My guest today is Paul Bloch, co-founder and CEO of DDN. Once bootstrapped for decades, DDN is now a multi-billion dollar company partnering with Nvidia, Google, and Blackstone, helping customers train the largest models in the world and deploy AI at scale. We discuss how Paul and his team spotted the AI inflection point early, why infrastructure partnerships define the winners and losers in this space, and how DDN balances discipline with massive growth opportunities. Please enjoy this conversation with Paul Bloch. 

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

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Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:01:02) DDN's Role in AI Infrastructure

(00:02:08) Competition and Collaboration in the AI Market

(00:04:31) Customer Engagement and Use Cases

(00:08:06) Economic Models and Government Involvement

(00:11:49) Sovereign Cloud and Global AI Perspectives

(00:16:19) AI's Rapid Evolution and Future Outlook

(00:21:46) Partnerships and Strategic Decisions

(00:35:01) Beliefs on AI

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Eric and Matt break down a strong third quarter that saw the S&P 500 climb 10%, leaving Liberation Day's tariff chaos behind. They explore the growing divide between wealthy asset owners feeling great and everyone else struggling with inflation, while examining why bonds are pricing in Fed rate cuts even as stocks surge. The conversation turns to the private markets boom and whether opening up private equity to retail 401(k) investors is a good idea or a disaster waiting to happen. Eric shares why AI companies are burning massive amounts of capital with unclear returns, yet may be impossible to bet against if they build a cult-like following. They note that credit markets still look healthy despite late-cycle warning signs, making this moment particularly unusual. A straightforward look at where we are in this cycle and what actually matters as we head into year-end.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

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Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:01:30) Economic Structures and Consumer Demand

(00:04:34) Tariffs and Their Impact on the Economy

(00:05:10) Travel and Leisure Sector Post-COVID

(00:07:44) Bond Market and Federal Reserve Actions

(00:16:34) Private Equity and Market Trends

(00:22:24) Retirement Funds and 401(k) Investments

(00:25:04) Concerns Over New Investment Vehicles

(00:26:51) Debates on Private and Public Assets

(00:30:14) Religious Investor Bases and Market Dynamics

(00:31:54) AI and Its Impact on Markets

(00:41:46) Social Media and Market Sentiment

(00:44:04) Concluding Thoughts on Markets and Society

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In this replay, I’m on the other side of the mic, as I’m interviewed by Joe Magyer, the founder of Seaplane Ventures. This is a wide-ranging conversation where we talk about the Fed rate cut, cover different asset classes including VC, PE, Fixed Income, and Public Equities, and my journey in building Canopy Capital. This episode first appeared on the Investing in Startups podcast hosted by Joe, which I highly recommend you check out. Please enjoy this conversation with Joe Magyer.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

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Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:00:19) Overview of Canopy Capital

(00:00:44) The Evolution of Asset Management

(00:01:54) The Importance of Tax Individualized Investing

(00:02:44) Starting the Podcast Journey

(00:03:16) Crypto: From Skepticism to Interest

(00:04:18) Exploring Various Asset Classes

(00:06:08) Challenges and Rewards of Podcasting

(00:11:12) Competitiveness in Different Asset Classes

(00:16:38) Insights on Venture Capital

(00:22:59) Building a Venture-Backed Company

(00:24:18) The Founder’s Dilemma: Risk and Innovation

(00:25:17) A Career at Fidelity: Reflections and Decisions

(00:27:17) The Transition: From Intrapreneur to Entrepreneur

(00:30:21) Market Insights: The Fed and Economic Cycles

(00:36:27) Investment Strategies: Observing and Predicting

(00:39:40) Web3 and Crypto: Future Prospects

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My guest today is Ritik Malhotra, co-founder and CEO of Savvy. We’re in the middle of a powerful cycle in wealth management- advisors leaving big institutions to go independent. Savvy is building the infrastructure to make that transition possible. In our conversation, we explore the rise of RIAs, the challenges of breaking away, and how capital from both venture and private equity is reshaping the market. Please enjoy this conversation with Ritik Malhotra.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.
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Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit
joincolossus.com/episodes.
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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes
(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets
(00:00:28) Journey to Founding Savvy
(00:01:27) Challenges in the Financial Advisory Industry
(00:02:51) Savvy's Unique Approach
(00:03:26) Target Market for Savvy
(00:05:19) Operational and Marketing Challenges
(00:08:14) Building a Comprehensive Platform
(00:18:08) Private Equity and Industry Impact
(00:29:54) Future Outlook and Expansion Plans
(00:32:55) Final Thoughts

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My guest today is Darren Fisk, founder and CEO of Forum Investment Group. Darren’s journey runs from a late-night $100 bet in a frat house that propelled him into Division 1 football to building a national real estate platform.

