No More Investing Secrets! (by René Sellmann)

René Sellmann

No More Investing Secrets! Investing with René Sellmann - Learn how to invest successfully and intelligently by investing in high-quality stocks. www.compoundwithrene.com

  1. Jul 7

    Is this 1999 all over again? The case for looking anywhere but US tech

    Today’s guest, Marc, runs the Learning Learning.Investing.Thriving. blog on Substack, and his path there was anything but linear. Having lived in the US, France, and Asia, he traded relative value at Morgan Stanley before walking away from finance to teach. In this conversation, we get into why he compares assets and industries rather than obsessing over absolute valuations, and what that lens tells him about today’s market. We spend real time on the AI and semiconductor boom. Is it 1999 again, or something different? Marc makes the case for European markets outperforming the US once more, and explains his growing interest in Japan and South America. We dig into total addressable market as a framing tool, the role of retail investors and leverage products in the volatility we keep seeing, and why so much of the market misreads risk right now. Then there’s the human thread. Marc tells the story of his former accounting professor who made a dry subject feel alive and, in doing so, redirected his entire career. It’s a reminder that the right teacher at the right moment can change everything. PS: Marc sent me an update this morning on his former teacher: “He’s still there. Since 1982!“ If you think about markets in terms of edge, patience, and where the crowd is looking versus where it isn’t, this one is for you. Get full access to Compound with René at www.compoundwithrene.com/subscribe

  2. Jun 25

    AI as Your Research Team? Inside a Modern Investing Workflow (with Compound with AI)

    In this episode, I sit down with the mind behind Compound With AI, the French investor who has built the most-followed account at the intersection of artificial intelligence and investing – now past 61,000 subscribers, ahead of even Aswath Damodaran, the “Dean of Valuation.” Wow! We trace his path from finance to becoming a go-to voice on putting AI to work in real investment research, and unpack how he carved out such a distinctive niche. A quick note before you dive in: we recorded this one over video, and at a few points (mainly towards the end) minor connection issues crept in, causing some short cutoffs in the audio. Apologies for the occasional rough patch – the conversation and ideas more than hold up, and I didn’t want a few dropped seconds to keep this one from reaching you. The heart of the conversation is practical. We walk through a typical research day and where AI actually fits, from idea generation to final conviction – which parts of the process he’s fully automated, which are AI-assisted, and which he deliberately keeps manual. He breaks down the tools he’s most proud of, automating corporate filings, and how genuinely accessible all of this has become for non-technical investors. We also get tactical on prompting: what separates a great investing prompt from a mediocre one, etc., etc. We close on the harder questions. Where does AI still fall short for serious investment work – hallucinations, bad sourcing, made-up numbers? Can these models do real second- and third-order thinking, or are they pattern-matching plausible reasoning? If you want to start using AI seriously in your own process, listening to this episode is a must, I believe. Get full access to Compound with René at www.compoundwithrene.com/subscribe

    AI as Your Research Team? Inside a Modern Investing Workflow (with Compound with AI)
  3. Jan 5

    InPost: More Than Lockers – The Rails of European E-Commerce

    In this episode, my guest Jakub (@jakubhajost on X) and I unpack InPost – one of Europe’s most fascinating business-infrastructure stories that sits at the intersection of logistics, technology, and e-commerce enablement. We go beyond the obvious “locker company” label and explore the deeper mental model: Is InPost a logistics operator, a tech platform, or the rails of European e-commerce? We break down why millions of consumers choose out-of-home delivery over the doorstep, what the actual user experience looks like, and how layers like app-based label-less tracking, loyalty, payments, AI-driven operations, returns, C2C, and cross-border capabilities strengthen the flywheel. We also examine the win-win-win-win proposition – how InPost creates value not only for shoppers, but for merchants, landlords, and society. We zoom out to Europe: when InPost stopped being a Poland-only champion and became a continental scale story, how consumer habits and cultural differences impact locker adoption, and which markets could matter most next – organically or via M&A. Then we pressure-test the idea: * What’s the strongest bear case, and why have competitors like Amazon, DHL, Allegro, and shared-locker networks not matched InPost’s ecosystem control or cost curve? * How real is the empire-building risk around international expansion and acquisitions like Mondial Relay? * What do institutional investors still misunderstand about the business? Finally, we look to the future – cross-border deliveries, valuation frameworks, potential international parcel economics, and the long-term destination analysis: If InPost executes perfectly, what does success look like by 2030–2035, and ultimately 2030 or 2035? Could this become “the European Amazon in the making”? If you want to understand one of Europe’s most asymmetric, misunderstood, and potentially moat-rich infrastructure plays – this one is for you. My deep dive: Disclaimer: Both Jakub and I own shares in InPost. The analysis presented in this blog may be flawed and/or critical information may have been overlooked. The content provided should be considered an educational resource and should not be construed as individualized investment advice, nor as a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities. The stocks, funds, and assets discussed are examples only and may not be appropriate for your individual circumstances. It is the responsibility of the reader to do their own due diligence before investing in any index fund, ETF, asset, or stock mentioned or before making any sell decisions. Also double-check if the comments made are accurate. You should always consult with a financial advisor before purchasing a specific stock and making decisions regarding your portfolio. Get full access to Compound with René at www.compoundwithrene.com/subscribe

  4. 12/30/2025

    2025 Reflections, AI vs Software, VMS Moats, Portfolio Reshuffling & 2026 Predictions (with Heavy Moat Investments)

    In the last episode of the year, my guest Heavy Moat Investments and I unpack a mix of ideas that shaped our thinking between 2025 and 2026. We kick off with the most interesting things we’ve been reading, watching, and listening to lately – the signals that made us pause, rethink, or double-click on a business or a stock market trend. Then we reflect on 2025 itself: the biggest lessons learned, the moments that felt like personal breakthroughs, and why Liberation Day became a mental bookmark for a year of shedding old assumptions. A major part of the conversation revolves around AI and software moats & economics. We explore businesses with vertical, ecosystem-style moats like VMS providers, which are often deeply entrenched in their customers’ workflow. How strong are competitive barriers here? And is the market rightfully punishing “anything software?” We also touch on portfolio construction and the constant reshuffling that may come with being a learning machine. Finally, we step into 2026 with bold predictions that might look obvious in hindsight but feel uncomfortable today. Not because we think we can forecast the future perfectly, but because it’s simply a fun exercise. If you enjoy investing through the lens of business quality, evolving moats, and better decision-making, this episode may be for you. Get full access to Compound with René at www.compoundwithrene.com/subscribe

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No More Investing Secrets! Investing with René Sellmann - Learn how to invest successfully and intelligently by investing in high-quality stocks. www.compoundwithrene.com

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