It sounds like you have experience here. Do you have more networking advice or information referrals.
My startup is based in Boston. We have some MIT and Harvard professors on our board of advisors, but we don't have other connections to networks and investors, and our advisor board hasn't been able to give us good leads. We've engaged in fund-raising efforts through letters and applications, as well as by going to relevant conferences, sometimes on the schedule, sometimes just passing out stickers on the side (or the street when they kick us out). We talk to a lot of people and have a vibrant but fluxful volunteer community. How do we find investors? (or grants; we're currently a non-profit, but we have revenue models and would be ok with employing a for-profit partner model)
thx (diN0bot @t bilumi org)
I'm no expert on this - I'm in Cambridge, UK and seeking investment. Just my experiences on what I'm doing :)
There's a few guys and girls, three or four - that I'm actively seeking. I found them from networking with cool startups and seeing who they recommended. [If you're curious, I'm looking for some guys at Index and Cambridge Angels]
I think then you have to really get "out there" and go to every business/startup/investment meetup/conference with a fistful of business cards. I've met some really interesting people who have offered various introductions.
I dont want to make it sound like you should "use" people for their contacts. Meet awesome people who are interesting and help them out - and just hope they'll repay you the favour. :)
Linkedin & YouNoodle are really great for this stuff - just be as sociable as possible.
I"m trying to pick the best investor for my project. I've got three lined up already - am I being too picky?
I'm in Manila, business plans are set, know-how is embedded (;)), but I'm trying to learn how to best protect my ass around this corrupt gov. and middle-gov officials.
if you don't know any investors (if only by name) you're not networking hard enough.