… You think you have the “chutzpah” to become an entrepreneur? You have an idea for an awesome startup (at least you think it’s an awesome idea-stage) and you’re ready to dive into the glittering world of startups angel funding?

Do you relish the idea of getting accepted to a startup incubator and launching your company to the adulation that awaits you when customers discover your spectacular startup. WAIT. Getting $ does not make you a certified startup. You just took a loan. This series will introduce many of the important things you’ll need to know about Angel investors, and what they want to hear. Buckle up…

The fact that you’re selling a piece of yourself like a corner street-walker is just the cost of doing business in Startupland. Before you sprint longingly towards the bright lights and Internet fame that await you, you would be well-advised to review the following truths that no one talks about.

Startupland is highly clique-oriented. You better learn early to associate with the “cool” crowd; becoming a part of the favored few will take you far in the land of angel investors and entrepreneurs. They’ll never admit it, but the startup ecosystem is just like the grown-up version of college life with its fraternities and sororities.

A growing number of today’s entrepreneurs are choosing to work at a startup company prior to launching their own businesses. Not only does working at a startup help you get a feel for multiple facets of the business world, but your entrepreneurial experience at a startup can also be a fabulous launching point for the next stage of your career. But working at a startup is a move you should make only if But working at a startup is a move you should make only if you are prepared for what lies ahead.

Don’t join a startup unless you have taken off your rose-colored glasses & prepared to learn a few harsh lessons.

Bear the following prepared to learn a few harsh lessons. Bear the following five truths in mind and the time you spend working at a startup could be some of the most beneficial months/years of your life. The experience you gain from working at a startup is likely to be worth more than the stock options/equity offered by the startup. Many of today’s startups offer equity in the business in exchange for a reduced salary. Since the majority of startups fail within their first five years, your equity stake isn’t going to be worth much. years, your equity stake isn’t going to be worth much.

Happiness is choice. You make your happiness on your own accomplishments. — As quoted in the Movie “Easy Living”

There no nightmare, no hard stop, quite like being unable to secure funding. While many small businesses can survive being bootstrapped, It’s often a more arduous endeavor. The sooner you sort out that you’re going to have problems, the sooner you can start setting up contingencies. Here are few signs that you’re going to run into funding woes.

Your Target Market is Unresponsive

You need to show investors that people are Interested, even before you’ve started generating revenue or profit If before you’ve started generating revenue or profit If you’re not selling your product yet, have a sample of customers try out the product and record their responses. If you are, gather reviews and testimonials to use as social proof. Keep in mind that some investors may want to interact with your customers, so make sure you’re ready to put them In touch.

Getting Investor Meetings is Difficult

If you’re having trouble just meeting investors in the first place, you have a lot of problems to fix. That means that they’re not Interested In hearing what you have to say for one reason or another. This could mean anything, from not having enough credibility to approaching the wrong people. You need to take a step back and figure out if you’re actually to attract outside money.