[cabinguy]

First - your new business sounds like a(nother) winner to me.

Your pushback = really good point. Personally, I wouldn't recommend that anyone tries to raise $25-$50k, as their odds of hurting a really good relationship will be at about 99%...but I understand what you're saying.

My advice is that if you are thinking about raising under $500k, or only raising money from family and friends, just go through the struggle as a bootstrapper. You'll learn a lot more and probably get further than you would with the friends and family money. Plus you'll still have a place to crash and be welcomed to a warm meal from time to time, if needed.

Of course I say this as someone who was never able to raise capital. So, my bias is what it is. I'm a bootstrapper. Good luck, Rand - wishing you the best!