In this episode of the Innovators and Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez interviews Matt Smith, principal at Kickstart, a Colorado-based venture capital firm. Matt shares insights into the firm’s investment thesis, which focuses on early-stage funding for entrepreneurs in the mountain states, particularly between Phoenix and Bozeman. The conversation covers Matt’s personal journey into venture capital, the maturation of founders in understanding the investment landscape, and the evolving dynamics of the startup ecosystem. He emphasizes the importance of understanding investor models while navigating the fundraising process and discusses Kickstart’s supportive approach to portfolio companies, including a new initiative called “14 Founders,” which aims to invest in early-stage companies in Colorado. Throughout the discussion, Matt highlights the increasing competition fueled by advancements in AI and the importance of building strong founder-investor relationships.

Learn more about Matt's work https://www.kickstart.com/

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsanderssmith/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com