Seeking Advice: Should I Reach Out to My Previous CEO or Wait to Grow Organically?

I'm a first-time app founder navigating uncharted waters and could use some advice. Here's a bit of backstory: I previously ran an online influencing/media startup that grew to over 1 million followers before it eventually fizzled out. Afterward, I joined a small startup as one of the first hires and got to witness the early-stage growth journey firsthand. That experience was invaluable. Now, I've built an app—an anonymous platform for kindness-focused Q&A—and I'm at a crossroads. I’m trying to figure out the best approach for funding and growth: 1. Should I reach out to my former CEO (who was instrumental in shaping my startup mindset) for guidance and possibly connections for seed funding? 2. Or should I focus on growing the app organically to gain traction before approaching them to demonstrate progress and validation? I understand the importance of showing some proof of concept, but I also feel the guidance and support from someone experienced could be a game-changer at this stage.