July 2025
MAGAZINE
Dear Readers,
Capitalism has a PR problem
In an age of soundbites and social media outrage, capitalism is increasingly blamed for the world’s ills - inequality, climate change, even loneliness The word itself has become taboo in too many circles, a shorthand for greed or exploitation. Political candidates run not just against specific policies, but also against capitalism itself Journalists and academics speak of it as a relic, something to be tamed, replaced, or dismantled
And yet, when you strip away the rhetoric and look at the reality, it’s clear: capitalism remains the greatest engine for human flourishing the world has ever known
Markets have lifted billions out of poverty, extended life expectancy, and fueled the technological revolutions that define modern life. Free enterprise has enabled artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs to pursue dreams once unimaginable. And it continues to evolve, not in spite of its flaws, but because of its flexibility, its decentralized resilience, and its moral core: voluntary exchange for mutual benefit.
Yet, good ideas don't defend themselves. Especially not now.
Part of what we need is better branding, as Eric Jorgenson, the CEO of Scribe Media called for on X in May: “Capitalism needs a logo It's a huge miss that Communism has the Hammer & Sickle (which actually goes hard) and Capitalism has nothing Let's do better branding for Capitalism!” Max Hodak responded to by creating an image we capitalism’s answer to the hammer & sickle of communism [1]. Branding is important. And we need more. We need capitalists themselves to stand up and make the case In both words and actions. In both theory and practice. In both image and substance
That’s why *Capitalists for Capitalism* exists And that’s why this moment calls for, amongst other things, principled leadership. That means living out the principles of capitalism in business, and articulating them to the public at large.
1. Attribution: https://x.com/maxhodak /status/1924278743855448066
We believe the people needed most to defend capitalism are those building companies, funding innovation, taking risks, and solving problems in real time We believe capitalists - true capitalists who are leveraging the free markets to create real value, not the cronyists seeking handouts or the charlatans seeking mere financial gain at the expense of others - must be its best representatives
That means showing the world what values-aligned entrepreneurship looks like It means backing startup leaders who believe in merit, innovation, and liberty not just in rhetoric, but in operations, in hiring, in how they serve their customers and treat their teams It means investing in founders who don’t shy away from the word “profit,” but also see it as the honest reward of creating value.
It also means working together. Capitalists often pride themselves on independence, and rightly so; however, now is a time to join forces not as a political movement, but as a principled peer group We need spaces where values-aligned executives can share challenges, compare notes, and sharpen one another We need investor networks that coordinate on returns, and also on long-term value creation that respects freedom, responsibility, and dignity.
This is more than a cultural moment: it’s an opportunity.
Every great cause has its vanguard For capitalism, that vanguard must be made up of those who understand both its power and its purpose. Capitalism is not merely a system of exchange. It is a system that honors the individual, that prizes innovation over inertia, and that says the future is not handed down from elites, but built from the bottom up.
To that end, we are building a platform for exactly this community:
We highlight startup leaders who are putting values into action; We profile investors rethinking how to support principled founders; We’re organizing executive peer groups where ideas are tested and shared; and, We’re creating a space where capitalists can stop apologizing and start leading.
This is not a nostalgia for a bygone golden age or defense of cronyism masquerading as capitalism. We’re interested in ambition, moral clarity, and practical excellence, aligned with the potential, ideals, i e principles of capitalism. We’re here to spotlight the builders who believe that capitalism is efficient and ethical
So to those of you who believe in the morality free markets and their power to uplift humanity, this is your call to action. Join us. Build with us. Lead with us.
As the best way to rehabilitate capitalism’s reputation is for that case to come from capitalists, ourselves
For Liberty, Alexander McCobin Editor-in-Chief Capitalists for Capitalism
Since its founding in 1990, the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) has been on a mission to redefine the standards of environmental stewardship within the foodservice industry Through rigorous, researchbacked certification criteria - covering energy, water use, waste reduction, chemicals, food sourcing, and more - the GRA offers a transparent pathway for restaurants to transform their operations into sustainability success stories
A Star Is Certified: Founding Farmers and Green Restaurant Association (GRA) Collaboration
A shining example in the Sustainable Food Movement is Founding Farmers, the upscale-casual restaurant group based in the D C area Owned by a coalition of North Dakota family farmers and founded in 2008, Founding Farmers has committed to high standards of sustainability, earning LEED Gold for its first D C location and 3 Star GRA Certifications across its portfolio(en wikipedia org)
The GRA’s 3-star certification recognizes restaurants that have amassed substantial “GreenPoints™” across multiple sustainability categories(dinegreen.com). Founding Farmers meets these benchmarks through: Waste management: Achieving near zero waste with composting and recycling (including use of the BioHiTech digester called “The Orca” in its D C locations), as well as diverting ~90% of waste from landfills(wearefoundingfarmers.com).
Energy efficiency: Designing restaurants with efficient HVAC and lighting systems, low-VOC paints, and repurposed materials like barn-wood floors(wearefoundingfarmers com)
Water conservation: Installing low-flow fixtures and eliminating single-use bottled water
Eco-friendly sourcing: Partnering with local family farms, fisheries, and suppliers to reduce packaging and transport emissions(dinegreen com)
Every 2 years, Founding Farmers undergoes a full GRA recertification process - reviewing invoices, practices, and systems to ensure continuous improvement and transparency
Beyond Certification: Building a Broader Sustainability Agenda
The partnership goes far beyond a label Through GRA’s certification standards and guidance, Founding Farmers has embedded sustainability into every aspect of its operations:
Facility design: Early adoption of LEED Gold requirements; resource-efficient building materials and systems ensure lasting environmental quality
Menu innovation: Incorporating sustainable seafood (especially invasive species like Chesapeake blue catfish) to support ecosystem restoration
Packaging partnerships: Working with vendors like Coca Cola to phase out plastic collars; promoting reusable totes and compostable containers.
Community outreach: Launching the non-profit OurLastStraw to eliminate plastic straw distribution, and supporting educational and environmental partner programs
These initiatives reflect the GRA’s certification ethos of not just going through a check the box exercise, but a living framework for ongoing environmental innovation
Awards & Recognition: Proof That Green Gains Traction
Founding Farmers’ sustainability efforts have garnered wide recognition:
District Sustainability Awards (including Near Zero Waste and People’s Choice)
Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award.
Bethesda Green’s Leading By Example Green Business Award.
The GRA’s Near Zero Waste and People’s Choice honors.
In 2019, the flagship D C location earned LEED Gold certification and became one of the first upscalecasual, full-service restaurants in the U.S. to do so.
Impact In Numbers: The Power of Standards
+ Action
Collectively, Founding Farmers restaurants divert 90% of waste from landfills via composting, recycling, and advanced digesters
Each location undergoes biennial GRA audits, reviewing dozens of metrics, from energy usage to compost volumes
As a result of transparent sourcing and waste practices, their LEED Gold and GRA-certified facilities are models of triple-bottom-line performance
Why the Partnership Matters
Credibility – GRA ensures Founding Farmers’ sustainability claims are independently verified Certification fosters trust with diners and stakeholders.
Continuous improvement – The GRA framework incentivizes systematic enhancement in 8 environmental categories, preventing stagnation.
Scalable playbook – By implementing GRA standards, Founding Farmers establishes a blueprint for other restaurant groups to follow.
Cultural transformation – The synergy with GRA integrates sustainability into organization-wide decision-making from sourcing and hiring, to design and beyond
A Fork in the
Road:
Leading by Example
In an industry often criticized for waste and resource intensity, the GRA–Founding Farmers partnership shows that sustainable practices are possible as well as being profitable and replicable By combining robust certification standards with real-world innovation, they are:
Demonstrating that diners respond to transparency, ethics, and eco-principles.
