Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, discusses the mindset shift from growth at all costs to profitable expansion. Drawing from real-time boardroom conversations and Edison's Growth Index data, Chris explains how founders are navigating the new cost of capital and adjusting strategies to stay in control.

From pricing models to retention metrics, he walks through what defines a durable business in today's market and why chasing scale without margin is no longer rewarded. If you're wondering how to measure success when funding slows, this episode brings clarity.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why capital efficiency is now a competitive advantage

• What the shift from free money taught high-growth founders

• How to assess net and gross retention the right way

• Why timing matters more when you're not forced to transact

• What makes your company attractive before you ever sell

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:04) The trade-off in high-cost markets

(01:52) Shifting from growth to profit

(03:28) Durable growth as the new goal

(04:19) What scale really looks like

(05:51) Rethinking working capital leverage

(06:40) Why retention metrics matter

(08:20) Own your growth timeline