Essays/linkedin/25-08-12 why many deep‑tech startups fail after seed—and how to avoid it

🌱 Getting seed funding is exhilarating. It also marks the beginning of the hardest stretch. Many deep‑tech startups stumble here. Why?

• Long timelines. Hardware and scientific validation take longer than software sprints. Burn rate can outpace progress.
• Customer disconnect. Founders retreat to the lab and stop talking to users. They ignore Steve Blank’s call to keep learning. • Misaligned expectations. Investors expect milestones that look like SaaS metrics. Deep‑tech has different KPIs.

To avoid the post‑seed sinkhole:
1️⃣ Keep engaging with customers. Customer discovery doesn’t stop at seed; it intensifies.
2️⃣ Set the right metrics. Measure technical milestones (such as TRLs), risk reduction, and validated hypotheses.
3️⃣ Plan your runway. Raise enough to reach a de‑risked prototype, not just to file patents.

What’s your top advice for surviving the seed stage in deep‑tech?