Elevating sustainability into a brand-defining asset
Inspiring peers to view environmental responsibility not as optional, but essential
What’s Next?
As the GRA continues its mission, and as Founding Farmers keeps innovating from expanding compost technologies to sourcing new restorative ingredients, their alliance stands as a leading example. Their story may not be perfection, but it is one of constant progress, measured outcomes, and principled hospitality
For restaurateurs and diners alike, this partnership proves that green dining is more than just a trend: it’s the future of foodservice, and it’s one worth investing in
Gut-led Growth
Nouri’s Rise Under Founder Caroline Carralero
In the bustling crossroads of wellness entrepreneurship and capitalist innovation, Caroline Carralero emerges as a standout - transforming a kitchen-table passion into Nouri, the nationally available gut-health brand heralded for its rigor, transparency, and heart As featured in Capitalists for Capitalism, Caroline’s journey offers a compelling example of values-aligned entrepreneurship driving systemic change
Vision & Origin Story
Inspired by her own battle with immunodeficiency, Caroline launched what was then “Daily Nouri” at just 26, aiming to address the exploding $59billion gut-health market with integrity and efficacy (ahiflower com) Rather than chasing fads, she committed to scientific precision, ensuring her products were built on clinically studied strains, supported by third-party testing, and positioned for mass accessibility. Bootstrapped from college beginnings, Caroline’s leadership journey spans founding or advising over 10 consumer and sustainable-resource companies, proving she is no stranger to building from the ground up (disruptiveceonation com)
Mission-Driven Product Strategy
Central to Nouri’s philosophy are targeted, evidence-based formulations The brand offers specialized probiotic and omega blends such as Advanced Digestion, Women’s Probiotic with Cranberry, Stress Support, and Weight Probiotic - each delivering tailored benefits backed by clinical research (music amazon com) Their signature capsule-incapsule technology doubles probiotic viability by ensuring they reach the gut intact (disruptiveceonation com) Complementing these are prebiotic fiber drink mixes, designed for fullness and immune health, thus reinforcing Nouri’s holistic approach to microbiome care (nutraingredients-usa com)
Scaling with Principles
Under Caroline’s leadership, Nouri has grown from e-commerce roots to omni-retail presence. Products now grace shelves at Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, H E B, Target, and The Vitamin Shoppe, earning praise for informed customer education and reliability (podcasts.apple.com). Beyond distribution, Caroline hosts the "Gut Check" podcast, engaging with thought leaders on microbiome innovation, a move reflecting Nouri’s blend of mediasavvy branding and scientific coaching
Women’s Health Advocate
Caroline has been a vocal advocate for women’s microbiome research At Probiota Americas, she emphasized the microbiome’s role in hormonal regulation across life stages and championed evidence-based structure/function claims to bring scientific innovation into mainstream products (nutraingredients-usa com) Nouri’s hormone- and menopause-specific blends underscore this commitment
Why Capitalists Should Care
For pro-capitalist audiences, Nouri exemplifies how market-driven innovation and social purpose can align:
Evidence-based differentiation – Nouri earns trust through clinical rigor, not marketing hype.
Scalable integrity – From direct-to-consumer to major retailers, it retains brand mission.
Educational leadership – Through Jude programs and podcasts, it builds informed trust
Niche expansion – By serving underserved needs (like women’s microbiome), Nouri taps overlooked market segments with huge growth potential (nutraingredients-usa.com, podcasts apple com)
Bootstrapped resilience – Founded on self-sufficiency and strategic investment, Nouri reflects classic capitalist values: risk-taking, thrift, and scalability
What’s Ahead?
Caroline’s next chapter involves expansion into new microbiome categories, sustained clinical investment, and deeper retail penetration.
From our perspective, Nouri is an instructive case: a business that creates genuine value, scales ethically, educates the market, and benefits society, all while proving that true capitalism elevates lives through innovation grounded in principle.
The Premier Gathering for Capitalists Investing in Freedom
Join 100 values-aligned family offices, LPs, GPs, and angel investors committed to defending and advancing capitalism.
The Liberty Ventures Investor Summit is a 1-day event focused on connecting capital with high-impact ventures, fostering principled deal flow, and equipping investors with tools to scale freedom through business.
July 21 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CT Downtown Chicago Secure your ticket!
Capitalism at 40,000 Feet:
In a world where luxury, logistics, and legacy carriers often collide, Amalfi Jets has emerged as one of the most disruptive forces in private aviation At the helm is 24-year-old Kolin Jones, a charismatic entrepreneur who embodies the very essence of capitalism: opportunity, meritocracy, and value creation In a wide-ranging interview with Capitalists for Capitalism, Kolin shared the story behind Amalfi's meteoric rise and why he's unapologetically pro-capitalist
A Hustler from the Start
Kolin's entrepreneurial journey began at 13, selling everything he could find on eBay to afford the latest iPod That drive translated into aviation early: he earned his pilot's license by 17 and attended EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University When COVID hit and commercial pilot jobs evaporated, Kolin saw a chance to pivot into the luxury jet market. Posing as a wealthy client, he contacted dozens of private jet companies to learn the ropes and was stunned by the lack of industry standards and knowledge
"I realized many brokers had no aviation experience and were putting lives at risk with inaccurate information," he explained So he co-founded Amalfi Jets at 19 Five years later, the company is on pace to cross $100 million in annual revenue, with 25 employees and a new 10,000-square-foot office His secret? "Be louder, be better known, and back it all with excellence."
Loud, Data-Driven, and Relentless
Amalfi Jets has carved out its identity through aggressive, often flashy, social media campaigns "Best known beats best," Kolin says, channeling advice from Grant Cardone and Brandon Dawson Yet this isn’t all showmanship: the company meticulously tracks every aspect of the business from how clients find them to the time it takes to convert a lead.
"We're not just trying things and hoping they work. We use data to reverse-engineer our growth," he said Kolin and his team hold daily huddles, asking new questions about user behavior, like the ratio of Apple to Android bookings, or lead-to-close times for highvalue customers "We build backwards from the billion-dollar goal," he added.
Culture and Discipline Over Comfort
Amalfi Jets is also proudly anti-remote. "If you want 3% growth, go work for our competitors. If you want 300% growth, come into the office," Kolin says His hiring strategy focuses on mission-driven individuals who aren't escaping other jobs, but who are running toward a high-performance culture
Frugality is another core value Despite the company’s success, Kolin once flagged excessive snack spending in the office to save $2,500 annually. "Just because you ' re doing millions in revenue doesn’t mean you waste money, " he said
Lessons from the Runway
The journey wasn’t without turbulence Early mistakes included poor tracking and lack of team coordination. Kolin started out Zooming from a dorm room Now, every day begins with an in-office, stand-up meeting to share wins, concerns, and data-driven action items.
What turned things around? "When we stopped making assumptions and started measuring everything," Kolin said.
Why Capitalism Works
Kolin is unabashed in his defense of capitalism "Capitalism levels the playing field," he said "I didn’t have private equity money. We bootstrapped this whole company. The market rewards value, and punishes mediocrity "
He credits capitalism not just with making Amalfi Jets possible, but with holding companies accountable "If we overcharge and underdeliver, we die The consumer wins in a capitalist system."
