Matt Roberts: CMD Capital

The Investor With Joel Palathinkal

Joel Palathinkal chats with Matt Roberts about his journey from technical roles to venture capital, starting from his Ottawa roots. They discuss how engineers can thrive as investors, the evolution of family offices, and Canada's tech ecosystem. Matt shares advice for new fund managers on differentiation, storytelling, and investment structuring. They explore liquidity strategies, fund management, founder evaluation, and 2023 market trends. The episode also covers investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the Middle East, highlighting post-oil investments and the importance of international networks. (0:00) Transitioning from technical roles to venture capital (0:31) Introduction to the podcast and guest Matt Roberts (1:17) Matt Roberts' background, growing up in Ottawa, and early influences (4:26) Traits of engineers that contribute to their success as investors (9:38) Evolution of family offices and investment strategies (15:41) Overview of the Canadian tech and venture capital ecosystem (20:12) Regional economic focuses and family office goals in Canada (25:10) Advice for new fund managers on differentiating and building a lasting firm (29:01) The importance of transparency in storytelling and structuring investments (34:01) Liquidity strategies and managing fund cycles (37:12) Methods for sourcing and evaluating founders (41:21) Negotiating with founders and market trends in 2023 (47:35) Insights on investment in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and Middle Eastern market relations (49:28) Focus on post-oil and gas investments and the importance of international networks (50:23) Conclusion, future plans, and final thanks