This is a complete kick in the balls. Which is pretty much how startup life goes - one day you're up the next you're kicked in the balls. It's a roller-coaster.

This is a complete kick in the balls. Which is pretty much how startup life goes - one day you're up the next you're kicked in the balls. It's a roller-coaster. The trick is to pick yourself up and always have contingencies. Now this is a risk that's hard to plan for, but you should have a bunch of contacts you can go after. Put your salesman hat on and go hustle for help. You may end up giving away more equity than you would like (and I hope you have cliff vesting for your dearly departed), whatever the case if you believe in your idea this is simply the cost of doing business and if it's going to be a billion dollar exit who cares if you're a few million short. Good luck, go hustle.