Responding to Critics
Of course, operating in the private jet space invites criticism, especially from anti-capitalists. Kolin's answer? "We serve a need These people can’t fly commercial The real issue is how inefficient commercial airlines are. "
He acknowledges class-based critiques, but argues that entrepreneurship born of value creation, not rentseeking, should be celebrated "People vilify wealth today But I grew up middle class I built this Shouldn’t that be applauded?"
Advice for Fellow Capitalists
To other founders afraid of being open about their capitalist values, Kolin offers a challenge: "Be authentic People buy from people If you believe in capitalism, show it. That’s part of your brand."
He also encourages entrepreneurs to track relentlessly, never get complacent, and understand both sides of the argument. "The great thing about capitalism is that it forces you to evolve or vanish "
Looking Ahead
While Amalfi remains focused on charter flights, Kolin hinted at expanding into software licensing, data platforms, and monetizing its social media channels. "Jets are just one part of the equation," he said "We're building a holdings company "
The "Amalfi Economy" may have started as an April Fool's joke, but if anyone can turn satire into scale, it’s Kolin. In his words: "Slow success builds character. Fast success builds ego. We're here to build character."
For capitalists who believe in ambition, merit, and the freedom to build something extraordinary, Kolin’s story is inspiring and also proof that the system works
Book Review: Paper Belt on Fire by Michael Gibson
Paper Belt on Fire, is Michael Gibson’s manifesto on the state of innovation in the world and a memoir combined into one It’s a defiant call for disruptive action in education and entrepreneurship, aimed at anyone who believes that free markets, not credentialism, drive real innovation
From Philosophical Pondering to Capitalist Action
Gibson begins with his own story: rejected from Oxford’s doctoral track and later by the CIA, he eventually landed at Peter Thiel’s hedge fund. There he became deeply involved with the Thiel Fellowship, an audacious program that grants $100,000 to young founders under 20, on the explicit premise that traditional higher education is failing innovation After that, alongside Danielle Strachman, he co-founded the 1517 Fund, dedicated to backing college dropouts with breakthrough ideas Their mission: “Light the Paper Belt on fire,” a reference to the “Paper Belt” of credential-inflated eastern institutions spanning D.C. to Boston.
A central tension in the book is what Gibson (and Thiel) call “innovation stagnation ” By his analysis, progress peaked in the 1960s–70s and has since flatlined. Meanwhile, education has ballooned in cost and bureaucracy, producing graduates with diplomas, but not necessarily the skills or originality to break new ground. Gibson demands a more practical, disruptor-oriented educational model - one that trusts youth and takes real scientific risks
Building a Capitalist Alternative
What makes Paper Belt on Fire resonate with champions of capitalism, is its emphasis on incentives and real-world results The 1517 Fund critiques existing systems but also actively invests in those bucking the trend Gibson offers behind-the-scenes tales: visiting college hackathons, bootstrapping talent recruitment, and mentoring entrepreneurs who built companies like Figma and Ethereum. It’s not abstract theory, but harshly pragmatic action.
Why Capitalists Should Read It
Gibson shows how markets power innovation, not performative institutions. With real investments in Figma, Ethereum et al show that free-market interventions can yield both societal and financial value And it shows that a well-told capitalist tale is more compelling than dry policy treatises Gibson does both
Stagnation vs. Dynamism
SciOps for Capitalist Impact: MontyKosma & DataJoint Pave the Way in Scientific Productivity
In the world of life sciences and groundbreaking research, DataJoint, co-founded by Monty Kosma, is forging a new frontier where hard-nosed capitalist values meet scientific rigor For readers of Capitalists for Capitalism, this story exemplifies how principled entrepreneurship, driven by innovation, efficiency, and value, can accelerate human progress through the application of free-market discipline to research environments.
From Physics to SciOps Visionary
Monty Kosma’s journey reads like a parable of intellectual curiosity fueling capitalist ambition.
Trained as a physicist and seasoned through careers in Lean Operations at McKinsey, antitrust law at elite D C firms, and ventures in AI and reputation systems, Kosma brings a multidisciplinary lens to scientific infrastructure. Inspired early on by thinkers like Richard Feynman, he’s built a career at the intersection of science, law, and technology, now culminating in DataJoint, where he serves as co-founder and president (and previously Chief Product Officer) .
Real Momentum, Real Market
Solving for Reliability in Research
At its core, DataJoint addresses a glaring market failure: scientific research plagued by fragmented data processes, manual errors, and sluggish reproducibility. Scientists often spend months configuring pipelines manually, a recipe for inefficiency and costly mistakes DataJoint replaces this patchwork with a structured, automated SciOps platform, comprising relational data pipelines, interactive tools, and AI-driven workflows tailored for life sciences The result: labs can generate reliable findings faster and at scale, a clear value proposition for both nonprofits and commercial entities.
DataJoint’s traction showcases capitalist success rooted in innovation: NIHSBIRfundingfor commercialization (Phase 2, 2022)
Public launch in early 2024
Achieving $500KARRwithin six months
$6 million pipeline targeting major institutions like Johns Hopkins, UCSF, Harvard Medical, and NIH’s National Eye Institute.
The platform now attracts enterprise-level contracts averaging $500K+ ACV for multi-lab deployments, exactly the kind of scalable, capital-intensive growth investors admire.
Community-Driven and Investor-Ready
Under Kosma’s leadership, DataJoint has become more than just a software provider: it’s also a community builder He participates in SciOps meetups (e g , the Austin MLOps event at Capital Factory), guest lectures, and Deep Tech Week in San Francisco, helping define SciOps as a critical discipline linking DevOps, DataOps, MLOps, and neuroscience.
Why Capitalists Should Take Note
1 Market-Driven Efficiency – DataJoint infuses Lean, operations-driven principles into a sector long beholden to inefficiency.
2.Scalable Differentiation – By transforming reproducibility and compliance, they offer a product that’s hard to replace or replicate
3.Meaningful Impact – Funding more reliable science is morally appealing and also a competitive moat, catalyzing better drug development and diagnostics.
4 Strong GTM Strategy – With grants, enterprise deals, and academic adoption, they’ve built a hybrid model that primes both credibility and growth
5.Values-Aligned Leadership – Kosma’s blend of market savvy, legal grounding, and scientific curiosity embodies capitalist virtues: rational risk-taking, purpose, and sustained innovation
The Road Ahead
DataJoint is expanding its reach, with focus on enterprise-scale deals across global institutions. As regulatory demands intensify in the U.S. and Europe, DataJoint’s structured, traceable platform offers clear ROI, from compliance to efficiency Kosma’s ambition is also civic: injecting market forces into academic science to improve public outcomes and accelerate discoveries
Final Take
Monty Kosma and DataJoint exemplify how capitalist entrepreneurship can restore rigor and efficiency to mission-critical sectors
In an era where innovation is the currency of progress, SciOps powered by market-driven software platforms, demonstrates that value creation and social benefit aren’t just compatible: they’re 2 sides of the same equation
This is capitalism at its best: reshaping institutions for profit and purpose
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TheAmericanDream:PushingtheFrontier
Written by Gonzalo Schwarz
In this next installment of my series on what constitutes the American Dream, I want to focus on one of its most important features: constantly pushing the frontier of whatever it is you’re trying to do.
