EPISODE
Ernie Garcia, Alex Edelson, Nico Simko, Ian McGinley, Conor Sen
00:01:00 Ernie Garcia, founder and CEO of Carvana, discusses building the online used-car retailer, navigating its volatile growth through COVID and the 2022 downturn, and strengthening its vertically integrated business model. He also highlights Carvana’s focus on operational improvement, nationwide expansion, AI-enabled customer experiences, and the resilience required to lead through shifting investor sentiment.
00:02:00 Alex Edelson discusses his role as founder and GP of Slipstream Investors, a fund of funds that backs emerging venture managers and helps LPs build venture portfolios. He explains Slipstream’s disciplined approach to market cycles, manager selection, diversification, and co-investments, emphasizing patience and long-term returns over rapid deployment or fund growth.
00:03:00 Nico Simko, co-founder and CEO of Clair, discusses building an embedded payroll platform that gives employees early access to earned wages and recently surpassed a $100 million revenue run rate. He explains how his own difficulty accessing credit inspired Clair and how the company pivoted from a standalone digital bank to integrating its services directly into trusted payroll systems.
00:04:00 Ian McGinley discusses his experience as a Sidley Austin partner and former CFTC enforcement chief. He examines prediction markets’ growing popularity, regulatory status, benefits, and risks, including insider trading, manipulation, sports betting, and the CFTC’s evolving oversight.
00:05:00 Conor Sen discusses his background in housing and financial markets, including his decade at Bloomberg and the launch of his Substack, *The Housing Frame*. He argues that the housing market may be bottoming while examining affordability, development financing, regulation, demographic shifts, institutional buyers, and the divide between wealthy cash buyers and mortgage-dependent households.