Kyle Harrison, GP at Contrary on Techno Optimism, Talent Vortexes, Open Source Research, & Writing "Investing 101"
With 17K+ subscribers to Investing 101, we dive deep into Kyle's VC career & unique perspective, Contrary's emphasis on talent & research, & some 'spicy' Twitter debates
Kyle Harrison, GP at Contrary on Techno-Optimism, Talent Vortexes, Open Source Research, & Writing "Investing 101"
Contrary has one of the most underrated databases of research, data, and insightful content. They’ve built up a bank of 300 company breakdowns, industry-leading conversations, and historical analyses. It’s impressive. And it’s free.
In this episode, Molly O'Shea interviews Kyle Harrison, General Partner at Contrary and writer of the popular Investing 101 substack (17K+ subscribers!), discussing his career in venture capital and the focus of Contrary. Kyle is an Investor in companies such as Ramp, Replit, Anduril, OneSchema, Moment, Nomic, Pave, Airplane, Patch, Modern Intelligence, Teamshares, Synthesis, Armada, Power, and more.
Contrary is a VC fund that backs companies from seed to scale with an emphasis on talent and research. They aim to identify the smartest people early on and support them throughout their careers. Contrary has a very impressive research arm that produces reports, memos, and conversations to provide insights into private tech companies.. completely free (emphasis on FREE).
Kyle Harrison shares his approach to writing and the importance of putting his thoughts into words. Exploring the themes of VC dynamics, incentives, techno-optimism, hard work, ambition, and the divide between different work philosophies. With a deep dive on his latest piece, The Glass-Half War: Empty or Full? we uncover the power of storytelling and the influence of narratives on “shaping reality” in a world of misinformation and disinformation. Further highlighting the importance of nuance and individual beliefs in an increasingly online, automated, and decentralized world.
Bonus!! Kyle offers a preview into his upcoming Investing 101 writing on the age of acquisition, cycles of hype, and deflation in the tech industry. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the dynamics of the startup ecosystem and the evolving perspectives on work and success.
Kyle Harrison → Linkedin + Twitter
Resources + Timestamps
Contrary Research
Trending Reports: SpaceX, Notion, Wiz, SHEIN, Midjourney, Ramp, Anduril
Deep Dive: The Openness of AI, The Great Bank Unbundling
Foundations & Frontiers by Anna-Sofia Lesiv
Popular Investing 101 Pieces
Using Science Fiction to Invent the Future, Inspired by the Institute of Future in Palo Alto
Working Hard, Or Hardly Working?
Venture Capital Is The Name, AUM Collection Is The Game
Institutionalized Belief in The Greater Fool
Or Why Hopin Is Everything Wrong With Venture Capital
Cottage Keepers vs. Capital Agglomerators
Interview Timestamps:
(00:00) Preview and Intro
(00:56) Kyle Harrison: A Journey from Filmmaker to Venture Capitalist
(06:16) The Evolution and Strategy of Contrary VC
(09:35) Open Source Research in Venture Capital
(15:37) Finding And Helping The Greatest People On The Planet
(17:47) Investing 101: The Art of Writing and Reflection
(21:00) Reflecting on Personal Writing: Hits and Misses
(23:17) Exploring the Impact of Social Media and Work Culture
(23:57) The Philosophical Divide in Work Ethic and Ambition
(27:30) Techno Optimism and the Power of Positive Narratives
(28:52) Reflections on Storytelling and Reality
(34:20) The Influence of Location on Perspective and Innovation
(39:07) Looking Forward: The Age of Acquisition and Hype Cycles
(45:56) Wrap
thanks Molly "Investing 101" is a great source