When Warren Buffett and George Soros started trading and are they still trading OPM now?
WHY?
The OP said he needed the money to get it off the ground. This implies start up expenses. Nothing wrong with trading OPM (I work in the industry). I am just saying when you start managing OPM and set up the vehicle you will be expected to have some money not be flat broke.
If someone is a 'very good' trader and they don't have $100k saved after 4 years then I suggest that maybe their definition of a good trader may be wrong.