Originally Posted by
royce
Michimoby, I read this thread and I don't know if I'm angry or disappointed. I'm angry because it sounds like you haven't been successful in the manner that you think you should be and you're blaming Detroit. I'm disappointed because it appears that you can't find happiness here. Now, I'll be completely honest, I don't know what "deal flow" and all that VC terminology is all about. However, I get angry when I hear someone say that they want to be a consultant or that they make their living consulting. Living in Detroit, I have heard how lucrative "consultants" to city government or to the Detroit Public School system have been, taking millions to propose something that, in the end, doesn't work.
My point is this, "what is your product?" What are you trying to sell people? If it's your expertise, then maybe it's not desired because you haven't built a rich enough portfolio. You mentioned that you haven't been here very long. Also, you mentioned the lack of backers. Well, if you don't have a rich uncle that might explain a lot of things as well. If I wanted to open up a shoe store, it would be nice to have some savings and/or some friends and family to seek funds from before I went to the bank to ask for a loan. Dealing with people who know me and what I am capable of doing as a store owner would make the shoe store "venture" easier to get started. Going to the bank for a loan or to others would be harder because they don't know me. Well, you know all this.
My point is that it's never easy trying to start a business. Places like NYC, Chicago, or San Francisco may have more people with deeper pockets willing to take a chance on start-ups. In Detroit, they're probably not nearly as many.
At any rate, I just needed to express this. No ill will, Michimoby. I hope you find success wherever you go and don't forget to plug Detroit. Most experiences have some "good" in them even those from Detroit.