Trailblazing Her Own Path In Venture Capital In Space: Meagan Crawford, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of SpaceFund
"When someone tells me I can’t do something, there’s a little voice that goes off in my brain that says, ‘Why not? I believe I can do it. I’m going to do it.”
-Meagan M. Crawford
Meagan Murphy Crawford, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SpaceFund, which has invested in over 20 aerospace companies including SpaceX, Axiom Space, and Voyager Space.
Meagan also co-founded the world’s longest running space business plan competition, and has taught, coached, and advised hundreds of space startups through their earliest stages – including some of the most successful aerospace companies around today.
Key Takeaways:
1. If there isn’t a path, create one. Venture capital in space didn’t exist when she got started but she found a way through non-traditional paths and created her dream job by founding SpaceFund.
2. Communication is the key. If you’re not communicating effectively, nobody cares. You have to get the idea out of your mind into someone else’s head.
3. Have the right people around you. Meagan doesn't invest just in founders, she and SpaceFund invest in teams and those founders need people in their life that will call them out on their B.S.
4. “Where your passion and skill align, is where you’re going to find fulfillment in life.”
Topics Covered:
Meagan M. Crawford's journey from a personal financial planner at Primerica to her role in space-related industries 02:07
Meagan's perspective on evaluating business plans and what stood out in successful pitches 14:13 Setting up the company for success 21:40
How to manage being on eight boards and how to effectively run them 23:49
Maximizing the value in board meetings 26:53
Meagan's reflections on mistakes made in her career and how she overcame them 29:31
The importance of asking, “Why Not?” 30:47
The impact of educators and counselors on her career 32:49
Founders' Common Mistakes 34:13
Finding the balance of being a mom and a partner 37:50
Managing the dark days as an entrepreneur 44:20
One piece of advice that Meagan received 45:38
Meagan's favorite book 48:09
The number one piece of advice for founders 56:52
