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#10: After the Raise (What Matters Most)
You raised the money. That's great, now what? The most important part is what's left.
The check cleared, expectations shifted, and the real climb begins. What happens next determines whether you scale with integrity or lose control on the way up.
In this episode of the For You Leaders mini-series, Kirk Dando and Spencer Traver unpack what happens after the money hits the bank. They revisit lessons from five iconic founders and investors who’ve scaled, sold, and survived the hardest part of growth — the messy middle between capital and clarity.
You’ll hear from:
- Dug Song — Co-founder of Duo Security, on “the grocery store test” and why the right investor feels like a real partner, not a transaction.
- Gregg Kaplan — Founder of Redbox, on leading with shared values and the “handshake test” for trust.
- Mitchell Green — Founder of Lead Edge Capital, on how to choose investors like you’re getting married (because you kind of are).
- Julie Maples — Co-founder of FYRFLY Ventures, on proactive communication and how great founders keep investors aligned before things break.
- Brett Hurt — Founder of data.world and Bazaarvoice, on building soul into your company and communicating through fear, not around it.
Together, they reveal how communication, trust, and alignment aren’t “soft skills” — they’re the foundation for enduring companies and healthy partnerships.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
- Build partnerships rooted in shared values, not just shared valuation.
- Communicate bad news faster to strengthen trust.
- Create a board dynamic that empowers, not controls.
- Invest in relationships that multiply your mission — not your mistakes.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – Intro: After the Raise
05:28 – Partnership Beyond the Raise
27:43 – Communication as a Superpower
49:05 – Empowering Through Knowledge & Help
1:02:29 – Closing Thoughts: Trust, Communication, & The Climb Ahead
This episode is a candid look at what happens after the term sheet is signed — when the climb truly begins.
Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit https://www.dandoadvisors.com/ for leadership coaching and resources.
Resources & Mentions:
- Download Kirk’s Business Growth Lifecycle PDF: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/resources/business-growth-lifecycle-normalizing-the-scale-journey
- Get Coaching from Kirk: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/services/executive-coaching
Follow us on LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdando
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver
View all episodes
By Kirk DandoYou raised the money. That's great, now what? The most important part is what's left.
The check cleared, expectations shifted, and the real climb begins. What happens next determines whether you scale with integrity or lose control on the way up.
In this episode of the For You Leaders mini-series, Kirk Dando and Spencer Traver unpack what happens after the money hits the bank. They revisit lessons from five iconic founders and investors who’ve scaled, sold, and survived the hardest part of growth — the messy middle between capital and clarity.
You’ll hear from:
- Dug Song — Co-founder of Duo Security, on “the grocery store test” and why the right investor feels like a real partner, not a transaction.
- Gregg Kaplan — Founder of Redbox, on leading with shared values and the “handshake test” for trust.
- Mitchell Green — Founder of Lead Edge Capital, on how to choose investors like you’re getting married (because you kind of are).
- Julie Maples — Co-founder of FYRFLY Ventures, on proactive communication and how great founders keep investors aligned before things break.
- Brett Hurt — Founder of data.world and Bazaarvoice, on building soul into your company and communicating through fear, not around it.
Together, they reveal how communication, trust, and alignment aren’t “soft skills” — they’re the foundation for enduring companies and healthy partnerships.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
- Build partnerships rooted in shared values, not just shared valuation.
- Communicate bad news faster to strengthen trust.
- Create a board dynamic that empowers, not controls.
- Invest in relationships that multiply your mission — not your mistakes.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – Intro: After the Raise
05:28 – Partnership Beyond the Raise
27:43 – Communication as a Superpower
49:05 – Empowering Through Knowledge & Help
1:02:29 – Closing Thoughts: Trust, Communication, & The Climb Ahead
This episode is a candid look at what happens after the term sheet is signed — when the climb truly begins.
Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit https://www.dandoadvisors.com/ for leadership coaching and resources.
Resources & Mentions:
- Download Kirk’s Business Growth Lifecycle PDF: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/resources/business-growth-lifecycle-normalizing-the-scale-journey
- Get Coaching from Kirk: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/services/executive-coaching
Follow us on LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdando
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver