Closing an Acquisition is Very Hard
I've sold three startups and seen many deals collapse. Here's what actually happens when acquisitions work, and why most never close.
The Matthew Goldman Blog
Father. Entrepreneur. Light bulb enthusiast. Car connoisseur.
Latest posts
Artificial Intelligence is Exposing Laziness
We're all secretly (or perhaps not so secretly) freaking out about the pending AI job apocalypse. There is more to write about on that subject, but I want to focus on something I have noticed lately as Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption grows: the exposure of people who try
Are We All Developers Now?
Vibe coding is the new mobile-apps gold rush. Why most PMs and non-engineers shouldn't ship production code, but should still be vibe coding to test ideas.
Can You Introduce Me to Investors?
Why 'can you introduce me to investors?' is the wrong question to ask. The targeted, specific pitch that actually gets warm intros from founders' networks.
Hiring for Attitude, Coaching for Aptitude
Hire for attitude, coach for aptitude. Why scouts and coaches fail at NFL quarterback picks for the same reason startups fail at engineering hires.
So You Sold Your Company, Please Let Me Know
When founders sell their startup, the news often spreads quietly. Why exits — even small ones — deserve to be celebrated publicly by the broader community.
Founders and Fraud
The growing wave of fraud in venture-backed startups. CaaStle, Theranos, and the patterns founders should recognize before becoming the next cautionary tale.
Priorities, Focus, and the Eisenhower Matrix
Priorities and focus for product managers and founders. Why the Eisenhower matrix (urgent vs important) survives every modern productivity fad.
Talking to Users
Talking to users is the most important thing founders skip. Two starting points — building for yourself vs. for others — and how each shapes user research.
Try to Stay Calm
Calm the F*** Down — a founder's mantra for surviving startup chaos. The mindset shift that separates the founders who burn out from the ones who finish.
Cerro Grande & Eaton Canyon
Two fires, 25 years apart: Cerro Grande in 2000 (Los Alamos) and Eaton Canyon in 2025 (Pasadena). A personal reflection on community, loss, and rebuilding.
To Whom Should You Pitch?
Founders ask for VC intros without knowing which VCs they should meet. The targeting strategy that filters thousands of investors down to the right warm intros.
How I launched my company with no co-founder, no money, and no hope of survival
How I launched Wallaby with no co-founder, no money, and no hope of survival. The unglamorous founding story behind the credit-card startup that exited.
My Second Favorite Type of VC
Founder's joke: my favorite VC is the one that says yes. My second favorite? The one that says no. Why ghosting VCs are worse than rejecting VCs for founders.
Not On Substack
Why I moved my newsletter off Substack after their public defense of platforming Nazis. The platform-neutrality argument that breaks down at the extreme.