20VC: Lowercase's Matt Mazzeo on Being Chris Sacca's Partner and The 3 KPIs to Successful Investing
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
The Twenty Minute VC
4.4 • 637 Ratings
🗓️ 14 March 2016
⏱️ 37 minutes
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Summary
Matt Mazzeo is Managing Director at Lowercase Capital, alongside legendary angel investor, Chris Sacca. At Lowercase Matt leads a seed and series A investment strategy managing a portfolio of over forty investments including Uber, Twitter, Stripe and Optimizely just to name a few. Prior to joining Lowercase Capital, Matt spearheaded many of the digital and venture efforts at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Matt helped shape the agency’s seed stage investment strategy and played an integral role in the founding of CAA’s incubated start-up companies, including Funny or Die, WhoSay, and Moonshark. Matt has been recognized as an innovative force across technology, entertainment, and advertising for which Fast Company named Matt one of the Most Creative People in Business. In addition to making Forbes Midas Brink List in 2014, Matt has been recognized on both Ad Age’s 40 Under 40 List in 2013, and The Wrap’s Inaugural Innovators List.
1.) How Matt made the transition from the world of celebrity management to the world of venture capital?
2.) How have we seen the personalisation of VCs in the emerging eco-system? Are VCs themselves brands now? How does Matt look to establish his brand?
3.) What are the required KPI's to make a successful investor? What is Matt pleased with in himself and what would he like to improve?
4.) Why will we see the decentralisation of VC away from the traditional Sand Hill Road? How does being in LA affect the operations and deal flow of Lowercase?
5.) What are Matt's biggest learnings from being partner with Chris? What has Matt founded the most challenging in making the transition from CAA to VC?
Items Mentioned In Today's Episode:
Matt's Fave Book:
Matt's Most Recent Investment:
This episode was supported by Wunder Capital, the leading online investment platform that allows individuals to invest in large scale solar projects across the U.S. Wunder’s solar investment funds allow you to earn up to 11% annually, while diversifying your portfolio, curbing pollution and combating global climate change. Do well by doing good and sign up for a free account here and join the thousands of people that are already achieving their investment targets.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're listening to the 20-minute VC with your host Harry Stebbings, and my word, I'm so excited |
| 0:05.5 | for today's episode, I think probably more than I ever have been in the past, and there's been a good |
| 0:10.3 | 130 shows. So joining me today, I have none other than the incredible Matt Mazio, managing director |
| 0:17.3 | at lowercase capital, alongside the legendary investor that is Chris Saka. And before I jump |
| 0:22.6 | into an official bio on Matt, we don't often hear about the personalities of VCs. And I really have |
| 0:28.2 | to impress on you that Matt was the most charming, lovely and fun guy. And that's really reflected |
| 0:33.3 | in the interview today. Now, at lowercase, Matt manages a portfolio of over 40 investments. |
| 0:38.3 | However, these aren't just any investments. So check these out. We've got Uber, we've got Twitter, |
| 0:44.1 | we've got Stripe, Optimizely, just to name a few. Absolutely incredible. And prior to joining Chris |
| 0:50.3 | at Lowercase, Matt spearheaded many of the digital and venture efforts at Creative Artists |
| 0:55.0 | Agency, where he played an integral role in the founding of CAA's incubated startup companies, |
| 1:01.6 | including one of my favourites here, Funny or Die, Housay, and Moonshock. |
| 1:07.0 | And clearly, it's not just us who thinks Matt is an absolute rock star, as he's been recognised as an innovative force across technology, entertainment and advertising, for which Fast Company named Matt one of the most creative people in business, in addition to making Forbes Midas Brinklist in 2014. |
| 1:25.4 | Matt's also been recognised on both ad ages 40 under 40 and the RAP's |
| 1:30.4 | inaugural innovators list. But before we delve into the show with Matt today, I'd like to thank |
| 1:35.5 | our sponsors, Wonder Capital, a leading online investment platform that allows individuals to invest |
| 1:41.4 | in large-scale solar projects, enabling you to earn up to 11% annually, |
| 1:46.2 | while diversifying your portfolio, curbing pollution, and combating climate change. Sounds like a pretty |
| 1:52.8 | good deal, but even better, they take absolutely no fees, and their use of sophisticated underwriting |
| 1:58.5 | algorithms have helped 100% of their customers achieve their |
| 2:02.2 | investment targets. So join the thousands of people using Wonder Capital by signing up on |
| 2:07.4 | wondercapital.com forward slash 20 minute VC. We'd also like to say a huge thank you to |
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