Thread by @BigSisTracey

Be careful of fake investors
A 🧵 #FounderChronicles

I’m sitting here devastated. I’m trying hard not to be but it’s not working.
A person who said they would invest in my company, met me, cut a check, then cancelled the check hours later.
1/12

From the time we met until the time I was told the check was canceled this person seemed to be everything I wanted in an Angel investor. Passionate about the solution I was building, willing to provide more intros, and willing to roll up their sleeves and work with me.
2/12

The excitement of understanding and possibly was giddy. They extended the branch of friendship and I joyfully took it and extended my own.
3/12

I opened up personally in a way Ive rarely done.
I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences in my life, and I’ve had a lot of truly terrible experiences in my life. I shared them all.
I suppose I was in a place where I needed to feel connected to someone. I choose this person
4/12

I walked away from our multi hour meeting feeling like I had a new best friend. It was only icing on the cake that I had an investment check as well.
5/12

Then this morning I receive messages saying the check was canceled, they didn’t know what they were doing, and that they weren’t an investor.
But I was smart and had a good con.
6/12

They told me everything I’d talked about was a lie. That my life was a lie. My business was a lie. That I’m a fake con.

It was a complete 180 from the day before.
7/12

The joy I’d felt at having a new ally in business was crushed. But more than that I felt utterly alone. Crushingly, despairingly alone.

I felt judged and found lacking.

Everything that is a founders worst fear.

“You are fake. Your business is crap, and you will fail.”
8/12

As much as I know this isn’t true and that this person is projecting on to me, it still hurts. Bad.

All the insecurities, self doubt, need for acceptance, negative judgment, the weight of feeling not good enough is overwhelming.
9/12

All because this fake investor wanted to play a psychological game.

I spent hours trying to prove I was good enough, only to be told I was 💩
10/12

This isn’t the first fake I’ve run into. But I swear it will be the last.

If you are someone who is telling founders you’re an investor, but not. Stop.
This is the kind of crap that will send someone over the edge.
11/12

This is our dreams, hopes, sweat, tears, sacrifices, and lives. Not some game to be played and discarded.

This is our real world and you can’t be a part of it.

~ ciao
12/12
#StartupLife #Startups #BackInTheSaddle #DownButNotOut