As an entrepreneur, you will never be challenged to a greater degree than at the funding stage of your first startup. With no track record, no proof of success and no infrastructure, you have to find a way to prove yourself.
Getting from zero to success requires resolve, but it also requires a bit of savvy, particularly in terms of understanding how the funding process works. It helps if you're prepared for the questions and challenges you'll face. You should also know that even if you don't know a soul in the investment or banking communities, you and your company can still make a go of it. I know because I did just that, more than once.
