On today’s episode of Category Visionaries podcast, we speak with Michael Patrick Gibson, co-founder and General Partner of 1517 Fund. In the interview, we cover a wide range of topics, including the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the failure of paper-based institutions, and the future of science and technology in solving society's biggest challenges.

Key topics discussed:

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank
The current state of banking policy and potential moral hazards created by government bailouts
The failure of paper-based institutions, including the "paper belt" on the East Coast, and the need for experts to authenticate and validate their value
Peter Thiel's management style and the importance of hiring people who can defend strange ideas in a room full of disagreement
The outstanding problems that science and technology can solve, such as energy creation and water scarcity
1517 Fund's investment philosophy, which prioritizes technical know-how and entrepreneurial skills over traditional degrees
The importance of emotional intelligence and commitment as motivators for success, over fame and fortune
Plans to develop talent through summer programs and apprenticeships, getting teenagers exposed to frontier technology
How to pitch ideas to 1517 Fund if you fit their thesis of not having a college degree

Additional Resources:

https://twitter.com/William_Blake

Paper Belt on Fire: How Renegade Investors Sparked a Revolt Against the University

Lighting the Paper Belt On Fire: a Discussion on the Failure of Traditional Institutions with 1517 Fund’s Michael Patrick Gibson