Alexander Kopylkov: Why Most of What You Hear About Startup Funding in 2026 Is Wrong
Alexander Kopylkov, Venture Capital Investor Record venture numbers are real. But the conclusions most founders draw from them are not. Earlier this year, a founder I respect sent me a message after reading the Q1 2026 funding numbers. The message was three words: "Great time to raise?" I understood why he asked. The numbers were genuinely extraordinary. Global venture investment hit $300 billion in a single quarter. That is more than two-thirds of everything deployed in all of 2025, compressed into three months. If you read those headlines and concluded that the market is wide open and capital is flowing freely, I would not blame you. But the conclusion would be wrong. And that gap between the headline and the reality is exactly the kind of thing that costs founders months of wasted effort. There are three myths circulating in the investment world right now that I want to address directly. The market is booming, so fundraising must be easier than ever. The $300 billion numbe...