"Team" doesn't have to mean full-on partners, but usually without money you can't get people on board to commit to anything resembling reasonable effort to get things done. Perhaps some things should be outsourced, with you still managing and making decisions, but outsourced to extremely low-cost people, then you'll have the 'team' the VC wants so desperately to see??
Given that you're already doing it, I'm not sure you need a lecture or reminding about how hard it is. It's also really hard to convince people to come work for you for no money (probably harder than just getting your stuff working and bringing in money in the first place).
>> It's also really hard to convince people to come work for you for no money
I think this may have been why his face dropped. If your pitch isn't convincing anyone to take a risk with their career/time on you, then the investor is going to think twice about taking a similar risk with his money.
Given that you're already doing it, I'm not sure you need a lecture or reminding about how hard it is. It's also really hard to convince people to come work for you for no money (probably harder than just getting your stuff working and bringing in money in the first place).