From Beats to Business: The Chainsmokers' Entrepreneurial Journey

In this chapter, the Chainsmokers discuss the evolution of their business, Chainsmokers Inc., and the interplay between their music career and entrepreneurial ventures. They reflect on the importance of intentionality, resilience, and learning from failures as they transition from musicians to tech investors. The conversation explores the parallels between the music and investing worlds, emphasizing the significance of strong partnerships and creative collaboration.

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My guests today are Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, who you might know as The Chainsmokers. We explore their fascinating evolution from scrappy DJs to global superstars to serious venture capitalists with their fund Mantis. Drew and Alex share how the same high-touch, relationship-driven approach that built their music empire now defines their investment philosophy. Their framework for backing founders mirrors their artistic process: they invest in obsessive individuals who will pursue their vision regardless of external validation, much like how they've remained authentic to their sound despite industry pressures. We discuss parallels between creative iteration in music and venture investing, particularly around managing failure, maintaining intentionality in an age of abundance, and the importance of taste as a differentiating factor. Please enjoy this fascinating discussion with The Chainsmokers, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best

(00:06:16) The Creative Process Behind Songwriting

(00:07:33) Exploring the Emotional Depths of Music

(00:11:50) Navigating the Music Industry and AI

(00:17:45) The Importance of World Building in Music

(00:21:27) Finding Your Creative Itch

(00:35:04) The Chainsmokers' Journey and Work Ethic

(00:40:37) The Business Side of the Chainsmokers

(00:45:43) Venturing into Tech and Investments