Matt Hayes

In a couple sentences, how would you describe your path to becoming an investor?

I started my career on the founding team of a company called Teespring. It was there that I was able to spearhead the company's early user and revenue growth. Later in the company's life I worked on Business and Corporate Development. By the end of my three and a half years at Teespring I had fallen in love with hyper growth and startups. Given that I love the earliest stages of company building, the transition to investing in early stage companies was very natural. I am incredibly fortunate to interact with great founders and investors every day.

Investment Approach: What are the key factors you consider when evaluating a founding team?

A founding team's 'why", past experience, and relationship history.

What's your style and approach when it comes to working with founders post-investment? What are the characteristics of founders you've worked well with?

We like to move at the pace of the founders that we back. We will be there whenever the companies that we invest in need us; deep in the weeds or in any other capacity. However, we know that it is imperative to give companies the space that they need to create generational businesses. We work well with founders who are bold and creative thinkers, have grit, know their numbers, and are team players.

If I'm coming to pitch to you or your firm, what's the one piece of advice you'd give me?

It is important to articulate a very clear vision. If all of the stars align, how big can your company be?

How would you describe your own personal mission and values, and how do they impact the way you invest?

I believe that the most important aspect of happiness and fulfillment in life are the relationships that I hold. Therefore, I prioritize building great relationships with the founders that I invest in. I think strong relationships make for a transparent and healthy partnership.

What do you like best about investing in NYC, and what’s your outlook on the future of NYC tech?

I love the ambition and character of NYC. I think the future of NYC tech is very bright and I am excited to continue investing in NYC founded companies.