Matt started his career as a venture capitalist at Condé Nast’s corporate venture fund, where he gained invaluable experience in high-stakes investments. “I cut my teeth really in the deep end of VC, working with high-growth companies like Farfetch and Vestiaire Collective,” Matt shared. This exposure shaped his understanding of growth and business strategy, setting the stage for his entrepreneurial ventures.

After leaving VC, Matt founded The Lunicorn, a media brand focused on creating engaging content around technology and entrepreneurship. He quickly pivoted from his original vision to meet market demands, eventually building the company into a multi-million dollar business. “We followed the money, and it led us to building white-label content for giants like Microsoft and Danske Bank,” Matt explained. Despite its success, The Lunicorn was sold during the early days of the pandemic, a move that came with both challenges and new opportunities.

In a rare twist, Matt bought back The Lunicorn less than a year after selling it due to shifting business strategies on the buyer's end. He explained, “They offered me a CMO role, but it was completely off-target for what I wanted to do. So, I saw an opportunity to regain control and chart a new course.” This experience highlights Matt’s adaptability and deep understanding of when to pivot for long-term gains.

After selling The Lunicorn, Matt channeled his energy into a new challenge: training to represent South Africa in cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympics. “I Googled, ‘Is it possible to qualify for the Olympics in three years?’ and saw it as a startup-like opportunity,” he recounted. By applying the same discipline and focus that fueled his entrepreneurial success, Matt is now on track to compete in the World Championships.

Throughout the podcast, Matt emphasized the power of storytelling in building a brand and connecting with audiences. “It’s not just storytelling; it’s story selling,” he said. This ability to convey his journey compellingly has been instrumental in his career, making him a sought-after speaker and coach. His advice for founders? “Always be pitching. Always be raising. Every conversation can be an opportunity if you frame it the right way.”

Find Matt on:

LinkedIn: Matt C Smith

Website: mattcsmith.com

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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