In this episode of Allstar Allocator, host Austin Jia sits down with Brett Calhoun, managing general partner at Redbud VC, to delve into the challenges and strategies behind successful fundraising. Discover Brett's journey, including his appearance on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, his approach to investing in resilient entrepreneurs, and how he evaluates potential investments. Whether you're a startup founder or a fund manager, this conversation offers invaluable insights into the art of raising capital, evaluating founders, and navigating the complex landscape of venture capital.00:00 Introduction to Fundraising Challenges00:15 Meet Brett Calhoun: Venture Capitalist Extraordinaire00:58 Redbud VC's Investment Philosophy01:38 The Importance of Resilience in Founders03:03 Evaluating Early-Stage Startups03:50 Unique Approaches to Due Diligence06:27 Balancing Operator and Investor Perspectives11:20 Portfolio Construction Strategies13:56 Fundraising for Venture Capital Firms16:32 Fundraising Timeline and Strategy17:48 Fundraising Journey and Challenges18:24 Cold vs. Warm Investor Relationships19:01 Networking and Securing Key Investors21:27 Fundraising Strategies and Follow-ups23:23 Industry Insights and AI Trends26:55 Evaluating Investment Opportunities30:03 Quickfire Questions and Personal Insights

Austin Jia sits down with Nikhil Choudhary from Nirman Ventures to unpack what makes great founders stand out and how strong advisory boards amplify startup success. They explore how venture capital strategies are evolving amid rapid technological change, what traits investors truly value in founders, and how continuous learning shapes long-term outcomes. Nikhil also shares practical insights into portfolio construction, founder support, and the balance between intelligence, leadership, and emotional awareness.

Sound Bites

• “It takes brains to run a business, balls to start one.”
• “We want it to be top heavy on the deal team”

Chapters00:00 – Introduction and Background01:33 – Nikhil’s Journey in Construction and Venture Capital03:43 – Fund Management and Investment Philosophy05:44 – Challenges in the Current Investment Landscape08:07 – The Importance of Founders and Their Traits10:37 – Assessing Founders: Skills and EQ12:08 – Navigating Feedback and Advisory Boards13:21 – Building an Effective Advisory Board17:59 – The Importance of Advisor Relationships20:42 – Building a Supportive Founder Network22:45 – Investment Thesis and Portfolio Construction24:49 – The Role of Location in Startup Success25:06 – Questions Founders Should Ask Investors25:09 – Leadership Lessons from Founders25:59 – Balancing Work and Personal Life26:48 – The Value of Reading and Continuous Learning

Tony Parish, Chief Investment Officer at AlphaStar Capital Management, helped grow the firm from $400 million to $2.2 billion in assets — but his story isn’t just about scale.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Tony and host Austin Jia unpack what it really means to think like a CIO in today’s markets: staying calm through volatility, balancing art and analytics, and leading with curiosity in a world obsessed with speed.

They cover everything from:

• Navigating market cycles and volatility

• The real job of a CIO (and why it’s often misunderstood)

• Building AlphaStar’s culture of clarity and growth

• Alternative assets, portfolio construction, and where alpha still hides

• The AI bubble — hype or structural change?

Plus, Tony shares how he manages his time, what he reads, and why music remains a quiet teacher for investing.

If you care about investing, leadership, or just better decision-making — this episode hits all three.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Market Volatility

02:44 Understanding the Role of a Chief Investment Officer

05:43 The Journey to Becoming a CIO

08:47 Curiosity as a Driving Force

11:49 Growth Story of AlphaStar Capital Management

14:47 Techniques for Achieving Alpha

17:36 Optimizing Portfolio Construction

20:38 The Role of Alternative Assets

23:36 The Yale Model and Its Applicability

26:33 The AI Bubble: Parallels with Past Market Crashes

31:01 Understanding the AI Bubble

34:41 Identifying Major Economic Risks

38:11 Building a Successful Business

40:23 Cultural Considerations for Business Success

42:58 Balancing Profit and Purpose

45:29 Time Management and Prioritization

47:49 Advice for Junior Analysts

48:37 Recommended Reading for Investors

50:48 The Role of a CIO

52:10 Musical Passions and Personal Insights

From nightlife software to family office — Shane Neman has done it all.
An immigrant turned serial entrepreneur, Shane built Joonbug, scaled EZ Texting into a major SaaS exit, and now invests across real estate, AI, and crypto. In this episode, he opens up about how relentless hustle, fast decision-making, and street-smart instincts shaped his journey — and what every founder can learn from it.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation

