Building a spirits brand and raising capital? Success takes more than a great product. In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, host Alan McLaren sits down with Neil Grossup, Founder of Collina Hospitality, to explore what it takes to raise capital, build consumer traction, and position a business for a successful exit. In this episode we explore: ➡️ How to raise capital from the right investors and family offices. ➡️ Why transparency and consistent communication are essential to building investor trust. ➡️ How to manage equity dilution while planning for a successful exit. ➡️ Why focused growth and strong consumer traction help attract strategic acquirers. ➡️ How to navigate due diligence, deal fatigue, and the realities of selling a business. Whether you're raising capital, scaling a consumer brand, or preparing for an acquisition, Neil shares practical lessons on building investor relationships, making smarter funding decisions, and creating long-term business value. _____ UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files: Real stories from CEOs who have raised capital, so other leaders can move through the process with more clarity, confidence and fewer wasted rooms. In this special series of Unmasked: The CEO Files, we sit down with CEOs and founders who have actually lived through a capital raise to uncover what happened behind the deck, the numbers and the polished story. Why was the money needed? How did they approach the market? How many investor rooms did it take? What questions created pressure? Where did trust form, and where did resistance show up? Most importantly, what would they do differently if they had to raise again? Because raising capital is never just about the business opportunity, the financial model or the pitch deck. Investors are evaluating the leader in the room, too. How clearly can a CEO communicate under pressure? Can they build trust? Can they respond when challenged? And how does the way they show up influence the outcome? The Capital Raise Files goes beyond fundraising advice to explore the lived experience of raising capital, giving CEOs and founders practical insight they can take into their own investor rooms. If you’re preparing to raise capital, considering M&A or moving toward an IPO, these are the real stories worth hearing. We’re researching why some capital raises move quickly in fewer investor meetings while others drag through extra meetings and follow-up. If you’ve raised capital, we’d value your input. It takes under a minute and all responses are aggregated and never attributed. Click here: https://tally.so/r/68yyZB If you are interested in the findings let us know at alan@strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80453987