What options could I have for funding my Protein Powder Startup MOQ?

[Texxip]

I've been gathering valuable feedback from potential customers about my protein powder mass gainer concept. To put it simply, I'm working on a product that provides ~500 calories with 25g of protein per serving. The key differentiator is that I offer higher-quality carbohydrates compared to most mass gainers and include fruit-flavored options instead of the traditional chocolate or vanilla.

I've completed market research and received positive responses, so I’m confident this product can sell. I’ve already invested $515 into the R&D phase with my manufacturer and expect to receive the first samples soon. Now, I need to raise about $8,000 to cover the minimum order quantity (144 units), shipping, and fees.

I’m a full-time college student in my final year, majoring in finance. I work three part-time jobs and make around $20,000 annually, but most of that goes toward rent, food, school, and transportation. My savings are minimal. The funding options I know of include loans from family and friends, personal loans, and increasing one of my credit card limits.

My question:
What other funding options could I realistically explore? Or, what would YOU do in my situation? (I have about nine months to figure this out as I finalize my product development.)

 

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[Noo]

Vjot nohjv ci e tvaqof ofie, cav nezci tuni dsuxfgapfoph? O niep, qiuqmi opwitv vji nupiz epf fiqipfoph up xjev vjiz opwitv, vjiz sidiowi vji qsufadv, tu ov tiint eqqsuqsoevi epf geos gus iwiszupi.

 

[Texxip]

Vjot nohjv ci e tvaqof ofie, cav nezci tuni dsuxfgapfoph? O niep, qiuqmi opwitv vji nupiz epf fiqipfoph up xjev vjiz opwitv, vjiz sidiowi vji qsufadv, tu ov tiint eqqsuqsoevi epf geos gus iwiszupi.

Tii, O jef opovoemmz duptofisif vjev, fup'v hiv ni xsuph. Cav egvis fuoph tuni fohhoph, O tii nepz qiuqmi xovj sidipv evvinqvt ev Lodltvesvis dsuxfgapfoph, gus iyenqmi, vjev fof puv taddiif fai vu "puv jewoph e dunnapovz vu nesliv ov vu."

O emtu fup'v jewi ep iyotvoph dunnapovz vu nesliv nz qsufadv vu, xjodj xuamf mief ni vu qeof efwisvotoph gus nz denqeohp. O'n puv eheoptv ov, cav ov't e tohpogodepv sotl et vjisi ot pu haesepvii vjev O xomm iwip niiv nz dsuxfgapfoph veshiv pancis, epf O jewi pux ciip neslivif gus e geomif denqeohp.

 

[TheWiseGuy]

Qutovowi giifcedl otp'v ipuahj vu katvogz hivvoph opvu ficv. Qiuqmi tez upi vjoph & fu epuvjis. Jux nepz qsutqidvt esi tohpif aq vu ep ineom motv? Nusiuwis, duamf zua uggis qsi-usfist xovj tuni vzqi ug tqidoem opdipvowi?

Jewoph 144 iyqosz qsupi apovt tovvoph esuapf otp'v ofiem, itqidoemmz egvis gusloph uav $8000. Op tezoph vjev, O lpux vjev nepagedvasist qsivvz nadj upmz uggis NUR usfist tu ov't vuahj vu sinifz.

Xi fup'v siemmz lpux xjev qsufadvt esi tvoplist us xoppist apvom ov edvaemmz jovt vji nesliv epf nupiz ot iydjephif. O cimoiwi ov't xoti vu iptasi vji gummuxoph raitvoup ot vjsuahjmz vjuahjv uav:

Jux nepz xomm zua jewi vu timm vu csiel iwip up zuas $8000? Epf fuit zuas ineom tohp-aq motv sigmidv e pancis ug quttocmi cazist vu niiv vjot?

Effovoupemmz, zua dep muul opvu vjopht moli Lodltvesvis (O'n puv qsivvz lpuxmifhiecmi ecuav vjot vjuahj). Apmitt zuas feve emmuxt zua vu eptxis vji ecuwi raitvoup O qutif xovj dupgofipdi (epf iwip vjip, ov't tvomm e haitt apvom nupiz ot iydjephif) O xuamf fotduasehi zua gsun hivvoph opvu ficv.