One of my favorite places to go and take visitors to in the DC area is the Dulles Air and Space Museum It’s a museum filled with marvels of achievements and aspiration. You can find the Discovery Shuttle there that led 133 space missions. You can find the Enola Gay, which represented a bleak episode in human history of dropping the first atomic bomb You can find a Concorde that pushed the frontier of supersonic commercial flights in its heyday And you can find the SR-71 Blackbird that is also iconic as one of the fastest planes ever built and flown
But for me, the most inspirational part of the museum and the first spot I head to when I enter is the Red Bull Stratos capsule. Thirteen years ago, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner became the first person to break the sound barrier, the highest skydive, and the highest vertical exit. Baumgartner literally went to the frontier of space and jumped. With the support of Red Bull, an Austrian company that needs no introduction, and a team of various individuals and companies involved in the process, a truly monumental human endeavor was accomplished Baumgartner trained for five years to achieve what people thought was impossible or at least spectacularly difficult. It made for one of the best Red Bull commercials of all time, but it also provided scientists with a lot of information about many different aspects of space flight, jumps, and the body’s reaction to different pressure points.
During the training, there were numerous close calls that could have led to mission failure, bureaucratic processes that almost stopped the project, and so many different pieces of the puzzle that needed to work at the same time that its accomplishment was truly an amazing feat of human creativity and persistence
It was an American Dream of one person that ended up including many other people This is a special aspect of the American Dream: while people are certainly responsible for setting and living their own American Dreams, there is almost always someone else who helps us get there. In this case it was a huge team of experts and companies. But in other cases, it could be a parent, a schoolteacher, a partner, etc
There were so many people involved that it’s tough to discuss each part of the team and the process, but here is an amazing two-hour documentary about the feat that I highly recommend. For me it represents the pinnacle of having a dream, working hard to pursue it, and living it out and in a way that is so visible and inspirational for others to see that I think it certainly elevates what it means to push the frontier, in this case quite literally
Another amazing example of the American Dream in that museum, and my second-favorite exhibit, is one of FedEx’s first planes, named Wendy after FedEx founder Fred Smith’s first daughter.
Smith founded FedEx after working on the idea for an undergraduate term paper at Yale. He revolutionized reliable overnight delivery in a “computerized information age” as he called it After serving in the military, he founded and fundraised to start the company and committed to his vision, overcoming many obstacles even risking a fuel bill at a blackjack table in Las Vegas. It seems like founding the company and building it throughout his life was his American Dream, and it certainly pushed the frontier of the logistics industry worldwide
But let’s step back a bit. The American Dream is about having a vision, pursuing it, and constantly pushing the frontier of what people think is possible if you are dreaming the biggest of dreams. Historically, pushing the frontier was about expanding the geographical frontier of the United States European settlers pushed the frontier in their own lives by coming to the United States in search of a better future Once they settled here, pushing the frontier meant expanding their reach within the United States, both within the original territories they were part of it and later expanding further west as was depicted in John Gast’s 1872 painting, American Progress.
Even as the geographic frontier was being settled, Americans sought to push the frontier in other fronts and industries.
There are many innovations in oil and gas from the advent of industry, which even helped save the lives of whales to some degree, as it had been whale oil often used to fuel lamps. More recently advances in fracking have allowed the oil energy industry to push even further and develop more The electrical wars between Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, and George Westinghouse pushed the frontier of advances in electricity production and distribution.
Leaders like Walt Disney pushed the frontier in animation. Sam Walton pushed the frontiers of retail and discount stores to build an empire Certainly, Elon Musk is now pushing frontiers in a variety of industries and companies. And there are other modern examples from various companies that are pushing the frontiers in their respective industries, like Anduril and Palantir in the defense industry.
One of my favorite examples is a magnificent team pushing the frontier of ocean cleanup, led by (in my opinion, American Dreamer) Boyan Slat. Though he wasn’t born in America, he received a Thiel Fellowship to start working on his project
Pushing the frontier in movie production has certainly been a key aspect of the history of Hollywood, and one of the best representatives of that nowadays must be Tom Cruise with the lengths he goes to push the frontier in his own acting and stunts for the Mission Impossible franchise
More recently another favorite example has become Michael Milken, whom I recently met at the Milken Global Conference. Milken pioneered and pushed the frontiers of financial innovation, leading what he calls the “democratization of finance ” Milken has also led the creation and soon-to-be inauguration of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, which will showcase how so many Americans have pushed the frontiers in their own lives and crafts by living their dreams.
But it is certainly not only in business that America has excelled. Americans have pushed the frontier in many other areas including civil rights, sports, healthcare, etc In many cases an American Dream doesn’t need to be grandiose; it could simply be what you’re looking for in terms of having a good family life and a fulfilling career You might decide to push the frontier of what you think is possible in order to achieve it You might wake up at 5 am to start work earlier to have more time to spend with your family during the day, when you thought you couldn’t wake up that early and be productive. You might spend the effort to figure out ways to have a better work-life balance to give yourself time to spend with the family
Or as a completely different example you might push the frontier in terms of solving impossible problems like the Vesuvius Challenge, which consisted of deciphering scrolls buried after the explosion of Mount Vesuvius, a challenge started by American entrepreneurs and won by a team of three students, one of which was American as well.
It is difficult to just name a few possibilities for frontier-pushing, but that is exactly why the United States and the culture of the American entrepreneurial spirit is so special And in that sense, it is also why the American Dream is so special The pursuit of excellence and pushing the frontier of what others think is impossible is an important path to fulfill one’s human potential and achieve the American Dream
The origin of inequality is political
Written by Vuk Vukovic, PhD
If a board member of a company is politically connected, on average he has a $150,000 higher salary than a board member who’s not connected. Politically connected executives reap direct benefits for their companies based on their connection, in the form of favorable regulation or direct government contracts and get rewarded for it Politicians on the other hand get campaign donations or cushy board positions after their careers.
This is what means to be a part of an elite network: an informal relationship between friends and acquaintances on positions of power, which exchange favors between each other, whilst creating negative social consequences - in particular increasing income inequality.
In my new book, Elite Networks: The Political Economy of Inequality, I argue that the most important overlooked cause of inequality is the misuse of political power
Inequality has been present in our societies ever since the Agricultural Revolution It’s not a modern phenomenon, nor is it tied to one economic system Ancient civilizations, feudalism, capitalism, socialism - all these systems have had (at times or permanently) very high levels of wealth concentration at the top, and misery for the rest; however, unlike today, in pre-Industrial Revolution times, widespread poverty was a constant
How did people get rich back then? Violence You either had the legitimacy to use violence - being a ruler, part of nobility or clergy - or you went to wars because you were promised to keep the pillage This is indeed how every noble family made their fortune at one time in their history, through violent conquest.
Today, especially after the second half of the 20th century, we experienced an unprecedented increase in societal wealth and living standards Today, people can get rich with their own ingenuity, hard work, and competence. In other words, without violence, even though it persists as a motive
However, inequality also persists. We changed so many social orders and finally made ourselves, on average, rich as a human race, but still, we get unequal distributions of wealth, incomes, and opportunities
Naturally, many of these inequalities are due to some people simply being better at what they do; more innovative, more special than others. This is particularly observable through the superstar effect, or even the influencer effect Others are competing on the global market, so their compensations are necessarily higher than wages of workers in the local market.
The origin of inequality is political
The real issue, however, is not differences in income based on innovation or talent. The real issue is the misuse of political power to get ahead and achieve wealth Differences in outcomes based on proximity to power
This is encapsulated through elite networks – informal relationships between politicians in power and owners of capital or corporate executives. The ties between them imply that executives use their friends in politics to get direct benefits for their firms, for which they get rewarded with greater compensation Politicians get campaign donations, or board positions, or an outright kickback.
