How a Million-Dollar Offer Nearly Broke My Startup

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the funding decision that nearly derailed my startup before it even began. I walked away from a secure corporate role in the U.S. to chase a dream with two trusted co-founders. The plan? Raise a million dollars and hit the ground running. But one tense lunch meeting between potential investors changed everything — and forced me into a decision I’ll never forget. I took the money, skipped the paperwork, and only later realized I’d handed over significant control without even knowing it. Then came the twist: the investor decided to release funds on hisschedule, putting the entire company’s future in his hands. This is the story of how trust, urgency, and my own values collided — and how that collision became one of the toughest tests I’ve faced as a founder.