E219: How Emerging Managers Can Beat Multi-Stage Firms

In this episode of the "How I Invest" podcast, David Weisburd interviews Mike Ma, a pre-seed investor, about his investment strategies and philosophy. Mike emphasizes the importance of "earned secrets" and "action-oriented self-awareness" in founders, detailing his firm's 30-day "grind" process to assess founders beyond traditional metrics. The conversation explores the nuances of coachability, the significance of solving large-scale problems for value creation, and the unique advantages of solo GPs. Mike shares insights on avoiding biases, the value of documenting failures, and the necessity of clear, simple communication, advocating for investments in founders who demonstrate a genuine commitment to solving significant global issues.