How do I choose the right funding source for my early startup?

You are past the confusion of whether to raise, and now facing the sharper question of where the money should come from and on what terms. That is a more mature problem, and choosing well here shapes years ahead. The right source is not the biggest one. It is the one that fits this stage and what you want to build. Each source carries more than money. Savings keeps you free but risks your own security. Friends and family is fast but mixes money with relationships you cannot afford to break. Grants are non-dilutive but slow and specific. Angels bring cash and sometimes wisdom, but also expectations and a claim on your future. The terms matter as much as the amount. So before you take any money, get clear on what you are optimizing for at this stage: speed, control, guidance, or runway. Let that answer, not the easiest yes, choose your source. Money taken from the wrong place at the wrong terms costs far more later than it gives you now.