My guest this week is a good friend and a business mentor of mine. Chetan Puttagunta is a general partner at Benchmark Capital and has a remarkable track record of investing in early-stage software businesses, including several like Mulesoft, MongoDB, and Elastic that went on to be public companies.
 Chetan has been my key guide for understanding the world of enterprise software as we at O’Shaughnessy Asset Management have built an investing platform called Canvas. His advice has been critical to our early success. In this episode, we explore the history of software and software investing, and go into the details on how to build and grow new software businesses. We discuss product, sales and marketing, recruiting, scaling, and everything in between.
 Please enjoy this great conversation with one of my favorite business and investing thinkers.
 For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast.
 Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub.
 Follow Patrick on Twitter at @patrick_oshag
  
 Show Notes
 1:34 – (First Question) – How Chetan found MongoDB and decided to invest in it
 8:01 – The evolution of databases in the growth of technology
 16:19 – Market penetration of this space and what investors should be thinking about
 21:46 – Advice how companies can build software effectively
 25:12 – Tactics to effectively implement empathy led product building
 30:33 – Companies asking users what to build vs telling users what they want
 34:26 – The need for the right capital, and patient capital in particular
 37:55 – Creating the perfect customer experience
 44:37 – Common reasons they don’t invest in a company
 48:48 – Lessons on scaling, especially in sales and marketing
 52:47 – Best recruiting pipeline strategies
 59:56 – Pitfalls of unit economic traps
              1:00:23 –  The Dangerous Seduction of the Lifetime Value (LTV) Formula
              1:01:34–  The Hierarchy of Engagement
 1:02:18 – What has changed for Chetan in his time working with the team at Benchmark
 1:06:009 – Later stage life cycle business considerations and Amazon’s AWS
 1:13:29 – The business model of open-source software
 1:15:54 – Being default open
 1:17:53 – Kindest thing anyone has done for Chetan
  
 Learn More
 For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast. 
 Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub
 Follow Patrick on Twitter at @patrick_oshag

Chetan Puttagunta – Go Slow to Go Fast: Software Building and Investing - [Invest Like the Best, EP.156]

Conversations with the best investors and business leaders in the world. We explore their ideas, methods, and stories to help you better invest your time and money. Hear stock market and boardroom insights you can't find anywhere else. If you're a professional investor, CEO, entrepreneur, or business strategist, this is for you. Explore all our episodes and learn more at https://www.joincolossus.com

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My guests today are Bill Gurley and Michael Mauboussin. Bill is a General Partner at Benchmark, and Michael is the Head of Consilient Research for Counterpoint Global. While they are longtime friends with one another, I’d never heard them appear somewhere together so it was a real treat to be able to do this with the two of them. They are two of the leading minds in their fields, and we combined their decades of expertise into one wide-ranging conversation. We discuss the different kinds of increasing returns to scale, the issue of regulatory capture, AI, and hardware. Please enjoy this great conversation with Bill Gurley and Michael Mauboussin.

Listen to Founders Podcast
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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This episode is brought to you by Tegus, the only investment research platform built for the investor. With traditional research vendors, the diligence process is slow, fragmented, and expensive. That leaves investors competing on how well they can aggregate data — not on their unique ability to analyze insights and make great investment decisions. Tegus offers an end-to-end platform with all the data you need to get up to speed on a company or market: up-to-the-minute financials, customizable models, management and culture checks, and, of course, our vast and growing library of expert call transcripts. Tegus is changing the world of expert research. Learn more and get your free trial at tegus.com/patrick.
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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. 
Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:03:38) Dissecting the Dynamics of AI, LLMs, and Market Disruption
(00:05:06) The World of AI Investments and Market Trends
(00:08:13) Integration of New Technologies in Business
(00:15:27) The Power of Increasing Returns and Strategic Investments
(00:22:26) Unpacking the Role of Intangibles in Scaling and Innovation
(00:28:54) Transformative Potential of Open Source and Idea Recombination
(00:34:42) The Complex Landscape of Regulation and Innovation
(00:43:17) Today’s Venture Capital Ecosystem
(00:47:08) Impact of Fewer IPOs and Private Market Dynamics
(00:50:38) Capital Allocation in Zero Interest Rate Environments
(00:54:44) The Evolution of Venture Capital and High-Stakes Investment Games
(00:57:21) Exploring New Frontiers: AI, Energy, and Physical World Innovations
(01:01:14) The Power of Learning by Doing
(01:17:49) Working with Genius
(01:26:47) The Value of Teaching, Writing, and Sharing Knowledge

Bill Gurley & Michael Mauboussin - Putting Theory into Practice - [Invest Like the Best, EP.370]

My guest today is Tim Ferriss. Tim is a writer, podcaster, and investor. He has written five best-selling books, has been an early-stage investor in Facebook, Uber, Shopify, & other household names, and is the host of one of the biggest podcasts in the world. He started The Tim Ferriss Show as an experiment in April 2014 and has deconstructed world-class performers ever since. Last year, his show crossed 1 billion downloads. Together, we deconstruct his podcast and approach to life. We talk about the art of interviewing, the business behind his podcast, and what motivates Tim to keep teaching through his writing and podcast. Please enjoy this great conversation with Tim Ferriss.

