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My obsession is arcades. I opened a pizzeria with a home equity loan, back when they were throwing money at anyone, and ran it for 8.5 years. I was never able to get the money to relocate and expand because of my awkwardness when speaking to bankers and overwhelming anxiety. I developed this perfect concept for an arcade that's full of innovation, there's nothing else out there like it. I've been writing and rewriting operational manuals over the last four years and honing everything down so that its now diabolically simple from an operational perspective. It's a concept that you could put almost anywhere, like Buffalo Wild Wings, and there would be hardly any direct competition. I need to find investors though, and I know absolutely no one. I've talked to one guy I work with who does finance on the side who thought it was a great idea but now he's avoiding me. I gave him my business plan, operational manual, marketing research, and a lot of other things I keep it 4 three inch binders to take home and look at so he knew I actually had something and was not some weird dude with a vague dream. A little naïve I guess. I think he's avoiding me because he has plans to do it himself. I was hoping I could find an investor who's on the spectrum who I could communicate better with and wouldn't get weirded out by my awkwardness. Is there anyone out there who may be interested, or could point me in the right direction?

I'm not an invester so I'm bumping this. Good luck. I hope you find the right people.

You would actually have a direct competitor. Dave and Buster's.

Actually, Dave and Busters is just the same old thing that's been out there for almost forty years. I'm doing something completely different. It involves using the card swipe system in ways that no one else is doing, a small theater, and a completely different approach to the prize counter. It's all marketing really, and it would cater to introverts much better than anything else out there as well as extroverts. It's about connecting people through common interests.

You ever watch Dragon's Den or Shark Tank? Anything like that where entrepreneurs are getting feedback from potential investors?


I don't really watch much TV at all, ever, but I have seen several of these shows and I do have a business school education. I'm not flat broke, but I don't have the sort of capital you're looking for.

Anyways, on to my point.. it's one thing to have an idea for a business and another entirely to actually have a working functioning business with sales revenues and profits that needs a cash injection to expand. Which do you currently have? If it's mostly just a concept and you've yet to put it into action in the real world and find out if people are willing to vote with their dollars for it (by buying your product/service) then chances are most-to-all potential investors are going to give you the typical response they would give on Dragon's Den or Shark Tank and tell you that your business is too new, unproven, has no sales/profits/value yet & thus is un-investible for them as it's extremely high risk to invest in just an idea vs. being able to crunch the numbers and invest in growing an already operational business.

Most introverts like our self don't go out much; so why are you looking to market to someone who doesn't go out and socialize much? Now I am curious about the card swipe concept and prize counter. How is your prize counter different and why a card swipe? The card swipe thing concerns me, as we have numerous internet/game cafes that used a card system get shut down and the owners went to jail. So be honest, are you a gambling business or could be mistaken for one? This could be your problem. As this would be a major concern for me in my state. How come you haven't delegated some of the social aspects of your job out? When you say you ran your pizzaria for 8.5 years, what do you mean? Is it still around and looking to expand or is it gone and looking to start a new business?

In my area we have one very successful comic book store, that also has arcade games and host LAN parties. What makes them different? They have a full fledged bar "hidden" in the back.

I am not really interested in investing in your venture... But these are the questions that immediately came to mind when reading this thread and what probably comes to mind for other investors. This before discussing the financials of your business, as this would lead to more questions. One being, what are you going to offer the investor?

I have to disagree with you about introverts not wanting to go out and socialize, it's a basic human need. I hate going to bars, clubs, etc. not because I don't like people, its just extremely difficult. My concept, and it is extremely well thought out with a business plan, financials, an operations manual, tons of marketing research etc., facilitates these interactions instead of just leaving it up to the guest. I stay away from all the usual places because I don't know how to start, hold, or end a conversation well. Approaching strangers makes my skin crawl. There's a huge market out there whose needs are ignored mostly and not being met by businesses. I'd love to go into more detail on the how to part, especially the prize counter, but that would be kind of dumb to just post it on the internet for all to see. I can tell you that I'm aware of the gambling laws and this would not be considered gambling business. As for my Pizzeria, I had employees and I made a really good product and consistently, but I was in a bad location and couldn't find Money to relocate and expand because I locked up every time I tried to talk to a banker. I was also terrible with customers and I was there most of the time. I was owner and operator. I've seen Shark Tank and I'm not a fan. I was hoping to find an investor on the spectrum that would understand my weaknesses and could recognize the innovation and growth potential of my concept. I think another aspie would be easier to talk to. If you happen to know one with money to invest in something like this I would greatly appreciate the contact. Thanks for your interest.

Here's the thing, though.. investors don't just invest in business plans and ideas. They invest in people.

In your last post describing yourself, you don't exactly come across as the kind of guy who's going to be able to execute your business plan & do what's required to make it succeed. That's going to be a bigger barrier to getting funding for your idea than anything else.

Investors don't want to invest in your idea AND take on the workload of starting it from scratch and growing it into a profitable business. This is why so many want to see the business already started, working well, generating revenues and profits.. then they're willing to give it $x cash infusion to expand it with multiple locations.

You're on the right track with having thought about how to systemize and duplicate your business, but right now you don't need an investor (yet), you need a business partner that makes up for your shortfalls when it comes to getting things done. Then when you and your partner(s) have a successful, profitable, first location - that's when you're ready to take your systemized duplication plans to an investor and pitch it to them. You'll have proven your concept works and that you're able to make money at it, which is critically important to them in terms of knowing how they're going to be repaid when they decide to fund your expansion.

How was your experience running the pizza place while the business was good? You mentioned your exceptional planning. Did you also bring other skills to the table? A partner?

My experience was mixed. I new nothing when I started and learned everything the hard way, trial and error. I hated handling customer service although I really liked most of my customers and loved the compliments they gave me. Closing it down was one of the hardest things I've ever done, I was devastated. Even though it was tough and I struggled through most of it I really did love owning my own business. I realized how lucky I was to have it while I had it and not just after I lost it though. My mother was diagnosed with cancer right after I opened and died about a year later, my divorce was finalized, my brother lost his job and started working for me and stayed drunk while he was there most of the time and nearly ruined it, etc. There was a lot of bad with the good, but it was the highlight of my life along with my son.