01:11 The Immigrant Experience and Entrepreneurial Spirit

03:27 Early Business Ventures and Lessons Learned

06:36 The Birth of Joombug and Market Validation

09:10 Expanding Beyond Nightclubs: Easy Texting's Evolution

15:03 Bootstrapping Success: The Journey of Easy Texting

19:13 Real Estate Investments: A Different Landscape

23:46 Evaluating Investment Opportunities: People Over Assets

26:25 Experience vs. Adaptability in Investment Strategies

27:35 Innovations in Robotics and Real Estate

31:27 AI Applications Beyond Real Estate

33:18 The Role of Cryptocurrency in Modern Investing

35:20 Decision-Making Skills for Entrepreneurs

40:14 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

41:58 Personal Life and Daily Routines

Lawrence Sprung is an Investopedia Top 100 Advisors. His firm Mitlin Financial is an Investopedia Top 10 financial planning firm in Long Island, NY. He built one of the most amazing team in wealth management because he follows one important rule in the business. Let's get started.

00:00 Introduction to Wealth Management and Team Dynamics

03:45 The Joy of Financial Planning

07:39 Building a Productive Team

12:37 Recruitment and Team Culture

17:26 Client Engagement and Marketing Strategies

22:48 Investment Strategies: Alternatives and Crypto

27:20 The Role of AI in Wealth Management

32:20 Real Estate in Client Portfolios

36:58 Personal Insights and Future Vision

39:50 Building a Productive Team in Wealth Management

39:51 Future Trends: Real Estate, AI, and Cryptocurrency

Summary

Valerie Hogan from Clearwater Capital Partners discusses the intricacies of wealth management, particularly in family offices. She shares insights on how families create wealth, the importance of building trust with clients, and the transition from being an operator to a wealth protector. Valerie emphasizes the need for planning across generations, the role of philanthropy, and the empowerment of women in financial decision-making. The discussion also touches on investment strategies, the challenges faced in wealth management, and the future of family offices.

Takeaways

• Valerie Hogan emphasizes the importance of building trust through referrals in wealth management.
• First-generation wealth creators often remain involved in their businesses while transitioning to wealth protection roles.
• In-person meetings are critical for establishing strong client relationships, even in a virtual world.
• Managing risk is essential for families heavily invested in a single industry.
• Planning for future generations requires agility and adaptability to changing market conditions.
• Philanthropy is a key aspect of wealth management, providing meaning and purpose to wealth building.
• Women are expected to hold a significant portion of wealth in the future but often lack confidence in managing it.
• Legacy planning should consider the long-term impact on future generations and not just immediate financial instruments.
• Creating flexible financial instruments is crucial to adapt to changing family dynamics and market conditions.
• Engaging the next generation in financial discussions is vital for preparing them for future responsibilities.

Show Reference

Mckinsey's report, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/women-as-the-next-wave-of-growth-in-us-wealth-management

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Wealth Management Strategies

00:41 Introduction to Clearwater Capital Partners

02:18 Understanding Wealth Creation in Family Offices

05:04 Building Trust and Client Relationships

06:45 Transitioning from Operator to Wealth Protector

09:28 Investment Strategies and Risk Management

11:25 The Role of Family Dynamics in Wealth Preservation

13:36 Engaging the Next Generation in Wealth Management

15:01 Philanthropy and Social Responsibility

17:36 Empowering Women in Financial Planning

20:49 Legacy Planning and Multi-Generational Wealth

23:05 Future Trends in Family Wealth Management

What does it take to build a business in the middle of a financial crisis—and still come out ahead?

In this conversation, Bill Woodruff shares his journey from developing trading systems, sold it to Fortress, to founding WealthFactor and quickly scale it over $100M, and why he’s now laser-focused on AI infrastructure as the next big investment frontier.

