Feb 29 2024 52 mins 4
Founding a startup is the thing so many fintech entrepreneurs dream about. So what happens when that dream turns into a nightmare?
In this special crossover series with Breaking Bank’s Jason Henrichs, Alex and Jason are joined by Matt Harris, former founder and CEO of Bloom Credit, and founder/executive coach of TwentySeven Nine, to discuss the challenges and emotional roller coaster that founders face in the startup world.
Matt shares his story of startup success and burnout, revealing why the journey to foundership, for him, was akin to eating glass. Why did he choose to step down from his role as CEO of such a promising startup?
Matt unpacks how the unhealthy, codependent dynamics between investors and founders play a huge role in founders’ mental health and reveals how he found a new purpose in helping others reshape their personal work-life boundaries. Hear how he helps others like himself to redefine past trauma and create a healthier, more sustainable workplace for all, and discover why Matt believes that failure doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
00:03:39 - Entrepreneur's Journey: From Success to Struggle
00:09:53 - Transitioning from Infrastructure to Entrepreneur
00:14:13 - Stepping Down from Bloom
00:24:07 - Importance of the Journey in Entrepreneurship
00:27:37 - Navigating Vulnerability in Startup Funding
00:29:11 - Understanding the Difference Between Therapy and Coaching
00:33:08 - Navigating Investor Feedback as a Founder
00:35:22 - Understanding Codependency in VC Relationships
00:42:33 - Challenges in Raising Business Funds
00:43:47 - Helping Founders Manage Burnout Successfully
00:54:17 - Navigating Failure: Embracing Acceptance and Growth
Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/
And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page.
Check Out Breaking Banks:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-banks/id641357669
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mhqSxyBCHZ1wTQwXlAvCG?si=2964cce20998440e
Follow Matt:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattdharris113/
Website: https://www.twentysevennine.co/
Follow Jason:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhenrichs/
Follow Alex:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson
