E127: Interview with CEO of Top AI Company Backed by Founders Fund and Khosla Ventures
E127 • Jan 7, 2025 • 24 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, I sit down with Felix Ejeckam, Co-Founder and CEO of Akash Systems. Felix discusses how Akash is leveraging synthetic diamond technology to revolutionize cooling for high-power microchips used in AI servers and satellite communications. He shares insights on their $68 million CHIPS Act funding, the importance of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, and Akash’s journey through tough times to becoming a leader in cutting-edge technology. A must-listen for anyone interested in semiconductors, AI, or transformative tech innovations.
E126: How much Bitcoin should Institutional Investors hold? w/CIO of Bitwise
E126 • Jan 3, 2025 • 31 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, I connect with Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management. Matt shares his expertise on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency investments, offering actionable insights on portfolio allocation, valuation, and the evolving crypto market. From the benefits of a 2–5% Bitcoin allocation to the potential of Bitcoin as a global settlement currency, Matt provides a compelling case for crypto as a transformative asset class. This episode is a must-listen for institutional investors, financial advisors, and anyone curious about the future of digital assets.
E125: Co-CIO Alifia Doriwala on RockCreek’s $16 Billion Edge
E125 • Dec 31, 2024 • 19 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, I sit down with Alifia Doriwala, Co-CIO and Managing Director at RockCreek, a multi-asset and OCIO solutions firm managing $16 billion in assets. Alifia delves into RockCreek’s unique approach to managing customized portfolios for endowments, foundations, and pensions. She shares her perspectives on navigating public and private markets, the evolving role of hedge funds, and the outlook for IPOs and M&A activity in 2025. This conversation is packed with insights for asset managers, institutional investors, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of market trends and investment strategies.
E124: Is Venture Capital Entirely Based on Luck? University of Chicago and Oxford Study
E124 • Dec 27, 2024 • 31 minsIn this episode of the How I Invest Podcast, I interview David Clark, CIO of Vencap, to discuss the venture capital landscape. We discuss assumptions about small vs. large venture funds, unpack survivorship bias in performance data, and explore the power law dynamics in early-stage and growth funds. David Clark shares Vencap's strategy for identifying top-performing managers, insights on fund size limits, and the implications of political and economic shifts on venture capital. A must-listen for investors seeking a data-driven perspective on navigating the venture ecosystem.
E123: Should LPs invest in Venture Capital? w/Gregor von dem Knesebeck
E123 • Dec 24, 2024 • 21 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, I connect with Gregor von dem Knesebeck, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Future Partners. Gregor shares the story of building a successful fund-of-funds focused on venture capital, emphasizing brand building, portfolio construction, and navigating the unique challenges of venture investing as a family office. This episode provides insights into venture capital portfolio strategies, the power law of returns, and best practices for fund allocation. A valuable listen for emerging fund managers, family offices, and anyone exploring fund-of-funds strategies.
E122: How an $80B Asset Manager Seeds the Growth of New GP Talent
E122 • Dec 20, 2024 • 42 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, I sit down with Elizabeth Browne, Managing Director and Co-Head, Sponsor Solutions Group & Elevate at GCM Grosvenor. Elizabeth shares her deep expertise in GP seeding—a niche yet growing area in private equity—covering topics such as structuring deals, the challenges of building institutional-grade asset management firms, and how to identify and support future industry leaders. This episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the nuances of private equity, the intersection of investing and firm-building, and the future of the seeding market.
E121: What Billionaires Do Differently in Investing with Ron Diamond
E121 • Dec 17, 2024 • 38 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, David Weisburd speaks with Ron Diamond, a renowned expert in the family office space and the founder of Diamond Wealth. Together, they explore the transformative role family offices are playing in private markets, the impending $84 trillion wealth transfer, and the challenges of professionalizing family office operations. Ron also shares his insights on governance, structural alpha, and strategies for raising grounded, ambitious children in wealthy families. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of family offices and their potential to disrupt private equity and venture capital.
E120: Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better in Private Equity and Venture Capital w/Teddy Gold
E120 • Dec 13, 2024 • 23 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, David Weisburd is joined by Teddy Gold, the Founder and CEO of 3i, a membership-based platform that connects elite investors. Teddy discusses key insights into private equity, venture capital, and niche investing strategies. He shares his experiences with scaling asset management, navigating the complexities of private credit, and the power of leveraging networks to uncover investment opportunities. A must-listen for those interested in the intersection of high-level investment strategies and the value of relationship-driven networks.
