He who persist wins

It has been ~ 4 months since I last updated my blog, well it is not that I didn't have what to write about but it was basically the fact that the funding, which I expected to close in X months took 3X time.

I had numerous opportunities and pressure to leave this journey and pursue something else if not just to get more stability in life and a steady income - but many friends that I am thankful for supported me and more than anyone my amazing wife was there beside me in sleepless nights and troubling times - and for this I am very greatful.

Well I finally closed the first batch and now the ball shifts to my court and I know that I need to deliver and make the amazing machine that switch fancy slides to actual products and sales. For some reason, and maybe it is just my nature, I prefer to have some control over it and am not too scared (although I know it will be very difficult), I spent the last year talking to countless people, researching the market from so many angles that I feel quite confident (until proven otherwise).

In the last 3 months what I basically done was prepare all of the needed plans - marketing, website, manufacturing, sales strategy, product development etc' - just waiting for the day I will get the funding to turn the switch on and take all of the plans from the drawer.

It gets very lonely and frustrating during the funding phase, and it feels like you are begging at times for money - which no one enjoys and although I feel like I am selling a true proposition it still feels like it. It is also a place where you feel very thankful and appreciative to people that went with you and supported you at that phase - it creates a certain loyalty and bonding that I can remember only from my military days - it is quite interesting but I feel a lot more tight with my investors money than with money of my own and also I really want to succeed for them and not just for me.

Since I was able to raise ~ $500K at this round I am guarding the safe very much and we adjusted our business plan to a lower budget than what we raised to remain prudent and with the permission of our investors kept the round open for 6 more months and $500K more.

In the coming days I am holding all of the kick-off meetings and renegotiating some contracts to adjust to our current funding levels, very soon things will start moving in hyper drive and I can't wait, I am also moving with my wife to San Fran for the summer (she is pursuing her summer internship there is Credit Suisse Private Bank), while I am looking to meet west coast partners and buyers, creative people to help develop more products and educate myself better with regards to using the web to create more awarness to Sabi via social networks, twitter etc' etc' and there is no better place to do so than out in the West, also to connect with some good friends and enjoy living there.

That's it for now - can't wait to start moving and hoping there will be more to update soon
A