How I Invest with David Weisburd

In a compelling discussion, Patrick Ewers, founder of Mindmaven and an early LinkedIn employee, reveals why relationships are the cornerstone of professional success. He highlights how urgent tasks often overshadow building meaningful connections, leading to missed opportunities. Patrick shares practical strategies like delegation for effective relationship management, empowering leaders to save time and enhance their authenticity. He emphasizes the importance of follow-ups and provides insights on how thoughtful interactions can strengthen bonds over time.

Jamie Lee, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Tamarack Global, dives into the secrets of spotting unicorn founders. He reveals how founder referrals are the most reliable indicators of success. Jamie discusses the importance of hedge-fund-level research and the role of intuition in investment decisions. He highlights the booming humanoid robotics market and how preempting rounds can lead to bigger wins. With insights from his experience at Coatue, he emphasizes that taking risks and trusting your gut are crucial for aspiring investors.

Brian Neider, Managing Partner at Lead Edge Capital, shares his experience scaling a growth equity firm from $52M to $5B. He discusses the competitive advantage of having 700 high-net-worth LPs who actively support portfolio companies. Brian emphasizes the importance of disciplined metrics in decision-making and highlights the challenge of managing underperforming 'walking dead' companies. He also underscores the necessity of exit planning from day one, ensuring that transparency and education compound trust with LPs for long-term success.

In this discussion, Alfred Lee, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Q Wealth Partners and former portfolio manager at BMO, shares insights on modern portfolio strategies. He explains why alpha generation is more challenging than ever and the need for alternatives in investment frameworks. Alfred also delves into the significance of inflation and its impact on real assets, and introduces his innovative 50-30-20 portfolio model. Through his experiences, he outlines the importance of liquidity planning and emphasizes diversifying across private investments for better crisis resilience.

In a captivating discussion, Peter Madsen, Director and CIO of Utah's sovereign wealth fund, shares his journey from London hedge funds to building SITFO from scratch. He emphasizes the importance of mean reversion in tough markets and how factor-based strategies can balance public and private investments. Peter explains the shift away from small caps, the appeal of micro-VC funds, and the innovative use of AI in manager selection. With a focus on purpose-driven investing, he reveals how SITFO adapts to changing market dynamics while prioritizing long-term stewardship.

Philip Benjamin, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Colzen Capital, dives into innovative pre-IPO liquidity strategies influenced by his fourth-generation real estate background. He reveals how the 2008 financial crisis reshaped his perspective on investing. Philip discusses how Colzen helps founders gain liquidity without selling, tackle executives' exercise challenges, and achieve downside protection. He also touches on the emerging asset class's growth, the concept of structural alpha, and the importance of aligning incentives with founders for mutual success.

In this engaging discussion, Rennick Palley, the founder of Stratos and a former research associate at Sanders Capital, shares insights on building top-decile crypto funds. He dives into the shift from momentum to fundamental investing in crypto and emphasizes the importance of fund size and position sizing to avoid portfolio disasters. Rennick also explores Bitcoin’s role as digital gold, the implications of gold outpacing Bitcoin, and the necessity of decisive action in investing. His expertise combines mathematical rigor with practical insights for navigating the volatile crypto landscape.

Ryan Serhant, founder and CEO of SERHANT., shares his journey transforming real estate by leveraging media and authenticity. He recounts closing a $13M sale via a viral YouTube video and explains why he bet everything on social media before it became a norm. Ryan emphasizes the power of vulnerability in business, revealing that raw moments drove more engagement than perfection. He discusses the challenges of scaling his organization, leading a large team, and his predictions for AI-powered, screenless transactions in the future.

Julia Rees Toader, a Founding Partner at PrinCap and ex-Global Head of Portfolio Strategy at Goldman Sachs, shares wisdom gained from advising top CIOs. She reveals that emotions often guide investment choices more than data. Julia discusses the pitfalls of home-country bias and why ultra-wealthy families thrive by leveraging their business strengths. She also emphasizes the importance of avoiding losers, the flaws of the traditional 60/40 portfolio, and the need for innovative hedging strategies. Expect insights on behavioral biases and the transformative role of AI in investment decision-making.

In a fascinating conversation, Steve McLaughlin, Founder and CEO of FT Partners, shares his journey from leaving Goldman Sachs during the dot-com crash to creating a fintech powerhouse. He discusses the importance of a 'never die' philosophy and FT Partners' unique approach to deep research and client relationships. Steve also delves into AI's transformative potential in fintech, the significance of real asset tokenization, and how to build defensibility in an increasingly competitive landscape. His insights on incentive structures are eye-opening!