How does this get translated into higher inequality? The inequality literature explicitly says that top 1% and top 0 1% income earners are most responsible for the huge earnings differences between the top and the rest Corporate executives are the bulk of this group, particularly the top 0.1%. If a large part of their higher salary and bonuses is tied to their political connections, it’s clear where the root cause of inequality lies
This is the real issue in contemporary democracies When elites misuse political power to get an advantage, to get access to information or opportunity, and when corporations seek protection via the political process It’s very important to understand this difference
Think of Big Tech firms. No doubt they achieved their status and market dominance thanks to their innovations and the network externality effect But now, when voters and policymakers want to limit their power – e.g. usage of our private data and algorithms that can anticipate our behavior better than ourselves - their response is to infiltrate into elite networks They hire former politicians and utilize their networks to lobby favorable regulation. This leads to huge between-firm differences Research has shown that the highest paid positions are clustered in a handful of the most powerful corporations. And these corporations tend to get stronger and stronger by seeking political protection
Innovation made them rich and powerful, and they deserved it But now a different phase of the life cycle begins - preservation of status through the misuse of politics. Innovators are turning into rent seekers.
Knowing that long-run forces driving inequality were always rooted in extractive political power means a complete reimagining of its solutions Don’t increase centralized power, that only worsens the outcome Similarly, taxing the rich merely deals with the consequences A top executive will benefit from proximity to political power regardless of their top marginal tax rate.
If we wish to truly lower inequality and prevent incentives of elite network formation we must first lower centralized political power and re-empower the citizens and the community, and we must do so by rebuilding trust and relying on the democratic trialand-error mechanism. Achieving that is easier said than done
TheNextChaptersofCapitalismStartwithUs
Written by Michael P. Davidson
When my daughter was about seven or eight, she said something that made me smile “I like that your job is to help people,” she told me. She was referring to my nonprofit work I thanked her, then asked a simple question: “Do you think a tire shop helps people?” We’d just driven past one. She paused and said yes. I asked again as we passed a dry cleaner Then a restaurant Then her own lemonade stand, where she also sells crafts and cookies. With each question, her answer became more confident
She smiled when I said, “That’s capitalism. Capitalism is when companies and individuals freely create and provide services and products ”
A friend riding with us - a seasoned entrepreneurlooked at me and said, “I’ve never thought about it that way ” He’s built and sold businesses, raised capital, and employed hundreds. But he admitted that somewhere along the way, the image of capitalism in his mind had become warped “I guess I think of it more like Wall Street… Gordon Gekko… ‘Greed is good.’ Or that Willie Loman grind from Death of a Salesman ”
Thank you, Karl Marx... and Hollywood.
The truth is, how we understand capitalism has fallen badly out of sync with what it is and how it works Today, more than half of Gen Z holds a negative view of capitalism Nearly a third say they prefer socialism Quiet quitting, “bare minimum Mondays,” and anti-work trends are on the rise. It’s not because people hate freedom, it’s because they don’t know how capitalism relates to it Or how to connect their ambition to something meaningful And that’s not their fault. Too many of capitalism’s greatest participants and beneficiaries have forgotten or don’t know how to articulate its value - or even feel they have permission to do so
Not long ago, I advised a woman who had sold her business for hundreds of millions of dollars She’d worked tirelessly for years, building trust with customers, taking on enormous risk, creating real value She said that the more successful she became, the more resentment she felt from those around her. “I never thought of what I was doing as part of some bigger idea,” she told me. “I just worked hard. I didn’t know I was supposed to be defending capitalism ”
That moment was telling. Because while capitalism is built on markets, its survival depends on culture And culture is shaped by people, especially entrepreneurs Not by what they write in think pieces, but by how they build, how they lead, and how they treat others
If we want to restore the trust and promise of free enterprise, we need more people who embody it and who understand that to be a businessperson is to be a steward of a moral system.
Adam Smith, the father of free market economics, wrote only two books: The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments. He believed that commerce, done right, cultivated empathy and mutual respect Voluntary exchange only works when people trust each other and that trust comes from character, not just contracts.
The Next Chapters of Capitalism Start with Us
That’s where the opportunity lies Every day, in how you manage your team, talk to customers, and make decisions, you’re modeling capitalism to someone It might be your kids It might be your employees It might be a future entrepreneur watching closely.
Peggy Noonan once wrote, “If your children understand business in America as modeled by you as honorable men and women engaged in an honorable pursuit then they will have respect for the institution of business ” We don’t need everyone to become a think tank scholar. We just need people to see capitalism as it truly is: a system that works when people take responsibility, honor their commitments, and create value for others It’s a system that appeals to and depends upon the best of each of us, the makings of a meaningful life
That’s where your role becomes irreplaceable We need more Earl Dunckels quiet business leaders who saw enough in a young Ronald Reagan to put him on tour for GE and turn him into a communicator of the American ideal I can’t imagine a Fortune 50 company launching a free enterprise tour today. But I can imagine entrepreneurs like you modeling it in how you hire, price, lead, and give
We’ve spent the past several decades confusing capitalism with stock tickers, hedge fund billionaires, and Silicon Valley messiahs. No wonder the next generation is disillusioned But capitalism isn’t about celebrity or excess It’s about flourishing, serving others with integrity and daring to dream something into existence through your own effort
The next time someone asks you what you do, don’t just say, “I run XYZ business ” Say: “I help people I create value I solve problems.” Say: “I’m a capitalist in the truest sense a citizen who takes responsibility for making things better and builds trust through action ”
The ideas of liberty must be made tangible. We create programs that bring values and solutions to life through experience And that starts close to home with your own business, family, and legacy – your own example.
Because capitalism isn’t defended with press releases or politicians It’s defended, and defined, by your example And it’s sustained not by policy alone, but by people people like you who make liberty look trustworthy again.
Book Review: Liberty Spenders by Kurt & Kristen Luidhardt
How to Reach the $5 Trillion Market of High‐Value, Conservative & Faith‐Based
Clients to Grow Your Business
In Liberty Spenders, the veteran political marketers Kurt and Kristen Luidhardt deliver a compelling business playbook for tapping into the oftenoverlooked yet powerful market of conservative and faith-driven Americans Anchored in capitalist principles of market segmentation, value creation, and conviction-driven engagement, this book lives up to its title: a strategic guide to unlocking a purported $5 trillion spending opportunity
Market Insight & Positioning
The authors call the segment “Liberty Spenders”: consumers who make spending decisions rooted in conviction, loyalty, and shared values This demographic is framed as a cohesive, high-impact group (over 70 million strong) whose preferences shape their relationships with brands and signal deep alignment opportunities for principled businesses. For capitalists, this is a classic market segmentation play: identify where values and consumer behavior align, then lean in with clarity
The
5P Framework: A Conviction‐Driven Blueprint
The heart of the book is the proprietary 5P system - People, Positioning, Passion, Proof, and Product Launch. It's a strategic progression:
1 People: Analyze target segments (demographics, spending habits, beliefs)
2.Positioning: Craft a distinct brand narrative rooted in principles.
3.Passion: Signal genuine conviction. This is about authentic alignment, not opportunism.
