I think many entrepreneurs think they need the 12 months in runway and thus the first step for their business is to find someone to give them the money. IF you

I think many entrepreneurs think they need the 12 months in runway and thus the first step for their business is to find someone to give them the money. IF you go and raise that money from investors, it will likely take you 6 months (seriously) and then you'll hire enough people that 6 months into your 12 months you'll have to start trying to raise money again. Building a business and raising money are mutually exclusive things. If you have a big enough team you can do both, but the CEO is going to be distracted or will have to pick one or the other. I submit that the best way to get a 12 month runway is to shrink your idea and your company to the point where you have 12 months without any outside investment. No investors means no distraction. No spending half your money trying to raise more money. Before you have product market fit you need to experiment on the cutting edge. Once you have it, then maybe get some money to help grow the thing.