# The Fundraising Mistakes That Kill Startups with Jeff Amerine Jeff Amerine explains common fundraising pitfalls for entrepreneurs. - **Source:** [The Startup Junkies Podcast](https://brifing.si/source/c535ff31-06f4-46a1-8ccf-00512fbafa13) - **Published:** 2026-07-21 - **Topic:** [Entrepreneurship](https://brifing.si/c/entrepreneurship) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/8a92afa4-46cb-40e8-b46d-fc8f19ab6ad2 ## The Challenge of Fundraising in Entrepreneurship Less than 1% of U.S. businesses secure venture capital, yet many entrepreneurs pursue it. Jeff Amerine shares common mistakes and the right strategies for fundraising. ## Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital Jeff Amerine explains when entrepreneurs should bootstrap and when to seek venture capital. He emphasizes how chasing the wrong type of funding can waste valuable time. ## VC Evaluation Criteria Venture capital firms select only a few deals out of thousands. Jeff details what VCs actually look for and how entrepreneurs should prepare. ## Common Fundraising Mistakes What are the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make in fundraising? Jeff breaks them down with examples and provides tips on how to avoid them. ## Convertible Notes and SAFEs What are the differences between convertible notes and SAFEs? Jeff explains these financial tools in plain terms and advises entrepreneurs on which to choose. ## The Role of Strategic Investors What do strategic investors offer, and when should entrepreneurs consider this type of funding? Jeff answers these questions to guide entrepreneurs. ## Sources covering this story - https://share.transistor.fm/s/29412f39 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._