Chapter 75 - Failed investment

After deciding to give Holodex another shot, I was hit with a major roadblock: money. I needed an investor, and fast. There was one person, Simon, who had always been supportive of me in the past. I thought for sure he would come through. When I called him up to pitch my plan for re-entering the adult content space with Holodex, he seemed interested. He told me to send over everything I had, and he’d get back to me later that evening. So, I did what I had to do—I sent everything—financial projections, business plans, all of it.
But then… nothing. Months passed. I didn’t get a response. And when I finally did hear from him, it was a cold, distant email that didn’t feel like he even took the time to read my pitch. The worst part? It felt like I was being given the silent treatment. I had asked for just ten minutes of his time to discuss my vision, but months went by without any real feedback.
When he finally reached out again, it was with a laundry list of reasons why he couldn’t help me: “I’m really busy with three jobs, two kids, an aging family, a wife, a dog, a half-built house, and a big birthday coming up—plus another company I part-own. Not much going on here."
That response stung, to say the least. I wasn’t busy with all those things. In fact, I had none of those distractions. It made me feel like my situation—my dream—was somehow less important. My mental health was taking a hit, and his dismissive attitude only made it worse.
I stared at the screen, rereading the line about the dog and the half-built house, wondering how something so absurd could feel like a punch in the gut.
But then, just when I had started to lose hope, I got an unexpected message from him. “Send me the latest deck; I’m with some investors now.” It felt out of nowhere—suspicious even. We hadn’t discussed anything about investors yet, so why the sudden interest? I sent him the latest deck anyway, hoping that maybe this time would be different.
When we finally got to discussing the valuation, I could feel his dismissive tone, even through the email. He laughed. My valuation was high, yes, but I wasn’t targeting small numbers. Holodex was strong—data-rich, scalable, with a built-in user base and an industry pain point screaming for disruption. I was aiming for millions, not just thousands.
It was clear to me that he didn’t understand the potential of Holodex, or worse, he didn’t want to. His laughter felt like a slap in the face. That moment confirmed what I had been sensing all along—he wasn’t the partner I needed. His attitude had shifted from supportive to dismissive, and the more I thought about it, the more I realised: Holodex had a way of exposing the true colours of people.
It wasn’t just about the money anymore. It was about the people who would support you, not just when things were easy, but when you truly needed them. And as it turned out, he wasn’t one of those people.
But that didn’t stop me. Holodex was still my dream, and I wasn’t going to let one person’s reaction hold me back. It was time to find others who shared my vision, my ambition, and my belief in what Holodex could become. The journey wasn’t over yet—not by a long shot.
For a moment, I thought that was it. That Holodex would never rise again.
When I reconnected with Valerie Fox, it was a completely different story. From the moment we spoke, she didn’t hesitate. She immediately said she’d help me raise the money—or even invest herself. That’s just how amazing she is—she saw the potential in Holodex when others had dismissed it. Unlike the cold, detached responses I had gotten before, Valerie was warm, enthusiastic, and believed in what I was trying to do.
It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, someone who truly understood the vision. I felt validated, like I wasn’t just chasing a dream in vain. Valerie’s unwavering support meant everything. And it didn’t stop there. She was a powerhouse, helping me navigate the financial hurdles I had once thought insurmountable. Without her, and without Heather’s support as well, I honestly don’t think Holodex would have ever made its way back to where it is now. They were the ones who stood by me, when so many others had turned their backs.
Having Valerie and Heather in my corner wasn’t just about financial backing; it was about belief. They gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward, no matter how impossible the journey felt at times. And for that, I’ll always be grateful. Holodex exists today because of their belief in me and in the potential of what we were creating. I knew I had to keep going, and with their help, I could.
I lost an investor, but I gained believers. And that’s what it really takes to build something extraordinary.