Raise the Bar

Seth Bradley | Attorney, Founder, Investor, Speaker

Elevated conversations on raising capital, real estate and entrepreneurship. Raise the Bar Radio is the podcast for capital raisers, real estate investors, and entrepreneurs ready to stop playing small and start building real wealth. Hosted by Seth Bradley, securities attorney, startup founder, real estate investor, and multi-billion dollar dealmaker, this show delivers straight-talk strategies, expert insights, and real-world tactics to help you raise more capital, close bigger deals, and build a business (and life) on your own terms. Whether you’re scaling your first fund or breaking free from the golden handcuffs, you’re in the right place. Let’s go.

  1. 1d ago

    Alpha Raise 04 | You’re Underestimating What It Takes to Raise Your First $1M

    Most people think raising their first million is a handful of calls and a solid pitch deck. You send the deck. You hop on a few conversations. Maybe you follow up once or twice. And commitments start rolling in. That’s the version people believe going in. The reality? Raising your first $1M takes far more conversations, follow-ups, and trust than most sponsors expect. In this video, I break down what the capital raising process actually looks like, why most first-time sponsors quit too early, and the biggest misconceptions that keep good deals from getting funded. Inside this video: • Why 10 investor conversations usually aren’t enough • The real number of conversations most sponsors need • Why trust matters more than your pitch deck • The difference between personal trust and financial trust • Why your first investors usually come from your existing network • The biggest mistake sponsors make before they even have a deal • How to follow up without sounding desperate • Why investors go silent and what it actually means • The role risk conversations play in building investor confidence • How to create momentum that leads to fully funded deals The truth is: Your first million isn’t about finding the perfect investor. It’s about becoming someone enough people trust with their money. That takes more conversations. More follow-up. More consistency. And more patience than most people expect. If you’re serious about raising capital, this episode will help you approach the process the right way. Download the Fund Founders Playbook and learn how to build the systems, relationships, and infrastructure needed to raise capital with confidence. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🔗 Fund Founder's Playbook: https://sethbradleyesq.com/FundPlaybook 🔗 Raise Law: www.raise.law Follow Seth Bradley: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradley https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If You’re New Here… I’m Seth Bradley, real estate investor, securities attorney, and entrepreneur. I went from Big Law and 2,200+ billable hours to building multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses, raising millions in capital, and structuring deals that actually create wealth. This channel breaks down capital raising, funds, and securities law in plain English. Keep building. Stop guessing. Raise with confidence. #capitalraising #fundraising #realestateinvesting #syndication #privatefunds

    16 min
  2. May 27

    Alpha Raise 03 | It’s Not the Market. Investors Just Don’t Trust You Yet.

    If your real estate deal can’t raise capital right now… it’s probably not the market. Capital is still moving. Deals are still closing. And while you’re watching this, someone just wired money into a syndication or fund… it just wasn’t yours. In this video, I break down the real reason investors stall, ghost deals, and say “let me think about it” before disappearing completely. Because most raises don’t fail because of bad deals. They fail because of broken trust. Inside this video: • Why investors are filtering harder in this market • The real reason investors hesitate before wiring • Why trust matters more than projected returns • How sponsors can “borrow credibility” the right way • The biggest mistakes operators make during risk conversations • Why conviction and infrastructure close raises faster • How disorganized processes quietly kill investor confidence • What professional operators do differently when raising capital The truth is: Investors are not looking for the flashiest deal. They’re looking for the safest operator in the room. And if you can close the trust gap… capital starts moving toward you instead of away from you. If you want to raise capital consistently, build investor confidence, and structure your raises the right way… this episode is essential. Schedule a consultation and we’ll walk you through the strategy, structure, and compliance so you can raise capital with confidence. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🔗 Raise Law: www.raise.law 🔗 Fund Founder's Playbook: https://sethbradleyesq.com/FundPlaybook Follow Seth Bradley: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradley https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If You’re New Here… I’m Seth Bradley, real estate investor, securities attorney, and entrepreneur. I went from Big Law and 2,200+ billable hours to building multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses, raising millions in capital, and structuring deals that actually create wealth. This channel breaks down capital raising, funds, and securities law in plain English. Keep building. Stop guessing. Raise with confidence.

