Lets face it, it's not a point in your favor. But the good news is that trust can be earned. I trust people I've worked with who have pulled 20 hour days with m

Lets face it, it's not a point in your favor. But the good news is that trust can be earned. I trust people I've worked with who have pulled 20 hour days with me or who I've climbed mountains with and who have held the rope my life depends on. So put yourself in positions where you are exposed to investors and where you have an opportunity to earn their trust. I would also take the strategy of being very very open about this. Post a blog entry that says: My name is Mike Jones, I have a criminal record, I'm creating a startup that does XYZ. You could even capitalize on it: Create a startup that is a job board for ex cons. Or a forum where people with records in their distant pasts can share notes and advice on how to work around it.