Chapter 4: Hedging Your Bets

Roman Mars and a well-known venture capitalist school Manoush and Jen.

Manoush and Jen give themselves 36 hours in San Francisco to come up with a financial backup plan, just in case this whole blockchain-token-thing doesn’t work out. Silicon Valley runs on VC money so maybe Stable Genius Productions should too? First, they talk to a well-known venture capitalist on whether aligning their mission with investor expectations is a laughable goal. Then, they visit Roman Mars, host of 99% Invisible and Radiotopia co-founder, at his headquarters in Oakland. He explains how he built his podcasting empire and advises Manoush and Jen on their plan.

GO DEEPER:
Having family live nearby is ideal but what if there was a network of grandmothers for parents to lean on? San Francisco is a metaphor for economic inequality in America. Impact investing is hot but what exactly IS it? The Great Scooter War of 2018.  Artists really are leaving the Bay Area. Wearing a Bear by P.O.S. The Financial Times likes ZigZag. A blockchain love/horror story. The Civil newsroom Sludge is following the money that killed Net Neutrality. Alyson and Nushin from Episode 3 officially launched Cannabis Wire! Oh, and the Supreme Court protects privacy (phew).

Credits:
David Herman, Audio Engineer and Composer 
Matt Boynton, Audio Engineer
Illustrations, Alice Rutherford
Jordan Lauf, Intern