4 Proof: Use data, storytelling, and social validation to reinforce trust
5 Product Launch: Introduce offerings designed to resonate deeply with aligned customers
Throughout, the Luidhardts lean on high-profile examples such as Chick fil A, Hobby Lobby, Black Rifle Coffee, to show how conviction-driven brands command premium loyalty and resilience
Capitalism is often misunderstood. To its critics, it appears as a brutal, ‘winner-takes-all’ system, a realm of cutthroat competition where the strong crush the weak Yet to those who understand its underlying mechanisms, capitalism is not about conquest but about cooperation Voluntary exchange, value creation, and mutually beneficial relationships form the heart of free enterprise. In truth, capitalism is the most cooperative system humanity has ever devised
At its core, capitalism is based on consent. No one is forced to buy or sell. Transactions occur only when both parties believe they will be better off as a result
This simple principle has created a network of cooperation that spans the globe, linking farmers in Argentina with baristas in Brooklyn, engineers in Bangalore with businesses in Berlin These relationships are not orchestrated by central planners or enforced by government decree They emerge spontaneously, driven by the desire of individuals and firms to serve one another in pursuit of profit
Cooperation Through Competition
Ironically, competition in capitalism enhances cooperation When firms compete, they are not at war in the traditional sense. Instead, they are striving to best serve others. A business cannot succeed by exploiting customers or ignoring their needs it succeeds by meeting those needs more effectively than alternatives.
Take the smartphone market Apple, Samsung, and Google aren’t trying to eliminate each other through sabotage They are in a constant race to win customers by creating better products at better prices That competition drives innovation, improves quality, and ultimately benefits consumers. In this way, competition forces firms to cooperate with the public in the most meaningful way: by offering value
Voluntary Exchange: A Model for Mutual Benefit
Every transaction in a capitalist system is a case study in mutual benefit. When you buy a coffee for $4, you demonstrate that you value the coffee more than the $4 The barista, by contrast, values the $4 more than the coffee Both parties walk away better off There is no coercion, only consent.
This dynamic scales A clothing retailer collaborates with textile manufacturers, logistics providers, and digital marketers to create and deliver value Each party specializes, each contributes, and each benefits What emerges is a supply chain built on trust, mutual reliance, and shared profit.
Capitalism's Moral Foundation
Critics often focus on the flaws and excesses of capitalism corruption, monopolies, and inequality But these are deviations, not fundamentals. At its best, capitalism is an ethical system because it honors freedom and accountability You are free to start a business but you are accountable to your customers, your employees, and your investors. If you fail to serve them, you lose If you serve them well, you earn
This moral dimension is what makes capitalism such a powerful force for good Unlike cronyism or authoritarian economies, capitalism respects the agency of individuals. It requires entrepreneurs to ask not "How do I get ahead?" but "How do I help others in a way that they are willing to pay for?"
How Businesses Can Embrace Cooperative Capitalism
Today’s business leaders can lean into capitalism's cooperative nature by focusing on long-term value creation, building trust-based relationships, and investing in stakeholder success
1.Customer-Centric Thinking
The most successful companies obsess over the customer experience Amazon didn’t grow by lobbying for subsidies; it grew by relentlessly improving convenience, speed, and selection Businesses that prioritize customer satisfaction foster loyalty and mutual benefit
2. Fair Partnerships
Treating suppliers and partners as collaborators rather than cost centers builds resilience and shared value. Patagonia, for example, works closely with environmentally responsible producers, ensuring high quality and strong relationships.
3. Employee Empowerment
Businesses are teams of people working toward a shared goal Firms like Southwest Airlines and Chick-fil-A invest heavily in their people, yielding higher morale, better service, and greater retention
4. Community Engagement
Capitalism thrives in healthy communities By giving back, supporting local development, and aligning business goals with civic outcomes, companies can strengthen the very ecosystems they depend on
5. Transparency and Integrity
Trust is the foundation of cooperation Brands that are open, honest, and values-driven earn credibility in a crowded market. Transparency builds confidence, reduces friction, and encourages collaboration
The Capitalist Future is Collaborative
As new technologies enable more decentralized and network-based business models, capitalism's cooperative nature is only becoming more apparent Platforms like Airbnb and Uber, marketplaces like Etsy and Shopify, and peer-to-peer financial tools like Bitcoin and DeFi are reorienting value creation around user-to-user interaction These systems thrive not through force, but through alignment.
Even Web3 and blockchain innovations, despite their volatility, are fundamentally cooperative in design They enable permissionless innovation, shared ownership, and distributed governance capitalist principles evolved for the digital age.
Conclusion: Capitalism as a Framework for Flourishing
Capitalism doesn’t just incentivize cooperation; it demands it. Businesses exist to serve. Profit is a signal that they are doing so effectively The most enduring companies aren’t extractive; they are collaborative, trusted, and deeply aligned with the needs of those they serve
In a time of cynicism toward markets and institutions, business leaders have a choice: perpetuate the caricature of capitalism as selfish and cold, or reclaim it as a system of mutual benefit The truth is clear When practiced with integrity and innovation, capitalism is the most cooperative force for progress the world has ever known
The future belongs to those who build, serve, and collaborate Capitalism isn’t just compatible with cooperation it is its highest expression
The Liberty Ventures Executives Summit is a high-level gathering for CEOs and senior executives who are building companies with both vision and values. Set in the heart of New York City, this 1-day experience is designed for leaders who are scaling businesses not just for profit, but also for purpose 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
September 17, 2025
At Principled Business, we champion a vision of free enterprise rooted in human dignity, long-term value, and ethical leadership.
Mentorship and capital for rising founders
InvestinaFutureWhere BusinessisaForceforGood Donate Today!
Advocacy for liberty-based, principled business practices
A global network of changemakers driving impact with purpose
Pitch Competition at FreedomFest
Building the Future of Freedom: Lessons from the Principled Business Pitch Competition at FreedomFest
Our Principled Business Pitch Competition drew over 50 applicants. After a rigorous selection process, 20 finalists were invited to present live at FreedomFest, culminating in 5 standout founders pitching to a panel of high-profile judges, including Steve Forbes, Shawn D. Nelson, Jennifer Sey, Bernt Ullmann, and Andrew Gruel.
We may have awarded $25,000 in cash prizes but the real win was the overall experience Founders received expert feedback from 12 judges, sparked investor interest (including one $100K offer after a pitch!), and forged new peer connections with fellow entrepreneurs.
Congratulations to our top three winners:
3th 2nd 1st
The prize money was just one of the many opportunities for participants.
Before presenting, each founder participated in an intensive accelerator-style bootcamp, receiving direct coaching from leading founders and experts The sessions covered everything from mission alignment and investor readiness to storytelling and go-tomarket strategy.
Featured speakers included:
Alexander McCobin on Why Capitalism Matters for Founders
Nate Hurd on Aligning Your Mission with Freedom
Adelle Archer on Finding the Right Problem to Solve
Yagub Rahimov on Fundraising with Confidence
Troy Helming on From Idea to Traction
Paul Wendee on The 7 Steps to Building and Exiting
Meg Charles on Crafting a Compelling Founder Story
Matt Gore on How to Make Pitch Decks that Raise Capital
Theresult?Betterpitches andstronger entrepreneurs.
Here are 10 key takeaways from this year’s competition:
1.It’s not about the data but the delivery.
2 Traction matters, but what sets standout founders apart is their ability to make the value felt - no buzzwords, no fluff Just clarity, relevance, and proof of work.
3 If you lack funding, lean into storytelling
4.Founders who made an impact on the room were those who made their mission personal. Emotion, authenticity, and relatability are powerful tools when capital is limited.
5 Consistency beats charisma
6.You don’t have to be the most polished speaker but you do need to keep showing up. Founders who pitch, learn, and improve are the ones investors remember.
7.Capitalism is not zero-sum.
8.Some who didn’t win still earned investor interest so don’t pitch to win the prize. Pitch to win over belief, alignment, and long-term support.
9.Courage is the founder’s edge.
10.The most impressive founders weren’t fearless. In fact, they were honest about the stakes and still took the mic Confidence is built through action.
