Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in business.By 35, she had already launched and sold two multimillion-dollar companies, including Create & Cultivate, a first-of-its-kind platform for female entrepreneurs that scaled to eight-figure revenue and partnered with Fortune 500 brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and Microsoft.Now, she’s back with Cherub, a double-sided marketplace designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and democratizing access to category-defining companies. As both an angel investor and advisor, Jaclyn has backed businesses like Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse, bringing hard-won experience from her own journey into the founder–funding relationship.Subscribe nowIn this conversation, we break down:Jaclyn’s origin story: why she built CherubHow she approaches angel investing and the lessons she’s learnedWhat makes a great angel pitch (and what doesn’t)The realities of being an accredited investorWhy representation in funding isn’t just moral, it’s market-changingChapters00:00 The Importance of Angel Investments02:49 Jaclyn’s Journey as a Founder and Investor05:41 Understanding Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists08:28 The Role of Angel Advisors11:23 Building Relationships with Angels14:15 The Power of Brand Fame17:25 Cherub’s Mission and Deal Flow20:07 Educating Angels and Standardizing Investments23:13 Creating Effective Fundraising Pages26:12 The Role of Analytics in Fundraising29:04 Onboarding Founders to Cherub32:01 Connecting with Angels: Best Practices35:03 Diversifying the Investment Landscape37:58 The Future of Angel Investing40:35 Special Offers for Founders on CherubGuest BioJaclyn Johnson is the founder of Cherub and creator of Create & Cultivate, which she scaled to an eight-figure exit while reshaping how brands and communities support female entrepreneurs. Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an Adweek Disruptor, Jaclyn is an angel investor and advisor to companies including Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse. She’s dedicated to making capital and community more accessible for underrepresented founders while equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurs to scale.Who Should ListenFounders raising their first angel roundEntrepreneurs seeking representation and resourcesPeople curious about Angel Investing and how to get startedOperators looking to understand the angel landscapeMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com
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Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in business.By 35, she had already launched and sold two multimillion-dollar companies, including Create & Cultivate, a first-of-its-kind platform for female entrepreneurs that scaled to eight-figure revenue and partnered with Fortune 500 brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and Microsoft.Now, she’s back with Cherub, a double-sided marketplace designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and democratizing access to category-defining companies. As both an angel investor and advisor, Jaclyn has backed businesses like Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse, bringing hard-won experience from her own journey into the founder–funding relationship.Subscribe nowIn this conversation, we break down:Jaclyn’s origin story: why she built CherubHow she approaches angel investing and the lessons she’s learnedWhat makes a great angel pitch (and what doesn’t)The realities of being an accredited investorWhy representation in funding isn’t just moral, it’s market-changingChapters00:00 The Importance of Angel Investments02:49 Jaclyn’s Journey as a Founder and Investor05:41 Understanding Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists08:28 The Role of Angel Advisors11:23 Building Relationships with Angels14:15 The Power of Brand Fame17:25 Cherub’s Mission and Deal Flow20:07 Educating Angels and Standardizing Investments23:13 Creating Effective Fundraising Pages26:12 The Role of Analytics in Fundraising29:04 Onboarding Founders to Cherub32:01 Connecting with Angels: Best Practices35:03 Diversifying the Investment Landscape37:58 The Future of Angel Investing40:35 Special Offers for Founders on CherubGuest BioJaclyn Johnson is the founder of Cherub and creator of Create & Cultivate, which she scaled to an eight-figure exit while reshaping how brands and communities support female entrepreneurs. Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an Adweek Disruptor, Jaclyn is an angel investor and advisor to companies including Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse. She’s dedicated to making capital and community more accessible for underrepresented founders while equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurs to scale.Who Should ListenFounders raising their first angel roundEntrepreneurs seeking representation and resourcesPeople curious about Angel Investing and how to get startedOperators looking to understand the angel landscapeMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com
Ep#24: Why Venture Studios Are the Future of Startups - Matthew Burris
Startups Decoded
50 minutes
4 months ago
Ep#24: Why Venture Studios Are the Future of Startups - Matthew Burris
