Episode #41 – Matt Buder Shapiro

How many “no’s” does it take before you finally hear yes?

For Matt Buder Shapiro, the answer was hundreds.

Matt is the founder of MedPilot, a healthcare technology startup that was eventually acquired by Vytalize Health. Today he serves as Senior Advisor of Marketing & Policy at Vytalize, a company that supports more than 3,000 primary care providers and manages over $3 billion in medical spending. In addition to his work in healthcare, Matt is an active startup investor, backing companies such as Headway, Goodles, and Olipop, along with dozens of other emerging businesses.

But before the growth, the acquisition, and the success… there were constant rejections from investors.

In this episode of Love in the Land, Matt sits down with Austin Love to talk about what it really takes to build a company from scratch, the brutal reality of raising startup capital, and why rejection might be one of the most valuable tools an entrepreneur can have.

Matt also reflects on growing up in Cleveland and his years in Shaker Heights and shares what Machine Gun Kelly was really like in high school.

Topics we explore in this episode include:

• The reality of raising venture capital
• Why most founders hear “no” hundreds of times before a “yes”
• How rejection can become fuel for entrepreneurs
• Lessons from scaling one of the fastest-growing healthcare companies in America
• What Matt looks for when investing in startups
• The future of startups and innovation in Cleveland

Follow Matt on Instagram: @mbudershapiro

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, share, and follow the Love in the Land podcast for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders shaping Cleveland and beyond.

Follow Austin on Instagram: @austinlovetv.