💥 "Raising capital is like a favor from the mafia—once you shake hands, you’re in the game."

That’s one of the many sharp insights from my recent conversation with Brice Scheschuk.

Brice has seen it all: founder, operator, investor, LP in 50+ funds, direct investor in 130+ startups. And now? He’s sounding the alarm—and offering a playbook.

🔑 His message is simple but radical: most startups shouldn’t raise venture capital.
Not because VC is bad—but because it’s misapplied. It's the wrong tool for the wrong business at the wrong time.

In our interview, we dig into:

• Why VC is often a poor fit for 99% of companies
• The irreversible consequences of raising too early
• How to reverse-engineer success from humility and focus
• Why lean, quiet growth might be the most Canadian—and most effective—strategy of all

We also talk about founder resilience, mindset training, and the mental toll of conventional wisdom.

You can find Brice's presentation of "Founders, Play Your Own Game" here

🧠 TL;DR: More capital ≠ better outcomes. More control, more clarity, and more self-awareness often do.

👇 Read the full newsletter here and let me know:
What’s your version of “playing your own game”?

#startups #venturecapital #founders #entrepreneurship #valuecreation #resilience #capitalstrategy #canadianinnovation #foundermindset

Peggy Van de Plassche is a seasoned advisor with over 20 years of experience in financial services, healthcare, and technology. She specializes in guiding boards and C-suite executives through transformational change, leveraging technology and capital allocation to drive growth and innovation. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, Peggy also brings unique expertise in navigating complex issues and fostering public-private partnerships—key elements in shaping the Future of Business. Her skill set includes strategic leadership, capital allocation, transaction advisory, technology integration, and governance. Notable clients include BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. For more information, visit peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare