The Profit or Pivot Podcast

Matan Hazanov
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Every entrepreneurial journey will result in either profit or pivot. In this podcast, I sit down with top-tier founders, VCs, & innovators to uncover the critical decisions that fueled their massive success. We dive deep into their journeys, exploring practical strategies you can apply. Each episode delivers actionable advice & inspiring stories designed to motivate & empower you on your own path. My mission? To decode the art of successful decision-making better than anyone in the world. Rated the #1 podcast in the world (by my mom).

  1. The Untold Truth About Becoming a VC Investor & Launching the 'YC' for VCs, Coolwater Capital

    6D AGO

    The Untold Truth About Becoming a VC Investor & Launching the 'YC' for VCs, Coolwater Capital

    Episode Partner - hiredonna.com find elite executive assistants (use my link below for discounts) Ever wonder how someone becomes a venture capitalist? Winter Mead is the founder of Coolwater Capital, the YC for VC funds. He's invested in over 90 funds and has helped launch hundreds of VC firms. Venture operates in circles of trust. Those circles aren’t arbitrary, they’re built over decades. Ecosystems compound relationships the same way companies compound capital. But the deeper insight is this: VCs are also fundraisers. Every venture firm answers to limited partners. They raise funds, demonstrate performance, defend strategy, and differentiate in a crowded market. That means every investment is not just a bet on a founder, it’s a bet that must be defensible to institutional capital. Founders who understand this dynamic immediately gain an edge. In this episode, we break down how venture capital actually works. If you’re building a company or allocating capital, this conversation will sharpen how you think about incentives, access, and positioning. What We Cover: Why breaking into venture “circles” is hard and why that’s rational The role of trust and pattern recognition in writing checks Why cold outreach rarely works the way founders expect The structural reason VCs favor repeat founders How LP dynamics shape every investment decision Why founders who understand fund math raise capital faster The real alignment (and constraints) between founders and investors EPISODE PARTNER hiredonna.com Find elite offshore executive assistants to help you grow your business or manage your increasingly busy life. Donna's assistants go through a 6-week paid intensive academy, ensuring that only the past are matched with employers. Only 1/400 applicants pass their filters, tests and academy. My listeners get 30% off for the 1st three months when you tell them I sent you (or use my link above). My link: hiredonna.com/matan   ABOUT WINTER & COOLWATER Winter Mead is the Founder and Managing Member of the investment firm Coolwater Capital, which exclusively focuses on emerging managers and technology investments. Coolwater is an academy for training, building and scaling emerging managers, a curated community of VC investors and early-stage investment specialists, and an investment firm. Coolwater has helped launch over 300+ emerging managers in the last four years, establishing strong ties and trust with these managers, who form the foundation of the Coolwater community. Coolwater has made over 90 investments into its accelerator ecosystem supporting the next generation of founder investors and new technologies. Winter is also the author of "How To Raise A Venture Capital Fund" and an upcoming book, "How To Set Up A Venture Capital Fund." Prior to Coolwater, he played a key role in an evergreen investment fund at SAP and co-founded the LP transparency movement called #OpenLP. Winter's extensive experience includes private equity and venture capital roles in San Francisco, institutional fund investments, direct technology investments for SAP, and angel investing. He also served as junior faculty at Stanford Graduate School of Business, holding degrees from the University of Oxford and Harvard University, and now resides in Utah with his family, passionately solving business challenges. Connect with Winter on LinkedIn Learn more about Coolwater

    50 min
  2. Why Toronto is Failing & What it Will Take to Fix It | James Pasternak