At its core, this competition may have been about funding, yet it was also about forging a new generation of leaders who understand that free markets and principled innovation can build a freer, more prosperous world.
We’re proud to support founders who build with vision, integrity, and conviction and we’re excited to see what they do next.
Event Review:
FreedomFest 2025: A Celebration of Principled Business and Bold Ideas
At this year’s FreedomFest, Liberty Ventures showed up with a clear mission to spotlight principled founders, elevate bold ideas, and advance the movement of business leaders who believe in capitalism not just as an economic system, but also as a moral framework worth defending.
In addition to the Pitch Competition, we hosted a panel with our final-round judges on how business leaders can become effective advocates for capitalism.
Jennifer Sey spoke about purpose, Andrew Gruel tackled regulatory hurdles, Steve Forbes highlighted perseverance, Shawn Nelson emphasized quality, and Bernt Ullmann underscored the power of brand storytelling
A Celebration of Connection and Continuity
At FreedomFest 2025, Liberty Ventures also hosted a private Necker Reunion for those who’ve joined us on the transformative Necker Island Summit.
Set in a relaxed, intimate environment, the reunion brought together a values-aligned group of founders, investors, and changemakers to reconnect around shared milestones, both personal and professional It wasn’t just a reunion it was a continuation of a deeper conversation about how to live freely, lead boldly, and build ventures that matter
These kinds of gatherings remind us:
The overarching message was simple: capitalism must be practiced with principle and defended with courage
Throughout FreedomFest, we reconnected with longtime Liberty Ventures members and welcomed new allies For us, this event is a convergence of people who believe in liberty and are working to build institutions that reflect it. We left inspired by the momentum in the room and even more committed to backing the entrepreneurs who are driving it forward
Thank you to Valerie Durham, Mark Skousen, Matt Day, Ezra Drake, Paul Wendee, and the entire FreedomFest team for making it possible
Let’s keep championing business as a force for liberty!
Event Review: Necker Reunion at
Relationships compound. One meaningful connection today can lead to a decade of opportunity.
Shared values create lasting alignment. When people come together with purpose, trust grows faster.
Communities need continuity True collaboration doesn’t end on an island it builds over time, in rooms like this.
It became clear throughout the evening: “What we’re building isn’t just businesses it’s a movement grounded in freedom, integrity, and human flourishing.”
The Necker Reunion at FreedomFest wasn’t just a look back it was a look forward, and we’re honored to continue growing this community alongside each of you
Liberty Ventures Demo Day
For Liberty Ventures, Demo Day is never just about pitch decks but about surfacing founders who are solving the hard problems with clarity, conviction, and care. It’s also about shaping a marketplace where value is measured in dollars and in the future we hope to nurture
If you’re looking for startups that promise change and prove it, this is where the story begins.
From Regeneration to Resilience: The Startups Redefining Value at Liberty Ventures Demo Day
What does it mean to create real value in today’s world? At Liberty Ventures’ Demo Day, we saw a glimpse of the answer.
2 bold ventures, Shift Esperanza and SupplyPay, showcased their business models and their visions for a future rooted in purpose and impact.
Shift Esperanza, a regenerative residential community in Nosara, Costa Rica is essentially reimagining how we live. With a deep commitment to sustainability, local agriculture, and thoughtful urban planning, this project not only minimizes harm but also actively heals. Shift Esperanza, a passion project turned business, is building ecosystems where people and nature can thrive together.
The second company, SupplyPay is a fintech platform for importers and exporters operating across emerging and global markets. In a space where access to capital is often complicated or out of reach, SupplyPay simplifies the process and levels the playing field. Their tools turn complex trade finance into an engine for growth, connection, and long-term business resilience.
Why pay attention to these kinds of startups? Because the leaders are values-aligned, the traction is real, and the opportunity to get in is available to this network.
Connection Over Contacts: A NYC Tech Week Highlight
At Liberty Ventures, we believe great businesses are built not just on capital or code, but also on connection That spirit was front and center during our private roundtable held during NYC Tech Week 2025 and with Israel Suero, General Partner at Dash VC.
Our attendees captured the essence of what truly matters in entrepreneurial ecosystems: “The point of networking isn’t to know more people, it’s to be connected to more people ”
Again, this was a call to action and it emphasizes exactly why Liberty Ventures exists: to bring together principled founders and funders who are driven by innovation and enduring values.
Whether you're launching your next venture, funding bold ideas, or seeking a tribe of high-integrity collaborators, Liberty Ventures is your home for connection with substance
Let’s keep building businesses that matter, together.
Beyond Pitches: Why Connection Is the New Currency
In a world flooded with pitches, metrics, and strategies, it’s easy to forget the simple truth that people invest in people That was the timely reminder at the heart of the recent Liberty Ventures Webinar, Connecting Hearts and Minds to Ideas that Matter, featuring Kristi Kendall, President of Kristi Kendall & Co and a renowned expert in storytelling and strategic communication.
Kristi challenged founders and leaders to reframe how they present their work as a narrative rooted in purpose and human connection, not as a set of bullet points or KPIs.
One interesting takeaway from Kristi was that if you want someone to believe in what you're building, they first need to believe in you Investors and customers alike are indeed drawn to business models, but they are also drawn to the values, vision, and vulnerability behind them
Kristi emphasized the importance of sharing your origin story, including the challenges, the turning points, and the "why" that fuels your mission When you lead with authenticity, you move from informing to inspiring. The founders who win hearts are the ones who speak to them
Liberty Ventures Mixer in Austin Liberty Ventures Breakfast in Dallas
Held in the spirit of liberty and entrepreneurial collaboration, the Liberty Ventures Networking Mixer in Austin brought together a curated group of 14 values-aligned investors, executives, and founders for an evening of meaningful conversation and connection
The gathering allowed for participants to reflect on the deeper “why” behind the work they do. One question “What does capitalism mean to you?” sparked a rich exchange of perspectives. From voluntary exchange and empowerment to knowledge and dignity, the conversation reminded us that capitalism remains a driving force for human flourishing
Rather than simply exchanging business cards, the evening emphasized:
The power of values-aligned networks to spark collaboration with conviction;
The need for shared language around freedom, responsibility, and enterprise; and
The importance of these kinds of spaces where entrepreneurs and funders can be seen, heard, and supported
Our Austin event reinforced what we continue to witness across the Liberty Ventures network: that when high-integrity backers and builders come together with clarity of purpose, the result is a cultural transformation
Not every business conversation leaves a lasting mark, but at the Liberty Ventures Breakfast in Dallas, something deeper happened. A group of investors, executives, and founders gathered to reflect over coffee
The highlight of the morning was a candid conversation with James Keyes, former CEO of 7Eleven and Blockbuster. Rather than talking strategy or numbers, James spoke from experience about how education shaped his values, his leadership, and his understanding of freedom His message was that if we want better outcomes in business and society, we need leaders who never stop learning.
Around the table, you could sense a shared desire to grow businesses and to grow as people. The questions posed were intentionally challenging, for example “What kind of impact am I making?” “What values guide my decisions?” or even “How do I stay grounded in a world moving fast?”
This event was authentic, focused and meaningful, and that’s exactly why it worked.
