My 2 Cents | #1
Stop waiting for the million-dollar investment
02/08/2023
Opinion of the Advisory Principal Gianfranco Miranda
The continuous change, the arduous battle against the status quo of companies, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity – this is the path of startups in the United States. Currently, it's an ongoing battle against the system, which, affected by the actions of the FED and the big corporations' rescues, brings severe consequences for investors and even those who invest their money to achieve the "American Dream" of success.
In this sense, the competitiveness of startups no longer relies solely on a great idea, technological prowess, entrepreneurial speed, or connections and professional experience with big tech companies. It now hinges on the ability to embrace what made our parents' businesses relevant – perseverance and resilience.
Resilience is a term often misused in the startup sector. One might think resilience is about enduring, tolerating, accepting, or simply getting back up and moving forward. However, real resilience is going against adversity and negativity, transforming that emotional burden into real fuel for success.
As a result, new American businesses are no longer just places where investors see a great opportunity to make money and expect a quick return. They are now places where the future vision is tied to the hard and continuous work of founders and employees, regardless of whether they have funds or receive money for their efforts. It's about truly believing that it will work and taking the leap of faith.
This value is the true resilience and the path to success for new founders and startups. We don't need more venture capitalists coming to tell us stories of how others made it. Ladies and gentlemen, that happened three, five, or ten years ago. The rules of the game changed at the beginning of this year and will continue to be rewritten. Injecting capital into a business without traction, without partners, customers, or potential sales, is a sure loss, unless we stumble upon the rare golden goose scenario where success happens against all odds – pure chance.
Therefore, entrepreneurs who want to be relevant must first believe in what they do and build with the resources at hand, leaving behind the hope of accelerators, venture capitals, investment funds, and others who come to save the day. Let's stop believing that we are building for tomorrow to have money. Turn your head and see what you are constructing for a better future for yourself, your family, your employees, and society.
This is the moment your narrative will change, your credibility will strengthen, and you will truly harness everything in front of you to succeed. But don't forget that there's a reward on this path because you won't be seeking investors – they will come to you. Sometimes, we are demanded to be the fastest animal capable of catching its prey solely based on speed. I invite you to prefer being the smartest and stop being the rabbit trying to beat the turtle in the race.
It's better to build and see how your business has such solid foundations that nothing can bring it down, rather than just waiting to receive money and then realizing you haven't achieved anything and have to go bankrupt. Let's stop waiting for the million-dollar investment and generate it ourselves.
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