I get what you are saying and don't know how you would change your feelings, but I know a number of years ago I read a book (can't recall now which one) on bein

I get what you are saying and don't know how you would change your feelings, but I know a number of years ago I read a book (can't recall now which one) on being a successful entrepreneur. The key takeaway I had from that read was to ignore what others are doing because their success or failure has no relation to what you are capable of. That said, the book also pointed out that you shouldn't ignore others success or failure, but instead use it to learn from, i.e. it isn't about the person it is about how they failed or succeeded. IMO, using another person as your measuring stick of success/failure is limiting you to their lows and highs, instead measure yourself to the goals you set, and if you are failing there be critical and fix it, but if you are winning you are golden regardless of what Jill, Jack or Danny did. You have already done something that a very small percentage of people ever do, regardless of how it looks from the inside of the tech industry. You made a team of people believe in your idea, help you fund your idea and think it has enough merit to potentially have a great outcome. That is awesome. BTW -- Self promotion is the hardest thing for many (if not most) intelligent, honest people to do, but what I have learned is that if you are not telling people who you are they will make assumptions and draw conclusions on their own and very likely those assumptions and conclusions will be half-truths, hearsay or made up and likely not in your favor. For whatever reason our society loves to scream negatively much louder than positively, don't let that be your fate by not being your own best advocate. Of course, balance & moderation in everything seems prudent.