In 2016 you need to have a product that is 10x better than what is out there to be competitive. Maybe 10 years ago, great sales and marketing would have gotten you far, but not anymore.

Unfortunately creating a 10x product is extremely hard. It might take many many iterations before it gets anywhere close.

Also think that even if you manage to raise money, does your startup have the skill sets to efficiently allocate for growth. If your current team couldn’t produce a 10x product, are you sure you have the skills to hire people who can?

Maybe if your a first mover, any allocation even if inefficient might make you grow. But how many startups are in first mover markets? Do you have evidence that your startup is growing quickly, like quickly moving up the alexa and similarweb rankings, or is your revenue growing exponentially?

Startups might have more fundamental issues to address before they should raise money to fuel their growth engine. It might lead to better outcomes for all parties involved.