The Executive Matt Harbert

Meet Richard Tame, a seasoned finance executive who is now serving as the CFO of Coeus Institute, an AI data driven analysis company. His journey across various industries and renowned corporations, from British Airways to tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Lyft, has been marked by a wealth of diverse experiences. With a standout tenure as CFO at Aurora, the groundbreaking autonomous vehicle startup, Richard navigated the complexities of a rapidly expanding enterprise, orchestrating successful capital raises and forging strategic alliances that propelled Aurora to success in the fiercely competitive realm of self-driving cars.

During our conversation, Richard shares insights into his unique experience in raising capital, particularly with Aurora's journey from the Series B stage to its public listing via a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC). He offers invaluable advice for navigating the complexities of high-growth startups, from charting a course for success to achieving a balance between career and personal life pursuits.


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Jackson Moses is a successful serial entrepreneur and early defense tech investor. He currently serves as the Founder and Managing Partner of Silent Ventures, an early stage venture firm investing in aerospace, defense, and national security startups including Anduril, Castelion, Chaos, Hadrian, and Saronic.

Prior to launching Silent Ventures, Jackson founded MainStreet and Spectrum Labs, later acquired by ActiveFence. Between both startups, he raised over $120M, employed hundreds, and generated $30M+ in ARR.

In this interview, Jackson shares invaluable insights gained from his experiences as a serial entrepreneur and early-stage investor. From navigating the complexities of the defense tech sector to advising startups and venture firms on investment strategies, Jackson offers practical advice and actionable takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned investors alike.


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Dr. Seth Lederman, CEO and Chairman of Tonix Pharmaceuticals, shares insights into his journey from medical practice to pharmaceutical entrepreneurship. From his early days combating the AIDS epidemic to specializing in rheumatology and fibromyalgia research, Dr. Lederman discusses the lessons learned from founding and leading Tonix Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Lederman offers valuable insights into the dynamics of drug development and commercialization. He also shares his perspective as a seasoned CEO, providing actionable advice on effective leadership and fostering a culture of innovation within the company. With the impending launch of Tanmaya, Tonix's pioneering product for fibromyalgia management, Dr. Lederman highlights the company's mission to address unmet medical needs and enhance patient well-being.


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Jeff Hart is a partner at AE Industrial Partners, a Private Equity firm with over $6 Billion in AUM that has invested in some of the most exciting aerospace, security, and industrial companies across the country including Firefly Aerospace, Sierra Space, and York Space Systems.

Jeff has spearheaded the Aerospace & Defense sector within the firm with his partner Bryan McElwee and has taken multiple companies public including Redwire and BigBear.ai where he remains on the board of directors.


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Justus Kilian, Managing Partner at Space Capital, discusses how to create a culture of excellence, why Elon Musk interviewed the first 1,000 hires at Tesla, and how to find your dream mentor.

Space Capital is a venture firm at the forefront of the Tech-Space intersection, boasting a robust portfolio with over $100 million in assets under management. With a steadfast commitment to innovation, Space Capital has joined forces with visionary founders and made strategic investments in breakout companies like Rocket Lab and SpaceX.




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Meagan Murphy Crawford, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SpaceFund, which has invested in over 20 Aerospace companies including SpaceX, Axiom Space, and Voyager Space.

Meagan also co-founded the world’s longest running space business plan competition, and has taught, coached, and advised hundreds of space startups through their earliest stages – including some of the most successful aerospace companies around today.




--Topics Covered --



Trailblazing Her Own Path In Venture Capital In Space (0:00)

Meagan M. Crawford's journey from a personal financial planner at Primerica to her role in space-related industries ⁠(02:07)⁠

Meagan's perspective on evaluating business plans and what stood out in successful pitches ⁠(14:13)⁠

Setting the company up for success ⁠(21:40)⁠

How to manage being on eight boards and how to effectively run them ⁠(23:49)⁠

Maximizing the value in board meetings ⁠(26:53)⁠

Meagan's reflections on mistakes made in her career and how she overcame them ⁠(29:31)⁠

The importance of asking “Why Not?” ⁠(30:47)⁠

The impact of educators and counselors on her career ⁠(32:49)⁠

Founders' Common Mistakes ⁠(34:13)⁠

Finding the balance of being a mom and a partner ⁠(37:50)⁠

Managing the dark days as an entrepreneur ⁠(44:20)⁠

One piece of advice that Meagan received ⁠(45:38)⁠

Meagan's favorite book ⁠(48:09)⁠

The number one piece of advice for founders ⁠(56:52)⁠


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