We try to keep the conversation as wide-ranging as his career, covering everything from cultivating drive and resilience in your children to managing debt and seizing opportunities in real estate. Along the way, Darren shares the lessons he’s carried from the locker room into the boardroom, the evolving landscape of commercial real estate, and the strategic differentiation of investment vehicles. Please enjoy this conversation with Darren Fisk.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

-----

Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome

(00:00:05) The $100 Bet: From Frat House to Division One Football

(00:02:16) Overcoming Challenges and Building Drive

(00:03:40) Instilling Drive in the Next Generation

(00:08:22) Transition to Real Estate

(00:08:27) Starting a Real Estate Firm During a Financial Crisis

(00:10:42) The Importance of Cash Flow in Real Estate

(00:14:35) Navigating Real Estate Cycles and Debt Management

(00:19:01) Investing in Multifamily Projects

(00:27:13) The Resilience of Multifamily Housing

(00:33:42) Economic Concerns and Wage Inflation

(00:34:54) Impact of High Interest Rates on Businesses

(00:35:19) Turnover and Market Efficiency in Real Estate

(00:36:59) Understanding Debt and Credit Vehicles

(00:40:59) Investment Strategies and Market Adaptation

(00:51:07) Challenges and Mistakes in Real Estate

(00:55:39) Balancing Business Growth and Personal Fulfillment

(01:04:06) Affordable Housing Solutions and Policy

(01:07:14) Current State of Multifamily Housing Market

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Today, we are replaying my conversation with Charlie Shrem. Charlie was a founding member of the Bitcoin Foundation and BitInstant - one of the earliest Bitcoin exchanges. In this episode, he takes us through his incredible life story-starting with how an Orthodox Jew from Brooklyn got into the wild world of Bitcoin. He then talks about how Bitcoin went from a toy to a real store of value, the wild success of BitInstant, his time in prison, and how he met Justin Trudeau through a robot. The story of Charlie’s adult life is in many ways mirrors the story of Bitcoin, and I hope you enjoy this episode with Charlie Shrem.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

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Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:01:51) Charlie's Early Life and Bitcoin Discovery

(00:05:23) The Rise of BitInstant and Legal Troubles

(00:08:12) Life After Arrest and Bitcoin's Early Community

(00:13:59) Bitcoin's Value and Early Transactions

(00:18:20) Libertarian Influence and Political Connections

(00:24:38) Gavin Andresen and the CIA Meeting

(00:25:53) The Birth of the Bitcoin Foundation

(00:26:19) Early Bitcoin Community Gathering in Austria

(00:27:03) Forming the Bitcoin Foundation

(00:28:09) Libertarian Movement and Porkfest

(00:29:19) Bitcoin's Early Adoption and Challenges

(00:31:06) BitInstant and the Rise of Bitcoin Transactions

(00:37:47) Legal Troubles and the Silk Road Connection

(00:44:18) Life After Prison and Bitcoin's Evolution

(00:47:25) Reflections on Bitcoin's Impact and Future

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My guest today is Zac Townsend, co-founder and CEO of Meanwhile. Insurance is a product nearly everyone touches, but few understand, and even fewer try to reinvent. Meanwhile is doing just that, building a fully licensed life insurance carrier that holds its reserves in Bitcoin. In this conversation, we talk about what makes insurance structurally hard to change, how Bitcoin opens up new design space, and why innovation here demands control over product, capital, and regulation all at once. Please enjoy this conversation with Zac Townsend.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

-----

Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:01:20) Understanding Term Life Insurance

(00:03:22) Exploring Whole Life Insurance

(00:05:00) The Principal-Agent Problem in Insurance

(00:07:59) Investment Strategies and Tax Implications

(00:13:46) Challenges in the Insurance Industry

(00:17:59) Founding an Insurance Startup

(00:25:22) Bitcoin and Life Insurance

(00:42:14) Future of Bitcoin and Insurance

(00:44:50) Final Thoughts

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Eric and Matt dive into the fascinating dynamics of the market from the past quarter. Despite a 10% rise in the S&P 500, the quarter was marked by significant early volatility due to unexpected tariff announcements. The discussion covers the impact of tariffs on markets, the influence of global trade tensions, and the interplay between short-term and long-term market reactions. They also delve into the implications of AI and new technologies on market trends and the potential for volatility driven by algorithmic trading. The episode explores the role of the US Federal Reserve, the evolving market perception of Bitcoin, and the broader economic impacts of geopolitical events. 

