[mythriel]

Unless you want to build the next Facebook and want to have all the 1000000 features from day 1 you do not need a lot of money to build your prototype. You should stick to the lean methodology and build a MVP. You do not need fancy design build it with bootstrap or just use some templates. The idea is important, the product is important, the quality and the value of the product is important for any investor.

My advice is build your MVP and release it and see the feedback. Send emails to people in SV and show them your product, show developers your product because maybe some of them are from SV and will show your product to other people there. I am really not sure what your idea is about but do your really need a lot of money to make it happen ? If you are already working on a prototype that is great, it means that you will have something to show and if you have something to show than you can validate your idea into a product based on consumer feedback and if you can reach the validation step than you will find investment.