Here's a neutral and interesting summary of the text in one paragraph: To raise money for a tech startup, founders need to demonstrate specific progress toward a goal that aligns with a potentially large market opportunity. This is often done by showing investors that they've made progress, have an existing personal relationship, or both. The reality is that press coverage of early-stage startups is misleading and based on survivorship bias, as it highlights outliers rather than the majority of companies that struggle to raise funds. With the funding environment becoming more open and transparent, founders need to adapt by writing a pitch deck for themselves, building a minimum viable product or prototype, getting people to use it, generating revenue, and demonstrating value through metrics such as testimonials or user growth. By focusing on these key areas, founders can increase their chances of success when raising money from professional investors.