The Near-Death Experience That Built a $400M Year Business

Matt Pohlson was clinically dead for four and a half minutes. His heart had stopped, the doctor had already called it, and 40 ICU staff had gathered at the window like a silent choir when his mother refused to let them stop fighting. He came back - and the clarity from that experience reshaped his entire company. Omaze, the platform he co-founded to raise money for charity by giving everyday people the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences, has sent people to be mentored by Michelle Obama, ride a tank with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and win a Lamborghini handed over by the Pope. After Matt's near-death experience, he made the hard decision to kill the parts of the business he loved most - and grew revenue over 500% while increasing headcount just 10%. In this interview, Matt breaks down the counterintuitive focus decision that unlocked Omaze's explosive growth, the controversial charity philosophy of chasing dollars over percentages, and what flatlining taught him about fear, decisions, and building a company that scales optimism. What you'll learn in this interview: • The near-death experience that reset how he leads - and why he calls death his best friend • Why he killed the celebrity model he loved - from 300 campaigns a year to 50 • How a Daniel Craig campaign meant to raise $300K pulled $2.1 million - with the car, not the star • How revenue grew 500% on just 10% more headcount - and the focus principle behind it • The controversial charity philosophy: chasing dollars to the charity, not percentages • The real economics of both models - and who actually carries the risk • How to partner with A-list talent without giving away your company for star power • Why big decisions don't improve the more people you ask - his "do nothing" rule • Virtues over values: why what your team does beats what they believe • Why nothing is as bad as the fear of it -…