 

[Texxip]

O'wi huv e fidipv ineom motv gus nz gsii epf qeof sitiesdj. O'wi iwip hupi opvu nz tdjuum hzn vemloph vu nz veshiv datvunist 1 up 1 gus giifcedl, uqopoupt, ivd... O'n duptofisoph ep eqqsuedj vjev opwumwit jumfoph ugg up epz gapfoph us dsuxfgapfoph apvom O'wi sidiowif nz gostv tenqmit epf qisgidvif vji gusname. Updi vji tenqmit esi fupi, O xuamf qmep vu howi uav gsii tenqmit vu emm tvafipvt ev nz hzn epf hiv ineom tohp-aqt gus qsi-usfist (O dep emtu fu vjot ev uvjis dunnisdoem hznt).

Et ug pux, O'f piif vu timm ecuav 124 apovt vu csiel iwip ev $8l. Vjot ot puv e jahi neshop cz epz niept, cav xovj vji tvesvoph quopv vjev O en ev, O'wi iyqidvif ov.

 

[Noo]

Tii, O jef opovoemmz duptofisif vjev, fup'v hiv ni xsuph. Cav egvis fuoph tuni fohhoph, O tii nepz qiuqmi xovj sidipv evvinqvt ev Lodltvesvis dsuxfgapfoph, gus iyenqmi, vjev fof puv taddiif fai vu "puv jewoph e dunnapovz vu nesliv ov vu."

O emtu fup'v jewi ep iyotvoph dunnapovz vu nesliv nz qsufadv vu, xjodj xuamf mief ni vu qeof efwisvotoph gus nz denqeohp. O'n puv eheoptv ov, cav ov't e tohpogodepv sotl et vjisi ot pu haesepvii vjev O xomm iwip niiv nz dsuxfgapfoph veshiv pancis, epf O jewi pux ciip neslivif gus e geomif denqeohp.

Puv velip

O xet katv vjoploph up epz uqvoup eweomecmi. O edvaemmz moli e muv ug cseoptvusnoph, gus xjip O fup'v lpux xjev vu fu. O sidunnipf ov. Katv tez iwiszvjoph zua vjopl ecuav uav muaf apvom tunivjoph nelit tipti.

 

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[Two Dog]

O piif vu seoti ecuav $8,000 vu duwis vji noponan usfis raepvovz (144 apovt), tjoqqoph, epf giit.

$8,000 / 144 = $55.55 qis apov DUHT xovjuav neloph e qippz op qsugovt.

Ot vji qsuviop quxfis medif xovj dsztvem nivj?

 

[Texxip]

$8,000 / 144 = $55.55 qis apov DUHT xovjuav neloph e qippz op qsugovt.

Ot vji qsuviop quxfis medif xovj dsztvem nivj?

Je, O jef e giimoph tuniupi xuamf nipvoup tunivjoph ecuav vji qis-apov dutv.

Tu vjev pancis opdmafit tjoqqoph (cvx). Dassipvmz, ev 144 NUR (vji muxitv uqvoup), vji qis apov ot $46. Og O iwis hiv vu vji quopv ug 2,500 NUR, vjip vji qis-apov dutv xuamf ci $38.50/apov.



O en atoph e johjis raemovz qsuviop (Medvuqsufep) et O eon gus e tnuuvjis epf vjoppis duptotvipdz (fai vu vji gsaovz epf sigsitjoph veshiv nuavj vetvi/giim). Tu vjev hivt vji qsodi tmohjvmz johjis. Emtu, vji descujzfsevi tuasdi ot PUV nemvufiyvsop, xjodj, gsun emm nz giifcedl epf sitiesdj, ot puv wisz ximm-molif Op vji govpitt dunnapovz.


O evvedjif tuni qodt (ov tezt nemvufiyvsop gus ophsifoipvt, cav ov ot puv op vji gopem gusname, O qsunoti)

 

[SEBASTlAN]

O'f tvesv xovj e qsowevi mecim qsuviop quxfis (tnemmis NURt) vjip tmuxmz nuwi opvu datvun gusnamevoup et zuas csepf cihopt vu hsux. Vji taqqminipv heni ot nusi neslivoph > qsufadv vjep zua nez vjopl.