As a reminder: sometimes the most important conversations don’t happen on a stage. They happen over breakfast with people who care enough to ask the right and difficult questions
Second Edition Virtual Job Fair
Where Talent Meets Purpose and Companies Find Their People
Curated list of mission-aligned companies
Company pitches, Q&A, and advice on job hunting from recruiters
Over 100 skilled candidates
Date July,152025 When 2:00-3:30pmET
Liberty Ventures Webinar: Scaling Smart - Leveraging a Family Office to Grow a Service Business
At Liberty Ventures, we believe that principled business is, amongst many things, about alignment We recently welcomed John Evans, founder of Decision CFO, for a dynamic conversation on how service businesses can scale sustainably by leveraging not just capital but also capability.
The CFO as Growth Architect
At the heart of the discussion was a provocative idea: that finance, too often treated as a cost center, is actually one of the greatest drivers of sustainable value creation
“A good CFO is more than a bookkeeper,” Evans said.
“They’re a listener, strategist, and ultimately, a growth partner ”
Evans’ approach through Decision CFO is unconventional. Rather than simply offering outsourced financial services, his firm embeds with high-potential startups, often taking equity stakes and operating as fractional CFOs through critical growth periods This is essentially active collaboration
What Investors Miss (and Great Operators Catch)
By working directly with founders, John and his team identify what financial models and forecasts often conceal: whether a startup has the discipline, culture, and clarity to scale responsibly
Evans emphasized a rigorous 20-point plan for evaluating companies not just their products or market fit (which VCs typically cover), but the integrity of their finance team, forecasting capability, and capital efficiency. “The best founders,” he noted, “stretch a dollar into three ”
This operator-investor hybrid model gives Decision CFO a unique advantage: they see under the hood before committing and help rebuild the engine if necessary
Lessons for Founders
One of the most practical takeaways was the importance of metrics Evans stressed the need for early-stage founders - especially those in purpose-driven companies - to get crystal clear on unit economics and customer lifetime value “If you can show that every dollar you spend generates six in return,” he said, “you’ve got a compelling case to scale and raise ”
He also challenged the idea that mission-driven companies can afford to neglect financial rigor On the contrary, he argued, impact businesses must be even more intentional in their models and forecasting because purpose without performance won’t sustain itself
The Human Factor
Perhaps most striking was Evans’ final reflection: scaling smart isn’t just about spreadsheets it’s about people. “No matter how strong someone’s résumé is, if they can’t collaborate, it won’t work,” he said For Evans, alignment between founders, teams, and financial partners, is what separates ‘flash-in-the-pan’ startups from companies that endure
A Model Worth Scaling
This conversation was a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how one firm is helping values-aligned businesses grow by grounding every decision in discipline, humility, and long-term thinking
In a world where the loudest voices often promise the fastest growth, Scaling Smart reminded us that the best businesses don’t just grow fast: they grow right
A Conversation on Scaling Businesses with Bill Sordoni
We, at Liberty Ventures, understand that scaling a business includes navigating complexity with intention Recently, we sat down with Bill Sordoni, a fourthgeneration leader of a family construction business in Pennsylvania, and now branching into energy infrastructure
From Corporate Consultant to Family Business Leader
Bill’s journey is anything but conventional. After starting his career at a major consulting firm in New York, he initially swore off joining the family business founded by his great-grandfather in 1910 Yet, through thoughtful conversations with mentors and family, he realized his unique value was bringing fresh perspectives in technology, culture, and process to a traditional industry.
Winning Family Buy-In and Leading Through Crisis
Taking the reins required earning unanimous support from family members a high bar, but Bill’s approach of showing up daily, learning fast, and delivering value quickly earned trust. His leadership was tested early during the 2008 financial crisis, where strategic agility became essential to keep the company resilient
New Horizons: Energy Infrastructure and Pennsylvania’s Future
The Succession Challenge: Planning Before the Need
Bill shared candid insights on the often overlooked challenge of succession planning With the fifth generation just entering adulthood, the family still lacks a consolidated plan. He emphasized the importance of starting these conversations early, distinguishing whether a family business prioritizes harmony or growth, and using formal structures like family councils to balance relationships and business interests.
Having stepped back as CEO, Bill now leads a natural gas pipeline company, positioning it to support Pennsylvania’s growing data center and AI industries. This pivot highlights how family businesses can adapt and innovate beyond their origins, contributing to regional economic development.
Lessons for Family Business Leaders
Bill’s story underscores a key truth: scaling a family business means balancing legacy with innovation, politics with performance, and family with enterprise His leadership journey offers valuable lessons on perseverance, alignment, and foresight for anyone facing the complex path of growth within family enterprises
Liberty Ventures Webinar: Real Estate: The Ultimate Wealth Engine
At Liberty Ventures, we know one thing for sure: everyone wants to hold on to more of their hard-earned money Yet, most business leaders and investors overlook a vital truth real estate is not just about owning property; it’s a strategic powerhouse for building lasting wealth and legally minimizing taxes.
In our recent webinar, we unpacked how powerful, yet often misunderstood, tools like depreciation, tax exemptions, and 1031 exchanges aren’t just complicated tax jargon they’re the keys to deferring tax bills, lowering your current tax exposure, and freeing up capital to reinvest and grow your empire.
Why does this matter? Because real wealth isn’t about how many assets you accumulate it’s about how effectively those assets work for you, especially in the tax game Without understanding these strategies, you risk leaving money on the table or paying more taxes than necessary, which directly impacts your ability to scale and reinvest
Here’s a critical insight from the session: these tax benefits aren’t reserved for the ultra-wealthy or multigenerational families. With the right knowledge and intention, founders, operators, and investors at all stages can harness real estate to build generational value aligned with principled business ethics emphasizing transparency, long-term vision, and sustainable growth rather than shortcuts
The conversation also reinforced an often-neglected lesson: tax strategy is an integral part of business strategy When your investments are structured with tax efficiency in mind, you’re not just playing defense you’re accelerating growth
For our Leadership Circle members, these insights come with tangible perks: exclusive access to expert guidance, including a complimentary 45-minute tax consultation valued at $600, plus special discounts on services from trusted partners like The CPA Dude making it easier to translate knowledge into action
So, whether you’re already active in real estate or just beginning to explore how it fits into your wealth plan, understanding these tax-efficient strategies is essential It’s not just about buying property it’s about unlocking a smarter path to financial freedom and principled success.
Upcoming Events
Thanks to the Team
This magazine, and more importantly, all of the work that is described in these pages, is thanks to the hard work of a large group of leaders in both Liberty Ventures and Principled Business, working day in and day out to build the movement of capitalists for capitalism.
Liberty Ventures Team
Michelle Bernier
Isabella Castillo
Camilla Chellapermal
Graziano Creperio
Melissa Doolin-Koehne
Dan Garretson
Diego Laurentin
Alexka Medina
Alexander McCobin
Zussel Ramos
Principled Business Ambassadors
Luis Silva-Ball
Magnús Örn
Steve Thomas
Adam Karl
Anar Alizamanli
Dan Garretson
Dustin Palmer
Patrick McLaughlin
Fabricio Antezana
Gabriel Grilli
Igor Zillner
Jason Syversen
Johnathan Bush
Julio Clavijo
João Ferreira
Mischa Kowall
Nolan Lwin
Rajat Vishwakarma
Rodrigo Nuila
Scott Alford
Valera Vasquez
Yoseob Lim
Ali Khan
Brian Bourgerie
Akin Oladosu
Håkon Broder Lund
Eden Eyjólfsdóttir
Pavel Koktyshev
Gustavo Toxzui Xopa
Danny Chen
Prosperine Hollande Nduwayo
Cynthia Reyes
Adolfo Urquizo
Ishmael Amini
Niko Klein
Haukur Ingi Sigrúnar
Jónsson
Jóhann Portal
Clement Ngu
Zachary Silva
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