I was looking to raise more than $25 million for Gemvara.
Instead of trying to hide my shortcomings as a young, first-time founder with a non-technical background, I humbly embraced them and asked for help.
My goal was for everyone I met to leave thinking, "I like that kid."
We made sure we achieved every goal we committed ourselves to and used every small victory as leverage for additional support from potential investors.
For example, if the goal was to make an important hire by a specific day, we got it done and then used the success as a bargaining tool. This set a tone of trust in our relationships.
Starting a business in a downturn is not necessarily crazy. Many have done it successfully. Here are some strategies for entrepreneurs.
