---
title: "Interview agenda C — Finance, funding and authority"
slug: "expert-q-a/interview-agenda-c-finance-funding-and-authority"
section: "Expert Q&A"
description: "Potential source: a qualified US startup securities lawyer plus a strategic finance practitioner; Burkland's published services illustrate financial modell"
internal_only: false
---

# Interview agenda C — Finance, funding and authority

**Potential source:** a qualified US startup securities lawyer plus a strategic-finance practitioner; Burkland's published services illustrate financial modelling coverage, but no individual interviewee is confirmed. [Burkland: Strategic Finance for Startups](https://burklandassociates.com/services/strategic-finance/)

### Q7. What should be in a “runway reality check” before a pivot or executive hire?

**Why buyers care:** A good option can still be too expensive to test. **Good answer covers:** cash reconciliation, receivables probability, committed liabilities, hiring lead time, minimum safe cash, downside cases, financing dependencies and sources of uncertainty. **Expert quote:** *[Pending interview]*.

### Q8. What is the difference between reviewing a fundraising decision and acting as a placement agent?

**Why buyers care:** The contracting boundary may create serious regulatory risk. **Good answer covers:** what activities are involved, investor solicitation, negotiations, success-linked compensation, state-specific requirements, written scope exclusions, and referral to registered professionals. The SEC is explicit that finding investors and transaction compensation can indicate broker activity. [Broker-Dealers — US SEC](https://www.sec.gov/resources-small-businesses/capital-raising-building-blocks/broker-dealers) **Expert quote:** *[Pending interview]*.

### Q9. When does a higher SAFE valuation cap fail to make an offer better?

**Why buyers care:** Founders often compare one headline number. **Good answer covers:** stacked SAFE dilution, rights, prior instruments, side letters, option pool, governance and legal context; not legal conclusions without facts. YC describes post-money SAFE mechanics. [The SAFE — Y Combinator](https://www.ycombinator.com/safe) **Expert quote:** *[Pending interview]*.