This is a fantastic article summarizing what I have learned and what I tried to write on my own (http://www.startupforless.com).
I am humble by it.
Basically it boils down to the following ...
1) Create "value", not "valuation" 2) Be a "surrogate" customer, live their lives and adopt their persona 3) Be frugal, use your VC money as working capital and treat it as the last money you ever going to have and need 4) ... and more
--Denny--