What I Learned Raising My First Seed Round (and Turning Down 30% Dilution)
“This isn't a how-to guide... This is just a story and observations from my own experience.”
What this teaches
A first-time founder of virtual-workspace startup Branch narrates his first seed raise: struggling with traditional VC, generating ~$4M in commitments largely through online friends, and learning that 'money is expensive', taking every offer would have cost over 30% of the company at seed.
Why it matters
An unusually honest young-founder account of oversubscription as a trap, not just a triumph.
Key lessons
- Taking all available money can over-dilute you at seed
- Internet-native networks can substitute for warm intros
- Pick investors with conviction over the biggest check
This is an editorial summary. The full thread, and the credit, belongs to Dayton Mills.
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