Startup funding, venture capital, micro VCs, projections investors believe—this episode of Scrushy on Business dives into what really makes a deal attractive. Richard Scrushy breaks down today's VC landscape—from micro funds writing $500k–$3M checks to mega funds—and share how founders should build credible financial forecasts, avoid investor red flags, and prove the founder/team fit that drives returns.

What you'll learn

• How investors actually read projections (and what makes numbers credible)

• The biggest red flags that kill deals fast (market size, margins, leadership gaps)

• Why founder leadership, organization, and execution beat "cool ideas"

• Reporting that keeps investors confident: monthly P&L, margins, key operating stats

• The reality of today's AI funding boom—and why timing & competition matter

• The true "It Factor": timing, team, market, and relentless execution working together

If you found this helpful, like, subscribe, and share. New episodes weekly.

#StartupFunding #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #PitchDeck #AIStartups #ScrushyOnBusiness

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy takes questions straight from listeners and dives deep into the realities of leadership and entrepreneurship. He shares practical insights on keeping teams motivated through tough times, offering real-world strategies for inspiring confidence and maintaining momentum when challenges arise.

Richard also offers guidance for first-time executives, exploring what it truly takes to step into leadership with confidence and clarity. He breaks down the difference between a good CEO and a great one, revealing the habits, mindset, and vision that elevate leaders to the next level.

Listeners will also hear Richard's take on how small business owners can successfully compete with large corporations, and the most overlooked skill entrepreneurs need to thrive in today's fast-changing business landscape.

Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or just hungry to learn from a seasoned executive, this Q&A session is packed with practical wisdom, motivation, and timeless lessons in leadership.

Ready to launch—or scale—the right way? In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Dave Greene and Richard Scrushy dig into what first-time founders need to know, from choosing the right corporate structure to validating your idea, finding mentors, winning investor confidence, and knowing when to finally pay yourself. Richard also teases an upcoming session with Troy University's Sorrell College of Business on how to take a company public—from SEC filings and "red herring" prospectus basics to running an investor roadshow.

• C-Corp vs. LLC vs. S-Corp for founders planning an IPO (and why many incorporate in Delaware)

• Public-company prep: audited financials, proxy/10-K/8-K awareness, clean cap tables, and leadership optics

• Roadshows & demand: oversubscription, pricing mechanics, and what institutional funds look for

• Startup triage with limited capital: product vs. team vs. marketing (and low-budget ways to get traction)

• Paying yourself: how Richard handled salary in year one at HealthSouth—and the milestone that changed it

• Mentors that matter: where to find them, how to compensate them, and why "big-boy loans" change the game

• Validate before you raise: friends & family pitfalls, market saturation (CBD example), and doing the math

• Investor red flags: lawsuits, overpaid insiders, all-family leadership teams, thin margins, me-too markets

• Idea vs. business: how homework, unit economics, team fit, and execution make the difference

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy answers listener questions that came in after his conversation with Bill Manovich, the founder of Simple Scrub. Bill's story about identifying a simple problem and turning it into a successful product inspired a flood of questions from entrepreneurs who want to do the same — create a business that truly fits a need.

Richard dives into how to spot real opportunities in everyday life, validate your ideas before investing big money, and stay focused when building something from the ground up. Whether you're thinking about starting your first business or refining one you already own, this episode will help you understand the mindset behind solving problems that matter.

Learn how to recognize the needs around you — and turn them into your next big idea.

#ScrushyOnBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Startups #BusinessAdvice #RichardScrushy #SimpleScrub #BillManovich #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Motivation

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy sits down with Bill Manovich, the founder and inventor of Simple Scrub — the innovative cleaning tool that's changing how people clean their homes.

Bill shares the story behind how he came up with the idea for Simple Scrub, how he turned a simple concept into a national brand, and what it was like to take the product to the Home Shopping Network.

From early challenges and manufacturing hurdles to explosive growth and loyal customers,

Bill opens up about the entrepreneurial grind, staying true to your vision, and what it really takes to build a successful consumer brand from the ground up.

👉 Learn more about Simple Scrub at SimpleScrub.com

👉 Subscribe for more episodes of Scrushy on Business — where real entrepreneurs share their stories, lessons, and insights on building, buying, and growing successful companies.

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy tackles some of the toughest questions from listeners about how to buy companies—from spotting the right opportunities to structuring deals that actually work in the real world. He also addresses issues tied to his former company, offering candid insights and lessons learned that every entrepreneur and business leader can take to heart.

If you're interested in acquisitions, business growth, and learning from real-life experience at the highest levels, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

👉 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and drop your questions for Richard in the comments—we may feature them in a future episode!

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard takes a step back to recap highlights from the past few weeks of guests before diving into some of your most pressing listener questions.

He tackles three critical topics every entrepreneur and business leader needs to understand:

Avoiding burnout and overextension — how to stay focused and not spread yourself too thin as an owner.

Generational planning — building a business that lasts and can be passed down to the next generation.

Pitching to venture capitalists — what investors are really looking for, and the red flags to avoid.

Whether you're running a growing company, planning for your family's future, or preparing for a VC pitch, Richard shares insights you can put into practice right away.

👉 Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced voices in business.

In this episode of Scrushy on Business, Richard Scrushy sits down with Cody Nicholson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Helium.

Cody partners with visionary entrepreneurs to help them build, buy, and sell their companies—and he's passionate about transforming groundbreaking ideas into thriving businesses.

Cody shares his entrepreneurial journey, including:

How he first got started in business

Why failure—and persistence—were key to his success

The lessons learned from putting in the work, even when things didn't go as planned

How to craft and deliver a winning pitch to venture capitalists

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned founder, or someone curious about the real stories behind building businesses, this conversation is packed with practical insights and inspiration.

👉 Don't forget to subscribe for more conversations with business leaders, innovators, and visionaries.

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #ScrushyOnBusiness #Startups #VentureCapital