Check Out Invest America 2024
Listen to Founders Podcast
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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This episode is brought to you by Tegus, the only investment research platform built for the investor. With traditional research vendors, the diligence process is slow, fragmented, and expensive. That leaves investors competing on how well they can aggregate data — not on their unique ability to analyze insights and make great investment decisions. Tegus offers an end-to-end platform with all the data you need to get up to speed on a company or market: up-to-the-minute financials, customizable models, management and culture checks, and, of course, our vast and growing library of expert call transcripts. Tegus is changing the world of expert research. Learn more and get your free trial at tegus.com/patrick.
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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. 
Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:03:32) The Evolution of Podcasting with Tim Ferriss
(00:09:56) Crafting Meaningful Conversations
(00:13:26) What Makes Tim Feel The Most Alive 
(00:24:06) Who Tim Considers To Be His Mentors
(00:29:06) The Ingredients Of A World Class Performance
(00:31:06) The Business Side of Podcasting
(00:43:15) Identifying Emerging Trends
(00:50:12) Lessons From Building a Small, Efficient Team
(00:52:32) The Power of Constraints in Personal and Professional Growth
(00:53:10) Innovating Against the Grain (Anti-Video Experiment)
(00:54:54) Navigating Fame, Money, and Power
(01:02:00) The Impact of Sharing Difficult Stories
(01:06:18) Meta-Learning: A Framework for Fast, Effective Learning
(01:12:32) Reflecting on a Decade of Podcasting & What’s In Store
(01:24:41) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For Tim

Tim Ferriss - Curating Curiosities - [Invest Like the Best, EP.369]

My guest today is Ken Langone. Ken is a legendary American businessman best known for his co-founding of Home Depot. He is also a former director of the New York Stock Exchange and a passionate philanthropist. He shares with us a lifetime's worth of wisdom, building Home Depot into a powerhouse and prioritizing his employees above all else. He says he still “bleeds orange” to this day. You’ll hear as he recounts his business endeavors, his strict belief in keeping your word, and his true pride in his country, which he knows to be the land of opportunity. We discuss his work with Ross Perot, the idea of an upside-down hierarchy, and the power of loyalty. For anyone who may find it easier to follow along, we have a transcript of the episode on joincolossus.com. Please enjoy this conversation with Ken Langone.  

Listen to Founders Podcast
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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This episode is brought to you by Tegus, the go-to destination for bold investing. The investment research platform trusted by 95% of the top 20 global private equity firms just got even better. Building on their solid reputation for expert insights, Tegus has expanded to become the first true all-in-one research platform. The new Tegus makes diligence faster, easier, and more convenient than ever before. Your Tegus license gives you access to over 70,000 expert transcripts, more than 4,000 fully drivable financial models, and exclusive datasets like company management checks, industry KPIs, hard-to-find non-GAAP data, and more. Tegus is the fastest way to learn about a public or private company and the most cost-effective way to conduct investment research — now all under one roof. Learn more and get your free trial at tegus.com/patrick.
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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. 
Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:004:00) The Unforgettable Pitch to Ross Perot
(00:08:37) Winning Over Perot with Honesty and Insight
(00:16:08) The Art of Negotiation and Trust
(00:19:31) Loyalty, Integrity, and the Power of Keeping Your Word
(00:23:51) Home Depot's Culture of Service and Empowerment
(00:29:16) Frank's Authentic Leadership and Its Impact
(00:31:00) Transforming NYU Medical Center
(00:33:45) Ken’s Investment Philosophy: Long Hold Only
(00:39:56) The Power of Resilience in Business
(00:45:37) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For Ken

Ken Langone - The American Dream - [Invest Like the Best, EP.368]

My guest today is Robin Dunbar. Robin is a biological anthropologist, evolutionary psychologist, and specialist in primate behavior. He is the man behind Dunbar’s number, a theory about the number of stable relationships we can maintain at once. Robin unravels the thread of research that led him to Dunbar’s number and describes how this plays into every single person’s layers of human connection. It was fascinating to hear how his findings on social circles have implications for optimally structuring businesses and organizations, as well as the idea of homophily, all of which Robin thoughtfully explains. It was a treat to get to explore these topics with Robin Dunbar himself so please enjoy this great conversation.  

