Most reputable lenders are going to want you to have some skin in the game.

Now, the lender wants to know if you have good credit, experience, etc.There may be some lendings coming back into the game that will only look at the project, but we look at the project and the person.Normally, they lender will want you to have some skin in the game.  

This will help you get some skin in the game.

Can I use this money as a down payment for a conventional product/hard money skin in the game?

Another thing is I could tell these guys were working their own deals which is good obviously because they know what they are doing, but with no skin in your game- your deals, it felt like they were kind of detached.

Investors find it uneasy knowing the operating partner (gp) will have little skin in the game and are less likely to invest.

The best thing you can do is build a strong team around you and/or partner up with an experienced investor to help you get some skin in the game for at least your first few projects. 

The private lending could finance only the down payment and the rest could come from a conventional loan, thought you may need to use a portfolio lender as some banks want you to have some skin in the game.

If your contract was just with the GC, he has skin in the game.  

You need to start saving as much money as possible so that you can have "skin in the game."