Introduction to Capital Conversations

This is where it starts.

In this first episode of Capital Conversations, Karen Rands and Erik Nelson get into why they created the show—and what most people are getting wrong about raising capital. This isn’t a polished, textbook explanation of the markets. It’s a real conversation between two people who’ve spent decades inside it, talking through what actually happens behind the scenes.

They break down how capital markets really work, why so many companies get stuck trying to raise money, and the disconnect between entrepreneurs, investors, and the people advising them. If you’ve ever felt like there’s a whole system operating that no one fully explains, you’re right—and this is where it starts to make sense.

Most companies don’t fail to raise capital because the idea is bad. They fail because they don’t understand how the system works—how investors think, how deals are structured, and how capital actually moves.

That gap is expensive. It shows up as missed funding, bad terms, stalled growth, or going to the wrong people entirely.

This episode gives you the foundation most people skip—so you can make smarter decisions, ask better questions, and avoid wasting time (and money) chasing the wrong path.

SHOWNOTES:

https://sterlinginvestments.com/podcast-introduction-to-capital-conversations/