Listen to Founders Podcast
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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This episode is brought to you by Tegus, the only investment research platform built for fundamental investors. Whether you’re trying to get up to speed on a new market or keep tabs on a portfolio company, Tegus is the end-to-end investment research platform you need. With Tegus, you can quickly understand a company's business model, drivers, benchmarks, and management quality. To monitor an entire market, download our pre-built financial models — or update your own with the latest data using Tegus’ new Excel Add-In. Tegus gives you all of this and more, all bundled into a single software license. Find out why 95% of the top 20 global private equity firms are Tegus customers. Learn more and get your free trial at tegus.com/patrick.
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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. 
Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:04:39) The Journey to Discovering Dunbar's Number
(00:07:28) Exploring the Layers of Human Connection
(00:12:27) The Significance of the 1.5 Layer in Social Circles
(00:16:55) Surprising Insights from Social Network Studies
(00:20:40) Applying Dunbar's Number to Organizational Structures
(00:27:51) The Science of Social Bonding in Primates and Humans
(00:33:23) Unlocking the Endorphin System Without Physical Touch
(00:34:10) The Power of Laughter, Singing, and Storytelling in Group Bonding
(00:36:00) The Limitations of Digital Interactions for Building Relationships
(00:39:51) Reviving Social Clubs and Activities for Workplace Bonding
(00:44:40) The Importance of Homophily in Friendships and Social Networks
(00:50:40) Challenges and Solutions for Overcoming Loneliness and Building Trust
(00:53:45) The Impact of Technology, Religion, and Mental Health on Social Connections
(00:61:47) Reflecting on Time as a Fundamental Aspect of Social Dynamics

Robin Dunbar - Optimizing Human Connection (Dunbar's Number) - [Invest Like the Best, EP.367]

My guest today is Sean Feeney. Sean is the co-founder of Grovehouse Hospitality Group and the owner of Lilia and Misi, two of New York City’s most sought-after restaurants. He left his job in Trading to chase down a dream with Michelin star chef Missy Robbins. Sean leveraged his finance background to write his own rulebook for the restaurant industry, crafting several establishments that now boast several thousand people on the waitlist any given night. His story is as entertaining as it is inspiring. As we go step by step through his business endeavors, he points out all of the times he was told “it’s just always been done this way” and how that revealed to him where he could innovate. Sean’s restaurants are the perfect example of building a business into the fabric of a community, collaborating with other brands in authentic ways, and staying true to yourself along the way. Please enjoy this awesome conversation with Sean Feeney. 

Listen to Founders Podcast
Join Positive Sum as a Research Analyst
﻿
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
-----
This episode is brought to you by Tegus, the only investment research platform built for the investor. With traditional research vendors, the diligence process is slow, fragmented, and expensive. That leaves investors competing on how well they can aggregate data — not on their unique ability to analyze insights and make great investment decisions. Tegus offers an end-to-end platform with all the data you need to get up to speed on a company or market: up-to-the-minute financials, customizable models, management and culture checks, and, of course, our vast and growing library of expert call transcripts. Tegus is changing the world of expert research. Learn more and get your free trial at tegus.com/patrick.
-----
Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. 
Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:03:58) First Question - A Chance Encounter with a Michelin-Starred Chef
(00:08:52) The Birth of a Culinary Partnership
(00:12:49) Embracing the Genius Within
(00:16:41) Innovative Approaches to the Restaurant Business
(00:24:53) Creating Demand: The Art of Exclusivity
(00:28:49) Learning from the Best: Insights from Kith's Success
(00:34:21) Defining Exceptional Hospitality
(00:44:20) The Power of Customer Relationships in Hospitality
(00:52:31) Unlocking Team Potential 
(00:53:33) The Philosophy of the Perfect Turn
(00:54:05) Balancing Art, Commerce, and Satisfaction
(00:56:13) The Impact of Authentic Experiences and Brands
(01:03:24) The Evolution of a Hospitality Brand
(01:06:38) Community Engagement and the Power of Simplicity
(01:24:40) Creative Responses and Business Lessons Learned
(01:36:05) Lessons From Working In The Restaurant Industry 
(01:43:01) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For Sean

Chetan Puttagunta – Go Slow to Go Fast: Software Building and Investing - [Invest Like the Best, EP.156]

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