DISQUS

Leveraging Ideas: Notes from Peter Thiel’s Singularity Summit Talk (2009)

  • Business Laptop Leasing · 2 months ago
    I agree, our society is on shaky ground. It seems like one month we are told we are coming out of this economic downfall, and then 2 months later, the statistics are released indicating we are actually worse than what was projected. Some stabilization is needed soon!
  • Sam Huleatt · 2 months ago
    Absolutely, or at least that's how it appears if you listen to CNBC
    all day long.

    IMO, the fundamentals of the economy are still in shambles and just
    because the market is trending up, doesn't mean there is not still
    much rotten at the core.
  • Kevin Vogelsang · 2 months ago
    There are some interesting implications of these statements.
    Does Thiel propose that LP's be given incentives to invest in technology-driven opportunities (such as VC)? If the returns aren't there, I don't see how we can expect LPs to put their money on it (flawed thinking or not).
    However, it's possible (/likely) that the low returns are due to too many venture firms with too much money and not enough value creation. Thus, the dropping numbers of firms. In which case, LPs putting their money elsewhere is a necessary part of capitalism at work.
  • marketfolly · 1 month ago
    Hey thanks for your notes, enjoyed them. We track hedge funds on our blog and have covered Thiel's fund (Clarium) numerous times. What's interesting to note is that while he might have great ideas and be quite philosophical, these are not (at least not yet) realistic trading or investing strategies as evidenced by his fund's poor performance numbers. There is a big difference between an idea and its execution.

    While he is still up handsomely since inception, the past 2 years for his fund have been far from impressive and just thought I'd note that. I enjoy Peter and his thoughts, don't get me wrong, but just thought I'd toss that into the mix as well.

    @marketfolly