The Startup Leaderboard That Gets Founders VC Intros, with Mat Sherman
Description
In this episode of QSBS Solved, Brady sits down with Mat Sherman, founder of Arena, a new platform designed to give early-stage founders a transparent and structured path into the venture capital ecosystem. Arena offers a unique leaderboard system that tracks founders’ weekly progress, engagement, and credentials, ultimately helping them earn introductions to investors. For just $20 a month, founders can access AMAs, office hours, and a community designed to accelerate their learning curve from years down to months—while also holding them accountable for tangible progress.
Mat shares his journey, from Seed Scout to Product Hunt, to launching Arena, and why he believes the startup world is “seemingly inclusive, but explicitly exclusive.” He breaks down what makes a founder “fundable,” the balance between technical ability, high-context industry knowledge, and the all-important vibe check. The conversation also explores the tension between bootstrapping and venture funding, and how Arena aims to open the front door of VC to more founders—without the hype, just results.
Arena: https://arena.matsherman.com/
Mat's X Account: https://x.com/mat_sherman
Contact: Brady@QSBSrollover.com | www.QSBSrollover.com
United States
