Pattern Breakers with Mike Maples Jr.

Austin Tech Connect

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer chats with Mike Maples Jr., the visionary founding partner of Floodgate and the author of the compelling new book Pattern Breakers: Why Some Startups Change the Future. The conversation dives deep into the mindset and strategies that differentiate the startups that truly disrupt industries from those that merely follow the rules. Mike shares his journey from his early entrepreneurial days in Austin to becoming one of the most respected venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, investing in radical startups at their earliest stages.

We discuss the concept of "pattern breaking"—how startups that succeed against the odds often do so by challenging conventional wisdom and introducing ideas that are not only innovative but also non-consensus. Mike reveals the critical importance of timing and inflection points, explaining how recognizing and harnessing these moments can make or break a startup. He also shares personal anecdotes, including the unexpected success of Twitch, a company he invested in without fully understanding its potential at the time.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the unique challenges and rewards of investing in and building disruptive companies, as well as practical advice for entrepreneurs who aspire to be at the forefront of innovation. Whether you're a startup founder, an investor, or simply someone interested in the future of technology, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Mike’s reflections on the importance of resilience, the role of storytelling in building a movement, and the necessity of embracing risk make this a conversation you won’t want to miss.

About Mike Maples Jr

Mike Maples is a co-founding Partner at Floodgate. He has been on the Forbes Midas List eight times in the last decade and was also named a “Rising Star” by FORTUNE and profiled by Harvard Business School for his lifetime contributions to entrepreneurship. Before becoming a full-time investor, Mike was involved as a founder and operating executive at back-to-back startup IPOs, including Tivoli Systems (IPO TIVS, acquired by IBM) and Motive (IPO MOTV, acquired by Alcatel-Lucent.) Some of Mike’s investments include Twitter, Twitch.tv, Clover Health, Okta, Outreach, Chegg, Demandforce, and Applied Intuition. Mike is known for coining the term “Thunder Lizards,” which is a metaphor derived from Godzilla that describes the tiny number of truly exceptional companies that are wildly disruptive capitalist mutations. Mike likes to think of himself as a hunter of the “atomic eggs” that beget these companies. Mike is the author of the National Bestselling book Pattern Breakers and host of the Pattern Breakers podcast, which shares startup lessons from the super performers.