While extensive research on entrepreneurship has focused on resource acquisition, far less is known about how entrepreneurs navigate the challenges that follow. I aim to address this gap by examining internal and external power struggles post-resource acquisition. Essay 1 shifts focus to the power dynamics with external parties, examining how entrepreneurs preserve autonomy in the face of control attempts by coercive resource providers. I investigate this in the context of 16 female livestreaming entrepreneurs in Korea, collecting rare data that includes multiple waves of interviews, broadcast recordings, and private message exchanges. Using a multi-case inductive method, I analyze actions taken by these entrepreneurs in response to 65 control instances involving 23 major financial contributors in the online community. This research primarily contributes to resource dependence theory, while also advancing our understanding of online communities, platform governance, and female entrepreneurship. Essay 2 delves into the internal power dynamics of VC-backed ventures by investigating how venture leaders navigate stalemates (communication breakdowns between task-dependent parties) when scaling their senior executive teams. Using a multi-case inductive method with rare data collected through interviews with founders, new executives, and incumbents, I analyze 21 stalemate cases involving 16 new senior executives across four leading fintech ventures in Hong Kong. This research primarily contributes to venture professionalization. Overall, I enrich the theoretical conversation on growth-stage entrepreneurship by examining internal and external power struggles faced by entrepreneurs.