This week on Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy breaks down what investors actually look for when founders raise capital—especially in today's tighter 2026 environment.

Richard explains the real-world meaning of traction (and why pilot customers and reference calls can make or break a raise), then goes deeper into the "behind-the-scenes" language VCs use: capital efficiency, runway, and the powerful signal-to-burn ratio—a simple way to think about what you produce for every dollar you burn.

They also tackle listener questions like:

• How much traction should you have before approaching institutional investors vs angels?

• Are investors prioritizing growth or profitability right now?

• How much does the founder matter compared to the product?

• Which startup categories are attracting the most attention—and which are fading?

Plus, Richard shares a cautionary lesson from legacy brands (including why Sears could have been Amazon) and why founders should avoid buzzword-heavy decks that don't clearly convert metrics into dollars.

📩 Have a question for Richard? Email: info@ScrushyOnBusiness.com

Topics in this episode: Venture Capital, Startup Traction, Fundraising, Pitch Decks, Runway, Capital Efficiency, Founder-Market Fit, Valuation, Healthcare Innovation, AI, and VC Trends.

Most business plans don't fail because the idea is bad—they fail because the plan is vague, unrealistic, or doesn't answer the questions serious investors will ask immediately.

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy breaks down what a business plan is actually for (hint: it's not just a document to send lenders), the biggest mistakes first-time founders make, and how to build a plan that's clear, believable, and usable inside your company.

Richard shares what he looks for when someone hands him a business plan, why "pie-in-the-sky" projections kill credibility, and the "trick question" sophisticated investors always ask: What can go wrong? If you can't answer that honestly and intelligently, you're not ready to raise money.

You'll also learn:

• Why you must define your customer (and your top customers) early

• How to think about demographics, market size, and differentiation

• Why the plan needs to be a living, breathing document (not one-and-done)

• The #1 killer of small businesses: running out of money / being undercapitalized

• Why you shouldn't outsource your plan—or let AI write what you can't defend

• Why Richard prefers 5-year plans (even though years 4–5 will change)

• The difference between a "good plan on paper" and real-world cash flow

If you're starting a business, raising money from friends/family, pitching sophisticated investors, or trying to scale without losing focus—this episode is your roadmap.

📩 Have a question for Richard? Email: info@ScrushyOnBusiness.com
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Happy New Year and welcome to a brand-new episode of Scrushy on Business!

Richard Scrushy to kicks off 2026 with a practical conversation about how entrepreneurs should think at the start of a new year—what to review, what to fix, and how to build a plan you can actually execute.

Richard shares a real example from a listener who's preparing to take a company public, and why staying a "pure play" matters when you're pitching investors.

They break down why over-diversifying can kill momentum, how smart founders think about growth rates and valuations, and when it's time to consider an exit strategy—before growth slows and markets react.

The discussion also dives into the AI investment boom, where the money is flowing, and what that means for everyday business owners who aren't building an AI startup. Richard explains why investors still fund "regular" businesses—HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, retail, and more—when the model is proven and the path to scale is clear.

Finally, Richard answers listener questions about the hardest decisions entrepreneurs face: When should you quit your full-time job to go all-in?

How do you fund growth without putting your family at risk? How do you handle fear of failure when starting from scratch?

📩 Send your questions to: info@ScrushyOnBusiness.com

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