Modern Investing Podcast

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Step inside the world of venture capital with Brandon Maier, founder of LvlUp Ventures and co-founder of Quake Capital, one of the top-performing early-stage funds globally. With over 250 investments, $2.2 billion in capital under management, and a 94% startup survival rate, Brandon shares what it really takes to win in venture investing today.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• His proven approach to evaluating early-stage startups
• What’s working in today’s VC market
• How LvlUp Ventures builds founder momentum
• His outlook on tech, AI, and the macro investing climate
• How he became one of the most diversity-forward investors globally

Brandon also shares insights from his time as a university lecturer, venture competition judge, and serial startup founder — making this episode a masterclass for founders and investors alike.

About Brandon Maier:

Brandon is the Founder and General Partner at LvlUp Ventures, and previously co-founded Quake Capital, a top-tier VC and accelerator with offices in NYC, LA, and Austin. His portfolio includes 9 exits, and he’s been named:

• Top 10 VC worldwide by Forbes
• #2 investor in female-founded startups (Crunchbase)
• #1 in global diversity investing (BetaBoom)

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About Sidepocket:

If you don't have the time to professionally trade and are tired of being at the whim of the market's ups and downs, consider using Sidepocket to automate investing.

Sidepocket monitors the markets 24/7 and automatically rebalances your holdings each month. To maximize returns while protecting against loss. 

That's why Sidepocket applies sophisticated quantitative methods, including tactical asset allocation to systematically minimize these drawdowns and consistently protect and grow your hard earned savings.

To learn more, visit www.sidepocket.com 

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In this debut episode, we sit down with legendary innovator John “Mac” McQuown, the man credited with creating the first index fund. Mac shares the story behind one of the most revolutionary ideas in modern finance — from his time leading Wells Fargo’s Management Sciences Group to co-founding Dimensional Fund Advisors.

We explore how index funds reshaped investing by outperforming the vast majority of active strategies, why diversification remains essential, and how emerging technologies like graphene could disrupt the future of energy storage.

Whether you're a finance pro, index investor, or history buff, this episode delivers deep insight into the origins of passive investing and the future of financial innovation.

About John “Mac” McQuown:

A pioneer in quantitative finance, John “Mac” McQuown helped launch the first index fund at Wells Fargo in the 1970s. He later co-founded Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), as well as KMV and Diversified Credit Investments. Beyond finance, he runs Stonehenge Farm Estate Vineyards, a fully off-grid, self-sustainable winery in Napa Valley. His work continues to shape how billions of dollars are invested around the world.

Click Here to Check Out Our Upcoming Online
Investing Events

About Sidepocket:

If you don't have the time to professionally trade and are tired of being at the whim of the market's ups and downs, consider using Sidepocket to automate investing.

Sidepocket monitors the markets 24/7 and automatically rebalances your holdings each month. To maximize returns while protecting against loss. 

That's why Sidepocket applies sophisticated quantitative methods, including tactical asset allocation to systematically minimize these drawdowns and consistently protect and grow your hard earned savings.

To learn more, visit www.sidepocket.com