#018: Delving into tech, investments & Amazon with Matt Allen
Summary: For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast Matt Allen ( @mattallen ) is a prominent developer, former entrepreneur, investor and advisor within the Australian startup community, who also works as a startup BD at Amazon Web Services. Matt is a great example, and proof of, learning from mistakes and observation, knowing - much like Amazon’s founder - the importance of being a great leader as opposed to a manager. He is one of the most balanced individuals I’ve met in the startup community, always willing to give truthful advice, particularly to the multitude of founders and startups he meets along the way. In this episode we covered: Going from corporate to startup land Getting interested in tech as a kid Work/life balance and founder burnout Growth mentality and VC backing What to look for in a founder Management vs leadership Getting into angel investing How would he go about teaching someone to code Working at Amazon Validating a product or startup prior to launch Lessons learnt from founding his own companies Knowing what he knows now, what would he change? Unique angel investors or mentors in the industry Worst advice in the startup space Enjoy the episode, Jordan Lauren Show notes Bio and background {04:55} Going from corporate to startup land {05:44} Getting interested in tech as a kid {09:10} Work/life balance and founder burnout {12:15} On growth mentality and VC backing {16:35} What to look for in a founder {21:37} Lessons learnt from his parents {23:47} Management vs leadership {26:16} Getting into angel investing {28:17} How would he go about teaching someone to code {35:56} On working at Amazon {38:36} On validating a product or startup prior to launch {40:42} Lessons learnt from founding his own companies {46:37} Knowing what he knows now, what would he change? {48:30} Unique angel investors or mentors in the industry {53:06} Worst advice in the startup space {57:30} Morning rituals, exercise and stress relief {01:01:34} Shows he’s watching {01:03:15} If he had to do a TED talk not related to startups {01:05:18} Something he’s proud of {01:07:33} What’s on his current playlist {01:08:55} W hat seems obvious to him and not to others {01:10:12} An investment he’s made that’s the worst worthwhile {01:12:38} Books he’d recommend {01:16:13} If he could have a billboard anywhere in Australia {01:17:04} Select Links People mentioned from the Episode Matt on Twitter , Website Lookahead Search AWS (Amazon Web Services) Angel investing Venture capital Startups Tech Software development Blackbird ventures Jeff Bezos Xero Greg Norman Nathan Sampimon - in reference to our past guest Scott Handsaker - in reference to our past guest Adrian Stone - in reference to our past guest Spaceship Billions (TV show) Suits (TV show) Seinfeld Elon Musk Simulation hypothesis The Sims Men in Black Deadmau5 Sleep Ryan Holiday - The Obstacle Is The Way Ryan Holiday - Ego Is The Enemy
