Don't follow the hype:) The way i see things is simple. X angel/vc knows how to play the game of taking some Y startup with non super unique idea/product and sell it to the Z highest bidder. When X invest money the most important thing is to make Big News. The Z are full with money to spend, they know that money need to circulate in order to multiply. They watch The News. They react. With money. On the other side of the line are X, they also watch the news, dream for success and want to be Zuckerbergs. And so on. From my perspective the smartest move is to connect demands of Z and availability of Y. Be a X or The News channel. But i am small, insignificant, away from first hand experience and everything that i think is away from The Game that is x,y,z. Thinks i can do with one million funding, if i have it, in terms of product development, team building, business development, are so old school and simple that are not interesting to put here at all. For me in this position the only valuable model is bootstrapping everything, test early in real world and iterate slowly and carefully in terms of technology and business model. But i deeply respect The Game of x,y and z, not so in direct meaning but as side effect. If all this money are 20% effective they push new technology to the limit and test the audience and give as a valuable lessons without risking money that we don't have. So if Z want to spend it's their decision to make. Our is to choose a) to be valuable Y or b) to be other letter in the equation making our own working function, with our own proven methods and variables:)

Yes this is double standard that is eu. I am Bulgarian and have business that makes web based solutions from 2004.I can assure you that we have many qualified programmers. Vmware has a big local offiice, from years sap has one to, we have Bulgarian sucsess in software business to - Telerik and Vray. The point is that bureaucrats are ignorant and don't make anything accept pr using taxpayer money. Wish you luck with 50k agenda.

Great. Is always good for designers to look under the hood of apps then apply function over form. But i am concerned deeply that startup mania is looking for the mantra "Do it first than think how to monetize". It must be opposite. Think about business idea or how to make value for someone than make something. On the other side. I have similar experience with my developers they were so proud of them selves and start to think that i am stupid because i am designer and don't know nothing about programming. After a year dedication what a surprise  - now they don't mess around::))  Programming is not for every designer, but if one can put an effort and be persistent it pays big in t he end.

I am at 35. Just last year i managed to find balance and value in life. I don't care anymore about "quick success" or coolness. I care about value. Age discrimination is a niche for some businesses to minimize expenses in a short run, but small, dedicated and experienced teams can bring so much profit and value. When you are young you operate on blind fate, you don't have proven methodology to attack "The problem", you don't know when to stop and make turn, simply put you are giant ball of energy without direction.

You need supervising on regular basis :)))

And if you didn't hear - life begins at 40.

If you are healthy and smart you can push your energy more effectively and find satisfaction in so many things.

Thats why i quit making colorful pictures for "blind" people with small pockets long time ago. Time (effort spend) to return (money) equation is terrible. Its shameful that todays perception on web design is PSD layered file. Web design is a process of communication of an idea/marketing concept to a consumer. Web design is UX thinking. Than: Web design is UI doing. Than: Web design is a illustration.

I don't see how the Client will perceive this low price PSD oriented service with less expectations. The price is so low that its not serious, it's a joke.

Advice:

Make some sassy layouts, put them online in portfolio section. Than put up your price per hour. Give a client full service, feedback, comments on their ideas, professional advice etc.

But: Value in web design is not in pictures. It is in successful conceptualization of your professional view on clients problems.

Years ago i stop offering cool pictures, and start learning more about technology in front-end (html.css.js), UX, marketing, communication with customer and now i perceive the web design process as a whole of many valuable parts.

If you are in desperate position, do some freelancing or get a routine job and invest in your self in your spare time:))