How I Invest with David Weisburd

What if the biggest mistake in venture investing isn’t picking the wrong fund—but misunderstanding incentives and behavior?

In this episode, I sit down with Ilya Strebulaev, Professor of Finance and Private Equity at Stanford GSB, to discuss how incentives, biases, and portfolio construction shape outcomes in venture capital. Ilya explains why fee structures matter less than how they’re designed, how carry changes risk-taking behavior, and why persistence in venture is real but often misunderstood. We also explore diversification, correlation across managers, and the hidden decision-making biases that drive both LPs and GPs, from escalation of commitment to style drift.

What if venture capital isn’t an asset class—but an access game where only a few managers matter?

In this episode, I sit down with Nolan Bean, CIO at FEG Investment Advisors, to discuss how institutional investors are adapting to a world where companies stay private longer and AI is reshaping every asset class. Nolan breaks down why access to top-tier managers matters more than allocation, how venture portfolios are evolving to include both early-stage and multi-stage exposure, and why DPI, liquidity, and portfolio construction are becoming more complex. We also explore portable alpha, diversification myths, and how allocators think about risk in a world where everything is increasingly correlated.

What if the real edge in venture capital isn’t picking companies—but helping them survive long enough to matter?

In this episode, I sit down with Nigel Morris, Managing Partner at QED Investors and Co-Founder of Capital One, to discuss how fintech innovation actually happens and why most investors misunderstand the role of venture capital. Nigel explains why incumbents struggle to innovate despite massive advantages, how QED built one of the most successful fintech franchises by combining operating experience with investing, and why venture is not stock picking but hands-on company building. We also explore founder psychology, power laws, and how culture and talent ultimately determine outcomes more than strategy or capital.

What if the biggest opportunity in AI isn’t intelligence—but the missing data layer for the physical world?

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Jacker, CEO and Co-Founder of ZaiNar, to discuss why physical AI could become a $50 trillion market and the infrastructure required to make it work. Daniel explains how turning wireless networks into a real-time sensing layer unlocks entirely new capabilities across industries, why the absence of physical-world data is the biggest bottleneck in AI today, and how his company spent nearly a decade in stealth building a foundational technology before scaling. We also explore swarm intelligence, robotics, and where value will accrue as AI moves from digital to physical environments.

What if venture capital isn’t really an asset class—but a game where only a handful of managers actually matter?

In this episode, I sit down with Ian Sigalow, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Greycroft, to discuss why venture returns are driven by a small group of firms with consistent access to the best companies. Ian explains why diversification often hurts venture outcomes, how the industry splits between “access” and “craft” investing, and why conviction, not consensus, drives results. We also explore what defines great founders in the AI era, how venture firms build brand and culture over decades, and why the intersection of multiple skill sets is becoming the foundation for generational companies.