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Have the right parents who send you to the right private school where you fit in with the right crowd.

Fyi, none of this applied to my cofounder or I. Both of us grew up lower middle class (family incomes under $60k/year) and went to public grade schools, high schools, and colleges.

We met the people who are our angels by excelling in our careers. Eg founders of companies damn sure remember their top 3 sales reps.

My family income was under 1/3 that and I left school to pay the bills

Building your network just takes time and effort. You're indirectly connected to everybody (6 degrees of Kevin Bacon and all that), it's just about what kinds of relationships you invest in. Do it for long enough and it pushes you in a specific direction, and you'll end up being friends with the right people.

(And sure, being already rich or connected or going to the right school gives you a head start, but it is in no way a prerequisite. Life isn't fair, some have it easier than others.)

Make as many as possible? Some of them are bound to be the right ones.