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Case Studies

No Rivals: The Disciples (Part II)
Peter Thiel is not a manager. But his singular eye for talent allowed him to assemble an unorthodox team that went on one of venture’s hottest streaks.
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Mario Gabriele
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No Rivals: The Prophet (Part I)
Founders Fund, led by Peter Thiel, has ascended to the pinnacle of Silicon Valley. Its fundamental genius is wanting differently.
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Mario Gabriele
23
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Inside the Secret School for the World’s Best Founders
Avra, run by former Y Combinator investors, keeps a low profile. It’s quickly becoming a critical partner for elite entrepreneurs.
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Mario Gabriele
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Consider the Eel
Inside the curious and potentially lucrative quest to grow eels in a laboratory.
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Joseph Rachman
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Working with The Olympians: Inside Traba’s Intense Culture
The $200 million industrial staffing platform is disrupting a big, unsexy market. It’s doing so with a work ethic that has captured attention and…
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Mario Gabriele
2
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The Unrelenting Ambition of Airwallex
The $5.6 billion fintech has established itself in APAC. It will not rest until it wins the rest of the world.
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Mario Gabriele
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A24: The Rise of a Cultural Conglomerate
The indie studio is behind some of Hollywood’s biggest hits and critical darlings. It has designs on becoming media’s answer to LVMH.
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Plaid: Finance's Next Great Network
After turning down Visa, the $13.4 billion fintech is thriving solo. It’s become a true multi-product company with room to run.
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ASML: A Monopoly on Magic
The $300 billion Dutch firm is the most important company you’ve never heard of.
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Brex’s Second Act
The $12.3 billion fintech is hitting new heights and entering a new growth phase. It’s a dividend of the firm’s clear-eyed decision-making.
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Mario Gabriele
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Watershed: A Climate Pragmatist
The $1 billion carbon accounting platform has attracted investment from Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins. Its greatest strength is its practical…
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Mario Gabriele
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Mercury is Ready for the Moment
The unicorn banking platform built on a network of partner institutions is profitable, growing rapidly – and ready to become SV’s new standard.
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Mario Gabriele
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Substack: Empire of Narratives
The $650 million startup isn’t a newsletter platform – it’s a multi-media network and cultural powerhouse.
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Mario Gabriele
4
TSMC: Semiconductors and Borders of Light
The world’s largest semiconductor foundry is expanding beyond Taiwan, investing $40 billion in a U.S. factory. It’s a move with immense political and…
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Mario Gabriele
Goldman Sachs: The Quest for Eternal Youth
The firm has spent billions attempting to transform itself into a tech company, exploring lending, savings, investing, and beyond. The initiative shows…
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Mario Gabriele
Stripe: Thinking Like a Civilization
The payments company's cultural power may be its most remarkable trait.
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Mario Gabriele
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