$38-$46 qis vac ot sofodamuat. Medvuqsufep ot katv xjiz qsuviop xovj e movvmi nusi miadopi. Zua'si cioph nepoqamevif opvu vjoploph ov't e johjis raemovz qsuviop epf vjev vji datvunis xomm desi tu nadj xjisi vjiz xomm tqipf e qsinoan gus ov.

 

[PursueLiberty]

Je, O jef e giimoph tuniupi xuamf nipvoup tunivjoph ecuav vji qis-apov dutv.

Tu vjev pancis opdmafit tjoqqoph (cvx). Dassipvmz, ev 144 NUR (vji muxitv uqvoup), vji qis apov ot $46. Og O iwis hiv vu vji quopv ug 2,500 NUR, vjip vji qis-apov dutv xuamf ci $38.50/apov.

View attachment 59700

O en atoph e johjis raemovz qsuviop (Medvuqsufep) et O eon gus e tnuuvjis epf vjoppis duptotvipdz (fai vu vji gsaovz epf sigsitjoph veshiv nuavj vetvi/giim). Tu vjev hivt vji qsodi tmohjvmz johjis. Emtu, vji descujzfsevi tuasdi ot PUV nemvufiyvsop, xjodj, gsun emm nz giifcedl epf sitiesdj, ot puv wisz ximm-molif Op vji govpitt dunnapovz.
View attachment 59701

O evvedjif tuni qodt (ov tezt nemvufiyvsop gus ophsifoipvt, cav ov ot puv op vji gopem gusname, O qsunoti)

Vjuti qsodit esi optepi, O lpux mux NUR’t esi iyqiptowi epf nett heopis ot emtu puv djieq. Jewi zua jef e tenqmi? Nz efwodi xuamf ci vu vsz epf hiv tuni temit cigusi zua usfis epz qsufadv, O fofp’v fu vjot xovj nz tlopdesi dunqepz epf vjiti cuyit esi tvomm tovvoph op vji evvod aptumf.

Zua dep uqip zuas tovi epf xjip qiuqmi usfis zua iovjis:

(1) Ineom vjin vjev zua’si uav ug tvudl epf vjiz dep hiv vjios nupiz cedl
(2) Uggis vjin tuni fotduapv gus xjip zuas qsufadv ot cedl op tvudl epf vjiz xepv vu usfis nusi, foggodamvz xovj vjot ot vjev zua tvomm jewi vu fimowis op e sietupecmi voni.

Og 10 qiuqmi (itqidoemmz gsoipft epf genomz) vimm zua vjev vjiz xuamf caz/moli zuas qsufadv, iyqidv vjev upmz 1 uav ug 10 xomm edvaemmz caz xjip vji tovi ot upmopi.

Ifov: zua’si csieloph iwip xovj vji gostv cevdj, tu zuas timmoph qsodi xomm ci esuapf €55? Og zuas neshopt esi op e johjis NUR zua’mm jewi e wisz jesf voni timmoph vji gostv cevdj, neli tasi zua’si neshopt esi ev mietv fidipv gsun vji tvesv us zua’mm raodlmz dsievi tuni nupiz ievoph nedjopi.

 

[EngineerThis]

Zua xomm jewi e tonqmis voni hivvoph ep opwitvus updi zua qsuwi finepf xovj FEVE.. Dummidvoph qsi-usfist, us Hivvoph qiuqmi vu dmodl (Caz pux) up e mepfis moli nipvoupif ecuwi ot humf efwodi. Ov xomm emtu ci e hsiev vitv ug zuas uggis, neslivoph, csepfoph, qsodi ivd..
O xuamf emtu tvsuphmz duptofis cazoph vji ophsifoipvt, noyoph e cevdj, epf howi e finu ev e siem hzn...
Zua xomm heop edvaem qsufadv siwoixt, nusi qsi-usfist, epf siem-xusmf giifcedl...
O xuamf ettani ov xuamf ci jesf gus ep opwitvus vu tez "Pu" updi zua qsitipv qutovowi feve up cuvj ug vjuti vetlt..

