The Meb Faber Show

In episode 215 we welcome our guest, David Chan, COO and a founding team member of FarmTogether. We discuss the FarmTogether platform and making farmland investing more accessible. We cover farmland as an asset class, some history about the fragmented nature of farmland ownership, and the relatively small 2-3% ownership stake that is in institutional hands. We cover the broad models of farmland ownership, and a real-world example of how a deal actually works on the FarmTogether platform. As we get deeper into the conversation, we hear some thoughts on sustainability and the role regenerative agriculture can play in reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint. All this and more in episode 215 with FarmTogether’s David Chan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 214 we welcome our guest, Jake Gibson, founding partner of Better Tomorrow Ventures. We discuss startup investing in the world of fintech. We get into some of the opportunities going forward, from disruption in products, user experience and distribution models, to how some non-fintech companies may be able to start leveraging the fintech infrastructure to integrate financial services into other products. We touch on the next wave of fintech, banking as a service, and a future that may evolve into a far deeper set of automated financial services that greatly reduce friction and improve the experience for the consumer. Stay tuned to the end to hear some detail about Jake’s new fund, focused on pre-seed and seed stage fintech companies. All this and more, in episode 214 with Jake Gibson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 213 we welcome our guest, David Sanderson, founder and CEO of Reelgood. We get into David’s frustrating experience of juggling multiple streaming services and how that ultimately led him to launch Reelgood. We talk about the buildout of the product and how important data management and processing is to product implementation. Later on, we chat about the bet he and his company made on fragmentation in the streaming market, and one of the greatest challenges he has faced with his company. Don’t miss this great episode with Reelgood founder and CEO, David Sanderson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 212 we welcome our guest, Eric Satz, the founder and CEO of AltoIRA. Eric shares the frustration he experienced trying to make private investments in his retirement account, and how that led him down the path of solving the problem and ultimately the launch of his company, AltoIRA. We discuss alternative investments and the case for holding them in retirement accounts. We get into the nuts and bolts of how AltoIRA works and where it is going in the future. As we wind down, we chat about having an understanding what is out of your control and shifting focus to doing your absolute best on what you can control. All this and more, in episode 212 with Eric Satz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 211 we welcome our guest, Julie Novack, the CEO and co-founder of PartySlate. We discuss the party planning industry and how PartySlate is bringing something entirely different to the table with its content-rich platform and transparent crediting. We get into the frustration Julie faced logging hours online trying to plan a high-profile cancer research gala, and how that experience ultimately led to the idea behind her company. We talk about the business model, growth plans, and her experience with startup incubator, Techstars. Julie even offers thoughts on the future and some major trends she’s seeing take shape in the event planning industry. All this and more, in episode 211 with Julie Novack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 210 we welcome our guest, Jonathan Treussard, Partner, and Head of Product Development at Research Affiliates. We discuss what’s currently going on in the world around us and how rapidly things are changing. We cover the idea of “nowcasting,” and how it’s different from the type of forecasting and opinion that prevalent, often unhelpful, and sometimes downright detrimental to investment decision making. We talk about Research Affiliate’s stance on valuations, emerging markets looking attractive, and having discipline when it comes to analyzing data to form a sensible guide to forward looking expectations. We get into factor investing, value investing’s underperformance, and the behavioral struggle investors have with it. As we wind down, we chat ESG investing, and hear a candid take on the industry’s approach in helping investors prepare for retirement. All this and more, including some of Jonathan’s thoughts on ESG investing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we welcome our guest, Andrew Schulz, co-founder and CEO of NoiseAware. We discuss the miserable experience that led to the fresh idea behind NoiseAware’s smart sensor and noise-monitoring technology. We get into the product, use case, and the idea that customers can now have hard data on noise levels at their property, empowering them to be proactive if noise is out of hand, or defend against false noise complaints. We talk about building the company out of Dallas and access to resources the team has had along the way, and we even dive into growth potential for the company as they set sights on international markets. Don’t miss this and more in episode 209. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 208 is a Mebisode. Meb reads a recent piece that highlights the data and reality of market drawdowns, underperformance, and some statistics that illustrate that investors may not be prepared to face the reality of how long underperformance can last. Tune in for this and more in episode 208, including how Meb frames his market expectations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 207, we welcome our guest, Jeremy Yamaguchi, founder of Lawn Love. We kick off the episode by getting into Jeremy’s background as a son of missionaries, starting his first company at the age of 16, and the curious mind and discerning eye for opportunity that has taken him down the path of entrepreneurship. We touch on the void he saw in lawn care and the technology that underpins the Lawn Love platform, driving value for customers and lawn care professionals. In his pursuit of building Lawn Love he started 3 companies only to kill 2 and run with the one that gained the most traction! We also get into a massive personal stride he made in the realization that his startup competitors that seemed to have easy access to networks, capital, and press, didn’t actually have a silver bullet. His takeaway? There isn’t a substitute for the hard work that it takes to build a company. Don’t miss episode 207 and the details on how Jeremy built this company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc

Episode 206 is a Mebisode. Meb reads a few of his recently penned pieces. He covers the importance of being prepared for market turbulence with an investment plan. He then walks through some core ideas for building and maintaining wealth. He ties these ideas together with a chat on how he invests his own money. He concludes with some thoughts on investing in the time of the Coronavirus. If the markets have you concerned, make sure you don’t miss what Meb has to share to help you stay on track in episode 206. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 205, Meb talks with Cornerstone Acquisition and Management CEO and Portfolio Manager, Derren Geiger. Meb and Derren cover Caritas Funds’ process for investing in onshore US oil & gas mineral rights and royalty interests. They get into sourcing opportunities, some detail on the royalty model, the role hedging plays in managing risk, and the balance of commodity exposure in the portfolio. As the conversation winds down, the pair walk through an actual example of how an acquisition played out, as well as Derren’s thoughts on the energy market. All this and more in episode 205, including Derren’s most memorable investment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 204, Meb talks with Foresight Mental Health co-founders Doug Hapeman and Matt Milford. They discuss Foresight’s origin story and the vision Doug and Matt had to apply technology to radically improve mental healthcare. They get into the lack of technology adoption by psychiatrists that exists today, and what it took to build a fully integrated model from scratch to serve patients and healthcare providers. The group even covers the patient and healthcare provider experience with Foresight and using data to drive a new standard of care. All this and more in episode 204, including Doug and Matt’s most memorable investment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 203, Meb talks with ZiffyHomes co-founder and CEO, Sanchal Ranjan. Meb and Sanchal discuss the story behind ZiffyHomes and how Sanchal and his co-founder are finding an edge in technology to offer a more uniform platform to improve home rental utilization and experience. The pair touch on the current state of the Indian home rental market and the opportunity ZiffyHomes is addressing right now. They get into competition and what it takes to grow in this industry. While this company is experiencing incredible growth, we walk through some challenges the team has faced and even some lessons learned along the way. All this and more in episode 203, including Sanchal’s Y Combinator journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 202, Meb talks with Vanguard’s global chief economist and the global head of Vanguard Investment Strategy Group, Joe Davis. Meb and Joe get into the broad framework of Vanguard’s research, and some depth on the thinking and process involved. They walk through some current thoughts on a few different asset classes and the Vanguard Capital Markets Model. The pair cover Vanguard’s most recent outlook, and their projections that offer an average return differential for non-US equities of roughly 3-4% vs. US equities. Stay tuned to the end of this great conversation as Joe discusses the concept of the “Idea multiplier,” a fresh way of thinking about the evolution of knowledge and innovation. All this and more in episode 202, including Joe’s most memorable investment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 201 is a Mebisode. In this episode, you’ll hear Meb discuss his favorite research pieces on international investing from 2019. He covers diversification through the lens of company revenue exposure, international stock dividend yields, and valuations. All of this and more in episode 201, including some of Meb’s favorite investment resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 200 has a radio show format. We cover a variety of topics, including: Coronavirus – how investors should be thinking about shocks CalPERS firing managers Venture capital and power laws Knowing what you own There’s this and plenty more in episode 200. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 199 we welcome our guest, Peter Livingston. Peter and Meb spend some time on Peter’s background and his experience as an engineer and a founder. They then dive into venture capital investing and Peter’s thoughts on the corporate VC model. That leads right into Peter’s early investment experience in private companies and trying to raise a fund of his own. Peter explains that trying to raise a fund led him to a unique place and a perspective on the traditional VC model that ultimately was the origin behind his firm, Unpopular Ventures. He spends time explaining why he feels the syndicate model is superior to the VC model, and the rapid pace of growth he’s experienced since launch. Meb then asks Peter to get into some of the investments he’s made. As the conversation winds down, Peter touches on his thoughts for the future. All this and more in episode 199. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 198 we welcome our guests, Rabi Gupta and Satwick Saxena. Rabi and Satwick walk through the early days of EvaBot and how the pair started the company accidentally as a way to improve their networking efforts in Silicon Valley. As a result of some feedback, they launched their company, EvaBot. They discuss building the product from an idea, and deciding that a bot was the solution that would make the product work paired with some additional automation in their operations. Meb follows with some questions on EvaBot’s target market. Rabi and Satwick discuss traction in the real estate and mortgage industries, but feel there are other verticals that offer use cases for EvaBot. The conversation then transitions into the company’s experience with funding. The pair get into their seed round in 2017 and the growth they experienced after that round which served as validation of product market fit. As the conversation winds down, Rabi and Satwick dive into the process behind sourcing all of the great gift pro

In episode 197 we welcome our guest, Rick Rule. Rick and Meb start with Rick’s background in natural resource investing and Rick getting into his outlook for resources and precious metals. Meb and Rick dive into some of the forces that he sees influencing gold and precious metals prices including negative yielding sovereign bonds, US budget deficits, and potential reversion to the mean for precious metals investing market share. Rick then covers some interesting statistics Sprott has observed in investor interest in natural resource investing. The conversation then shifts to commodities and natural resources more broadly. Rick talks oil and uranium followed by some practical thoughts on portfolio implementation. All this and more in episode 197, including Rick’s most memorable investment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 196 we welcome our guest, Minnie Ingersoll. Minnie and Meb start the conversation by getting into venture capital investing and the nature of investing in early startup companies focused on software and data. They get into Minnie’s firm, TenOneTen Ventures and some of what goes into the process of evaluating potential investments. Minnie covers some companies she and her team are particularly excited about. The conversation then shifts to discussing the VC presence and growth in LA. Minnie then moves on to discussing more about the investing process, covering some of the criteria the TenOneTen team think is important to see in founders they are working with, including, the entrepreneur being aligned with the belief that there’s a billion-dollar outcome. All this and more in episode 196, including Minnie’s experience as a co-founder and her most memorable investment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices