The Generalist

what's The generalist?

Diving into tech from idea to IPO

Public market reports

The S-1 Club newsletter provides thoughtful analysis of the listings that matter. Actually understand the businesses that dominate the headlines.

Weekly briefings

The Generalist's Sunday briefings unpack the most important trends in tech and the financial markets. See where the world is headed and why it matters.

Startup ideas

The RFS 100 newsletter brings you curated startup ideas from leading VCs and founders. Discover where tech's most prescient thinkers see opportunity and begin to identify it for yourself.

Expert interviews

Our interviews ask investors to discuss their greatest miss and entrepreneurs to share what came before their big break. Bring the lessons from their journey into your life.

Exclusive community

Our community is a curated, members-only space committed to thoughtful discussion about the tech and financial sectors. Learn, think, and connect, all in one place.

public market Reports

Tech is bending the markets.

Software has eaten the world. It now dominates the stock market, too. As part of our community, you'll receive practical, easy-to-digest reports on the most significant tech companies preparing for an IPO. When it comes time to make an investment decision, you'll understand the underlying technology, competition, risks, and opportunities

The Generalist is my number one read. Thoughtful, insightful, and ridiculously consistent. It should be in every investor's arsenal.

Leif Abraham, CEO of Public

Weekly Briefings

Make sense of the world.

The Paradoxes of Coinbase

Coupang: The Art of Obsession

Five Startup Ideas #023

Reddit: Organized Lightning

Plaid's Quiet End Run

We have more information than ever, but are starved of wisdom. Every week, The Generalist unpacks the most important trends and topics in the tech and financial sectors, outlining new frameworks and mental models. Think of it as practical business wisdom.

NEW STARTUP IDEAS

The next-billion dollar idea is waiting in your inbox.

We source new ideas from some of the most original minds in venture capital and tech, then share them with our members. Whether you're an experienced CEO planning your next move or a first-time founder ready to take the plunge, you'll get the inspiration needed to take your first steps.

Our contributors

Ann Miura-Ko

General Partner at Floodgate

Rebecca Kaden

General Partner at Union Square Ventures

Mike Duboe

General Partner at Greylock

Josh Elman

Frequent Product Manager

Elizabeth Yin

Founder at Hustle Fund

The Generalist is exactly the type of business I love to see: rooted in passion and uniqueness.

Its existence will benefit the world by democratizing information and education about technology businesses.

Li Jin, Founder of Atelier

I really enjoy reading Mario's writing.

It combines the wit, snark, and metaphors of The New Yorker with the tech-insight of The Information.

Jake Saper, GP at Emergence Capital

As a seed investor, I've long been frustrated by the gap between VC coverage and Wall Street analysis.

The Generalist marries those two worlds and brings powerful new ideas to the mix.

Ian Rountree, Founder of Cantos

Interviews

Learn from their mistakes so you don't repeat them.

As a member of the Generalist, you’ll hear the stories behind investors’ anti-portfolios, and the companies’ founders started before their big break. You’ll understand how best-in-class practitioners learn from failure and evaluate opportunities.

Zach Reitano

Founder and CEO of Ro

My interview with The Generalist stands above all others. Mario’s curiosity, kindness, sincerity, and intellect made not only for an engaging conversation but an interview I actually shared with my parents (one of the few).

He was able to explain things in writing I never could and did so with the lens of helping others. You can't ask for more.

Erik Torenberg

Founder of On Deck & Village Global

I’ve been on both sides of a lot of interviews over the course of my career. What sets The Generalist apart is Mario’s gift for finding enduring wisdom in a conversation, then articulating it memorably. My discussion with him was one of my favorites of 2020.

Nikhil Basu-Trivedi

Investor

I’ve never given a more intimate interview than my conversation with The Generalist. Mario was able to capture the nuances of my career, my framework for investing, and the vital lessons along the way, then situate it within a uniquely personal, historical context.

Whenever someone asks me which interview captured me best, I send them The Generalist’s.

Mario marries deep insight into tech trends with a gift for story-telling. The result is a newsletter that leaves me both more intelligent and more entertained. If you haven't already, you should join now!

Kashi Tahir — Product at Facebook Reality Labs

The Generalist is defining a new genre for business writing on the internet. Mario's superpower is bringing diverse minds together to create something amazing.

Tina He — Investor at Pace Capital

The Generalist is one of my favorite newsletters. I really don't know how Mario is able to craft such high-quality analysis, so consistently. I'm very excited for all the thoughtful discussions this community will empower.

Lenny Rachitsky — Founder of Lenny's Newsletter

Private community

No one triumphs alone.

Find your next co-founder, friend, or investor in our curated, members-only community. Learn alongside CEOs, VC partners, and fund managers.

Try The Generalist Now

Master the Future.