Gerald MasonWhen Democratization Falls ShortIt is often assumed that the democratization of “x”, whatever it might be, is a positive development, for the mere hint of democracy is…Jul 10, 2021Jul 10, 2021
Gerald MasonPermissionless Meritocracy in the Age of Venture Capital GatekeepingVenture capital (VC) resides at the center of twenty-first century commerce. A titan in this moment of innovation, it boasts considerable…Jul 8, 2021Jul 8, 2021
Gerald MasonNarrative EconomicsI discovered an interesting book, Narrative Economics, written by Robert Shiller. In it, he discusses how popular stories shape economic…Mar 1, 2020Mar 1, 2020
Gerald MasonThe Revival of Unit EconomicsOver the past year, there has been a real, fundamental shift in the conversation around startups. With the arrival of this moment comes a…Feb 21, 2020Feb 21, 2020
Gerald MasonTo Debt or Not to DebtRecently, Alex Danco wrote an excellent post about debt and startups. In his piece, he raises an interesting point:” Because equity is how…Feb 18, 2020Feb 18, 2020
Gerald MasonConcrete EconomicsI recently finished Concrete Economics, a book written by Stephen S. Cohen and J. Bradford DeLong. The book’s thesis is one of returning…Jan 30, 2020Jan 30, 2020
Gerald MasonThesis InvestingA common practice among venture capitalists is the creation and use of investment theses. An investment thesis reflects a conviction about…Oct 3, 2019Oct 3, 2019
Gerald MasonPattern-Matching FitFinding outsized returns in a changing entrepreneurial moment.Sep 28, 2019Sep 28, 2019
Gerald MasonAI Adaptation ThesisThis thesis rests on the concept of duality. It holds that things are neither singular nor one-dimensional; instead, they are plural…Jul 30, 2019Jul 30, 2019