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EP-03: Matt Bigge, Crosslink Capital - The Fire Within: The Power of Mentorship, Leadership, and Teams
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This is TLC Equation: Simply defined, this show explores certain universal truths behind the greatest teams, leaders, and cultures on earth, and how they have conquered the world’s most complex challenges.
This episode features an insightful conversation with Matt Bigge, Partner at Crosslink Capital to explore his inspiring journey from military service to venture capital. He introduces his "FIRE" framework—Fun, Interesting, Rewarding, Entrepreneurial—highlighting its importance in decision-making and leadership. Matt also shares valuable insights on the critical role of mentorship, the importance of humility in venture capital, and the unique team dynamics at Crosslink. Join us as we delve into the intersection of military discipline, leadership, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives success in both life and business.
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Guest Bio:
Matt joined Crosslink in 2016 and focuses on venture investments in enterprise infrastructure/cybersecurity, digital transformation, and plausible science fiction.
Matt is an entrepreneur and investor with decades of successful general management and venture investing experience. Matt carries a strong track record of investing in leading-edge technology companies including Verodin (FEYE), CloudShield (SAIC), Narus (Boeing), and ArcSight (HP). He was also a founding investor and Chair of the Board of MeshNetworks (Motorola).
Prior to joining Crosslink, Matt was a Venture Partner with Paladin Capital. He was also the CEO and Co-Founder of Strategic Social Holdings (acquired by Constellis Group). In addition, Matt was a Co-Founder and President of MILCOM Technologies where he led the acquisition and commercialization of over $2B of R&D used to create over ten product companies. He frequently advises government and private sector leaders in the areas of innovation, information operations and cybersecurity. Matt is an original board member of Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG).
Prior to his business career, Matt served in the U.S. Army with a distinguished record as an Infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division and is both Airborne and Ranger qualified. In his spare time, Matt is a rabid baseball fan and board member of The Honor Foundation, helping Special Operations Veterans transition to the private sector.
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Key Quotes:
“Leaving the world better than you found it is probably one of the more important things we all really ought to be focused on. And that's something that I've found transcends culture and there's a lot of differences when you run around this big world. But one of the things that's very, very consistent is parents just want their kids to grow up in a better world than they did. And the only way that ever happens is if all of us take the time to leave it better than we found it.” - Matt Bigge
“The people that I admire most are the folks that have seen the worst the world has to offer and seen the best the world has to offer and still think the world is extraordinary.” - Joe Musselman
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Timestamps:
*(00:00) Intro
*(09:57) Comparing personal and professional milestones
*(14:24) Military lessons in leadership
*(17:28) Matt's biggest mentors
*(19:42) The FIRE Framework for Decision Making
*(26:56) Transitioning from Military Operator to CEO
*(29:07) Struggles that shaped Matt
*(35:06) Impact of constructive critiques in mentorship
*(39:09) The power of simple questions: Understanding Matt's identity
*(46:01) Joining Crosslink Capital
*(1:05:25) Intersection of venture capital and national security
*(1:21:12) Balancing work and personal life as a founder
*(1:26:30) Building effective founding teams
*(1:34:15) Rewards and challenges in VC
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Sponsors:
The TLC Equation is brought to you by Bravo Victor Venture Capital. BVVC is a dual-horizon venture fund dedicated to accelerating proven national security technology while allowing first-look access to special operations and the commercial sector partners that matter most. Let's reimagine defense to protect our future - together. Visit BV.VC to learn more.
The TLC Equation is brought to you by Schoolhouse. Schoolhouse, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2023 by veterans and industry leaders, supports early-stage national security tech startups. Their annual seven-week program provides essential resources in capital, customers, and community (C3) to help these mission-driven founders thrive. Schoolhouse: Where capital, customers, and community collide. Visit school.house to learn more.
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