S2E19: Advice Before Money: The VC Model Founders Want — With Mike Ma

Описание: Mike Ma doesn’t invest in decks. He invests in people.

As Managing Partner and Head Coach at Sidecut Ventures, Mike works with what he calls “coachable superheroes”, early-stage, mission-driven founders tackling real problems in economic mobility, healthcare, climate, and education.

In this conversation, we unpack what it actually means to be coachable as a founder, why most advice fails in practice, and how real progress happens when coaching, capital, and execution collide. Mike shares lessons from the trenches — blending Fortune 500 experience with venture-backed CXO roles — and explains why the best founders don’t just seek answers, they build judgement.

We also explore Sidecut’s hands-on approach to venture building, the parallels between adaptive sports coaching and startup leadership, and why helping founders unlock potential often means meeting them exactly where they are — not where the pitch says they should be.

This episode is for founders who want fewer platitudes, better questions, and support that actually shows up.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Impact Investing
02:42 The Thesis of Sidecut Ventures
04:59 Understanding Impact and Returns
07:49 The Case for Climate Investments
10:41 The Duality of Capitalism
13:06 The Role of Ethics in Business
15:47 The Importance of Mission-Driven Founders
18:33 Evaluating Founders Beyond the Surface
23:54 The Foxhole: Partnering with Founders
27:19 The Impact of Investment Models
32:01 The Reality of Foundership
36:50 Understanding the Founder’s Journey
39:43 Evaluating Impact and Market Risks

About Mike Ma   / michaelwma  
Mike Ma is the Managing Partner and Head Coach at Sidecut Ventures, where he invests in and coaches early-stage, mission-driven founders working on some of society’s hardest problems.

He brings a rare blend of Fortune 500 experience (Bank of America, Vanguard) and venture-backed CXO leadership(including Betterment and Own Up), rolling up his sleeves across product, strategy, and fundraising. Mike believes the best venture outcomes are built through proximity, trust, and real coaching — not performative advice.

Sidecut Ventures: https://www.sidecut.vc/
Pitch: https://www.sidecut.vc/pitch-us
LinkedIn:   / michaelwma  

Who Should Listen
Early-stage founders who want real coaching, not hype
Mission-driven founders balancing impact and scale
Operators stepping into first-time leadership roles
Anyone curious about what founder support should actually look like

Access All Areas.
Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTube
Subscribe: Substack
Community & Events: Founders Circle
Connect: LinkedIn
Socials: TikTok || Instagram || X
Web: startupsdecoded.com

Music Credit
“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia) https://phondupe.bandcamp.com/album/a...