Nobody wants a sales pitch. So instead of trying a hard sell, focus on telling a story that captivates your audience by painting a vivid picture of your vision. When you get good at storytelling, people want to be part of that story, and they’ll want to help others become part of that story too.

Too often entrepreneurs are reactive to the challenges inherent when building a company... the most successful founders are proactive.

It’s one thing if a mistake occurs because of circumstance or a miscalculation or the unexpected or inexperience; it’s another if it’s part of a pattern of carelessness or ineptitude or laziness. Then it becomes a choice.

You don’t need an MBA from an elite Ivy League school to find funding and be successful, but you do need to understand the start-up ecosystem.

If you don’t envision your business growing one hundred times in size, your start-up probably won’t generate much interest [from venture capitalist]

People do business with people, and it’s essential that entrepreneurs understand this going into any venture.

Keep in mind that pitching investors is a process that requires preparation, data, vision, and honesty. And even if an investor passes on this particular start-up, don’t burn the bridge.

One of the most common mistakes that start-ups make is not focusing on building a brand starting on day one.

The key to most start-up successes is seeing a need and filling it.