Innovation with Mark Peter Davis Innovation, Startups & VC

DESCRIPTION
Recruiting and team construction are crucial for any company's culture and success. This week, Phuong and I dive into this topic and how important it is to focus on hiring when building a startup. Phuong provides insights into assessing team needs, creating effective job descriptions, conducting thoughtful interviews, and evaluating candidates based on grit, humility, and integrity. When looking to add people to the team not only should technical qualifications be considered but we underscore the significance of soft skills.  Every person you bring into your team has an impact on shaping organizational culture and success. Lastly, we share a tool used here at Interplay, Superman Analysis. We use Superman Analysis to assess team needs and identify gaps in skills enabling us to ensure our team is structured and staffed as it should be. 
LINKS
Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay, @MikeyjrogPodcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Superman Analysis
*DISCLAIMER*
Interplay Family Office LLC (“Interplay”) is registered as an investment adviser with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Information about the qualifications and business practices of Interplay is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov._ Interplay only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Offering of asset management services through Interplay is pursuant to an investment advisory agreement.The views expressed in this podcast are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The podcast may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.Information communicated during the podcast does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general market information. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. The podcast is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. Neither Interplay nor its advisory persons render tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisors for advice concerning your circumstances.

Mike and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Todd Saunders (CEO of Broadlume), and Chetan Narain (co-founder and CTO of Pepper) to discuss the concept of vertical SaaS and its application in different industries. We explore how Broadlume and Pepper leverage vertical SaaS to serve the flooring and food distribution markets. Our conversation delves into the evolution and advantages of vertical SaaS, emphasizing the importance of owning customer relationships and leveraging industry-specific data. We speak about the potential for vertical SaaS companies to expand into broader markets beyond software, highlighting scalability and value proposition, particularly in high transaction volume industries. Additionally, Todd Saunders and Chetan Narain discuss the impact of AI on their businesses, focusing on its role in increasing internal efficiency, improving customer experience, and driving profitability. Our discussion underscores the broader implications of AI adoption, including its potential to enhance productivity, customer satisfaction, and shareholder value across industries.
Links:
Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay, @Mikeyjrog, @toddsaunders Company Links: Pepper LinkedIn, Pepper Website, Broadlume Website, Broadlume LinkedIn Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn
*DISCLAIMER*
Interplay Family Office LLC (“Interplay”) is registered as an investment adviser with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Information about the qualifications and business practices of Interplay is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov._ Interplay only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Offering of asset management services through Interplay is pursuant to an investment advisory agreement.The views expressed in this podcast are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The podcast may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.Information communicated during the podcast does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general market information. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. The podcast is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. Neither...

Mike and I sat down this week to chat about current events and their implications for the innovation economy. We begin our conversation by highlighting successful tech IPOs like Reddit and Estera, suggesting a strong demand for tech companies in the public market. We discuss how these IPOs could signal to other entrepreneurs and investors, potentially fueling more listings and investments. Our conversation shifts to a significant settlement in the real estate world, impacting companies like Compass. We analyze how changes in realtor commissions could shift capital to homeowners and potentially disrupt the real estate brokerage industry. Lastly, We touch upon Boeing's recent challenges, reflecting on corporate management issues and the potential for new players to enter the aviation industry. We discuss the lack of innovation in commercial aviation and suggest opportunities for entrepreneurs and government intervention to foster competition and innovation in the sector.
Links:
Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay, @MikeyjrogPodcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn
*DISCLAIMER*
Interplay Family Office LLC (“Interplay”) is registered as an investment adviser with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Information about the qualifications and business practices of Interplay is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov._ Interplay only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Offering of asset management services through Interplay is pursuant to an investment advisory agreement.The views expressed in this podcast are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The podcast may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.Information communicated during the podcast does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general market information. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. The podcast is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. Neither Interplay nor its advisory persons render tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisors for advice concerning your circumstances.

I joined my alma mater, Columbia Business School to give a talk at The Annual Columbia Business School Real Estate Symposium. I was invited by the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate and decided to discuss the impact of AI on the real estate industry and various sectors. During the talk, I delved into the potential of AI across various sectors, including its convergence with augmented reality, robotics, and quantum computing. I point out how these advancements could transform not only industries but also national security. In the context of real estate, I highlighted the challenges and opportunities AI presents, urging listeners to adapt to this rapidly changing landscape.
Ultimately, I believe it's crucial for us to approach AI with responsibility, recognizing its potential for both good and harm. I'm grateful to Columbia Business School for the platform to share my insights, and I hope my talk encourages others to navigate the evolving technological landscape effectively.
*DISCLAIMER*
Interplay Family Office LLC (“Interplay”) is registered as an investment adviser with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Information about the qualifications and business practices of Interplay is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov._ Interplay only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Offering of asset management services through Interplay is pursuant to an investment advisory agreement.The views expressed in this podcast are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The podcast may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.Information communicated during the podcast does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general market information. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. The podcast is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. Neither Interplay nor its advisory persons render tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisors for advice concerning your circumstances.

Phuong is back on the podcast this week to discuss the importance of doing things that don't scale in startups. Phuong explains that this concept, popularized by Paul Graham of Y Combinator, involves manually handling processes to acquire customers, test concepts, and iterate on products before scaling. We dive into examples such as Seamless and Diapers.com, showing how hands-on approaches helped them understand customer needs and refine their offerings. We emphasize the importance of prioritizing learning and validation over rapid growth in the initial stages of a startup. Being involved in the early stages helps founders understand their business deeply, which is crucial for long-term success. 
Links:
Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplayPodcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn
*DISCLAIMER*
Interplay Family Office LLC (“Interplay”) is registered as an investment adviser with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Information about the qualifications and business practices of Interplay is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov._ Interplay only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Offering of asset management services through Interplay is pursuant to an investment advisory agreement.The views expressed in this podcast are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The podcast may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.Information communicated during the podcast does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general market information. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. The podcast is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. Neither Interplay nor its advisory persons render tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisors for advice concerning your circumstances.

Chris is back on the podcast this week, joining me to discuss recent market shifts. Our overall assessment is that the year started with uncertainties but seems to be stabilizing, with tech companies performing well and equity markets thriving. However, despite positive signs, there's concern over a potential commercial real estate crisis, as refinancing becomes challenging. The Fed is cautious about rate cuts, waiting for labor market weakening and lower inflation. While the economy seems close to a soft landing, the looming commercial real estate issue remains unresolved. Chris shares insights into the commercial real estate market, indicating a significant drop in rental rates. The episode concludes with plans for future discussions on wealth management.
Links:
Follow us on Twitter: @mpd, @interplay Podcast Links: Website, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn
*DISCLAIMER*
Interplay Family Office LLC (“Interplay”) is registered as an investment adviser with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Information about the qualifications and business practices of Interplay is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov._ Interplay only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Offering of asset management services through Interplay is pursuant to an investment advisory agreement.The views expressed in this podcast are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The podcast may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.Information communicated during the podcast does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general market information. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. The podcast is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. Neither Interplay nor its advisory persons render tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisors for advice concerning your circumstances.