# Liquidity, Hustle and Trust- Season 4: Episode # 69

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-cheat-code-friends-6457610/liquidity-hustle-and-trust-season-4-episode-69
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-cheat-code-friends-6457610/liquidity-hustle-and-trust-season-4-episode-69.md
Podcast: [The Cheat Code & Friends](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-cheat-code-friends-6457610)
Published: 2025-08-01T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d70830c7
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/d70830c7/61b6fca1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-cheat-code-friends-6457610/episodes/liquidity-hustle-and-trust-season-4-episode-69
Duration seconds: 2399

## Resource

Listen in as we talk with Craig Coppola, a seasoned investor, entrepreneur, and commercial real estate legend, to discuss the messy reality of startup investing. From assessing founder grit to navigating lean liquidity environments, Craig shares what makes a deal worth chasing (and what makes him walk away). We talk about the hard truths of entrepreneurship, why trusting the “jockey” matters more than the “horse,” and how the best investors build long-term success on discipline, culture, and conviction. If you're raising capital, building a company, or considering your first investment, this episode shares what it takes to win and what pitfalls to avoid when betting on startups. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Team Dynamics 02:58 Craig's Journey into Investing 06:05 The Evolution of Investment Strategies 09:12 Navigating Deal Flow and Investment Decisions 11:47 The Importance of Cash Flow in Startups 15:04 Market Trends and Liquidity Challenges 22:35 Navigating Founder Commitments and Financial Strategies 23:48 Evaluating Deals: Red Flags and Founder Investment 25:53 The Challenges of Business Growth and Execution 28:41 Lessons from Experience: The Hard Truths of Startups 30:06 The Importance of Sales and Team Dynamics 32:09 Building a Culture of Execution and Learning 34:51 Transitioning from Founder-Led Sales to a Sales Team 39:15 Advice for Aspiring Investors: Finding the Right Path References in the Show: https://www.wsj.com/articles/angel-investing-isnt-what-it-used-to-be-e643c862 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/craigcoppola_c2voice-recenttransactions-officemarket-activity-7320929470763171840-Qv_K/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABGQUe0BsV-UBJEAh7QOmp9oMj11PxcnemE Quote of the Show: “Entrepreneurial means you've got to make great busines…

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## Transcript

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