Hey guys, back at it once again.
While I am making every effort possible, I cannot personally obtain the capital required for my venture, which is in the neighborhood of 10K conservatively.

I have created a crowd funding page for my startup, with a short story detailing myself, the startup, and a breakdown of finances. Thats all fine and dandy, but I need to find people to donate! Before you get any thoughts in your head, I am NOT here asking for donations. However, I am asking for advice.

After creating the page, I formed a friendly, descriptive, and persuasive email to a local news station that has a page covering smaller local events.

My question is, do you think this is a practical route to go? Could I have formed my message more professionally, or perhaps more persuasive?

I am asking here in hopes that many of you have genuine business insight and have experience in the professional field. Once I get to launch time, I will also want larger sites like Techchrunch and Mashable to cover me, but that is a whole other task in its self.

All input is appreciated and if anyone has any ideas I am all ears. I am paranoid of freely linking to my page because I am afraid others will steal my idea, so that cuts out some opportunity for exposure that may or may not be beneficial.

Thanks guys!

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Id like to live as a poor man with a lot of money.

I know where you're coming from, as I've been there before with certain companies. The hardest part in giving you advice is not knowing what service or demographic your start-up provides or is focused upon?

In the past, I have learned from experience like most anyone with aspirations for financial greatness. Depending upon the industry and what your start-up is doing, there may be ways of generating capital without outside investment. When in doubt, rely on yourself to get you where you want to be. Investors are great, but for some companies they're just not needed like one might assume. $10,000 might seem like a lot of money, but in reality it just isn't.

I'll give you an example of how I was able to create capital without investor input or donations. I'm 26 now and have owned two companies in the past and I currently own a marketing agency and am a co-founder and board member of a phone case company. Industries not related, I've found ways to quickly generate start-up revenue to put the wheels of momentum in motion.

With a clothing company it was easy; sell clothes, but start-up costs were high and for me being 20 years old and not coming from money or being financially savvy, did some thinking and while I couldn't afford at that time the machines necessary to print or embroider clothing, I did know a thing or two about 'buy low, sell high.' While this wasn't the stock market, that phrase applies to everything when it comes to making money. I outsourced and from my bedroom computer, I designed a few shirts online; created a Facebook; and began networking. The great thing about this simple setup was that I designed the shirts, but had a company in Michigan (I live in Texas) print the shirts and drop ship them directly to the customer. So I'd receive their paypal payment, then I'd place the order and pay for the shirt to be sent to them, and I'd keep the profit. Before I knew it I was buying the basic machines and having a professional website built to get my clothing company off the ground, developing retailer interest, and at 21 I owned an internationally distrubuted fitness clothing brand.

So there are ways, but for me or anyone else to give you the advice you seem to really be looking for, we'll need more details about what you're planning to do.

That all being said, I'm still learning as I have aspirations for true financial freedom and like you I've come to this site for mentorship, networking, and to learn as much about Lamborghini's from current owners, as I can before I buy one.

I don't any advice for you, however I have to say that I am impressed with both of you guys. I love to see that kind of spirit in young folks with big dreams. Good luck to you Surreal, and Monza you are spot on, I don't think anyone could have said it better. If ever in doubt just listen to Winston Churchills, "Never Give Up" speech.

Aloha Russ

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2008 Gallardo Spyder Sold
2012 Gallardo Spyder

I'm few years older than you and running a company. Here is my take:

$10,000 may sound a lot of money to you right now but it isn't. If you truly believe in your idea and need $10k, work in McDonald for a year and you'll have 13k (not counting living expenses of course).

If you can't cough up with 10k, maybe try doing something that require less money? If you are creative, you can do a lot things with very little money. People kept asking how much money I invested to start my business. When I told them $100, they all acted wtf?

In reality, why do you need $10,000? You mentioned TC and Mashable, I assume you are doing a tech startup. Are you a programmer? If not, is this money going to be used to outsource?

Lastly, props to you to start a business when young. The younger, the better because you are getting a head-start. Are you in school now? I found it very hard to stay focused on your startup if you are still in school because there are so many distractions:

1. Parties
2. Women
3. Obviously, school work

This is especially obvious when you have a startup in summer and had to tune down when the school starts. When you are out of school, you can go at it 365 days without any interruption.

Free feel to pm if you have questions.

I take it you started your business while still in school? I see your point though that less is more when it comes to starting up. However, I can also see where $10,000 could be used to cover living expenses for a couple months while attempting to jump straight into self-employment.

I've invested lots of time and money into my companies, but they're different types of companies and rely on interactions with people and relationships to succeed in the long run. Therefore I've invested in myself to some extent...all the while working full-time during my normal 9-6.

To me $10,000 would only cover living expenses for two months or so, so to jump directly to self-employment is beyond me.

That all being said, comes my point. It can sometimes beeasier financially to focus on starting a business while one is still in school, since there is much less overhead, in terms of bills. Once you're out of school, you can't finance you living expenses out for 4 years. In fact, I would recommend starting a business while one is in school...bi-annual cash injections from a low-interest school loan, extremely low living expenses, high quality and abundant connectivity, incredible networking potential, an office/apartment that's paid for by that same low interest school loan.

Ha...it's making me regret quitting school to pursue being an entrepreneur.

I don't want to be rude but if one needs to live-off $5000 a month just in living expenses, then starting a business might not for for him/her (unless you have a family to support). The key to business success is being mindful of unnecessary costs. If one cannot even control her personal spending, how can she maintain a tight control one business expenses?

If you don't have the luxury to stay with your parents while you crank out your product, here is a living expense breakdown. It should be +- 20% for anyone living in the western world.

Rent: $700 with roommate
Utilities: $50
TV: none (use your PC)
internet: $30
Food: $250
Phone: $20-50 if you job requires latest gadget access
Entertainment with friends: $50
Transportation: $150
-----------------------------
Grand total ~$1300


Having said that, I highly recommend youngsters to crash their parents house until their business is sustainable. The incremental cost of one extra person is minimal. Even if you pay your parents $500 a month to cover foods and housing cost, you are still ahead at least $500.

I can live the same while making $400 a week or $20,000 a week. Money just gives me freedom to what I fancy but it does not mean I cannot live without the luxury during challenging time.

I agree one should start as young as possible, including still while in school. However, my point was that it is not possible to grow your company if you are not dedicated 150%, let alone 100% of your time.

Everything comes with sacrifices. It is not possible to live like a king and still make a startup to successful unless you are already well-established (already have millions in the bank).

No offense taken at all. I wasn't saying HIS expenses would be or needed to be similar to mine. I have a wife, a new house, new cars, business entertainment budget, etc...plus we live in Austin and it is quite expensive here; He's a new-to-business college student. I was just trying to make a point without going too far off on a tangent.

I agree with you 100%. I wasn't arguing, but rather adding a point to the point you had already made. The off-thought if starting a business while IN college just made me realize how sweet a setup it could really be if done correctly (given the business owners industry isn't constructing historical merchant ships or iron smelting).

All businesses have their start-up 'fees'. Yours was $100, mine was $2,000 and his might be $10,000. However, as you stated if he's going into IT, he can easily do it for whatever the software and hardware will run him upfront. The rest will come with time.

Start small and think big: Big dreams are realized by tiny steps. Just look at Mt. Everest.

This line is gold, and a line to live-by. Thank you Monza.