I am a professional geologist and highly motivated to succeed. I opened a company in Spain to provide engineering geology and construction site investigation services to construction companies, architects and individual land owners. There is a market in Spain for engineering geology to fit in with new government planning legislation. I need venture capital to the tune of $50,000. I have no securities in Spain. I do have a property in France, fully paid up which can provide some security. Three banks turned me down, already. The banks are in England, France and Spain. Please advise on my successful way forward in gaining an advance. Or, do I just sell my property and keep my independence?

If all you need is $50K, venture capital is not the right investment type.  VCs are not looking for small investments like that.  It takes the same amount of time to manage a $50K investment as it does a $5 million investment.  If VCs make a bunch of $50K investments, they'd have no time to do anything.  All they'd be doing is keeping tabs on dozens, if not hundreds of investments.  There isn't enough time in the week for them to do that.

If you have property, see if you can get a mortgage as a way of raising capital.  Can you entice friends or family to invest?  For such a (relatively) small amount, you should be able to raise that from those who know you best, and will be willing to invest simply because you are you.

Dr. VC
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Cynicism is not an end, but a means to reach objectivity.