Most founders assume you need money, status, or the perfect network to raise capital — but this episode proves you can win investors even when you’re starting with nothing.
Our guest shares the raw, unfiltered story of launching a business with no connections, no experience, and no financial safety net. From surviving harsh winters and chaotic launch days to navigating rejection and uncertainty, he breaks down exactly how he built momentum until investors finally paid attention.
In this conversation, we unpack the real path to attracting investors from scratch — the early grind, the scrappy tactics, the mindset shifts, and the turning points that opened the doors to serious capital.
Whether you’re trying to raise your first dollar or rebuild after setbacks, this episode gives you the frameworks and battle-tested strategies you can apply immediately.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
1. How to get investors when you have zero connections and no track record
2. The grassroots marketing moves that created early traction (including the email strategy that ignited growth)
3. The mindset needed to survive long hours, doubt, and early failures
4. Why taking bold risks early in your career accelerates your entrepreneurial journey
5. How to turn low-resource environments into real competitive advantages
6. The truth about burnout, pressure, and staying committed when everything feels heavy
7. How partnerships, culture, and shared grit help attract investors and scale
8. The biggest early mistakes most entrepreneurs make — and how to avoid them
Stay until the end for a breakdown of the exact moment everything shifted — the point where investors finally leaned in after years of grinding.
FIND HIM HERE:
https://www.lineleap.com/
https://www.instagram.com/max_schauff/
#startupfunding #raisingcapital #entrepreneurship #founderstory #businessmindset #startuplife
STAY CONNECTED:
https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/
https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/
http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast
WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST?
Vin:
Email: Vincentinfante.life
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/
Shane:
Email: Shane@thevagroup.com
LISTEN ON OTHER SITES
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
TIMESCODES:
00:00 Intro
00:07 Max's Background
05:00 Transition to Entrepreneurship and Early Struggles
10:00 Building the Company
20:00 Overcoming Challenges and Building Resilience
30:00 App Development: Features and Growth Strategies
40:00 Team Building and Company Culture
50:00 Defining a 1% Life
1:00:00 Best Advice: Persistence and Adaptability
1:04:00 How to Connect with Max
1:05:00 Outro
