Ep#24: Why Venture Studios Are the Future of Startups - Matthew Burris

Matthew Burris joins Startups Decoded to unpack how venture studios are evolving from a misunderstood startup model into a formal, fundable asset class.

We explore what’s missing from today’s narrative, the standards being built behind the scenes, and what it will take to legitimize venture studios in the eyes of institutional capital. This is a conversation about quality, vision, and opportunity — and why the next wave of innovation infrastructure might look more like a studio than a fund.

Matt Burris 

A leading voice in the global venture studio ecosystem. As a Partner at Venture Studio Associates, he collaborates with studios managing over $500 million in assets, providing strategic guidance on design, operations, and scaling.​

Through his Substack newsletter, Venture Studio Perspective, Matthew shares in-depth analyses and insights drawn from his study of more than 500 venture studios worldwide.​

With a background that includes organizing and mentoring at Startup Weekends across Indiana, where he worked with over 450 aspiring entrepreneurs, Matthew brings a wealth of experience in turning ideas into viable businesses.

Matthew is passionate about demystifying the venture studio model and helping founders and investors make informed decisions through proven frameworks.​

The Venture Studio Forum

A global nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing the venture studio model as a recognized and impactful asset class in the startup ecosystem. It serves as a central hub for studio operators, investors, and ecosystem supporters, providing resources, research, and a collaborative community to foster the growth and success of venture studios worldwide.​

SHOW NOTES

Music Credit: "Neptuno" - Phondupe (Album: Onykia)

Summary

In this episode of Startups Decoded, Andy Walsh interviews Matt Burris about the evolving landscape of venture studios. They discuss the history, current market perception, and the challenges faced by venture studios as an asset class. Matt shares insights on the Venture Studio Forum, the importance of validation in the startup process, and the development of the Venture Studio Index. The conversation also touches on equity models and the future of venture studios in the investment ecosystem.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Venture Studios

03:08 The Evolution of Venture Studios

05:20 Current Market Perception of Venture Studios

07:07 The Venture Studio Forum

09:33 Defining a Venture Studio

11:03 The Role of Automation in Startups

13:46 The Importance of Validation

15:04 The Stages of Building Companies in a Studio

17:34 Balancing Intuition and Data

20:44 Creating Standardized Reports for Investors

22:49 Gathering Insights and Data from Studios

26:15 Identifying Studio Challenges

27:41 The Venture Studio Index Explained

30:58 Evaluating Studio Roles and Strategies

36:08 Understanding Operator Equity Models

40:41 Investor Perspectives on Studio Ownership

45:06 Envisioning a Mature Venture Studio Ecosystem

46:09 Supporting the Venture Studio Forum

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