The stock market is just the beginning. The truly wealthy, the ones building generational, life-changing wealth are doing it through private equity and venture capital. And in this episode, Stephanie Dorsey is giving you the exact playbook. This is Episode 11 of What the Wealthy Do, and it's part three of our Due Diligence Series. In Episodes 9 and 10, we broke down how to evaluate public stocks: qualitatively and quantitatively. Now we're going into private markets, where the real wealth is built, and where most people are locked out. Until now. Here's what we cover: Private Equity vs. Venture Capital: What's the difference, what's the risk, and what are the returns? PE targets 15–25% annually. VC targets 3x–10x your money (with the understanding that most will fail, which is why Margins Capital focuses on late-stage VC). The 2-Question Framework: The same questions Margins Capital asks for every deal: Does this make sense? And can they win? Team Evaluation: In private markets, there's no analyst coverage, no public scrutiny. It's all on the founders. Stephanie breaks down exactly what she looks for and what makes her walk away. Key Metrics for PE & VC: Revenue growth rate (50%+ for VC, 10–20% for PE), EBITDA margins, LTV to CAC ratio, burn rate, and total addressable market. Red Flags: Lack of transparency, unrealistic projections, no exit strategy, and founders who aren't coachable. The Fizz Story: A real example of why Margins Capital invested in a Gen Z fintech company backed by Kleiner Perkins, and what the "secret sauce" looked like in practice. How to Access These Deals: Whether you're an accredited investor ($200K+ income or $1M+ net worth) or not yet, Stephanie breaks down the exact platforms and pathways: AngelList, Republic, SeedInvest, Fundrise, and more. Margins Capital's minimum investment is $25,000: significantly lower than the traditional PE fund minimum of $250,000. Join The Sovereign Collective: a judgment-free space built specifically for high-earning Black women ready to build real generational wealth. Founding cohort launches April 21st. Just 20 seats. Learn more at joinsovereign.co. This podcast provides financial education, not financial advice.