In a lively debate, Bill D'Alessandro, CEO of Natural Dog Co and ex-investment banker, warns against the perils of high-cost loans, calling them financially crippling. He squares off with Drew Fallon, co-founder of Iris Financial, who champions selective use of merchant cash advances as valuable tools for e-commerce founders. They tackle the complexities of revenue-based financing, hidden costs, and the importance of financial literacy, helping businesses make more informed borrowing decisions.

Drew Fallon, co-founder and CEO of Iris, shares his expertise in financial forecasting for e-commerce. He discusses the pitfalls of fake user-generated content and the need for authentic influencer marketing. Fallon highlights the importance of understanding unit economics and differentiates between good and bad growth using Allbirds as a case study. He tackles the complexities of revenue attribution, especially between Amazon and direct-to-consumer sales, and emphasizes the significance of cash flow and inventory management for sustainable business health.