    FEB 12

    Why Toronto is Failing & What it Will Take to Fix It | James Pasternak

    Episode Partner: hiredonna.com - find elite offshore executive assistants with Donna. 30% off for first 3 months for my listeners. Links below.  Everything is degrading in major cities like Toronto. Violent crime has skyrocketed, homelessness is rampant, living is increasingly unaffordable, and we are paying more in taxes & receiving worse services. In the latest episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast I am joined by Toronto City Councilman James Pasternak to discuss these myriad issues Toronto is facing. One story I simply cannot wrap my head around. A few months ago, a group of ISIS linked terrorists planned kidnappings of Jewish girls for r*pe, torture and ransom. Thank God, their first potential victim was able to escape by yelling for help. Police found weapons such as automatic rifles and plans for various attacks in their homes. And its been credibly reported that at least 1 of them has been released on bail. Read that again: A dangerous terrorist caught trying to kidnap girls, who has access to weapons, and a means to carry out attacks has been released. And I bet most of you haven't heard this story. Its been buried. Why??? While our discussion is about Toronto, the challenges we face are mirrored in other major cities across the West. James and I unpack some of the underlying causes, and potential solutions. Watch on YouTube. EPISODE PARTNER Donna Find elite offshore executive assistants to help you grow your business or manage your increasingly busy life. Donna's assistants go through a 6-week paid intensive academy, ensuring that only the past are matched with employers. Only 1/400 applicants pass their filters, tests and academy.  My listeners get 30% off for the 1st three months when you tell them I sent you (or use my link). hiredonna.com ABOUT JAMES PASTERNAK James was first elected to Toronto City Council in 2010. He was re-elected in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Prior to coming to City Council he served 4 years as a Trustee on the Toronto District School Board. James is known for advancing creative solutions to complex urban problems and has been a leader in fighting antisemitism and hate in all its forms. James was the founding Trustee of the Africentric Alternative School, was the first to bring the concept of participatory budget making to Toronto, initiated the review of the consequences of drone technology and the implications of e-cigarettes. He was the first on Council to sound the alarm of the consequences  of tariffs and a potential trade war with the United States. James currently serves as Chair of North York Community Council and has Chaired a number of City Council standing committees. He is a lifelong resident of York Centre.

    52 min
  3. How to Land Your Dream Job in VC or PE | Tips from a $1.7B AUM Fund Manager

    JAN 21

    How to Land Your Dream Job in VC or PE | Tips from a $1.7B AUM Fund Manager

    Jim Ferry, a Partner at Volition Capital with $1.7B AUM, recently posted a VC analyst role and received 2,500 applications in one week. That number alone says everything. In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, we unpack what that level of competition really means, why traditional career advice is broken, and how hiring managers actually think when they’re flooded with applicants who all look the same on paper. If you’re trying to get hired into a competitive role, this episode will force you to rethink your approach. This conversation isn’t about polishing résumés or gaming LinkedIn. It’s about thinking like the person doing the hiring. We get into: What 2,500 applications for one role tells us about the job market Why credentials & grades matter less than most people think How candidates disqualify themselves before interviews What hiring managers are actually screening for Common resume and interviewing mistakes How to position yourself when competition is extreme His perspective on investing in the age of AI This episode is a wake-up call for anyone trying to break into competitive roles especially in VC, startups, and high-performance environments. If you want to get hired, promoted, or taken seriously, this conversation will change how you approach your career. 🎧 Listen now and rethink how you stand out. About Jim Ferry Jim is a Partner at Volition Capital, a Boston-based Series A / Series B growth equity firm with over $1.7B in assets under management. Volition invests ~$15M to ~$60M in technology startups with a ~$5M+ run rate. Since joining the firm in 2014, Jim has focused on high-growth, founder-owned companies in the internet and consumer sectors. Jim specializes in high-volume transactional businesses across sectors including ad tech, marketplaces, fintech, consolidation platforms, and more, partnering with founders to scale their businesses efficiently. Connect with Jim X LinkedIn Volition Capital (email) If you are a high growth startup with a ~$5M+ run rate looking to raise ~$15M-60M, feel free to reach out to Volition Capital: dealflow@volitioncapital.com

    52 min
  4. 4 Easy Steps to Master in Person Networking as an Introvert | Solo Episode

    12/24/2025

    4 Easy Steps to Master in Person Networking as an Introvert | Solo Episode

    Who you know in business is critical to your success, especially as a startup. And meeting the right people whether its best employees, partners, customers, and investors often requires networking and meeting new people in person. But what if you're an introvert like me and dread networking and meeting new people in person? There are a few simple and easy steps you can implement to overcome your fear, get out of your comfort zone and start meeting new people. This advice is not limited to business events, but can be implemented more broadly, such as social events. This advice is borne out of my own experience as an introvert after realizing early on that in order to achieve my business and financial goals, I would have to get out of my comfort zone, and meet new people in person at scale. And its worked wonders for me!

    9 min
  5. My Partnership with Waka Flocka Flame, The Business Behind Cultural Influence

    12/18/2025

    My Partnership with Waka Flocka Flame, The Business Behind Cultural Influence

    Max Abergel signed one of the most influential rappers in the world without an intro, a résumé, or permission. He literally slipped past security and walked into a green room. That moment led to a long-term partnership with Waka Flocka Flame, an artist with diamond-certified records, collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Drake, and a brand that stretches far beyond music into business, philanthropy, and politics. But this episode isn’t about celebrity. It’s about the operators behind the scenes, the people who turn influence into a business. And Max didn’t come from music. He came from tech. That initial pitch in the green room turned into an 11-year partnership spanning: Touring and brand deals Business operations and management Investments and exits Building businesses around a personal brand without diluting it Waka Flocka Flame isn’t just a rapper, he’s a cultural force. Platinum records. Global tours. One of the defining voices of modern trap music. And someone who understood early that brand > product. We get into: The wild story of how Max met Waka and why it worked How to turn proximity into partnership (without being transactional) Why brand affinity matters more than follower count The difference between selling hours vs. building leverage Lessons from working with one of the biggest artists in the world Why authenticity compounds over time What “escaping the matrix” actually looks like in real life Why most people miss opportunities that are right in front of them Why Wocka endorsed Trump for President before it was cool If you’re a founder, creator, or operator trying to build something that lasts, this episode is a real-world lesson in how relationships become platforms.

