Talking to three people is not validation

Founders treat “I talked to three people” as validation. That is not research. That is a vibe check with friends who did not want to hurt your feelings.

Adam Smith’s butcher, baker, and brewer did not feed you out of kindness. They fed you because you paid. The same rule holds for a first raise. A customer who pays is a signal. A coffee chat is not.

ZEDEN works the stretch from “this might work” to “someone will write a check.” That stretch is ugly: specific buyers, a price they actually pay, and a story that is not a product tour. If you cannot name who it is for in one sentence, you are not ready to raise. You are still shopping for compliments.

Talk to strangers who have the problem. Ask for money, not advice. Count the nos. That is the work.