The little-known backers behind Starbucks, Guitar Hero and Daily Candy
Where do start-ups get the money to start up? Friends, family and fools.
It’s an old joke, but it neatly sums up the conventional wisdom about the risks of investing in a loved one’s business. Not only do you stand to lose your money, you could lose the relationship if the company goes belly-up, or even if it just goes through the regular stresses of getting a venture off the ground.
