The Most Expensive Mistake You Can Make With Fresh Capital And What to Do Instead

After raising capital, most founders feel like they have finally unlocked the ability to grow. But what you do next can determine whether that capital creates momentum or quietly sets your business back.

In this episode, Day Out Snacks founder Becky Pleat sits down with Phil Trowler, former finance lead at Olipop, to discuss the specifics on how early stage CPG brands should actually think about deploying capital, building financial discipline, and preparing for what comes next.

You will learn:

• The most expensive mistake founders make right after raising capital

• Why expanding into more retail doors too early can hurt your business

• How to prioritize velocity over distribution when deploying capital

• What burn rate and contribution margin actually mean in practice

• The key financial metrics every founder should know weekly

• How to think about fundraising timing, milestones, and dilution

• What strong unit economics look like and how to improve them over time

• The difference between scaling your business and just getting bigger

• When to invest in people versus systems as your company grows

• How profitability changes your leverage in fundraising conversations

Make smarter decisions with your capital and avoid costly mistakes early!