I chat with Matt about his unconventional path to building a holding company. At just 22 years old, he has already had two successful exits. We discuss his approach to building his studio model holding company, Halation, where he focuses on creating one-of-a-kind software. Matt shares how he selects the ‘game’ he wants to play, why he chooses to work with friends, and the importance of having a 'cash cow' to fund other ventures. We delve into validating new ideas, finding the right operating partners, and his whale-and-barnacle approach. Lastly, we exchange advice on balancing work and life.

Guest

Matt Espinoza is a partner at Halation, building an empire of internet companies. Follow him on X.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:43 Building a HoldCo
05:14 Bootstrapping
06:57 Partnering with Creators
12:22 Acquiring vs. Building
15:14 Validating Ideas
27:53 Importance of Operators
31:51 Lessons Learned
37:20 Balancing Work and Life
45:40 Calm Company
51:10 Fun

Host

I am the ex-founder of Skillshare, and I am now exploring what's next. The Karnjanaprakorn Show (TKS) follows my journey as I chat with others, taking unique approaches to business and life. Learn more about me: ⁠⁠https://mikekarnj.com