We cover:

• Why taking risks during a crisis can pay off

• How technology is transforming investment services

• Where AI infrastructure creates real (not hype) opportunities

  
  

00:00 Bill Woodruff's Journey in Finance

03:38 The Birth of Wealth Factor

11:20 Investment Philosophy & Technology

16:33 The Playbook for Business Growth

19:48 AI Infrastructure Partners: The Future of Investment

31:06 Lessons for New Capital Allocators

How do institutional investors decide where to put billions of dollars? In this episode of the All-Star Allocator podcast, Marcus Solomon of Makena Capital — a $20B+ allocator — pulls back the curtain on how his team invests across data centers, real estate, and private markets. He shares his career journey from trading to managing real assets, the key questions they ask when evaluating managers, and why risk management and regulatory factors are make-or-break in today’s market.

Marcus also dives into the booming data center sector, the latest Build-to-Rent and Single-Family Rental trends, and what emerging managers must do to stand out. Whether you’re raising a fund or just curious about how one of the world biggest allocators think, this conversation delivers tactical, behind-the-scenes insights on strategy, market dynamics, and building trust with investors.

About Makena Capital: https://www.makenacap.com/

About AllStreet Capital: www.allstreetcap.com

About Marcus Solomon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-solomon/

About Austin Jia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-jia-cfa/

In this episode of the AllStar Allocator podcast, host Austin Jia interviews John Grace, founder and a seasoned wealth manager with over 30 years of experience. They discuss the importance of understanding client relationships, investment strategies, and the impact of market volatility on investor behavior. John emphasizes the need for active management and diversification in portfolios, as well as the significance of evaluating investment opportunities carefully. The conversation also touches on the role of wealth managers in client success, how to choose the right wealth manager, and the future trends in the wealth management industry, particularly the growing interest in alternative investments.

Takeaways:

• John Grace's entry into wealth management was influenced by a mentor.
• Understanding clients' risk tolerance is crucial for effective investment strategies.
• Market volatility can present opportunities for investors who are prepared.
• Active management can help limit losses during market downturns.
• Diversification is key to achieving consistent returns in investment portfolios.
• Evaluating investment opportunities requires a deep understanding of market conditions.
• Wealth managers play a vital role in guiding clients through financial decisions.
• Choosing the right wealth manager involves assessing their approach and tools.
• Success in capital management often comes from independent research and analysis.
• The wealth management industry is shifting towards alternative investments.

Chapters：

00:00 Introduction to Wealth Management Insights

02:10 The Journey into Financial Planning

04:43 Understanding Client Risk Tolerance

08:57 Preparing for Market Drawdowns

11:48 Active Management vs. Passive Investment

14:57 Evaluating Investment Opportunities

17:48 Choosing the Right Wealth Manager

19:04 Understanding Withdrawal Rates and Market Fluctuations

19:46 The Value of Agile Investment Advisors

19:59 Success Stories in Capital Management

22:09 Consumer Behavior and Market Trends

25:31 The Future of Real Estate Prices

28:05 Lightning Round: Financial Insights

30:33 The Future of Wealth Management

In this conversation, Matt Zumbach, Chief Investment Officer of the Baylor Oral Health Foundation, shares his journey into investing, discussing his early experiences, and his approach to evaluating investment opportunities.

Matt also provides insights into evaluating investment managers, recognizing red flags in pitches, and his perspectives on emerging investment opportunities.

They discuss:

• Myth about public and private endowments / foundations.
• Investment opportunities evaluation based on both story and numbers.
• Thesis-driven investing vs. opportunistic investing.
• Risk assessment in portfolio management.
• Goals-based rebalancing to significantly improve portfolio performance.
• Alignment of investment managers with their thesis.
• Red flags in investment pitches.

Links:

Matt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-zumbach-cfa-b978764/

Austin on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-jia-cfa/

AllStreet Capital: https://www.allstreetcap.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Matt Zambach and His Journey

07:26 Understanding Portfolio Management Goals

09:39 Evaluating New Investment Opportunities

15:21 Thesis-Driven vs. Opportunistic Investing

20:39 Framework for Portfolio Construction

27:57 The Challenge of Personal Financial Goals

34:50 The Role of AI in Investing

39:13 Market Signals to Watch