Absolute Return Podcast

On today’s show we welcome special guest, First Digital Group CEO Vincent Chok. First Digital Group is a leading stablecoin and digital asset infrastructure provider, and the group behind FDUSD - the #3 most-traded stablecoin globally. On the show we discuss: What problem stablecoins solve better than the existing banking system The economics of a stablecoin business Why AI agents need stablecoins And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Hedgineer Founder Michael Watson. Hedgineer is a technology company focused on applying AI, data science, and risk-management software to hedge funds and asset managers. On the show, we discuss: How he made the leap from working at Citadel to founding his own startup How hedge funds are implementing AI Where AI is most impactful within investment firms How the future of AI in investing will play out And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli. Einride is a technology company driving the transition to electric and autonomous freight operations for some of the world's largest shippers. On the show we discuss: How his background in investment banking, finance, and M&A helps shape the way he leads a deep-tech transportation company Why the freight industry is ready for a technology-led reinvention Technological challenges and why Einride can succeed where others have failed The one thing that investors should understand about the future of freight And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Jim Ferry, who is a Partner at Volition Capital. Volition Capital is a Boston-based growth equity firm partnering with founders to accelerate business growth and scale innovative, high-potential companies. On the show, we discuss: What is growth equity and how it differs from venture capital and private equity The “sweet spot” for growth equity investing Product-market fit and signs that a business is ready for institutional capital His thoughts on liquidity, exits, and secondary markets And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, arcMacro’s Founder and Chief Economist, Dylan Smith. Having served as an economist at Goldman Sachs and Rosenberg Research, and later as a private market consultant at McKinsey, Dylan understands exactly how macro forces translate into the long-horizon, illiquid world of private equity and alternatives. On the show, we discuss: The current conflict in Iran and its effect on inflation Persistent government deficit spending and the implications for bond investors What asset class he is worried about Which segment of the market provides the most attractive mispricing And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Fifth Era Partners Co-Founder and CEO Matthew Le Merle. Fifth Era Partners is a specialized asset manager providing access to exponential technologies that are transforming our world. On the show we discuss: Whether he expects a new crypto bull market and what will drive it Which area of AI is overhyped and which is underappreciated that isn’t consensus yet His top investment theme for the next 5 years And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, dMY Squared Technology Group Chairman Harry You. dMY Squared Technology Group is a SPAC that recently announced a merger with Horizon Quantum, a developer of advanced software development tools for quantum computers. On the show we discuss: His lessons learned from working at Morgan Stanley, Oracle, and Broadcom, while working with tech luminaries Larry Ellison and Hock Tan What characteristics he looks for in technology investments Why he is bullish on quantum computing His advice for long-term investors trying to navigate today’s technology landscape And more!

On today’s show, we welcome special guest, Max Martin, CEO of Enhanced. Enhanced is an elite sports competition and innovative performance company providing products that optimize health and longevity. On the show we discuss: The philosophical case for letting athletes use performance-enhancing drugs The biggest misconception about PEDs Details about Enhanced’s business model What to expect at the Enhanced Games And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Victory Capital’s Chairman and CEO David Brown. Victory Capital is diversified global investment management firm offering a wide array of independent investment approaches and innovative solutions. On the show, we discuss: The “multi-boutique” model and the competitive advantage it provides The firm’s approach to mergers and acquisitions Where the biggest opportunities for growth are in the investment management industry His advice for the next generation of business leaders And more!

On today’s show we welcome special guest, Reflexivity Co-founder and President, Giuseppe Sette. Designed for institutional investors, Reflexivity combines trusted data with explainable AI to surface insights - not noise. On the show we discuss: The best use of AI in the investment process Whether AI will replace or enhance human portfolio managers If there’s a place for discretionary macro investing in an AI-driven world What the next level investment research stack will look like for analysts And more!