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Raising venture capital can open doors, but it is not the right path for every founder or every business.In this episode of Periscope, Lola Masha sits down with Tosin Faniro-Dada, Partner at Breega, to unpack what founders need to know before raising VC funding. From understanding different types of capital to knowing whether your business is VC-backable, this conversation breaks down the realities of fundraising, investor expectations, startup metrics, cap tables, SAFEs, storytelling, and choosing the right investor partner.Tosin explains what venture capital firms look for, why team quality and market size matter, why “why now?” is a critical fundraising question, and why founders must be clear about their stage before approaching investors. She also shares insights on Africa’s startup ecosystem, the funding gap from seed to Series A, and the mistakes founders make when raising capital too early or from the wrong investors.Tosin Faniro-Dada is an ecosystem builder and investor. She is also a Partner at Breega, a pan-African venture capital firm backing ambitious founders building technology-enabled businesses across Africa.She explains:• What venture capital really means• How VC differs from grants, debt, and private equity• Why not every business needs VC funding• What investors look for at pre-seed and seed stage• Why market size, timing, defensibility, and team quality matter• How Africa’s VC ecosystem has evolved• Why the seed to Series A funding gap still matters• What founders should know about ARR, MRR, burn rate, runway, cap tables, and SAFEs• Why storytelling is critical when pitching investorsFollow Tosin Faniro-DadaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tosin-faniro-dada/Learn More About BreegaWebsite: https://www.breega.com/Follow PeriscopeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/periscope-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periscope.podcastX/Twitter: https://x.com/perismediaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@periscope.podcastWebsite: https://www.periscope.media/Subscribe for more conversations with founders, operators, investors, and business leaders shaping the future of African business.#venturecapital #startupfunding #fundraising #africanstartups #entrepreneurship