Hard money lenders without income but high credit score?

[Henry L.]

I am in business school now at a semi target school where lots of alumni work in commercial real estate and finance at top firms so hoping I can network. The school is very entrepreneurial and I have access to venture capitalists and angel investors. Just last week an alumni stopped by who is working on a 80 million dollar international real estate development project of his own where he got funding through investment firms. I am networking with everyone and got his contact info. I do have money for 15%. 

In order to get hard money without a day job it appears you need to do at least a few deals first to prove yourself? Is this correct. One of my clients is starting to flip houses and has a few rentals he does full time, so I may approach him to take me on a deal. Trying to think of how I can position it.