{"podcast":{"title":"Invst Guru","slug":"invst-guru-7102712","podcast_index_feed_id":7102712,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/673b8adb0f9780339ef0cb02","website_url":"https://invst-guru.beehiiv.com","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1731955395589-f521bed4-5ab5-4f9f-bfe4-7a3e00841958.jpeg","author":"Jeff \"fuzzy\" Wenzel","episode_count":142,"summary":"Invst Guru: Your Guide to Equity Crowdfunding Opportunities Dive into the world of equity crowdfunding with Invst Guru , the podcast that connects you to the most exciting investment opportunities. Each episode spotlights one active campaign, providing insights into the company, its vision, and why it could be a compelling addition to your investment portfolio. From groundbreaking startups to innovative businesses reshaping industries, Invst Guru is your trusted guide for discovering ventures worth exploring. Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to equity crowdfunding, join us to learn, analyze, and stay ahead in the dynamic world of startup funding. Invest smarter. Invest informed. Be the guru. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-04T06:18:31.574243+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/invst-guru-7102712"},"episode":{"title":"The Part of Your Capital Raise Nobody Talks About","slug":"the-part-of-your-capital-raise-nobody-talks-about","published_at":"2026-04-17T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/invst-guru-7102712/the-part-of-your-capital-raise-nobody-talks-about","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/invst-guru-7102712","url":"https://invst-guru.beehiiv.com/","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/673b8adb0f9780339ef0cb02/e/69d6f2ef34b90cef2bc1addb/media.mp3","summary":"Most founders focus on the pitch deck, the platform, and the marketing — but there's a critical piece of the capital raise puzzle they often overlook: escrow. Jeff \"Fuzzy\" Wenzel sits down with Ernesto Maldonado, SVP & Head of the Escrow and Legal Vertical at Enterprise Bank and Trust, to pull back the curtain on the infrastructure that keeps capital raises protected, compliant, and clean. Ernesto has 23 years of banking experience — 10 of them deep in the specialty escrow space — and he's seen it all: smooth raises, failed raises, and everything in between. If you're a founder raising capital through Reg CF, Reg A+, or a private placement, this episode is essential listening. In this episode: 00:00 – High-stakes podcasting & Ernesto's background in banking 02:40 – Common threads after 23 years across community banks and big institutions 03:10 – Lessons from the Irvine Chamber of Commerce & ground-level entrepreneurship 04:12 – What most people don't know about third-party escrow services 05:15 – When to bring in an escrow agent (hint: earlier than you think) 07:01 – Where business owners trip up most during capital raises 08:06 – Reg CF vs. Reg D vs. Reg A+: what's changing and what's surging 09:03 – Interest rates, credit conditions, and their impact on capital formation 11:00 – Which sectors are hot right now (and which are feeling the pressure) 12:11 – Why some raises fail at the finish line — and how a good banker helps 13:41 – Building trust with first-time capital raisers 14:30 – Every industry Enterprise Bank works with (some surprises in here) 16:29 – The biggest financial blind spots in small and mid-sized businesses 17:29 – How to prepare for an M&A acquisition 3–5 years out 18:43 – How AI and fintech are reshaping the banking and escrow worl…","meta_description":"Most founders focus on the pitch deck, the platform, and the marketing — but there's a critical piece of the capital raise puzzle they often overlook: esc…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1279,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/invst-guru-7102712/episodes/the-part-of-your-capital-raise-nobody-talks-about/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/invst-guru-7102712/the-part-of-your-capital-raise-nobody-talks-about.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}