Ep 9 - Matthew Stafford - Angel Investor & Co Founder of 9others

Philip Smith is joined by angel investor Matthew Stafford, co-founder of Nine Others and founder of Stafford VC.

Matthew shares how 9others grew from a simple monthly dinner into a trusted global founder community, why honest peer conversations matter, and how founders can better navigate the challenges of building a company. He also discusses his approach to early-stage investing, what he looks for in founders, and why ideas that start niche or obscure often become the most interesting opportunities.

The conversation covers funding with customers, building investor relationships before you need them, and why being genuinely helpful, and human, still matters in startups and investing.