Video by sammrchant

If you want to raise money from a venture capitalist, there are three traits that you must have as a founder that are absolute non-negotiables. Number one is that you have to be utterly obsessed with your startup. This can't be a side hustle, it can't be something you do on the weekends, it has to be every single thing that you are putting all of your energy,

it must be your life's work. This is a non-negotiable for investors because if they're backing you with their capital, you have to execute and see this mission through. Number two is the ability to sell. This is an absolute non-negotiable because in the very early stages, everything is going to be founder-led sales. You have to be close to the customer

and you have to be the person to convince them to give you money. The last non-negotiable trait, regardless of the Forbes 30 under 30 list, you have to be honest. There are so many founders out there that are misleading investors, misleading customers, and I promise you they are doomed to fail. If you are honest, if you have high integrity, you will build a successful startup.

I'm writing 500k to 1.5 million dollar checks into early stage startups incorporated in Mina. So if this sounds like you and you have the three traits that I mentioned, I want to hear from you. My email is in the description of this video.