The Logan Bartlett Show

EP 115: Josh Wolfe (Co-Founder, Lux Capital) On Uncovering Hidden Opportunities

Aug 23, 2024

In this insightful discussion, Josh Wolfe, co-founder of Lux Capital, shares his knack for spotting emerging technologies and contrarian investment opportunities. He dives into the complexities of nuclear energy and biotech, advocates for a proactive investment stance in defense tech, and outlines the shifting landscape of venture capital. Wolfe also touches on the intersection of AI and ethics, the societal pressures affecting happiness, and the art of storytelling in investment, making for a captivating and thought-provoking conversation.

01:54:27

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Episode guests

Josh Wolfe

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Quick takeaways

Wolfe emphasizes the importance of broad news consumption to identify overlooked opportunities and patterns in the market.

He advocates for a reframing of nuclear energy as a sustainable solution to climate change, despite public fear rooted in history.

Wolfe highlights the Sahel Maghreb region as an escalating geopolitical hotspot requiring strategic awareness and proactive planning.

He challenges romanticized notions of entrepreneurship, asserting that personal ambition often drives entrepreneurial pursuits over altruistic motives.

Wolfe predicts a shakeout in the venture capital landscape as firms face challenges in delivering expected returns on recent investments.

Deep dives

Understanding Market Trends

Josh Wolff discusses the importance of identifying failures, risks, and chaos in the market to find underappreciated opportunities. He emphasizes the necessity of staying informed by consuming a wide array of news sources, including international publications. By skimming through various articles, he aims to gauge the zeitgeist and seek insights that others may overlook. This broad reading habit enables him to detect patterns and generates new ideas based on what is often ignored in mainstream discussions.

The Competitive Pursuit of Knowledge and Discovery

02:50

Market Expectations and the Reality of Tech Valuations

02:44

The Power and Complexity of Smell

02:12

The Impact of Technology through Business Models lenses

00:50

Intro

2min

Navigating News and Nuclear Narratives

5min

The Thrill of Knowledge and Investment Insights

15min

Investing in Emerging Tech: Opportunities and Regrets

12min

Geopolitics and the Pursuit of Happiness

14min

Navigating AI's Current Landscape

10min

The Scent of Innovation: Smell, Robotics, and Ethics

12min

The Moral Imperative of Defense Investment

2min

Evolving Ventures: Ethical Strategies and Market Dynamics

20min

10.

Skepticism and Storytelling in Investment

21min

11.

Exploring Partnership Dynamics and Effective Communication

3min

Josh Wolfe, co-founder and managing partner at Lux Capital, is a master at quickly understanding complex, emerging technologies. In our conversation, Josh shared how he identifies the next big thing, his contrarian views on nuclear energy, biotech, and robotics, as well as his thoughts on the state of the venture capital market today.

(00:00) Intro

(01:02) Daily News Routine

(05:28) Geopolitical Insights

(07:03) Competitiveness and Curiosity

(11:01) Investment Strategies and Risks

(26:07) The Control Labs Story

(33:48) The Founder’s Dilemma: Financial vs. Strategic Motivations

(34:33) Geopolitical Concerns: Iran and Global Politics

(36:31) Investments in Defense: Controversies and Convictions

(37:36) The State of Society: Happiness and Social Dynamics

(48:07) Artificial Intelligence: Trends and Predictions

(01:02:22) The Future of Robotics: Beyond Humanoids

(01:06:46) Ethical Implications of AI and Defense Technologies

(01:11:29) Lux Capital’s Investment Strategy and LP Relations

(01:12:43) ESG and Moral Impositions

(01:13:30) Defense and Complex Moral Valences

(01:14:19) Investment Ethics and Decision Making

(01:16:46) Venture Capital Market Outlook

(01:17:56) Challenges in Venture Capital

(01:37:12) The Role of Storytelling in Venture Capital

(01:43:20) Personal Reflections and Background

(01:51:34) Partnership Dynamics and Trust

(01:53:48) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Executive Producer: Rashad Assir

Producer: Leah Clapper

Mixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky

Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA

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About the Show

Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode of The Logan Bartlett Show, we sit down with the people behind today’s most important startups and extract the tactics, lessons, and frameworks they’ve learned the hard way. Conversations span hiring to GTM, product, growth, fundraising and everything in between - collectively forming the ultimate playbook to make you a better CEO, investor or board member.

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The Logan Bartlett Show

EP 115: Josh Wolfe (Co-Founder, Lux Capital) On Uncovering Hidden Opportunities

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Understanding Market Trends

The Emotional Complexity of Energy

Geopolitical Awareness in Africa

The Nature of Human Drive

Scientific Breakthroughs and Investment

Approaching Risk in Investments

The Role of Technology in Society

Cynicism and Optimism in Perspective

The Future of Venture Capital

The Competitive Pursuit of Knowledge and Discovery

Market Expectations and the Reality of Tech Valuations

The Power and Complexity of Smell

The Impact of Technology through Business Models lenses

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
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The Logan Bartlett Show

EP 115: Josh Wolfe (Co-Founder, Lux Capital) On Uncovering Hidden Opportunities

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Understanding Market Trends

The Emotional Complexity of Energy

Geopolitical Awareness in Africa

The Nature of Human Drive

Scientific Breakthroughs and Investment

Approaching Risk in Investments

The Role of Technology in Society

Cynicism and Optimism in Perspective

The Future of Venture Capital

The Competitive Pursuit of Knowledge and Discovery

Market Expectations and the Reality of Tech Valuations

The Power and Complexity of Smell

The Impact of Technology through Business Models lenses

Get the Snipdpodcast app

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Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

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