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

-----

Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:01:34) Market Reactions to Tariffs

(00:03:38) Trump's Strategy and Market Dynamics

(00:06:33) Volatility and Market Structure

(00:15:33) Geopolitical Tensions and Market Impact

(00:20:28) AI Revolution and Market Sentiment

(00:24:25) The Gold Rush Analogy in Business

(00:25:43) Private Investment Trends and Mega Funds

(00:26:26) Yale's Investment Strategy and Its Impact

(00:27:22) Challenges in Private Equity Liquidity

(00:29:46) Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve

(00:30:51) The Role of the Fed in Economic Stability

(00:34:25) Trump's Influence on Treasury and Fed Dynamics

(00:40:31) The Impact of AI and Inflation on the Economy

(00:43:34) Bitcoin's Maturation and Market Dynamics

(00:47:04) Concluding Thoughts on Market Trends

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Today, we are revisiting my conversation with Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly Capital. From making millions through poker before the age of 21, to going viral for an article on negotiation, to being hired personally by Naval Ravikant to be a crypto VC, Haseeb’s life could be a Netflix movie. We dive into that backstory and all he’s learned about the relationship between work, money, and happiness. We also talk about the Bitcoin ETF, Dragonfly Capital, his biggest miss as a VC, and how he approaches investing today. Please enjoy this fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with Haseeb Qureshi.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

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This episode is brought to you by 10 East. 10 East is a platform where qualified investors can co-invest on a deal-by-deal basis across private equity, private credit, real estate ventures, and other one-off opportunities typically unavailable through traditional channels. It's no surprise that founders, executives, and portfolio managers from leading investment firms are using 10 East to diversify their personal portfolios. Their level of sourcing and diligence is institutional grade. To learn more, check out 10east.com.

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Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:01:27) First question - Haseeb’s stance on the current developments in the crypto world

(00:04:26) Whether the established precedent for Bitcoin ETF negates the need for further court cases

(00:10:50) Advantages of trading ETFs over traditional assets and whether it could entice large institutions into cryptocurrency trading

(00:15:16) Haseeb’s background in poker and the Portuguese prodigy story

(00:24:10) Comparing fulfillment earning wealth between poker playing and trading in crypto

(00:28:10) Patterns of disillusionment in people who make significant wealth in crypto

(00:38:15) How Haseeb’s experience as a founder shaped his perspective on venture capital

(00:46:42) How Haseeb first got together with Naval Ravikant

(00:54:24) The initial vision for launching Dragonfly

(00:58:55) How common it is for founders to relocate to other countries for crypto-related ventures

(01:01:21) The size and scope of Dragonfly today and the acquisition of Metastable

(01:09:01) Navigating the challenge of not second-guessing decisions

(01:14:01) The challenges the industry has had with consumer adoption, particularly in cases like NBA Top Shot and Keone

(01:21:31) Where Haseeb thinks the crypto market is currently in the cycle

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My guest today is Sid Malladi, founder of Nuvo. Behind every product, from wine to lumber to steel, is a complex web of B2B relationships, built slowly, at high cost, and constrained by risk. Nuvo aims to change that by building a digital network that accelerates onboarding, visibility, and trust. In this conversation, Sid takes us through that journey. We discuss the frictions that define B2B trade, the cold-start challenge of building a network from scratch, and how Nuvo approaches trust like a FICO score for businesses. We also explore the broader macro forces shaping supply chains today, from tariffs to AI, and why the most resilient companies are those creating deeper, more flexible webs of trade relationships.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE.

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Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

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: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:01:04) Introduction to Novo and B2B Trade

(00:03:05) Challenges in B2B Trade Partnerships

(00:08:16) Novo's Digital Network Solution

(00:11:19) Scaling and Network Effects

(00:17:14) Operational Efficiency and Revenue Growth

(00:19:19) Macro Forces and Technology Adoption

(00:24:38) Consumer vs. B2B Dynamics

(00:24:58) Credit Networks and Margins

(00:25:59) Building Private Networks

(00:26:51) Early Discoveries and Business Models

(00:28:02) The Role of Centralized Data

(00:31:11) Risk Management in B2B Trade

(00:31:51) Novo's Approach to Risk and Visibility

(00:35:11) Integrating with Government and Private Systems

(00:38:04) Challenges and Opportunities in Trade Networks

(00:43:27) Adapting to Market Volatility

(00:46:42) Future Plans and Expansion

(00:49:09) Industry Outlook

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