Edit: Based on the info I was able to find, it looks like this is indeed false information and not true at all.
I can find no evidence that SpaceX is having trouble raising money or that their recent raises have gone poorly. No evidence. But I can find a lot of people explaining why these numbers are incorrect and why it is false to say that SpaceX is having trouble raising money. A lot. Here are a few.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/bem0lr/spacex_only_...
I don't know much about SEC regulations - they're required to file info about who has invested in the first 15 days - and rumours used that to say they couldn't sell all they offered. Other rumours said that they don't have to file to say they sold it all. Would appreciate clarity from someone who knows SEC regulations.
[1] http://www.parabolicarc.com/2019/04/17/spacex-embarks-fundin...
Edit: you've found the discussion I read a bit ago. Good.
What you are describing sounds like a rapidly expanding market, not a shrinking market, though, right?
> Further, as SpaceX is having trouble raising the needed funds, is this launch simply a fundraising exercise?
What do you mean? SpaceX is not having trouble raising their needed funds. Do you have a citation for that? This is the first I'd be hearing of it and would be surprised. Also, needed for what? Are you referring to Mars colonization?
> is this launch simply a fundraising exercise?
This also doesn't make any sense. This launch is a groundbreaking event that begins a 12,000 satellite network deployment. This is a very cost-intensive thing and not exactly a 'fund raising exercise'; it's intended to provide early service to internet customers.