Tag: Angel Investing

Matthew Stafford, professional investor and co-founder of Nine Others, argues that simplicity wins. He shares how starting on the Venture Capitalist side sharpened his founder's empathy, the early signals he listens for, and how one dinner became a global peer network. We unpack the pre-boom London fundraising scene, practical ways to cut noise from your pitch, and the community mechanics that actually move founders forward. --- Episode Resources - Nine Others - Official Website (co-founded by Matthew Stafford) (https://9others.com/) - “What’s Keeping You Up at Night?” by Matthew Stafford & Katie Lewis (https://a.co/d/hMhyJBI) - Overview of Matt & STAFFORD VC (https://www.stafford.vc/?pvs=143)

Reuben Levinsohn, professional investor and founder coach behind Exit Quotient Ventures and Flying with Founders, argues that clarity and discipline win. He shares how starting from an “exit first” mindset sharpens founder focus, the early signals he listens for like EQ, leadership quotient, paid pilots, and a clean path to $1M ARR, and when to graduate beyond founder-led sales. We unpack the red flags that kill momentum, practical ways to earn a second meeting, and the founder-wellness routines that keep you in the game. Along the way, Reuben breaks down what he saw in Pavewise and Protein Pints, and how to turn traction into a real go-to-market engine. --- Episode Resources Flying with Founders: Founder Coaching, Meetups, Retreats. (https://www.flyingwithfounders.com/) Flying with Founders Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@FlyingWithFounders/videos) Reuben’s Venture Capital: Exit Quotient Ventures (https://www.exitquotient.com/) Webinar event series: “Inside the Mind of a VC / Investor” (https://www.flyingwithfounders.com/fwfevents/inside-the-mind-of-a-vc-customer-satisfcation) Pavewise: AI-assisted planning for paving in relation to weather. (https://www.pavewisepro.com/) Protein Pints: High-protein ice cream startup that Reuben angel-backed. (https://proteinpints.com/) Catalina Crunch: Exec talent the Protein Pints founders recruited from. (https://us.catalinacrunch.com/) “Lift Others as You Climb” by Scott D. Idle (https://scottidle.com/ , https://a.co/d/hvRFPYv) “The Founder’s Survival Guide” by Rachel E. Turner. (https://www.thefounderssurvivalguide.com/ , https://a.co/d/8BkG46M)