I almost wrote this post after reading Loic Le Meur’s blog post Ten Rules to Launch a Startup but didn’t because I didn’t want to seem negative. However, after seeing TechCrunch pick up Loic’s blog post and having it sent back to me by people I know…it’s just too much, I have to speak my mind.

First, let me say that I agree with Loic and please do read his blog post…he is on mark.  I know as a startup founder and CEO I follow the majority of them, but they are a far cry from being enough.  If anyone tells you that starting a startup is easy—they are LYING to you.  Anyone who says it’s easy have three things going for them…Connections, Money and a healthy dose of Luck. 

Connections:  Whether it’s to people with money, people who can promote you, people who can develop your product, or simply people who can introduce you to the right people you need.  You better have a rolodex full of important connections to make anything happen. 

Good example is Charlie O’Donnell over at Path 101…he just recently started his startup and they have already raised their seed round of funding, have an excellent reader base to their blog, interest in their startup is running high and it’s taken them no time at all to accomplish that.  Why??  Charlie and his partner already had the connections.  They worked their way to having those connections, but now that they have them the launch of their start-up isn’t all that tough and they are already in the midst doing the fun stuff.

Money:  Money talks and bullshit walks my friends.  Don’t care what Guy Kawasaki says…unless you are extremely well connected it will take a good amount of dinero to get your start-up off the ground.  And raising funds is hell and one of the toughest things you will ever do.  You are much better off if you already have money or the connections to the people with money.  Otherwise brace yourself…extra brace yourself if you don’t live in San Francisco, Boston or New York.  

And trust me…money matters a great deal.  I’ve exhausted my all my savings and investments that I’ve had since I was 19 and having the stress of how you’re going to pay your mortgage or buy food next month will add a whole new layer of very ugly things to your day and you better have the stomach for it. 

Luck:  Luck comes in all different forms and ways.  Personally…I’ve been going with hard work and more hard work.  Ten months of nothing but hard work.  I wouldn’t mind some dumb luck at this point but I'm not counting on it.  You read about some start-up who made it big quickly without the connections and without the money.  They got LUCKY.  Don’t base you odds of success on luck, but at some point you will need a lucky break.  I’m still waiting on ours. 

Loic is on day 43 or 44 of his startup…not knocking what he has accomplished but he has the connections and the financial backing so it’s a little easier to create a list of what comes after that to be successful. 

If you are thinking of doing a start-up and want the real scoop…I recommend you keep this blog on your read list.  We’re talking about what it takes to make it when you don’t have the Connections, Money and Luck lined up at your doorstep but you have to create them.