當投資者拿創業者不當回事時

????上上周我在發布會（Launch Conference）上待了幾天，認識了一些創業者。他們眼下在做的事非常有意思，其熱情和干勁也頗具感染力，他們是默默無名的小人物。我喜歡小人物。

????大會上到處都能見到早期投資者和風險投資家。我私下里也與幾位投資者聊過，但是我主要還是聆聽和旁觀，看他們如何參加小組討論，聽他們如何為上臺發言的初創公司提供反饋意見。

投資者

????對于某些投資者在發言時論及初創公司的樣子，我很不以為然。有時我會聽到這樣的話：“不錯，我參與了那樁交易?！边@些用詞本身沒什么不對，只是那種表達方式令人不舒服。他們傳遞出的是一種漠不關心的態度。那不過是一樁“交易”。就好像他們在玩大富翁游戲，或者夢幻棒球游戲或者撲克牌，而我們這些創業者不過是他們手中那小小的籌碼而已。

????我懂，投資一大堆公司就是他們的工作。我明白，他們要做的不過就是先大把撒錢然后再默默祈求上帝。諸如此類。但是，無論如何，他們對自己投資的初創公司漠不關心，沒有任何借口可找。

創業者

????為了自己的初創公司，我們將整個生活和生計都押上了。我們別無選擇，沒有其他經濟來源，這家公司必須成功。為了實現這項事業的價值，我們日以繼夜地辛勤操勞，可謂嘔心瀝血。我們放棄了多少好工作，好學校，好機會，就是為了建立自己的初創公司，盡管它很可能以失敗而告終。但是，我們不離不棄。

????誠然，我們中有些人已經進入后經濟生活狀態（我們賣掉了公司），但是多數人都遠非如此。我們的業績乏善可陳，銀行存款寥寥無幾，我們有的只是一腔熱血和不滅的夢想。

????我自己就渾身傷痕累累。我曾經負債好幾萬美元；我曾經睡在客廳的沙發上，亦曾與朋友同睡一室；我曾經乞求家里人借錢給我……這一切無不令人備感屈辱。更糟的是，我也經歷過喪失抵押品贖回權后的狼狽。不錯，你沒聽錯：我已無家可歸。你知道這有多艱難并且尷尬嗎？我的信用糟得一塌糊涂，需花費數年時間才能償清。生活充滿艱辛。

????但是，對那么多投資者來說，我們不過是筆“交易”，不過滄海之一粟，不過是牌桌上小小的籌碼。當這些投資者苦苦思索，決定下回要加入哪家鄉村俱樂部，或者情人節時為嬌妻買哪款進口車時，我們這些創業者正在竭盡全力，犧牲一切，只求讓公司有所起色。

例外

????當然，并非所有投資者都是這副嘴臉。許多投資者以前也當過創業者，并且對于創業的滋味依然記憶猶新。他們清楚我們的處境，他們理解日子艱難時深夜淚濕巾的苦衷，他們也明白回家對心愛的人說：“親愛的，我們這個月的房租還沒著落?！睍r心中滿含的愧疚。他們沒忘。

????還有許多投資者沒做過創業者。但是，看看他們如何談論自己所投資的初創公司及其創始人，你就能斷定他們是哪類投資者；聽聽他們怎么表達對這些人及其家庭和處境的關心和同情，你就能判斷。如果他們對創業者充滿了同情之心，那會溢于言表。你能聽到，也能感覺到。

結論

????如果你是投資者，請務必拿我們當回事。別忘了，我們每天揮灑心血、汗水和眼淚，為的就是有朝一日公司能夠成功。對你而言，我們不過是筆投資而已，但對我們來說，它是一切。

????而如果你是創業者，別接受那些眼里根本不拿你當回事的投資者的資金。你不是供他們玩耍的玩具。公司是你的整個世界——千真萬確。他們得學會尊重并欣賞這一點。

????本文作者Mick Hagen是Zinch公司的聯合創始人。Zinch是家在線社交網絡，它將在校學生與大學、獎學金、留學項目以及研究生院等聯系起來。

????譯者：大海

????I spent a few days at Launch Conference last week, and met some entrepreneurs doing really interesting things. Their passion and energy is contagious. They are underdogs. And I love underdogs.

????The conference was also filled with early-stage investors and VCs. I interacted with a few personally but mainly I listened and observed as they participated on panels and as they gave feedback to the presenting startups.

The Investor

????I don't appreciate the way some investors talk about the startups in their portfolio. I'll sometimes hear, "Yea, i'm in on that deal." The words themselves aren't that bad… but it's the way they say it. They convey an attitude of not really caring. It's just a "deal." It's like they're playing a game of monopoly or doing some fantasy baseball trade or playing a game of poker and us entrepreneurs are just the Skittles they're playing with.

????I get it. It's often their job to invest in a bunch of companies. I understand. Spray and pray. Yadda yadda yadda. But it's no excuse for not caring.

The Entrepreneur

????We put our entire life and livelihood at risk for the startup. We have no alternative. No portfolio to lean on. It must work. All day every day, we are consumed in building value in the enterprise. We forgo great jobs, great schools, and great opportunities to be building a startup — a startup that will most likely fail. But we continue.

????Some of us are post-economic (we've sold a company), but most of us aren't. We've got no track record. Little money in the bank. Just hustle in our veins and a dream that won't die.

????I've had my share of battle wounds. I've gone through tens of thousands of dollars in debt. I've slept on couches and bunked up with friends. I've begged family members for loans… as humiliating as that is. I've gone through a nasty foreclosure. Yes, you heard that right: I've lost a home. Do you know how hard and embarrassing that is? My credit is a complete disaster and will take years to recover. This hasn't been easy.

????Yet to so many investors, we're just a "deal." Just a drop in the bucket. Just a Skittle on the poker table. And while these investors are worried about what country club they're gonna join next or what imported car they'll get their wife for V-day, we entrepreneurs are busting our butts and sacrificing everything trying to get the company off the ground.

The Exception

????Not all investors are like that. Many investors are former entrepreneurs and they still remember what it's like. They know what we're going through. They understand how wet the pillow gets at night when times get tough. They understand what it's like to come home and tell your loved one, "honey… i don't know how we're gonna pay rent this month." They remember.

????Many investors aren't former entrepreneurs. But you'll know what kind of investor they are by how they talk about their startups and founders. You'll know by how they express concern and empathy for them, their family, their situation. If they are truly founder-friendly, they'll care. You'll hear it and you'll feel it.

The Conclusion

????If you're an investor, care. Really care. Don't forget the blood, sweat and tears that we shed every day to make this happen. To you we're just one investment. To us, this is everything.

????If you're an entrepreneur, don't take money from investors who treat you like a pawn. You aren't a toy for them to play with. This means the world to you — literally. They need to respect and appreciate that.

????Mick Hagen is co-founder of Zinch, an online social network that connects students with colleges, scholarships, study abroad programs and graduate schools.