Over the last twelve years Matthew has worked with startups, venture capital and angel investors, governments, NGOs and large corporations to create and capture value. Matthew is a Co-founder of 9others with Katie Lewis. 9others was established in 2011 and is now a global network of 5,000 entrepreneurs in 45+ cities who meet over dinner to help each other solve the challenges of business and life. To date Matthew has invested in 23 startups, most of which have been sourced from the 9others network, and has achieved 2 exits. He has invested in and negotiated investment transactions from £15k to £50m. He studied Computer Science at Durham University and has an MBA from Imperial College Business School. Matthew lives with his wife, daughter and son in Hertfordshire, UK, where he enjoys reading biographies, watching Formula 1 and training for ultra-marathons. Katie and Matthew wrote a wonderful book Find Your 9others: The questions to ask yourself as you start up and scale up, where they tell their story, document their findings, and share their lessons. Today, Matthew and I talk about the number one question that we both like to ask — what keeps you up at night. We discuss the why behind any project, venture, and how that why can be redefined and rediscovered. We take on the idea of being visible in the words of Seth Godin, who says that you will be judged or you will be ignored. Matthew shares his thoughts on trusting your gut. We have a lively discussion about resilience, and discipline. I really like the point he makes about taking responsibility instead of looking for something or someone to blame. Stay tuned until the end when Matthew tells me that no one is self-made, and as a bonus, he shares a book recommendation, a book I read a few times, and it’s one of those few books that had a big impact on me. Please help me welcome, all the way from the United Kingdom —- Matthew Stafford. https://9others.com/ https://bit.ly/findyour9othersamazon https://twitter.com/mstafford/ https://stafford.vc/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/staffordvc/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katielewis66 --- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crisis Investing: 100 Essays⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - My new book. To get regular updates and bonus content, please sign-up for my substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bogumilbaranowski.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/bogumil_nyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bogumil Baranowski⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sicart Associates, LLC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. IMPORTANT: As a reminder, the remarks in this interview represent the views, opinions, and experiences of the participants and are based upon information they believe to be reliable; however, Sicart Associates nor I have independently verified all such remarks. The content of this podcast is for general, informational purposes, and so are the opinions of members of Sicart Associates, a registered investment adviser, and guests of the show. This podcast does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security or financial instruments or provide investment advice or service. Past performance is not indicative of future results. More information on Sicart Associates is available via its Form ADV disclosure documents available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠adviserinfo.sec.gov⁠⁠⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message