Indiegogo Overcame the Doubters by Trusting Its Users -- and Itself Indiegogo co-founder Slava Rubin explains how he handled rejection.

By Conrad Martin

Entrepreneur Media

It's not easy to bounce back after rejection -- especially after you've been turned down by 93 VCs in a row.

That's what happened to Slava Rubin, the co-founder of Indiegogo, one of the world's first online crowdfunding platforms. However, instead of letting nearly 100 rejections deter him and his team from pursuing their vision, they mustered self-belief and optimism to overcome the doubts.

Introducing the idea of a marketplace for funding, or as Rubin puts it, a "YouTube for money," was no easy task during a time when the word "crowdfunding" wasn't mainstream. Yet by listening to feedback and trusting both their users and their product, the Indiegogo team pushed through the opposition and found success, learning many lessons along the way.

Related: Indiegogo Co-Founder Says Become Obsessed With the Problem, Not the Solution

"Keep on trying, keep on iterating, keep on learning," Rubin tells Entrepreneur. "Don't get stuck, because being stuck is a decision in itself."

Watch the interview above to learn more about Rubin and how he dealt with rejection, how he learned to trust his users and ultimately, how he and his company persevered.

Each week, the new pitch show Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch gives aspiring entrepreneurs one minute to prove that their product or business is the next million-dollar idea. You can watch the episodes on entrepreneur.com, listen to the pitches and support the ideas you think show promise through Indiegogo.

Conrad Martin

Entrepreneur Staff

Network Editor at Entrepreneur.com

Conrad Martin is the Network Editor at Entrepreneur.com. His areas of focus include native and editorial video, live events, and content distribution.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Business Solutions

Can This AI Tool Make Better Content Than ChatGPT?

Your business or side hustle will have to be the judge of that.

Side Hustle

'Over $100,000 a Month': His Spicy Side Hustle Became a Full-Time Business and Hit 7-Figure Revenue — Here's How He Did It

Brock Giles, 36, started a business inspired by his childhood filled with "food, cooking and entertaining."

Productivity

6 Habits That Help Successful People Maximize Their Time

There aren't enough hours in the day, but these tips will make them feel slightly more productive.

Business News

Your Old Apple AirPods Can Soon Act as an Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid, According to the FDA

The new software is compatible with the Apple AirPods Pro and accessible through iOS — for free and now FDA-authorized.

Science & Technology

39% of Your Skills Will be Obsolete in 5 Years — Here Are 6 Skills You Will Need to Adapt and Thrive

AI agents are transforming business — adapt or be left behind.