Send us a textMatthew Burris joins Startups Decoded to unpack how venture studios are evolving from a misunderstood startup model into a formal, fundable asset class.We explore what’s missing from today’s narrative, the standards being built behind the scenes, and what it will take to legitimize venture studios in the eyes of institutional capital. This is a conversation about quality, vision, and opportunity — and why the next wave of innovation infrastructure might look more like a studio than a fund.Matt Burris A leading voice in the global venture studio ecosystem. As a Partner at Venture Studio Associates, he collaborates with studios managing over $500 million in assets, providing strategic guidance on design, operations, and scaling.Through his Substack newsletter, Venture Studio Perspective, Matthew shares in-depth analyses and insights drawn from his study of more than 500 venture studios worldwide.With a background that includes organizing and mentoring at Startup Weekends across Indiana, where he worked with over 450 aspiring entrepreneurs, Matthew brings a wealth of experience in turning ideas into viable businesses.Matthew is passionate about demystifying the venture studio model and helping founders and investors make informed decisions through proven frameworks.The Venture Studio ForumA global nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing the venture studio model as a recognized and impactful asset class in the startup ecosystem. It serves as a central hub for studio operators, investors, and ecosystem supporters, providing resources, research, and a collaborative community to foster the growth and success of venture studios worldwide.SHOW NOTESMusic Credit: "Neptuno" - Phondupe (Album: Onykia)SummaryIn this episode of Startups Decoded, Andy Walsh interviews Matt Burris about the evolving landscape of venture studios. They discuss the history, current market perception, and the challenges faced by venture studios as an asset class. Matt shares insights on the Venture Studio Forum, the importance of validation in the startup process, and the development of the Venture Studio Index. The conversation also touches on equity models and the future of venture studios in the investment ecosystem.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Venture Studios03:08 The Evolution of Venture Studios05:20 Current Market Perception of Venture Studios07:07 The Venture Studio Forum09:33 Defining a Venture Studio11:03 The Role of Automation in Startups13:46 The Importance of Validation15:04 The Stages of Building Companies in a Studio17:34 Balancing Intuition and Data20:44 Creating Standardized Reports for Investors22:49 Gathering Insights and Data from Studios26:15 Identifying Studio Challenges27:41 The Venture Studio Index Explained30:58 Evaluating Studio Roles and Strategies36:08 Understanding Operator Equity Models40:41 Investor PerspectiDiscover Smarter Investing with the Teaminvest Wealth Builders PodcastExpert insights and proven strategies from Australia's top investors. Build your wealth.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySuppor ...
Startups Decoded
Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in business.By 35, she had already launched and sold two multimillion-dollar companies, including Create & Cultivate, a first-of-its-kind platform for female entrepreneurs that scaled to eight-figure revenue and partnered with Fortune 500 brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and Microsoft.Now, she’s back with Cherub, a double-sided marketplace designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and democratizing access to category-defining companies. As both an angel investor and advisor, Jaclyn has backed businesses like Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse, bringing hard-won experience from her own journey into the founder–funding relationship.Subscribe nowIn this conversation, we break down:Jaclyn’s origin story: why she built CherubHow she approaches angel investing and the lessons she’s learnedWhat makes a great angel pitch (and what doesn’t)The realities of being an accredited investorWhy representation in funding isn’t just moral, it’s market-changingChapters00:00 The Importance of Angel Investments02:49 Jaclyn’s Journey as a Founder and Investor05:41 Understanding Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists08:28 The Role of Angel Advisors11:23 Building Relationships with Angels14:15 The Power of Brand Fame17:25 Cherub’s Mission and Deal Flow20:07 Educating Angels and Standardizing Investments23:13 Creating Effective Fundraising Pages26:12 The Role of Analytics in Fundraising29:04 Onboarding Founders to Cherub32:01 Connecting with Angels: Best Practices35:03 Diversifying the Investment Landscape37:58 The Future of Angel Investing40:35 Special Offers for Founders on CherubGuest BioJaclyn Johnson is the founder of Cherub and creator of Create & Cultivate, which she scaled to an eight-figure exit while reshaping how brands and communities support female entrepreneurs. Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an Adweek Disruptor, Jaclyn is an angel investor and advisor to companies including Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse. She’s dedicated to making capital and community more accessible for underrepresented founders while equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurs to scale.Who Should ListenFounders raising their first angel roundEntrepreneurs seeking representation and resourcesPeople curious about Angel Investing and how to get startedOperators looking to understand the angel landscapeMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com
