How I Invest with David Weisburd

In this engaging discussion, Paul Chai, Chief Investment Officer of the Kansas State University Foundation, shares his remarkable journey from first-generation immigrant to managing a $1 billion endowment. He reveals how his background shaped his investment philosophy and why Kansas State focuses on supporting emerging managers. Paul dives into tactical investment strategies, including a successful TALF 2.0 trade that yielded 8% in just six months. He emphasizes the importance of relationships in asset management and discusses how small hedge funds and lower middle market buyouts can lead to outsized returns.

Blake Scholl, the visionary Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, shares his journey of resurrecting supersonic flight, moving from a bold idea to securing billions in pre-orders. He recounts crashing a party to pitch Richard Branson and how a cardboard prototype turned into a billion-dollar narrative. Blake dives into the challenges of building the XB-1 jet, the significance of emotional payoff for teams, and the revolutionary concept of 'boomless' flight. Expect insights on raising capital and navigating the ambitious realm of aerospace innovation!

Evan Fisher, the Founder of Portal Ventures and an expert in venture capital, shares his insights on securing funding and crafting compelling pitches. He reveals strategies for founders to attract investors, while diving into the psychology behind successful fundraising. The discussion touches on the importance of networking and trust in venture capital, as well as emerging trends in startup financing. Evan also emphasizes the critical need for adaptability in the volatile crypto market and the lessons learned from common pitfalls in early-stage investments.

Billy Libby, Co-Founder and CEO of Upper90, discusses the revolutionary hybrid investment model combining equity and credit that empowers founders to scale their businesses without giving up control. He shares insights on the evolving venture capital landscape and the strategic importance of aligning incentives between investors and entrepreneurs. From innovative credit solutions for tech startups to navigating market cycles and real-world success stories, Libby offers valuable lessons on alternative financing and optimizing financial partnerships for sustainable growth.

Aaron Hodari, Managing Director at Schechter, shares his expertise in wealth management with a focus on alternative investments. He highlights the importance of tax-aware strategies, especially for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, discussing techniques like direct indexing for tax efficiency. The conversation explores innovative financing in private credit, the significance of teaching financial responsibility to future generations, and the advantages of interval funds in managing market volatility. Aaron's seasoned insights reveal how to navigate economic uncertainties while growing wealth.

Logan Allin, Managing Partner at Fin Capital, dives into AI-driven investing strategies that predict startups' success with remarkable accuracy. He discusses the importance of evaluating 'founder DNA,' revealing that prior CEO experience significantly boosts a startup's potential. Interestingly, he argues that elite degrees are overrated in predicting success. Logan also shares insights on focusing exclusively on fintech and how continuous data refinement enhances predictive models. Tune in for a glimpse into the future of fintech innovation through AI!

Brendon Parry, Head of Private Markets at TIFF Investment Management, specializes in crafting investment solutions for nonprofits. He shares TIFF's mission of supporting these institutions and dives into the complexities of private market investments. Parry discusses optimal strategies in lower middle market and venture capital, the importance of relationship-building with independent sponsors, and how to build an anti-fragile portfolio that can weather economic storms. His insights reveal the adaptive strategies that underpin successful long-term investing.

In this episode of How I Invest, I dive deep into a conversation with Charlotte Zhang of Inatai Foundation. Charlotte shares her approach to managing a $2.4 billion private investment program, the importance of market inefficiencies, and how she strategically builds GP relationships. We explore how Inatai identifies top managers, why LPs are increasingly interested in fundless sponsors, and what makes a great investment philosophy. Whether you're an LP, VC, or just curious about institutional investing, this episode is packed with insights on capital allocation, conviction-based investing, and long-term partnership building. Highlights: Building a $2.4 Billion Investment Program: How Charlotte structured Inatai’s approach without rigid asset allocation targets. GP Selection Strategy: The four P’s—People, Philosophy, Process, and Performance—that guide investment decisions. Market Inefficiencies & Innovation: Why Inatai prioritizes global opportunities in venture, buyout, and select real assets. Fundless Sponsors: Why LPs are increasingly backing fundless sponsors and the advantages of doing so. Investment Discipline: How to evaluate managers over time and avoid the pitfalls of FOMO-driven investing. Handling Market Downturns: The characteristics of managers who thrive in turbulent markets. The Role of LPs as Value-Added Partners: How LPs can help GPs beyond just providing capital. Diversification vs. Concentration: How Inatai balances a high-conviction portfolio while maintaining risk-adjusted returns. The Future of Inatai: How the foundation is expanding its impact through its outsourced CIO platform. -- Guest Bio: Charlotte Zhang is a Senior Portfolio Manager at Inatai Foundation, where she leads private investments within the $2.4 billion portfolio. She has previously held roles at Medley Partners and Iconiq Capital, developing expertise in manager selection, portfolio construction, and market inefficiencies. Charlotte is passionate about long-term investing, identifying top-tier GPs, and fostering meaningful LP-GP relationships. Our Podcast now receives more than 300,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at dweisburd@gmail.com. #VentureCapital #VC #Startups #OpenLP #AssetManagement -- Stay Connected: X / Twitter: David Weisburd: @dweisburd LinkedIn: David Weisburd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Charlotte Zhang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotterzhang/ Links: Inatai Foundation: https://inatai.org/ Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at dweisburd@gmail.com. (0:00) Episode preview (1:20) Creating and executing a lower middle market PE strategy (3:39) Spending years on investment decisions and handling market downturns (8:08) Exploring interest in fundless sponsors and largest deals (11:09) Inatay team structure and the generalist team approach (13:17) Managing infinite opportunities and diversification strategies (16:38) Sourcing and adding value to GP relationships (21:30) Closing remarks

In this discussion, Matt Fitzpatrick, CEO of Invisible Technologies and former head of McKinsey’s QuantumBlack Labs, reveals the staggering fact that only 8% of AI models succeed in production. He dives into the critical data quality issues hampering adoption and emphasizes the importance of fine-tuning AI to meet enterprise needs. With real-world success stories from Moody's and Klarna, Matt outlines how human feedback is essential for training models. He also shares insights on the future of AI in transforming business processes and the innovative vision of Invisible Technologies.

In this conversation, Robert Cherun, co-founder of a highly successful security company, shares his journey from a $5M startup to a $150M industry leader. He dives into the mechanics of search funds and reveals how they've generated impressive net IRRs and ROI. Robert also discusses the barriers institutional investors face in this space and the essential traits of successful searchers, including financial acumen and leadership skills. His insights into scaling businesses and building a diversified portfolio are particularly captivating.