The Bell Mason Diagnostic and First Principles Thinking in Venture Capital
Thursday, 20 February 2025
Why Venture Capital Needs a First Principles Overhaul Venture capital is broken. Not in the “bubble’s about to pop” and certainly not in the sense that so many are pissed off because they aren’t getting funded, but in the “founders keep getting bad funding advice from firms still operating on outdated, ineffective methodologies” sense. In the
- Published in Raising Capital, Startup Ecosystems
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The End of Illusions: Why the Future of Freedom Lies in Innovation, Not Government Control
Saturday, 15 February 2025
U.S. Vice President Vance Signals that Politicians are Finally Understanding the Internet In an era where governments are increasingly positioning themselves as the guardians of truth, security, and economic stability, a stark reality is becoming impossible to ignore: they can’t actually do any of it. The illusion that central authorities can safeguard speech, protect intellectual
- Published in Economic Development, Startups
Why Doesn’t Europe Have a Silicon Valley
Friday, 07 February 2025
Europe is home to some of the world’s most brilliant minds, world-class universities, and a rich history of scientific and technological breakthroughs. The birthplace of modern banking in Italy, the World Wide Web at CERN, and some of the most advanced engineering institutions globally, Europe should—by all logical measures—be a dominant force in the startup
- Published in Regional Development
Time for Congress to Reform the SEC’s Outdated Accredited Investor Definition
Thursday, 06 February 2025
Public policy isn’t just a framework for startups and investors, it’s a gatekeeper deciding who gets to play the game. And few policies are as restrictive as the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) definition of an “accredited investor.” This definition has long determined who can and cannot invest in private securities offerings (i.e. startups), not
- Published in Startup Ecosystems, Startups
The Startup Scorecard: How Governments Can Unlock Trillions in Innovation and Economic Growth
Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Nations that adopted startup-friendly policies mid-1990s or early 00s, and consistently implemented effective measures, are now reaping the rewards; seamlessly transitioning into digital economies and enjoying long-term benefits. Conversely, those that dragged their feet on economic development of startup ecosystems are now grappling with how (and in my experience, for the most part, are failing,
- Published in Economic Development, Startups
The Government is Being Run Like a Startup — And Maybe it Should Be
Friday, 31 January 2025
For decades, we’ve spent an obscene amount of time arguing about whether the U.S. Constitution is a living document or set in stone. Whether the Amendments should be revisited, rewritten, or left alone. Whether the rules written by men in powdered wigs should still govern a nation where you can generate artificial intelligence in your
- Published in Economic Development
What the Best Angel Investors Do Differently in Startup Investing
Tuesday, 28 January 2025
The rush to become an angel investor mirrors the increase in the appeal of the “celebrity entrepreneur” we’ve seen over the last couple of decades. To flourish, the investor community must consolidate more (i.e. become an LP in a fund vs doing our own thing) and those who remain independent must level up their value-add. I
- Published in Raising Capital, Startup Ecosystems