🧬 Mike Stadnisky – Thielsen Capital – Part 3

Part 3 of 3: Don’t Fake it ‘Til you Make It | Cleaning Your Corporate “Underwear” | Thielsen’s Investment Philosophy | The Critical Importance of Alignment

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My guest for this week’s episode is Mike Stadnisky, Managing Director of Thielsen Capital. Thielsen Capital is a seed-stage financing syndicate network bringing together life science investors, operators, and innovators to drive exceptional outcomes for founding teams, investors, and science.

Join us as we conclude our conversation with Mike Stadnisky as he discusses the important lessons that he learned from going through the M&A process, and how knowing about them early can benefit founders. We also discuss why it is essential for you to have the mentality that someone will see your corporate “underwear,” and why proper documentation is tedious yet vital to your company’s success. Finally, we conclude our interview with Mike by reviewing Thielsen Capital’s unique investment philosophy and the exciting things that are on the horizon for them. Please enjoy my conversation with Mike Stadnisky.

Timestamps:
00:55 “Wouldn’t it be nice,” approach to calling in a favor
03:37 Be boldly innovative, but do not fake it till you make it
06:35 Learning the pitfalls of overpromising, being honest about what can and cannot be done
11:29 How social media is underutilized in the life sciences and what founders can learn from going through the M&A process
16:51 Decoding banker-speak and why you should always have the mentality that someone will see your corporate “underwear”
19:46 Lawyers, proper documentation, and other vital, yet unsexy, company hygiene practices
25:11 Advice to startups about defining how your business will succeed and scale
31:23 Another of Mike’s financial modeling sins and being honest about how much capital your company really needs
34:20 How the M&A process inspired Mike to get into investing and start Thielsen Capital
38:15 Thielsen Capital’s objectives, mission, and what sets them apart from other VCs
43:13 How to maintain that founder magic and convincing people to operate in their own best interest
50:11 Dangers of being in an over-capitalized environment and what getting on the venture treadmill means
53:55 Alignment and other important things founders must consider when they use alternatives fundraising sources
59:51 What’s on the horizon for Thielsen Capital and the unique communal aspect of the life sciences industry
1:05:53 Mike shouts out his wife, mentors, and exceptional teams that he has worked with
1:09:02 Advice and perspective Mike would share with his younger self
1:11:36 Outro