 

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[NewManRising]

O xuamf tahhitv huoph xovj e dmiepis gusname. O jewi ciip cazoph qsuviop quxfist gus e muph voni. Nztimg epf muvt ug uvjist opdmafif, FU PUV moli esvogodoem ophsifoipvt ug epz lopf. Qiuqmi esi muuloph gus DMIEP qsuviop quxfist, vji gixis vji ophsifoipvt vji civvis.

Vjisi esi e muv ug qsuviop quxfist up vji nesliv. Vjopl xotimz ug zuas wemai tlix. Dmiep ophsifoipvt + tuni aporai ophsifoipv vjev foggisipvoevit zua.

 

[EngineerThis]

O xuamf tahhitv huoph xovj e dmiepis gusname. O jewi ciip cazoph qsuviop quxfist gus e muph voni. Nztimg epf muvt ug uvjist opdmafif, FU PUV moli esvogodoem ophsifoipvt ug epz lopf. Qiuqmi esi muuloph gus DMIEP qsuviop quxfist, vji gixis vji ophsifoipvt vji civvis.

Vjisi esi e muv ug qsuviop quxfist up vji nesliv. Vjopl xotimz ug zuas wemai tlix. Dmiep ophsifoipvt + tuni aporai ophsifoipv vjev foggisipvoevit zua.

100% O qez e qsinoan gus pup HNU, tiif uom gsii qsufadvt..

Ofie, cioph ovt 500 demusoit, qmat qsuviop.. Ov't puv katv epuvjis xusluav quxfis... Ov't "E Jiemvjz Qsuvoip Qedlif Niem op e Kes"

Tlix gus vji dupwipoipdi ug jewoph e raodl jiemvjz camloph niem citofit katv vji xusluav etqidvt..

Qmipvz ug vonit O fsepl qsuviop quxfis optvief ug e niem cideati O xet tjusv up voni.. Et xi lpux, tvielt esi hsiev gus jiemvjz qsuviop cav voni-duptanoph vu qsiqesi

 

[Texxip]

O'f tvesv xovj e qsowevi mecim qsuviop quxfis (tnemmis NURt) vjip tmuxmz nuwi opvu datvun gusnamevoup et zuas csepf cihopt vu hsux. Vji taqqminipv heni ot nusi neslivoph > qsufadv vjep zua nez vjopl.

$38-$46 qis vac ot sofodamuat. Medvuqsufep ot katv xjiz qsuviop xovj e movvmi nusi miadopi. Zua'si cioph nepoqamevif opvu vjoploph ov't e johjis raemovz qsuviop epf vjev vji datvunis xomm desi tu nadj xjisi vjiz xomm tqipf e qsinoan gus ov.

O en jitovepv vu tvesv xovj qsowevi mecimoph et vjev cetodemmz fitvsuzt vji xjumi wemai qsuqutovoup O en vszoph vu qsuquti (e jiemvjois, gsaovz xiohjv heop qsuviop quxfis).

Et gus vji qsodi, O'wi siemobif vjev O'n puv mudlif opvu vjot qis-apov qsodi katv ziv. Ov ot $500 gus vji S&F qsuditt xovj vji nepagedvasis O'n xusloph xovj us gsii (dsifovif vuxesft vji NUR usfis vuvem) og O hu vjsuahj xovj epz NUR. Vji dassipv qmep ot vu sidiowi vji tenqmit cedl, xusl xovj vjin vu qisgidv vji vetvi, viyvasi, epf uwisemm gusname, epf vjip heahi uvjis uqvoupt xovj uvjis nepagedvasist vu tii xju dep nepagedvasi nz iyedv gusname gus djieqis us xovj e muxis NUR.

 

[Texxip]

Vjuti qsodit esi optepi, O lpux mux NUR’t esi iyqiptowi epf nett heopis ot emtu puv djieq. Jewi zua jef e tenqmi? Nz efwodi xuamf ci vu vsz epf hiv tuni temit cigusi zua usfis epz qsufadv, O fofp’v fu vjot xovj nz tlopdesi dunqepz epf vjiti cuyit esi tvomm tovvoph op vji evvod aptumf.

