Mark Peter Davis

Private credit has exploded into a trillion-dollar asset class, but most people outside finance still don’t understand how it works. I sat down with Ivan Zinn, founder of Atalaya Capital Management and now part of Blue Owl Capital, to unpack the real mechanics behind the private credit market. Few people have a clearer view of how capital flows through the economy. During our chat we unpack: - What private credit actually is - Why banks pulled back after the Global Financial Crisis - How private lenders stepped in to finance everything from consumer loans to equipment, infrastructure, and fintech platforms - Where entrepreneurs could build meaningful companies by modernizing the infrastructure behind asset management. Big thanks to Ivan for sharing such a thoughtful and practical perspective on the evolving capital markets ecosystem.

Is the global economy stronger than it looks or more fragile beneath the surface? If you’re trying to reconcile booming markets with rising geopolitical risk, this week’s episode brings an important perspective. I sat down with Chris Zhang, Partner & CIO of Ascend Interplay, to break down the real forces shaping 2026: - How AI is shifting from a narrative to a measurable economic impact - Why labor markets may determine where we go next - Global structural shifts that are underway - from escalating Middle East tensions to the rise of protectionism - and what they imply for supply chains, inflation dynamics, and U.S. debt sustainability. Big thanks to Chris for a thoughtful, data-driven discussion.

.@Interplay alumni Jeremy Banon is off solving real problems. Cyber security needs to get easier for all of us.

companies who raised a seed round the past 6 months in these metro areas: SF - 347 NYC- 250 LA - 97 Boston - 86 Miami- 59 Austin - 50 Denver- 35 Seattle- 29 Atlanta - 27 SLC - 16 DC - 14 Philly - 5

Why is U.S. healthcare so broken? If you're not sure why it’s so expensive or dysfunctional, this week’s podcast may illuminate the answers for you. I sat down with Alex Barrett, Cofounder & CEO of @JoinMeroka, who's tackling one of the root problems: - Consolidation that strips doctors of autonomy - Misaligned incentives across the system - Outdated models that sacrifice care for throughput 70% of doctors now work for big systems, but Alex is charting a new path by giving independent practices scale, liquidity, and ownership without the need to sell out. Special thanks to Alex for joining the pod - this is one of the smartest takes I’ve heard on how to fix healthcare from the inside.

We're proud to share that @interplay Ventures portfolio company @olliepets has been acquired by Agrolimen. This is an exciting outcome; the Ollie team deserves a big congratulations on building a defining brand in the human-grade pet food space. Read more about our investment and the Ollie story here: interplay.vc/blog/ollie-is-…

What is Founder's Preferred Stock? Why should you use Founder's Preferred Stock? Some great bits from Eric Broad this week. #bowerylegal #founderstock #venturecapital #startups #legal

Big congrats to @bradsvrluga and the @PrimaryVC team on the launch of Fund 5! I know it's been a lot of hard work to get here. You have a lot to be proud of. If you don't know @PrimaryVC here's a video: youtube.com/watch?v=dQ084B…

What can startup founders learn from a world-class charity auctioneer? A lot more than you'd think. @LydiaFenet, the Founder and CEO of Lydia Fenet Agency, has raised over $1B with nothing but a mic, a crowd, and pure sales genius. In our latest episode, she breaks down how auction psychology translates directly to fundraising, enterprise sales, and closing high-stakes deals. If you’re closing big deals, this deserves your attention.

We’ve all been there: wanting to resell clothes but dreading the 'listing' process. For your customers, that friction is the #1 barrier to a circular economy. Relist is changing that, and we’re proud to announce they’ve joined the Interplay Accelerator. 🚀 Resale is already happening around every brand and Relist makes that process brand-safe, easy, and scalable by letting customers resell past purchases in one click across major marketplaces. If you’re a brand ready to make resale as easy as the initial purchase, this is the infrastructure you’ve been waiting for. Huge credit to founders Maneesh K., Ben Leitner, and Ben Tatsuoka for building core resale infrastructure at the intersection of commerce, sustainability, and customer experience. We're excited to partner as they build the future of brand-led resale. Read the blog here: interplay.vc/blog/building-…

@bradsvrluga has been a mentor and a close friend of mine for years. Watching him build @PrimaryVC - one of the most respected firms in the industry - has been a masterclass in itself, so sitting down with him for this episode was a highlight I've been looking forward to and a great way to kick off the year. We went deep on an often overlooked topic in VC: How do you actually scale a firm's infrastructure? Whether you're a GP or a founder, Brad’s perspective on building a modern, institutional-grade firm is unmatched.

The legal sector has long resisted automation, but that resistance is finally breaking down. With GenAl, shifting economic incentives, and new regulatory flexibility, legal tech is entering a phase of real structural transformation. In this blog post, Marina Perez-Llorca shares how we're thinking about the opportunity from an investor and builder perspective, including: • Why adoption is now being pulled by the market, not pushed by vendors • How outcome-based pricing and tech-enabled services unlock real leverage • Where we're seeing the strongest momentum: litigation, IP, and hybrid service models Read the full post here: interplay.vc/blog/legal-tec…

Stock options are a common form of equity compensation that startup founders use as a tool to attract talent, reward early contributors, and enable others to share in the future growth of their company. Here is a great guide from us. linkedin.com/pulse/stock-op…

To make the math simple, the car on the left is $25k. The car on the right is $150k. That said, the key question in my mind aren’t the design choices each made but how regulators will frame their expectations to have a robust, safe fully autonomous fleet in their city. I suspect, initially, they start with licenses for both. And as they collect data it will be incumbent on Tesla to show their error tolerances are as good or better than Waymo. Otherwise, it creates a lobbying opportunity for Waymo to convince regulators that increasing the BoM helps increase safety for pedestrians and other drivers. And, as such, their design decisions should be mandatory. This is the obvious risk. That said, what’s non obvious are the other players who may push for Waymo simply to create a large capital barrier for entry and a much slower payback period. More generally though, autonomous driving is an incredibly relaxing and increasingly effortless experience. Going from stressed out driver to relaxed passenger shouldn’t be under estimated. I drive my Model Y in autopilot (or FSD mode) all the time - I always get confused which one is which. Anyways, last week I also took a Waymo 4 times. Both are marvelous feats of engineering.

Our 2026 predictions are in. From IPOs to AI to robots - check out what we think is actually coming in 2026. To wrap up 2025, I regroup with @Mikeyjrog and @PhuongIreland for our annual end-of-year episode, where we look back at last year's predictions (they passed with flying colors) and set our sights on what’s ahead. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the topics covered: ✅ AI’s real impact on blue and white collar jobs. 📈 The slow thaw of the IPO market. 💸 The maturing of venture capital into a robust capital market ecosystem. 🤖 Why humanoid robots might finally enter the chat. 🚀 How seed-stage startups have fundamentally changed - and what will make or break them next year. If you're a founder, investor, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve, this one’s packed with insight. 🎧 Listen & let us know what YOU think is coming in 2026? Drop your predictions in the comments. 👇

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬, 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬 𝐚 𝟐𝟎-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 From 200+ portfolio companies to 9 unicorns, 15 co-founded startups, and a half-billion-dollar platform — this conversation is a masterclass in building an institution, not just a fund. Highlights from my conversation with Mark Peter Davis (@mpd ) (0:00) Introduction (0:31) Evolution and counterintuitive lessons in venture investing (3:25) Reconciling investment worldviews and managing liquidity (7:35) Decision-making and aligning VC incentives with LP interests (12:03) Building an enduring institution and measuring success (18:07) Achieving access to competitive deals and proprietary deal flow (24:24) Competitive tension's impact on investment support (27:19) Integrity and resources in VC partnerships (30:02) Entrepreneurial experience's value in venture capital (32:24) Startups' challenges and the role of pattern recognition (35:24) Unlearning and cognitive restructuring in entrepreneurship (37:23) Mastering the complexities of long-term entrepreneurship (38:11) Timeless advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and enduring success (41:51) Closing remarks 🎥 Full episode below 👇

What if you approached philanthropy like a startup? The results might shock you and completely rewire how you think about giving. I sit down with the one and only @markgerson, Cofounder and Chair of 3i Members, to dive deep into how you can treat generosity like a capital allocation decision. We unpack a framework for ROI-driven giving that prioritizes measurable impact over emotional check-writing. Whether you give already or you’re just starting to think about it, this is a practical, purpose-driven guide to doing the most good in a faster and smarter way. Special thanks to Mark for joining me on the pod and for all the amazing work he does.