Getting a grant felt like our big break—until the invoice hit. In this raw and revealing episode, I unpack the hidden costs of “free money,” the financial chaos that nearly crushed my first startup, and the mindset traps that made it worse. From undercharging and overpromising to learning the true price of optimism, this is the episode every founder should hear before their next funding round. Real talk, real stats, and hard-won wisdom—no filters.