How I Invest with David Weisburd

Larsen Jensen, Founding General Partner of Harpoon Ventures, shares insights from his background as a former Olympic swimmer and Navy SEAL. He discusses the importance of choosing hard challenges and how they foster resilience and personal growth. Larsen explains that true venture success comes from embracing risks and trusting great teams over models. He highlights the necessity of mental toughness in both founders and investors, emphasizing that product-market fit relies on understanding customer needs and building strong, adaptable teams.

Brett Hillard, Founder and CEO of GLASFunds, dives into how alternatives investing often faces barriers beyond just access. He highlights how infrastructure is crucial, detailing how GLASFunds simplifies complex reporting, especially around K-1s. Brett emphasizes the importance of being invested, arguing that friction leads to missed opportunities. He also critiques the overused label ‘alternatives’ and recommends secondaries and private credit as entry points. Moreover, he discusses the protective benefits of illiquidity and the significance of emotional intelligence in investment decisions.

Join Alex Tonelli, Co-founder of Endurance and a seasoned entrepreneur behind Funding Circle and Collective Medical, as he delves into the transformative impact of managing capital with an entrepreneurial mindset. He shares insights on why internal investment offices outperform traditional ones, emphasizing the importance of principal-driven decision-making. Discover the value of vintage discipline over market timing, the advantages of endowment-style allocations, and how managing personal stakes fosters better investment strategies. Alex also highlights the significance of founder signals in identifying top managers.

Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, dives into the fascinating world of de-extinction. He discusses how bringing back species like mammoths isn’t just dream-like fantasy but a practical engineering challenge. Lamm highlights how Colossal transforms genetic technology into viable businesses, even creating new companies like Form Bio. He shares how cultural trends and social media are being used to make science relatable and outlines the ecological importance of reviving these species for biodiversity.

In this enlightening discussion, Jonathan Lacoste, Founder and General Partner of Space VC, dives into the nuances of frontier tech investing. He highlights the crucial difference between deep tech and frontier tech, emphasizing the importance of founder migration as a key signal for early investment opportunities. Jonathan shares his insights on why grit and mission often outweigh IQ in predicting success. The conversation also covers the rising significance of hardware startups and the advantages of concentrated portfolios over diversification in early-stage investing.

In this engaging discussion, Thomas Monroe, Founder and President of Blue Sky Trust, delves into the vital role of trustees in wealth planning. He emphasizes that choosing the right trustee is key to navigating complex family and tax dynamics. Thomas reveals how independence enhances decision-making and why it’s crucial in avoiding 'trust fund baby' pitfalls. The conversation also highlights innovative strategies for pre-liquidity planning and the importance of structuring to foster independence while preserving family values.

Brent Beshore, Founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, shares his innovative approach to investing that defies traditional private equity norms. He reveals how using permanent capital fosters long-term growth without management fees or planned exits. Brent emphasizes the importance of cash flow over short-term metrics, advocating for a focus on culture and legacy in acquisitions. His philosophy encourages reinvestment and aligns incentives with operators, arguing that patience and steady compounding yield far better outcomes for both businesses and investors.

In this engaging discussion, Alexander Russ, Senior Managing Director at Evercore, delves into the intricacies of fundraising in private markets. He highlights why a strong first close can set the tone for success and shares the three essential rules: preparation, control, and narrative. Alexander explains how LPs are motivated by excitement rather than discounts and emphasizes the importance of relevance and tailored outreach. He cautions against weak first closes, suggesting that a well-engineered momentum strategy can make or break fundraising efforts.

In this conversation, Dr. Gregory W. Brown, a finance professor and director of the Institute for Private Capital, dives into the complexities of measuring private market returns. He highlights the challenges of risk-adjusted evaluations and why alternative investments remain under-researched. Brown explains the Kaplan–Schoar PME method for better comparisons and reveals that buyouts often outperform public markets, while venture capital struggles with alpha. He also discusses the importance of fund size, geography, and individual partner skills in driving returns.

Hamilton Reiner, CIO of J.P. Morgan's U.S. Core Equity Team, shares his insights from over 30 years in finance. He explains how using options can instill discipline and manage risks rather than being mere speculation. Hamilton highlights the behavioral mistakes investors make, the importance of staying invested, and how rebalancing can significantly enhance long-term results. He emphasizes that understanding volatility and having a risk-based approach is key to navigating market cycles effectively, offering wisdom on compounding and patience in investing.