    17 min
  3. May 20

    Alpha Raise 02 | 5 Biggest Legal Myths About Raising Capital

    If you’re raising capital for real estate deals, syndications, or private funds… there are legal mistakes that can destroy your raise before it ever scales. And most people making them don’t even realize it. In this video, I break down the 5 biggest legal myths about raising capital that continue to expose operators, syndicators, and fund managers to serious compliance risk. From fake “joint ventures” and handshake raises, to illegal finder’s fees and copy-paste legal documents… I explain the real legal framework behind compliant capital raising and why so many operators unknowingly put themselves at risk. The truth is: Most raises don’t fail because of the deal. They fail because the structure, compliance, and legal foundation were never built correctly in the first place. If you want to scale your capital raising business the right way… you need to understand the rules before you raise another dollar. Schedule a consultation and we’ll walk you through the strategy, structure, and compliance so you can raise capital with confidence. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🔗 Raise Law: www.raise.law Follow Seth Bradley: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradley https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If You’re New Here… I’m Seth Bradley, real estate investor, securities attorney, and entrepreneur. I went from Big Law and 2,200+ billable hours to building multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses, raising millions in capital, and structuring deals that actually create wealth. This channel breaks down capital raising, funds, and securities law in plain English. Keep building. Stop guessing. Raise with confidence.

    13 min
  4. May 13

    Alpha Raise 01 | The Fund of Funds Playbook - How to Legally Raise Capital and Scale Fast

    If you want to raise capital, invest in multiple deals, and scale fast… this is the model you need to understand. Fund of funds. You raise capital → deploy into other deals → scale without operating. But here’s the catch: If you structure it wrong, you can violate laws like the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Here’s what actually matters: • Use the right exemption (3(c)(1), 3(c)(7)) • Choose the right structure (506(b) or 506(c)) • Don’t act like an investment advisor • Keep everything clean, clear, and compliant Most people get this wrong. And that’s what kills their raise before it ever scales. The truth is: This model can simplify capital raising, replace messy co-GP structures, and help you scale faster… but only if it’s built the right way. At Raise Law, we help sponsors build compliant, fundable 506(b) and 506(c) offerings, aligned with how they actually raise capital. If you’re not sure which structure is right for your next deal, don’t guess. Schedule a consultation and we’ll walk you through the strategy, structure, and compliance so you can raise capital with confidence. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🔗 Raise Law: www.raise.law 🔗 Tribevest: https://www.tribevest.com Follow Seth Bradley: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradley https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If You’re New Here… I’m Seth Bradley, real estate investor, securities attorney, and entrepreneur. I went from Big Law and 2,200+ billable hours to building multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses, raising millions in capital, and structuring deals that actually create wealth. This channel breaks down capital raising, funds, and securities law in plain English. Keep building. Stop guessing. Raise with confidence.

    11 min
  5. Apr 29

    TME 45 | What Olympic Athletes and Fortune 500 Execs Do When They Hit the Wall with Mitch Matthews

    Most entrepreneurs struggle to build real authority and grow a meaningful platform without sounding salesy or inauthentic. That’s exactly what this episode solves. Mitch Matthews, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Dream Think Do podcast, shares a proven strategy for turning your unique brilliance into influence, impact, and income while staying true to who you are. In this conversation, we break down why defining your own version of success is the foundation for building a business and life you actually enjoy. Mitch introduces his “Authority Bridge” framework, showing how entrepreneurs can use value-driven content to build credibility, stand out without hype, and naturally attract high-quality clients. You’ll learn how to turn everyday conversations into opportunities, how to approach growth with a simple experimentation mindset, and how to avoid the common traps that lead to burnout or feeling invisible in your industry. We also get tactical. Mitch explains how to build a simple but effective content system, how to transform your expertise into authority-building stories, and how teaching becomes one of the most powerful ways to create impact. He shares real-world examples, from scaling speaking careers to earning board positions, demonstrating how small, consistent actions can compound into meaningful influence and long-term freedom. If you are tired of chasing strategies that don’t feel aligned or struggling to stand out, this episode gives you a clear, practical path to building authentic authority that drives real results. Visit https://mitchmatthews.com/time to access "Making Time for Your Next Chapter", a high-impact workshop for ambitious professionals ready to create space for what’s next without sacrificing what’s already working. Use code "seth" at checkout to get full access for free (normally $97).   Links to watch and subscribe: Seth Bradley’s Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Mitch Matthews Links: https://www.instagram.com/mitch.matthews/ https://mitchmatthews.com/ http://www.mitchmatthews.com/podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/mitch.matthews.104/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchmatthews/