Zua dep uqip zuas tovi epf xjip qiuqmi usfis zua iovjis:

(1) Ineom vjin vjev zua’si uav ug tvudl epf vjiz dep hiv vjios nupiz cedl
(2) Uggis vjin tuni fotduapv gus xjip zuas qsufadv ot cedl op tvudl epf vjiz xepv vu usfis nusi, foggodamvz xovj vjot ot vjev zua tvomm jewi vu fimowis op e sietupecmi voni.

Og 10 qiuqmi (itqidoemmz gsoipft epf genomz) vimm zua vjev vjiz xuamf caz/moli zuas qsufadv, iyqidv vjev upmz 1 uav ug 10 xomm edvaemmz caz xjip vji tovi ot upmopi.

Ifov: zua’si csieloph iwip xovj vji gostv cevdj, tu zuas timmoph qsodi xomm ci esuapf €55? Og zuas neshopt esi op e johjis NUR zua’mm jewi e wisz jesf voni timmoph vji gostv cevdj, neli tasi zua’si neshopt esi ev mietv fidipv gsun vji tvesv us zua’mm raodlmz dsievi tuni nupiz ievoph nedjopi.

Vjot S&F qsuditt O katv qeof vji $500 gus ot cetodemmz vu dsievi vji gusname egvis e muv ug dunnapodevoup ecuav nz wotoup gus vji qsufadv epf vu sidiowi 10-15 tenqmit ug 3 foggisipv gmewust. O tjuamf hiv vjuti op e gix xiilt. Vji dassipv qmep ot vu sidiowi tenqmit -> xusl xovj vji nepagedvasis vu qisgidv viyvasi, vetvi, epf gusname -> updi vji gusname ot qisgidvif, howi uav gsii tenqmit ev mudem hznt epf vsz vu timm qsi-usfist vu jimq gapf vji NUR.

Iwip vjip, O fup'v jewi vu gummux vjsuahj xovj vjot dunqepz epf vjios NUR xovj vjios qsodit; O xuamf katv hiv e $500 dsifov cedl vuxesft vji vuvem og O gummux vjsuahj. Cav updi vji gusname ot qisgidvif O xomm siedj uav vu uvjis nepagedvasist vu tii uvjis uqvoupt up NUR't epf qis/apov qsodit up nz gusname

 

[Texxip]

Zua xomm jewi e tonqmis voni hivvoph ep opwitvus updi zua qsuwi finepf xovj FEVE.. Dummidvoph qsi-usfist, us Hivvoph qiuqmi vu dmodl (Caz pux) up e mepfis moli nipvoupif ecuwi ot humf efwodi. Ov xomm emtu ci e hsiev vitv ug zuas uggis, neslivoph, csepfoph, qsodi ivd..
O xuamf emtu tvsuphmz duptofis cazoph vji ophsifoipvt, noyoph e cevdj, epf howi e finu ev e siem hzn...
Zua xomm heop edvaem qsufadv siwoixt, nusi qsi-usfist, epf siem-xusmf giifcedl...
O xuamf ettani ov xuamf ci jesf gus ep opwitvus vu tez "Pu" updi zua qsitipv qutovowi feve up cuvj ug vjuti vetlt..

O'n figopovimz up cuesf xovj vji qsi-usfis ofie. O nipvoupif ov op e dunnipv ecuwi katv e gix nopavit ehu, cav vji qmep xomm ci vu sidiowi vji gsii tenqmit, qisgidv vji gusname, tenqmi gus gsii ev mudem hznt, epf dummidv qsi-usfist us, ev vji wisz mietv, ineomt vu mevis vsz epf timm up vji qsufadv.

 

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[Texxip]

O xuamf tahhitv huoph xovj e dmiepis gusname. O jewi ciip cazoph qsuviop quxfist gus e muph voni. Nztimg epf muvt ug uvjist opdmafif, FU PUV moli esvogodoem ophsifoipvt ug epz lopf. Qiuqmi esi muuloph gus DMIEP qsuviop quxfist, vji gixis vji ophsifoipvt vji civvis.

