Let's Get Entrepreneurial | Founder Execution

Investor Red Flags That Can Kill Your Startup (Run from These)

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Raising money feels amazing — until the wrong investor turns your dream into a nightmare. In this hard-hitting episode. Professor Gary Palin, angel investor & entrepreneurship educator, and Ryan Budden serial entrepreneur & startup consultant, pull back the curtain on the investor red flags that can literally kill your startup.

If you’re fundraising or ever plan to, you can’t afford to miss these warning signs:

  • The “sign today or the deal dies” rush tactic
  • Control-obsessed investors demanding weekly 4-hour reports and veto rights
  • Short-term flippers who only care about a quick exit
  • Strategic investors quietly trying to turn you into their private supplier
  • Disrespectful communication and zero value beyond cash
  • The dangerous myth of “we don’t need a lawyer, it’s just boilerplate”
  • How desperation lets predators rewrite terms at the last second

    • This isn’t theory. These are real-world investor red flags that have wrecked companies — and the practical checklist every founder needs before signing a term sheet.

    Whether you’re talking to angels, VCs, or family investors, learn how to spot toxic money fast and protect your equity, vision, and sanity.

    Perfect for first-time founders and seasoned entrepreneurs who never want to be controlled by the wrong check.

    Let’s get entrepreneurial — the smart way.

    🔥 BONUS: Unlock your Janus Entrepreneurial Score and see your personal entrepreneurship tendencies scores by taking the Janus Entrepreneurial Assessment

    This entrepreneur podcast delivers startup advice, business growth strategies, and practical lessons for entrepreneurs ready to enhance their revenue model and scale a startup sustainably.

    New episodes drop every other Tuesday.

    Title: Investor Red Flags That Can Kill Your Startup (Run from These)

    Other episodes with startup growth and founder insights:

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    • Finding the Right Startup Mentor to Accelerate Growth and Strengthen Your Entrepreneur Mindset
    • What Startup Founders Should Know About Becoming an Effective CEO

      • You can book a Virtual Coaching session to assist your entrepreneurial journey.

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      Let's Get Entrepreneurial | Founder ExecutionBy Professor Gary Palin | Angel Investor & Entrepreneurship Educator