyle business that grows steadily is enough. For others, slow growth and product-market fit are more important than chasing the next round.
Get clear on what your version of success looks like. Ask yourself:
What do I want life to look like if this startup works?
Would more capital actually help, or just add pressure?
Choose Investors Who Align with Your Values
Investors bring more than money. They bring their vision for your company’s future. If you pick investors solely for speed or valuation, you may find yourself at odds with their expectations.
Do a vibe check: would you enjoy sitting next to them on a six-hour flight? Do they respect your values and long-term vision? Because you can’t “fire” investors easily.
Know Your True Financial Needs
Founders often chase bigger raises than necessary, thinking it signals strength. But every extra dollar comes with expectations.
Start with what you need, not what looks good in a press release:
Cover operational runway
Invest in the key hires who actually move the needle
Reserve for the experiments that accelerate learning
Cut vanity projects and focus resources where they matter most.
Conclusion
Chasing money isn’t evil, but doing it blindly is dangerous.
Define success on your terms, not someone else’s.
Choose investors who align with your values.
Know exactly how much you actually need.
If this resonated, share it with a founder who needs to hear it today.
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