Raising your first round of funding is one of the most challenging, exciting, and misunderstood experiences in a founder's journey. There is a great deal of mythology around venture capital — stories of billion-dollar checks and overnight success that bear very little resemblance to the reality of how most companies actually get funded. In this episode, we cut through the noise and walk you through the practical reality of early-stage fundraising: what it is, how it works, who the players are, and how to approach it with the preparation, strategy, and honesty it requires.