In my last year of college, I raised $62k. It took 2 years and a lot of rejections to get there. Here's the story:

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

In 2013, I was brand new to quite literally everything. My goal was to find someone to finance my life style.

I had scored private audience with 7 different companies, all in-person, sometimes with multiple representatives.

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝟕 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬.

Turns out, my own personal goal doesn't matter if it doesn't align with the goal of others in some way.

I learned painstakingly that those holding capital have their own problems that they want to solve.

What I had to offer, was not a market fit for anyone with problems.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐕𝐎𝐓

By 2014, I pivot my goal: To be the solution for those with problems.

I researched, network, and acutely understood the issues of two companies and what they wanted to tackle. I then collaborated with people from their.

𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭.

I then aligned what I have done and am doing, with what their problems are and painted a clear 5 year roadmap for them.

In 48 hours from last contact, I received offers from both of them,

I could only give enough stake for only one of them.

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗜 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗦𝗘?

For one of the companies, I had an immensely great relationship. It wasn't about who I was introduced to - it was about who I was already collaborating with.

I could already see a working relation, because we're in one now.

That was a done deal.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋
1. 62k distributed 4% every 2 weeks

2. I incur the taxes (25-30%) and processing

3. Effective capital: ~46k

I accepted that deal!

Here's what it cost me:

1. 2400+ hours of labor
2. The need to continue incrementally fundraising (10% YoY) more

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 $𝟔𝟐𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓.

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