Matt Higgins

Matt Higgins is a guest shark on ABC’s Shark Tank, co-founder of RSE Ventures, and the bestselling author of Burn the Boats. Created alongside Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, RSE Ventures has built a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio of over 100 leading brands across sports, entertainment, media, and technology. Before RSE, he served as Executive Vice President of the New York Jets.

From High School Dropout to Shark Tank Investor

Higgins dropped out of high school to support his family and went on to build one of the most remarkable entrepreneurial careers in America. He earned his GED while working, put himself through college, and climbed to the executive suite of the New York Jets before co-founding RSE Ventures. His story of turning adversity into advantage is one of the most authentic on the speaking circuit because he has lived every word of it.

Burn the Boats and Go All In

Higgins’ presentations inspire audiences with the real-world lessons from his journey and his experience investing in and building companies. His keynotes deliver powerful insights on entrepreneurship and turning adversity into advantage, the Burn the Boats philosophy of total commitment, building and investing in high-growth businesses, and the mindset that takes you from impossible circumstances to extraordinary success.

Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential

How does a high school dropout end up as a shark on Shark Tank, the most popular business show in the world? By burning the boats and leaving no option for retreat, just as outnumbered military generals have done since the beginning of time, from the ancient Israelites to Chinese warlords in 207 BC, Sun Tzu to President Zelensky in 2022. In a speech that leaves audiences ready to run through walls, Matt Higgins shares how his embrace of this ancient philosophy as a teenager set the stage for a life straight out of a Dickens novel. From his new national best selling book Burn the Boats, Higgins draws upon science, history, and psychology to prove what fabled military leaders across every culture intuitively understood for thousands of years: when everything is on the line, humans actually perform at their best when they have less options. Matt will explore the research that proves that the mere contemplation of Plan B statistically reduces the probability Plan A will ever materialize; how to retrain your brain to become your greatest ally; why you don’t need a revolutionary invention to launch a breakthrough business; how to overcome the internal and external forces that impede risk-taking so you can confidently pursue radical change; and the types of corporate saboteurs who are standing in the way of your ambition.

Shark Tales

It’s not about where you began; it’s where you end up, and how much distance you covered. Dropping out of high school is not the typical path to success, but when growing up on government cheese, with the responsibility of caring for his sick mother, Matt was forced to think differently. Matt shares the lessons he learned from his humble beginnings, working for Mayor Rudy Giuliani during 9/11, and as a young sports executive that led him to earn a seat as a Shark.

Investing in Entrepreneurs: How to Identify Opportunity

With an eye towards innovation, Matt has led investments in companies including Momofuku, MilkBar, the Drone Racing League, Resy, Bluestone Lane, and VaynerMedia. By examining the people behind the brand, to see the true vision ahead, Matt helps describe what successful investing can look like.

The Art of Scaling Innovation: Drones, Cupcakes, and UV Light

An exhilarating exploration of the dynamics behind scaling innovation across diverse industries, Matt will take you on a journey that transcends traditional boundaries, where he explains how drones, cupcakes, and UV light can showcase the fascinating future of entrepreneurship. Discover how Matt leveraged his visionary mindset to navigate the complexities of scaling innovation. With investments industries far and wide, Matt has numerous examples of building businesses from consumer driven platforms to industrial applications, and scaling local favorites to international conglomerates. Unearth the strategies, insights, and experiences that have propelled Matt to success in diverse domains. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, an innovator, or simply curious about the art of scaling innovation, this talk will provide you with valuable takeaways and inspiration to embark on your own groundbreaking ventures.