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I’m in a similar boat in re to launching company. I don’t have any solid connections because I didn’t go to Stanford (went to a ranked 100+ school) and nobody i

I’m in a similar boat in re to launching company. I don’t have any solid connections because I didn’t go to Stanford (went to a ranked 100+ school) and nobody in my family has ever started a business. My dad constantly worries about me taking risks for example as all he knows is working 12 hours a day and not go on vacations or out to eat. Regardless, I am attempting to move forward by setting up calls with people who are my target audience (in my case director or higher level people) to discuss my product/idea and get their feedback and pain points. I decided I want to try entrepreneurship last year after teaching myself how to code six years ago and quickly rising up the ranks to a top performer and leading teams. I think for people like us who don’t have connections or come from lower class, our best bet is to keep grinding and learning until it works out. If it doesn’t well that sucks the world isn’t fair. I’ve already accepted that is the situation, so now I have to make the world work for me otherwise the worst thing is I stay in the situation I’m familiar with. Ten years ago I was taking the train and then walking to work (1 hour commute) to make 12 dollars an hour. I struggled in school because I didn’t understand a lot of the topics and life events that made it difficult to focus or care about school. So I know life is a wave like journey with peaks and valleys. I didn’t realize I would like software development until I was 25. If it works out great. If not at least we tried and built up ourselves to be the best version on our own. Sorry for ramble maybe it doesn’t help. But don’t be too hard on yourself friend.

morphle 4y ago
I think I also have thorough advise for you but I prefer to give it in private. Can you contact us at morphle at ziggo dot nl?
AbrahamParangi 4y ago
For what it’s worth, one way to build a network is to join an early stage startup and distinguish yourself. The founders will almost certainly have a much better network than you and may be able to help you out down the road.
- sumanthvepa 4y ago
  No. I speak from experience both with being a founder and an employee at startup. Your network is mostly related to how many people of what type you meet at work. You'll make connections at any company not just at a startup. Your founder's network will most likely not benefit you. So focus on building your own network actively over time.
- jongjong 4y ago
  Nope. Tried that, it didn't work. I built a popular open source project, worked for a startup which grew from nothing into a top 5 edtech startup in my country, worked for a hotshot YC-backed company, joined a top 10 blockchain project in the world (at the time)... It never worked. Once the elites decided that you're not one of them, nothing will work. You need that pedigree. You need to be chosen top-down. You need MIT, Stanford, Harvard. Whatever you do, don't peek behind the curtains! If you learn how the sausage gets made before you're ready, you won't be allowed near the big machines. If you want to succeed, you need to find a way to become an elite's puppet, then you can reach high places. The expression "need to pull some strings" is quite fitting. Almost everybody up there is a puppet for someone else; everything happens through the pulling of strings. You need to have your own strings set up and attached before you can be hoisted up there.
  - AbrahamParangi 4y ago
    Well, my advice was really about trying to convince “the elites” as you say, that you are “one of them”. Which is a thing that can be done, pedigree helpful but optional.

morphle 4y ago

I think I also have thorough advise for you but I prefer to give it in private. Can you contact us at morphle at ziggo dot nl?

AbrahamParangi 4y ago

For what it’s worth, one way to build a network is to join an early stage startup and distinguish yourself. The founders will almost certainly have a much better network than you and may be able to help you out down the road.

sumanthvepa 4y ago
No. I speak from experience both with being a founder and an employee at startup. Your network is mostly related to how many people of what type you meet at work. You'll make connections at any company not just at a startup. Your founder's network will most likely not benefit you. So focus on building your own network actively over time.
jongjong 4y ago
Nope. Tried that, it didn't work. I built a popular open source project, worked for a startup which grew from nothing into a top 5 edtech startup in my country, worked for a hotshot YC-backed company, joined a top 10 blockchain project in the world (at the time)... It never worked. Once the elites decided that you're not one of them, nothing will work. You need that pedigree. You need to be chosen top-down. You need MIT, Stanford, Harvard. Whatever you do, don't peek behind the curtains! If you learn how the sausage gets made before you're ready, you won't be allowed near the big machines. If you want to succeed, you need to find a way to become an elite's puppet, then you can reach high places. The expression "need to pull some strings" is quite fitting. Almost everybody up there is a puppet for someone else; everything happens through the pulling of strings. You need to have your own strings set up and attached before you can be hoisted up there.
- AbrahamParangi 4y ago
  Well, my advice was really about trying to convince “the elites” as you say, that you are “one of them”. Which is a thing that can be done, pedigree helpful but optional.