Why 99% of Entrepreneurs NEVER Raise Capital (And How to Be the 1%)

99% of entrepreneurs never raise real capital or see a successful exit.  Forget the hype. Building a business that actually scales and exits is harder than ever.  This episode of Angels Exits & Acquisitions debunks the brutal truth about raising money, scaling a business, and creating generational wealth through angel investing. Jeff Barnes breaks down what most podcasts and “gurus” won’t tell you: that competition is fierce, most startups fail at raising capital, and real wealth only comes when you design your business with the exit in mind. Jeff shares raw stories of losing millions, navigating bad partnerships, and protecting himself from predators — alongside the playbook that helped him turn failures into generational wealth strategies. If you’re a founder raising money, an investor hunting off-market opportunities, or someone serious about protecting and growing wealth, this conversation will change the way you see entrepreneurship and angel investing forever. 🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why most founders FAIL at raising capital (and how to be the 1% who don’t). How to structure your company with the end-game exit strategy in mind. The insider truths about angel investing, wealth protection, and building a legacy. ⏱️ Major Timestamps 00:13 – Why the podcast format is changing & what to expect going forward 02:38 – The brutal truth about competition and why products aren’t enough 04:54 – What makes a “real business” vs. just being self-employed 09:38 – Jeff’s biggest failures and lessons learned in raising capital 12:01 – Generational wealth planning: creating legacies beyond your lifetime Expect wins and failures shared openly — no sugarcoating. Content remains SEC/FNRA/IRS compliant and focused on practical value. 🔗 Connect with Jeff Barnes 🌐 Website: https://www.jeffbarnes.ceo/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffpbarnes/ 🌐 Our private investment group: MastermindInvestmentClub.com #BusinessExitStrategy #RaisingCapital #AngelInvesting #GenerationalWealth #StartupGrowth #Entrepreneurship #InvestorTips #WealthBuilding #StartupFunding #ExitPlanning #AngelInvestors #BusinessGrowth #FoundersJourney #FinancialFreedom #BusinessStrategy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices