Quantum Advantage Capital
About
Co-author of The New Builders - a look a the changing nature of entrepreneurship in…
Activity
10K followers
-
Seth Levine shared thisThis conversation with Alisa was particularly deep and insightful. In it, I talked about a number of things that I rarely discuss publicly. I appreciate Alisa's thoughtful and provacative questioning as well as her framing of our conversation below. If you have a minute to listen, I'd certaintly appreciate your feedback.Seth Levine shared thisIn 2007, Seth Levine told his wife he thought he'd lost their life savings. He and Brad Feld had put everything they had into launching Foundry. By May, the fundraise was going nowhere, and every answer was no. Seth was ready to admit it wasn't going to work and go find a job. After six years as a VC, he wasn't sure what that job would even be. His wife told him to keep going. Then Foundry got one yes. That single yes pulled in the rest of the money behind it. Foundry closed its first fund at $225 million, $50 million over target. Foundry went on to become a legendary firm. Seth shared that story with me in the latest podcast episode, where we talk more about what makes founders succeed, how boards should be thinking about AI right now, and how to have hard conversations among the leadership. Listen to the whole podcast by clicking the link in the comments.
-
Seth Levine shared thisExcited to welcome three outstanding people to Macalester College's board!Seth Levine shared thisThree new trustees will begin their service when Macalester College’s Board of Trustees meets this fall. Macalester welcomes distinguished alumni: Marcia Burkey ’84, former TerraPower CFO and executive vice president; Rafael Carrillo ’95, founder and managing director of CoreBridge Advisory; and Nathaniel Sloane ’75, chair of the board, Housing Solutions. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gtTPy3YR
-
Seth Levine shared thisJohn Dearie and the Center for American Entrepreneurship have been loud and consistent voices for thoughtful policies to promote entrepreneurship and broad-based economic growth. I particularly appreciate his call-out of the INVEST Act in the piece below. I've said it many times as well - the only way out of the current US debt cycle is via increased productivity.Seth Levine shared thisFaster Economic Growth -- Powered by #Entrepreneurship -- is the Key to Tackling America's Debt Crisis From 1947 through 2000, the U.S. economy grew at an average annual rate of 3.5 percent. Not every year — some years were slower, some faster — but for 54 years the economy grew at an average annual rate of 3.5 percent. By stark contrast, since 2005 the U.S. economy has grown by 3 percent or better, on a year-over-year basis, only twice — by 3.0 percent in 2018 and by 6.2 percent in 2021 as the economy rebounded from the Covid shutdown. Over the past two decades, annual growth in real GDP has averaged a meager 2 percent. On May 28th, growth in the first quarter of this year was revised downward to just 1.6 percent. The difference between growth of 2 percent and 3.5 percent may not seem hugely significant, but in an economy the size of the U.S. economy, percentage points matter — especially over time. Over a 25-year period, the difference between 3.5 percent annual growth rather than 2 percent is an additional — that is, on top of the output generated by 2 percent growth — $185 trillion in real GDP. Think of the implications for jobs, wages, and opportunity. And for federal tax receipts. Since the end of World War II, the federal government has consistently collected about 17 percent of GDP in tax revenue, regardless of marginal income tax rates. Seventeen percent of $185 trillion is an additional $32 trillion in federal tax revenue over 25 years — 82 percent of America’s current national debt. Indeed, had the U.S. economy grown at 3.5 percent year over year since 2005 rather than by 2 percent — even with the same federal spending over the period — America’s national debt would currently total about $20 to $22 trillion, 45 percent less than the current $39 trillion because of an additional $12.5 trillion in federal tax revenue generated by the faster growth, together with at least $5 trillion in interest savings on debt that would not have been incurred. America doesn’t just have a spending problem — it has an economic growth problem. Thriving entrepreneurship is a large part of the solution. https://lnkd.in/eD-wFzRyFaster growth is the key to tackling America’s debt crisisFaster growth is the key to tackling America’s debt crisis
-
Seth Levine shared thisRecorded this a few months ago (which is a lifetime in AI, of course). Still relevant... probably even more so now.Seth Levine shared this"Cutting entry-level jobs for AI will backfire." Seth Levine thinks companies are on an AI sugar high right now. In one of our favorite episodes, the co-founder of Foundry VC, describes what's happening inside a lot of companies. The logic feels airtight: we're more productive, more profitable, and no longer need to hire entry-level employees. The bill comes later. People age out of mid-level and senior roles. If no one entered at the bottom and got trained, there's no one to move up. You optimized the quarter and quietly broke the pipeline that staffs the org five years from now. Seth still thinks companies will get more efficient, and that it's probably good for the economy overall. But the operators who win are the ones who don't confuse a sugar high with fitness.
-
Seth Levine shared thisColorado's primary is Tuesday, June 30. If your ballot is still sitting on the counter, consider this your reminder. I'm voting for Phil Weiser for governor, and I hope you will too. Phil has the most affirmative, pro-growth vision in the race - welcoming new industries, modernizing Colorado's regulatory environment rather than just sloganeering about it, and investing in the workforce, housing, and infrastructure that growth actually requires. When more than 400 Colorado business leaders signed an open letter on the state's innovation future, he was the only candidate it was addressed to who responded with anything substantive. That tells you how he'd govern - by asking how he can help. It's a very tight race, and turnout is small enough that your ballot genuinely matters. I made the full case here: https://lnkd.in/gdDEnXvq
-
Seth Levine shared thisOm Malik passed away this week. He was one of the greats - smart, thoughtful, and kind. Always willing to engage on an interesting idea or a hard question, but he took his time and thought deeply before weighing in. That combination is rare. A wonderful writer, an outstanding photographer, and an amazing human. The world was a better place with him in it. I wrote a few words about him here: https://lnkd.in/gRDDHim9
-
Seth Levine shared thisOne of the things I enjoy most about putting ideas out into the world is when people engage thoughtfully with them. And especially when that engagement pushes my thinking. Chris does just that in his piece linked below. I'd encourage you to take a look.Seth Levine shared thisCapitalism isn't broken. It's behaving exactly like physics says it should. Seth Levine has written a book, and has made a very thoughtful case that American capitalism doesn't need replacing; it needs to evolve and remember what made it work. I respect Seth...I also think that whether we can fix capitalism is the wrong question. Everyone's debating whether to fix capitalism or reimagine it. Nobody's asking the question underneath: is there a structure that supersedes it entirely? Here's the uncomfortable part. Capitalism's closest cousin in the natural world is coral. It expands at the edges, calcifies, builds on its own skeleton. But coral stops when conditions turn, and its base is dead and asks for nothing. Capitalism never stops, and its base never dies. It just eats. Expansion with no reinvestment, in a closed system, until it can't hold its own weight. That isn't a moral failing. It's entropy. Same rule, same ending. So the question I care about isn't how to renovate inside a structure built on the universe's law of collapse. It's whether we can build something better. The how: use AI. It can hold contradictory positions at once, run infinite tests, and attack its own assumptions in ways we can't in the real world. We're out of time and slack to run live experiments on an economy that billions of people are standing on. The model isn't. Maybe we can't do better. But we've never had a tool that could even try at this speed, and we're about to point it at quarterly earnings instead. New Field Note, link in the comments. Read Seth's piece first. It's good, and worth your time. Then come tilt the stage with me. #capitalism #AI #systemsthinking
-
Seth Levine shared thisThe biggest economic question of the last fifty years was about the role of government. The biggest question of the next fifty will be about the role of business. The International Economy put a single question to seventeen economists, historians, and investors in its current edition: Does American capitalism need to be reimagined? My answer — and the core thesis that Elizabeth MacBride and I argued for in Capital Evolution Book — is that the status quo isn't an option, but neither is replacing capitalism. What we need is an evolution, not a revolution. The challenge is straightforward: we need more capitalists. When the wealthiest 10% own 87% of corporate equities, it shouldn't surprise anyone that so many people have lost faith in the system. Broadening ownership is the most direct path. When KKR sold C.H.I. Overhead Doors, the average worker walked away with $175,000. Publix, employee-owned, ranks #1 in customer trust among grocery brands. It works across industries and company sizes. The AI productivity surge makes this urgent. If the gains flow only to the shareholders of a handful of tech companies, the political consequences will be severe. Full piece here: https://lnkd.in/grbkNdwv
-
Seth Levine shared thisYou all know who I’m supporting… don’t forget to send in your ballot!Seth Levine shared thisYIKES. Colorado peeps. This headline is new and...unsettling. Do you want to be represented by someone who is earning votes via his wealth and the wealth of non-resident backers? Or do you want to be represented by someone who has raised money and confidence through handshakes across our state for the last many years. I know my answer. You have your ballot. I'd love to speak to anyone about this who is interested in learning more about the basis for my conviction. Say the word. Vote Phil Weiser for Colorado Governor today. https://lnkd.in/gMwHgBJcMichael Bennet loans his campaign for governor $1M as support from Michael Bloomberg surpasses $4.6MMichael Bennet loans his campaign for governor $1M as support from Michael Bloomberg surpasses $4.6M
-
Seth Levine liked thisSeth Levine liked thisA Green diamond. That's the flow the Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Forum schedule on Sept 11 with our 80+ speakers. We start the day with a common experience, all together in the main hall. From the Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Hall Of Fame Winner Matt Oppenheimer D'05 celebrated by Trustee Maia Josebachvili D'05, to the next generation of fresh Dartmouth entrepreneurs like Doug Tallmadge D'18, to data insights from Daegwon Chae D'15 and Scott D. Anthony D'96, the morning is designed to have a shared experience. Next, the diamond broadens out to maximize conversations, meeting other alums, networking and talking. We have a series of Panels, a lunch, and Green Circles to break the ice. Something for everyone. An inspiring double-bottom-line story with Si France, MD T'07 MD'07. Implications of Bio Security in the Age of AI with Geoff Ralston '82. Views from the cutting edge of AI Infra and Security with Emily Choi-Greene D'17. The future of Space opportunities with M Umair Siddiqui D'10. The raw challenge of starting a VC firm in 2026 with Sheena Jindal T'19. So many more. The middle of the day is designed to make connections across shared interests and curiosities. Then, the diamond brings us all together for more shared common ground on the main stage. We hear the story of sports and investing excellence with William Chisholm '91 and Trustee Jeff Crowe '78. Get inspired by the challenges of building a new media company with Jamie Heller '89 and Madison McIlwain '18. All coming together for beverages and snacks with a Founders Market of Dartmouth-led products like Lauren Adler 'T'95's chocolates to end the (long!) day. The Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth is putting on a great show on Sept 11 in SF. We hope you join us. (Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/ejQ8tVnU). I'm proud to be a part of it as an Advisory Board Member and collaborator from Green D Ventures (an Alumni Ventures Fund) with Charlotte Jenkins.
-
Seth Levine liked thisWith first-year students arriving Monday, excitement is building about the start of a new academic year at Macalester College. Delighted to be recognized by The Princeton Review for all we do to create an environment where students thrive! 💙🧡Seth Levine liked thisThe Princeton Review released their 2027 list of best colleges, and we're proud to once again be included! We love it when national publications like this recognize all the great things about our Mac community. We've got a lot to be proud of, Scots! #HeyMac
-
Seth Levine liked thisSeth Levine liked thisOne of my favorite compliments to receive is "Your team is phenomenal!" As I've eased back into work from maternity leave over the last few weeks, several people have shared this sentiment with me. It has been a huge blessing to be able to enjoy my sweet daughter's first few months largely offline and know that the trains were still running at Collab Capital. Thank you Barry Givens, Baheejah Crumbley, and Sydney Holness for stepping up and leading so well while I was away. Earlier this week, I had the unique experience of simply showing up to a Collab event. For the first time, I wasn't intimately involved in the details of it. And guess what? It turned out beautifully! We hosted a wonderful group of investors, founders, and strategic partners for "The Exit Circle", an event to connect the dots in our ecosystem, and hopefully spur future deal flow and exit activity. Barry Givens led a riveting fireside discussion with Robert L. Greene (Bob), President of National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC). Bob is one of my favorite speakers. He has such a wealth of knowledge about our industry and helped set important context for all of us who are navigating the work of institution-building. Thank you, Bob! Baheejah Crumbley spotlighted some of our most promising portfolio companies, along with a few founder friends we're cheering on. Thank you Arielle Martin, Trevor Gary, Hafeezah Muhammad, Crystal Brown, Mark Tevis, Cody Coleman and TJ Richardson for joining us. A huge thank you to our sponsors: MHR International, TruFund Financial Services and BMO! We are so grateful for your support. A special thank you to Mike Ross who seeded the event, and continues to be a steadfast friend, mentor, and supporter of our work and mission. Thank you Christina Whatley-Williamson for setting the vibes 🎶 , and thank you to our friends at Pronghorn, IBest Wines, and Black Leaf Organic Vodka for providing wine and spirits for our guests. We want to continue to build our community of downstream capital partners, corporate development professionals and other strategic partners who can help create more pathways to growth and liquidity for founders. If that's you, and you're interested in learning more about future opportunities to connect, please sign up via the form linked in the comments.
-
Seth Levine liked thisSeth Levine liked thisColorado Startup Week is coming up, and we’re talking about what it takes to build companies that create value not only for today, but for the communities and generations that come next. Join us for the panel, “The Giving Advantage: Building Companies That Scale With Giving Built In,” with: - Seth Levine, Co-founder & Partner at Foundry, co-founder of Pledge 1% - Ryan Martens, Co-founder of Rally Software, co-founder of Pledge 1% - Jan D'Alessandro, Chief Legal & Philanthropy Officer, Pledge 1% Global - I’ll be moderating the conversation on behalf of Pledge 1% Colorado and Community Foundation Boulder County. We’ll look at what it means to embed generosity early, through equity, profits, or carry, and hear real perspectives from pioneering founders and investors on what works, what gets complicated, and why building giving in from the start can be an advantage. Because companies don’t just grow within a community. They help shape it. - When: September 16, 12:00–1:00 PM MT - Where: CSW HQ, 12th Floor, 930 15th St, Denver - Register: https://lnkd.in/dBqajrfV Pledge 1% Colorado | https://lnkd.in/dnX_UEEG #CSW #coloradostartupweek Micah Mador Erik Mitisek
-
Seth Levine liked thisSeth Levine liked thisI’m grateful the Macalester College advancement team had the chance to step back, catch up, and brainstorm this week during our annual retreat at Norway House. We took a moment to reflecting on FY26 - $34 million raised and 92k point of engagement with our community 🎉- before diving into how we will work together to bring Mac’s mission to life this year. ✨Grounded ourselves in the Imagine, Macalester strategic plan and the Brighter campaign, keeping our sights on unlocking opportunities for current and future students. Dug into research from Ologie about what current and prospective students and families care about most so we can support the work of our colleagues in admissions and student affairs while delivering on our division’s goals. 🧡 Ended the day with Laurie Adamson, M.A. leading us in a thoughtful and fun (there were LEGO)conversation about how we embody our personal values in our work at Mac. Huge thanks to everyone who brought energy and ideas to the room. I’m excited about what we’re going to pull off in FY27! 🚀
-
Seth Levine liked thisI've been incredibly lucky to be in David's orbit for the last ~20 yrs, since Techstars' inaugural class -- first as a mentor, then an employee, and now a partner and a friend. Immediately following Google's acquisition of FeedBurner in June of '07, at Brad's urging, a few of us went to Boulder to speak and host office hours. I was instantly hooked as I had been looking for a way to support others professionally, w/o an expectation of getting something in return, sans any direct financial ties, etc. In other words...#givefirst. We're all deeply grateful to you for creating such an incredible community, dedicated entirely to supporting one another (on so many different levels!). Givefirst is absolutely real, you feel it in every interaction across the network. Lastly, I can't post this without also thanking David Cohen, Brad Feld, David Brown, Seth Levine personally as they and many many others in the community have had a profound impact on my journey. I know that I'm not alone in feeling this way and I'm sure we all hope that we've given just a tad more than we've received.Seth Levine liked thisWhen we started Techstars back in 2006, people thought we were out of our minds. Giving early-stage founders cash, office space, and a massive network of mentors who #GiveFirst wasn’t an industry yet. It was just a crazy experiment in Boulder. 20 years, 11,000+ founders, and 29 unicorns later, the world looks very different. Building a company is still brutally hard, and navigating tough cycles takes everything a founder has. But our core belief hasn't changed for a second: founders come first. TIME recently named Techstars the #1 Accelerator in America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators for 2026. I’m grateful for this recognition, but let’s be real, a ranking is never why any of us do this work. The real metric is whether a founder's life and trajectory are fundamentally changed because Techstars stood in their corner. This recognition belongs entirely to our community: the founders who grind every single day, our team members and Managing Directors in the trenches, our mentors who give their time freely, and the investors who believe in our mission. Building the future is continuous work, and we are right back at it alongside these amazing founders. Onward. TIME ranking: https://lnkd.in/dE5tgtpjAmerica’s Best Incubators and Accelerators of 2026America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators of 2026
Experience & Education
Volunteer Experience
-
Board Member
The Unreasonable Institute
- 10 years
Economic Empowerment
I was a founding member of the board of directors of Unreasonable Institute and a mentor in the program. I also write for their media arm.
-
Board Member
Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association
- 15 years
Science and Technology
-
Advisory Board Member
Sadara Ventures - The Middle East Venture Capital Fund
- Present 15 years
Economic Empowerment
-
Advisory Board Member
The Starting Line
- Present 8 years 4 months
Languages
-
French (some), ASL
-
Recommendations received
2 people have recommended Seth
Join now to viewOther similar profiles
Explore more posts
Explore top content on LinkedIn
Find curated posts and insights for relevant topics all in one place.
View top content