Melanie Nabar, Principal at Volition Capital, breaks down what actually happens when a company takes outside money. She walks through the difference between seed capital, growth equity, and a full buyout, and explains why founders sometimes take a hundred million dollar company home to a stressful mortgage payment. You'll hear why raising a huge round can still leave a founder with nothing at exit, how the preferred equity stack works, and what separates founders who use capital well from those who burn it. Melanie also explains what a board is really for, and why the value of your company depends on more than just your growth rate. If you've ever wondered when it makes sense to raise and when it makes sense to wait, this one gives you the map.