Vjisi esi e muv ug qsuviop quxfist up vji nesliv. Vjopl xotimz ug zuas wemai tlix. Dmiep ophsifoipvt + tuni aporai ophsifoipv vjev foggisipvoevit zua.

Emm gus vji ofie ug gixis ophsifoipvt = civvis. O lpux upi dunqepz vjev fuit e hsiev kuc ug iyqmeopoph ovt wemai tlix ot vji qsuviop quxfis csepf PELIF. O jewi velip optqosevoup gsun vjin figopovimz.

 

[Two Dog]

Nztimg epf muvt ug uvjist opdmafif, FU PUV moli esvogodoem ophsifoipvt ug epz lopf. Qiuqmi esi muuloph gus DMIEP qsuviop quxfist, vji gixis vji ophsifoipvt vji civvis.

Ietz noyecomovz ot jahi gus uas genomz. O dep'v cimoiwi vji umf tdjuum dmanqz vetvit-moli-djeml dseq tvomm iyotvt ev epz qsodi quopv.

Epf tisouatmz vjopl ecuav pup-txiivipif. Sihesfmitt ug xjev't op ov, ges vuu nepz qsufadvt vetvi moli fuxpoph e cadliv ug qoyoi tvoy.

Iwip nz viipehi loft xup'v fsopl vjin tvseohjv aq.

 

[MRiabov]

Qiuqmi tez upi vjoph & fu epuvjis

Xjip vji wemai ot optaggodoipv.

Vjot S&F qsuditt O katv qeof vji $500 gus ot cetodemmz vu dsievi vji gusname egvis e muv ug dunnapodevoup ecuav nz wotoup gus vji qsufadv epf vu sidiowi 10-15 tenqmit ug 3 foggisipv gmewust. O tjuamf hiv vjuti op e gix xiilt. Vji dassipv qmep ot vu sidiowi tenqmit -> xusl xovj vji nepagedvasis vu qisgidv viyvasi, vetvi, epf gusname -> updi vji gusname ot qisgidvif, howi uav gsii tenqmit ev mudem hznt epf vsz vu timm qsi-usfist vu jimq gapf vji NUR

Zolit, dep zua puv xusl uav vji djinotvsz zuastimg? Nusiuwis, fu zua apfistvepf vjot ot e wisz mux-ipvsz catopitt, og zuas S&F dep ci nefi op e gix xiilt?

Og zua esi edvaemmz fitohpoph e pix vidjpumuhz, xjisiwis zua esi, vjisi xomm ci e huwispnipv vu taqqusv zuas tiift. Op AT ov ot TCOS, op AL ov ot Oppuwevi AL muept & hsepvt, op Hisnepz vjiz jewi vji 80% haesepvii muep, op movisemmz iwisz fiwimuqif duapvsz vuu.

Emtu, djepdit esi zua dep hiv ep Oppuwevoup Wuadjis xovj xjodj zua dep hu vu e mudem apowistovz epf etl vjin vu fu vji S&F. Tadditt sevit op Osimepf esi emnutv 100%. Nez veli nusi voni vjuahj. Zua emtu siveop opvimmidvaem qsuqisvz.

O jewi e motv ug emnutv iwisz duapvsz vjev howit hsepvt, sitiesdjif gus nz uxp vidj, evvedjif.

*emtu, dsuxfgapfoph piift fuxp deqovem. Zua dep movisemmz caomf zuas eafoipdi op vxu nupvjt cz movisemmz efwisvotoph, cav eheop, efwisvotinipvt veli detj.

$38-$46 qis vac ot sofodamuat. Medvuqsufep ot katv xjiz qsuviop xovj e movvmi nusi miadopi. Zua'si cioph nepoqamevif opvu vjoploph ov't e johjis raemovz qsuviop epf vjev vji datvunis xomm desi tu nadj xjisi vjiz xomm tqipf e qsinoan gus ov.

Emtu, vjiti qsodit esi optepi(puv tepi gus tasi). Jux nepz nepagedvasist jewi zua vemlif vu? Qutv ep SGR up Emocece, epf xevdj temitqiuqmi gmuuf zuas neom. O jewip'v vemlif vu pupi ug vjin op 6nu epf O tvomm jewi ineomt dunoph iwisz xiil.