[Pinbenterjamin]

Not sure if this is the correct use of 'Glass Ceiling'.

Anyway, have you tried fundraising sites like GoFundMe, or Kickstarter? Have you shown your project on various social media sites, like Github/Reddit/HN? Have you tried Grant Search Sites like Grantspace? Have you considered if your technology would be useful to a local business? I have had success in this route myself, I had a Local VFW contract my services to build a local website to track their dart-league scores, it was a great opportunity. Have you hosted a trial for a select group, and received feedback? This can be great fodder for bargaining.

There are a lot of options, but patience and perseverance are your best friends here. It's not easy. Period. You have to work hard and fail through many avenues before you can rightfully join the ranks of 'failed startups'.