How Honesty and Humility are the Real Hacks with Russ Fradin

How do top founders actually raise venture capital—and what do investors really look for?In this episode of Raiser’s Edge, host Ben Elowitz sits down with serial entrepreneur Russ Fradin (Larridin, Adify, Dynamic Signal) for a candid, unfiltered conversation about the realities of startup fundraising and building a venture-backed company that lasts.With decades of experience, over $1B raised, and board seats across multiple high-growth startups, Russ shares the fundraising lessons founders can’t afford to learn the hard way.They break down:How to prepare for investor conversations (and avoid the most common founder mistakes)Red flags and green flags when choosing VCsWhy FOMO-driven fundraising backfiresHow honesty, humility, and self-awareness change your outcomesWhat separates the founders who raise successfully from those who stall outRuss offers practical, plainspoken advice for navigating the emotional roller coaster of raising capital—and staying focused on building a business worth investing in.