E119: How the Visa Foundation Invests w/Najada Kumbuli
E119 • Dec 10, 2024 • 22 minsNajada Kumbuli, Vice President, Head of Investments at Visa Foundation sits down with David Weisburd to discuss what makes a first-time fund manager a breakout success, why storytelling matters in impact investing, and why this is the most challenging fundraising market since 2001.
E118: Loyola University's $1.2 Billion Edge
E118 • Dec 6, 2024 • 21 minsIn this episode of How I Invest, we’re joined by Michael Kakenmaster, Director of Investments at Loyola University Chicago. Michael shares his journey and expertise in managing university endowment portfolios, with a focus on private markets and hedge fund strategies. He offers valuable insights on how to build sustainable, diversified portfolios and the strategies that have led to success in his role. We also discuss the evolving landscape of venture capital and how institutions like Loyola are adapting to market changes.
E117: What Will Family Offices Invest into in 2025? w/Hansen Ringer
E117 • Dec 3, 2024 • 42 minsHansen Ringer, Managing Director at Sepio Capital sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the asset class that delivers equity-like returns without the market risk, what distressed credit reveals about market cycles and investor behavior, and what happens when stocks and bonds move together.
E116: How Everyday Investors can Access Private Equity w/Pantheon ($70B AUM)
E116 • Nov 29, 2024 • 35 minsVictor Mayer, Managing Director, Head of Private Wealth at Pantheon sits down with David Weisburd to discuss why top GPs are rushing to evergreen funds, how Pantheon balances small-cap potential and large-cap stability, and the benefits of Pantheon’s no-cost co-investment deals.
E115: Is the 60/40 Portfolio Outdated? w/James Langer
E115 • Nov 26, 2024 • 30 minsJames Langer, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at Redmont Wealth Advisors sits down with David Weisburd to discuss how Reason small cap stocks are crushing large caps, the academic approach to outperforming with small cap strategies, and the history of top stocks since 1926.
E114: Brockenbrough $4.3 Billion Investment Edge
E114 • Nov 22, 2024 • 21 minsChris Dion, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at Brockenbrough sits down with David Weisburd to discuss what makes small buyout funds resilient, how small buyouts outperform big private equity deals, and why the deal leader matters more than the firm.
E113: Christopher Zook: Playing to Win - Lessons Learned from Scaling CAZ Investments to $8B and Building a Winning Culture
E113 • Nov 19, 2024 • 53 minsChristopher Zook, Founder, Chairman, & Chief Investment Officer at CAZ Investments sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the cost of keeping the wrong person on the team, the crucial mistake CEOs make when building a strong culture, and the secret behind faster growth and success.
E112: Jake Paul: How to Build a Multi-Billion Dollar Startup
E112 • Nov 15, 2024 • 33 minsJake Paul and Joey Levy, Co-Founders of Betr, sits down with David Weisburd to discuss Jake Paul’s bold vision for the future of sports betting and how the company seeks to become the market leader in the space.
E111: KFF’s (Kaiser Family Foundation) CIO on their $700 Million Venture Capital Edge
E111 • Nov 12, 2024 • 37 minsDean Duchak, Chief Investment Officer at KFF sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the lessons learned from 13 years at KFF, how to create a culture of collaboration in endowments, and Dean’s perspective on diversifying investment strategies.
E110: How Legacy Knight Scaled $1.5 Billion in Under 5 Years
E110 • Nov 8, 2024 • 43 minsDavid Sawyer, Chief Operating Officer & Managing Partner at Legacy Knight : Multi-Family Office sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the top mistakes investors make in GP stakes, why middle-market GP stakes could be a game-changer for investors, and how GP stakes outperform traditional investments in 2024.
E109: Top Tier Capital Partners ($7B+ AUM) - Lessons Learned from Investing in 450 Funds
E109 • Nov 5, 2024 • 32 minsBen Challgren, Principal at Top Tier Capital Partners sits down with David Weisburd to discuss what makes a top-performing fund, the surprising role of local managers in European venture success and the secrets to spotting a winning startup before it’s big.
E108: What is the Future of Venture Capital? w/Charles Hudson
E108 • Nov 1, 2024 • 39 minsCharles Hudson, Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures sits down with David Weisburd to discuss how to support first-time fund managers, innovative strategies for sourcing deals in venture capital and tips for success on building relationships with limited partners.