If you missed my last blog, I suggest you read it first.
Since September of last year, myself and Danen Pool have been working together on aerolands. Unless you were at YEC last month, where aerolands had a booth and showcased its technology, you've likely only heard me mention it in previous blogs. Aerolands is an agricultural technology startup, based on 6 years of Danen's research, tinkering, and perfecting of high pressure aeroponics. If you're curious about what high pressure aeroponics is, check out this summary. Two weeks ago, Danen and I had the opportunity to pitch the aerolands business to an investing panel, in hopes of making it into the Ag Startup Engine, a hybrid accelerator that will be located at the Iowa State Research Park. The Ag Startup Engine will provide housing, resources, mentors, and funding. It launches next month. We set our sights on the Ag Startup Engine many months ago. I believed it was the best possible step in aerolands' future. After leaving the meeting with the investing panel, I told Danen, "as long as they like the team, and where the technology is currently at, we should get in." They liked that. They didn't like our business model. Failure #15,000. Today I received the call that we didn't make it in. Failure #15,001. In the moments after the phone call, it sunk in that directions must change in the coming weeks. Aerolands will now have to go in search of other opportunities, and I will have to go in search of more income for myself, as KinoSol and YEC will not provide income until, at best case scenario, 2017. My money runs out in just a few months. There is a part of me that wants to shut down in moments like this. I want to crawl into bed, pull the covers up over me, and pass out. Forget about everything. But then GRATITUDE kicks in, pointing me forward. We had an awesome opportunity in meeting and presenting to investors in the first place. Aerolands is still in its infancy, where we are truly nimble and can change almost anything about the business. Because I get out of my comfort zone daily, we'll find the right people to join forces with. They are out there. I'll find income to sustain my minimalist lifestyle. Self discipline and delayed gratification is common among the aerolands team. We have had an awesome team member, Andy Verhasselt, since January. Andy has helped us with everything visual (aerolands logo you saw above, packaging design, and much, much more). We have the support of dozens of friends and family. And now, the competitive fire within me wants aerolands to succeed more than ever. "Aerolands utilizes advanced growing technology to maximize nutritional content, redefines the way produce is experienced, and contributes to a cleaner tomorrow." Success is inevitable.
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