Venture capital powered the tech revolution, but what powers venture capital? With his in-depth knowledge and coverage of the sector you’d be forgiven for thinking Sebastian Mallaby is a veteran of the Silicon Valley scene. The author of several books on finance and economics, Sebastian takes pride in understanding his subjects intimately (perhaps too intimately, if you ask his critics). His latest book, Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future, sheds light on the small but mighty industry.
Sebastian joined Tyler to discuss why venture capital skills aren’t more replicable, the promise of biotech despite increased regulations, why venture capital remains concentrated in the Bay area even after the pandemic, the differences in risk-taking between East and West coast finance, the secret to Mike Moritz’s success as an investor, how Peter Thiel’s understanding of the power law set him apart, why he isn’t interested in becoming a venture capitalist himself, his predictions for the European tech ecosystem over the next ten years, the original sin of “too big to fail,” the major failure of Alan Greenspan during his tenure at the Fed, the Darwinian evolution of good hedge fund strategy, what Ray Dalio got right with Bridgewater, the finance topics he feels are undercovered, what it takes to be a good Substack writer, why he’s bullish on The Information, reasons to be optimistic about the innovative and entrepreneurial trajectories of Japan, the greatest living British historians, the future of the World Bank once China stops borrowing from it, what’s causing the decline in popularity of liberal capitalism, the zany appeal of The Grand Budapest Hotel, and more.
Check out Macro Musings
Follow Macro Musings on Twitter
Subscribe to Macro Musings on your favorite podcast app.
Visit our website
Email: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Tyler on Twitter
Follow Sebastian on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://go.mercatus.org/l/278272/2017-09-19/g4ms
Martina Navratilova on Shaping Herself (Live at Mason)
Chris Blattman on Development, Conflict, and Doing What’s Interesting
Robin Hanson on Signaling and Self-Deception (Live at Mason Econ)
Matt Levine Live at Bloomberg HQ
Charles C. Mann on Shaping Tomorrow’s World and the Limits to Growth
Ross Douthat on Narrative and Religion (Live at Mason)
Andy Weir on the Economics of Sci-Fi and Space
Doug Irwin on US Trade Policy
Sujatha Gidla on Being an Ant Amongst the Elephants (Live)
Steve Teles and Brink Lindsey on *The Captured Economy*
Mary Roach on Disgust, Death, and Danger (Live at Mason)
Larry Summers on Macroeconomics, Mentorship, and Avoiding Complacency (Live)
Dave Barry on Humor, Writing, and Life as a Florida Man
Dave Rubin on Digital Media, Crowdfunding, and Comedy (Live)
Atul Gawande on Priorities, Big and Small
Ben Sasse on the Space between Nebraska and Neverland (Live at Mason)
Edward Luce on The Retreat of Western Liberalism (Live)
Jill Lepore on Traveling through Time
Tyler Cowen and Steve Davies talk Theresa May, Brexit, and Europe (Live)
Raj Chetty on Teachers, Social Mobility, and How to Find Answers to Big Questions
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Navigating Life After 40
Teaching Learning Leading K-12
Regenerative Skills
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast