In this episode, we sit down with Michael Vega Sanz to talk through his journey from launching a ride-sharing startup in college to building Lula — an insurance platform for transportation companies that scaled to over $50M/year in revenue, raised $45M+, and was ultimately acquired by a private equity firm. Michael is now back to building another startup, Gail --an AI for financial services.

We get into what it really takes to build something from scratch — the rejections, the pivots, the importance of validating before executing, and why surrounding yourself with the right team (and sometimes family) makes all the difference.

We also dive into the bigger picture — how politics, economics, and business all intersect. From the Elon vs. Trump dynamic to the future of wealth creation, Bitcoin, and the challenges of governance, we cover a lot of ground in this one.

It’s a real look at what it takes to build in today’s world — and how staying focused can separate the winners from the rest.

Episode recorded on June 6 2025.

(00:00) Introduction to Michael Vega Sanz and Lula(02:08) The Evolution of Lula and Its Success(04:15) Building Connections and Networking(06:32) Identifying Problems and Validating Ideas(08:53) The Role of Technology in Business(11:06) Hiring and Building a Strong Team(13:12) Navigating Challenges and Learning from Mistakes(15:36) The Importance of Confidence and Perseverance(18:16) Disrupting Legacy Models with AI(20:25) Finding and Attracting Talent(22:44) Exiting Lula and Transitioning to Gale(28:07) The Journey of Entrepreneurship(30:00) Transitioning from Lula to Gale(34:16) Building a Family Business(35:59) Navigating Current Events and Business Focus(40:40) Political Perspectives and Economic Concerns(46:11) Navigating Political Realities(48:03) Economic Challenges and Government Spending(50:41) The Future of Innovation and Society(54:24) The Role of Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency(01:04:48) Mindset and the Path to Success

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In this episode, we get into Meta’s new smart glasses and why they might be a game-changer for AR and VR. We talk about how political decisions are shaking up the market and the government’s role in either pushing innovation forward or holding it back. We also dive into crypto’s growing role in the economy, the tension between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, and what Nvidia’s earnings say about where tech is headed. Plus, we wrap with some thoughts on the mindset it takes to keep up — and win — in a world that’s moving fast.

Episode recorded on May 28 2025

(00:00) Meta Glasses: A New Era of Wearable Tech(02:42) The Future of AR and VR: What's Next?(05:25) Market Reactions: Trump, Nvidia, and Economic Trends(07:58) Doge's Dilemma: Leadership and Direction(10:48) AI and Global Competition: The Race for Innovation(19:04) Nvidia Earnings: A Positive Outlook(19:38) Market Dynamics and China Relations(22:04) The Mindset of a Winner(23:24) Cryptocurrency: The Future of Finance(28:52) Investment Strategies and Predictions

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In this episode, we break down Bitcoin hitting new all-time highs — and why no one seems to care. We talk through the eerie calm in the market, what that might signal, and whether retail is finally waking back up.

We also get into the future of Bitcoin, its relationship with the broader U.S. economy, and how speculation in the alt space is heating up again. Plus, we touch on the latest in Diddy’s legal battle and what it says about power, privacy, and media narratives.

To wrap it up, we dive into Johnny Ive’s quiet departure from Apple and why OpenAI buying his design firm could be the start of a major shift in AI hardware.

Episode recorded on May 23 2025

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