    48 min
  6. Apr 22

    TME 44 | The Future Of Business Growth: Public Markets Unveiled with Callum Laing

    Most entrepreneurs think going public is the endgame. But what if it was actually the beginning? In this episode, Seth Bradley sits down with Callum Laing to break down a strategy almost no one talks about using a public listing as a growth tool, not an exit. After working on 100+ acquisitions and generating over half a billion dollars in shareholder value, Calum reveals how traditional IPO thinking is flawed, and how a smarter, more controlled approach can unlock long-term scale. He shares how his “constrained stock” model reduces volatility, builds credibility, and creates a pathway for small to mid-sized businesses to access public markets without the typical chaos. If you’re building a business, raising capital, or thinking about scaling beyond private markets… this conversation will completely shift how you think about growth. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • Why most IPOs destroy shareholder value, and how to avoid it • The real reason 70% of public listings lose value • How “constrained stock” creates stability and long-term growth • Why public markets can be a growth strategy, not just an exit • How smaller companies can leverage global capital markets • The mindset shift required to build sustainable wealth Links to watch and subscribe: Seth Bradley’s Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Callum Laing's Links: https://callumlaing.com/ https://linkedin.com/in/callumlaing https://www.youtube.com/callumlaing

    45 min
  7. Apr 15

    TME 43 | The Secret To Structuring Real Estate Deals Before You Buy Them with Cherif Medawar

    Cherif Medawar breaks down one of the most overlooked commercial real estate strategies today, how to control deals, secure national tenants, and create massive upside before you even close. After 35+ years in the game and building a $100M+ portfolio, Cherif reveals how he: * Locks up vacant retail properties with minimal risk * Brings in national tenants to instantly increase value * Refinances to pull cash back out fast * Builds long-term cash flow with corporate-backed leases   If you’re raising capital, structuring deals, or trying to scale faster in today’s environment… this episode is a must. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: * Why vacant retail can be more valuable than stabilized assets * How to secure national tenants in 45 days or less * The real risk most investors completely ignore * How to recycle capital quickly through refinancing * Why cash flow beats appreciation in today’s market Links to watch and subscribe: Seth Bradley’s Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en   Cherif Medawar's Links: https://www.instagram.com/cherifmedawar/ https://www.cmrei.com https://www.youtube.com/cherifmedawar

    45 min
  8. Apr 13

    MDM 25 | Million Dollar Monday with George Salas

    From hustle to scale… this is how the game changes. In this Million Dollar Monday clip, George breaks down how George made his first million through a mix of coaching and real estate, then transitioned into building serious wealth through equity and cash flow. But the real shift? Thinking bigger. Instead of buying single properties, George is now acquiring entire portfolios and launching an M&A strategy to scale faster, smarter, and with higher multiples. If you want to understand how high-level investors actually build wealth, this is a must-watch.   Bullet Point Highlight: • First million came from coaching + real estate investing • Scaled revenue from $600K to $1.8M in one year • Majority of income came from real estate operations and short-term rentals • Transitioned from solopreneur to business owner to investor • Built wealth through equity and cash flow • Acquired $15M-$18M in real estate over recent years • Growth compounds after putting in the “10,000 hours” • Now focusing on larger portfolio acquisitions instead of single deals • Launching M&A arm to acquire property management companies • Buying businesses at 3-4x and scaling to sell at 8-9x multiples • Leveraging roll-up strategy for exponential growth • Adding AI to improve margins and scale operations • Bigger thinking leads to faster and more efficient wealth building   Seth Bradley’s Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en   George Salas’s Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesalas360 https://www.instagram.com/georgesalas360/ https://www.facebook.com/georgesalas360/ https://www.youtube.com/c/GeorgeSalas https://www.georgesalas.com/

    4 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
140 Ratings

About

Elevated conversations on raising capital, real estate and entrepreneurship. Raise the Bar Radio is the podcast for capital raisers, real estate investors, and entrepreneurs ready to stop playing small and start building real wealth. Hosted by Seth Bradley, securities attorney, startup founder, real estate investor, and multi-billion dollar dealmaker, this show delivers straight-talk strategies, expert insights, and real-world tactics to help you raise more capital, close bigger deals, and build a business (and life) on your own terms. Whether you’re scaling your first fund or breaking free from the golden handcuffs, you’re in the right place. Let’s go.