Forward Obsessed

Building An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem With Matt McCooe

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Matt McCooe is the CEO of Connecticut Innovations, a strategic venture capital firm and leading source of financing for Connecticut's technology, consumer, and life sciences companies. 

 

In this episode, learn what it takes to get funded by one of the top VCs in Connecticut. Explore what breakthrough entrepreneurs all have in common, which heuristics are used by VCs when they choose a project, and whether delusions of grandeur are helpful when establishing a business. 

 

OUTLINE:

Here's the timestamps for the episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (1:41) - What is a “state venture capital arm?”
  • (6:12) - What do breakthrough entrepreneurs have in common? 
  • (7:57) - What heuristics are used to fund new projects? 
  • (11:02) - Characteristics of exceptional founders
  • (14:00) - Cultivating clarity of vision and purpose
  • (15:45) - Jockey or Horse? 
  • (18:33) - Hustling in the early years
  • (22:22) - Selling Brazilian soft drinks in a first job
  • (27:14) - What does it feel like to lose? 
  • (28:47) - Founding a Telecom business at the end of the boom
  • (40:55) - Theranos and delusions of grandeur
  • (44:28) - Good Venture Capitalists can sense BS 
  • (50:00) - ADD is a superpower
  • (55:00) - Columbia University Science and Technology Ventures
  • (57:03) - What Is Connecticut Innovations
  • (1:04:15) - How successful is Connecticut Innovations?
  • (1:09:00) - The Future of Connecticut Innovations

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    EPISODE LINKS:

    • Connecticut Innovations: https://ctinnovations.com/
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecticut-innovations/

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    PODCAST INFO:

    • Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
  • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
  • YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
  • YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql

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    SUPPORT & CONNECT:

    • Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
  • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

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    Forward ObsessedBy Pete Sena and David Salinas