    1 hr
  6. Branding & Leadership Lessons From Heinz, SodaStream, & Pepsico | Rena Nickerson

    12/10/2025

    Branding & Leadership Lessons From Heinz, SodaStream, & Pepsico | Rena Nickerson

    Every brand is trying to influence you but only a few succeed. Why? Because great brands understand human psychology better than their competitors. In this episode of the Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Rena Nickerson, the General Manager of the Quaker and Sabra brands in Canada, who has spent her career understanding how people think, what motivates them, and how to turn that into real business growth. We go deep into the mechanics of brand building, behavioral influence, and the subtle line between persuasion and manipulation. How do you shape perception? How do you create emotional attachment? Why do some brands scale to millions while others burn out? Rena also opens up about her own corporate path: learning she was going to be fired, the wake-up moment that forced her to rethink her leadership style, and how that experience reshaped how she approaches communication, team dynamics, and personal identity and being Jewish in the corporate world today. If you care about marketing, growth, influence, or building something that actually lasts, this episode is for you. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  About Rena Nickerson Rena is a respected leader within the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. As General Manager, Quaker Canada, she has led a national team of 650 since 2023. Prior to that, she was GM, SodaStream Canada for 7 years, tripling the business. Prior to joining PepsiCo as a GM, Rena started her career as a marketer on top brands such as Colgate, Campbell and Kraft. You can find her on LinkedIn, where she spends way too much time. LinkedIn

    55 min
  7. Q&A with Matan: What VCs look for, what we do with failings startups, how to raise VC & other great questions

    12/03/2025

    Q&A with Matan: What VCs look for, what we do with failings startups, how to raise VC & other great questions

    Matan joins the founders at the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute to answer their many questions about building startups, raising money, and standing out.    Q1 What do I look for in a startup when investing Q2 Thoughts on "impact investing" Q3 What do I do when a company is failing Q4 How to break into VC Q5 How would I redo my career / life if given the option  Q6 Dealing with failed founders trying again Q7 Differences between Canadian and Israeli founders Q8 Options for a failed business Q9 SAFEs vs equity deals Q10 How much control do VCs want and need Q11 What do I get excited about when meeting founders Q12 How to leave a lasting impression

    27 min
  8. Rebuilding 30+ Companies in Post-Soviet Russia & Building the #1 Ranked Incubator in the World

    11/26/2025

    Rebuilding 30+ Companies in Post-Soviet Russia & Building the #1 Ranked Incubator in the World

    Ever wondered how the Russian oligarchs were made? This episode gives you a glimpse into that world… through someone who lived it, built through it, and survived it. In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, Matan speaks with Marat Ressin, an entrepreneur who built and bought over 30 businesses after the fall of the Soviet Union, escaped the rising control of the KGB to Canada, and went on to build the #1 ranked university-linked business accelerator in the world. Marat shares his unbelievable journey: Becoming the 22-year-old director of a government venture before the USSR collapse Buying Soviet factories about to go bankrupt and turning them into profitable businesses Facing pressure from the KGB to sell his companies and become one of their men Building major real estate and business turnaround projects in Canada Creating the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) and training 2,000+ entrepreneurs His core lessons on communication, raising money, problem-driven business creation, and AI This is one of the most insightful, candid, and inspiring founder stories you’ll hear. About Marat Ressin Marat is the founder of the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI), a globally top-ranked university-linked accelerator, professor, turnaround specialist, real estate developer, and serial entrepreneur with 30+ business acquisitions across multiple industries. Learn more about YEDI Connect with Marat

    47 min
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About

Every entrepreneurial journey will result in either profit or pivot. In this podcast, I sit down with top-tier founders, VCs, & innovators to uncover the critical decisions that fueled their massive success. We dive deep into their journeys, exploring practical strategies you can apply. Each episode delivers actionable advice & inspiring stories designed to motivate & empower you on your own path. My mission? To decode the art of successful decision-making better than anyone in the world. Rated the #1 podcast in the world (by my mom).

Information

  • Creator
    Matan Hazanov
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Profit or Pivot Podcast