If you're as good as you say, then those engineers are incompetent. However, did you show online proof of your business knowledge? The reason is as you and auth

If you're as good as you say, then those engineers are incompetent. However, did you show online proof of your business knowledge? The reason is as you and author say, Hackers are wary and had been preyed on. So, hackers, like business people, rely on referrals but also online proof. For example blog posts, code commits, etc. Since you can't quite do code, have you made blog posts or similar, showing how much value you've added to their business? Also, straight commissions do work from the anecdotal observations I'm told and seen (eg GroupOn). If you want to do more than sales and into relationships/contacts, then emphasise that straight commissions on long relationships is not good compensation. If they're reasonable, see that you're good at relationships and need it (funding, marketing, etc), they'll provide a different package.