Innovation with Mark Peter Davis

Venture studios are quietly becoming one of the most effective models for company creation, but most people still don't understand what happens inside one.For this podcast episode I sat down with Andy Bilinsky, Partner at Interplay leading our Studio, to break down exactly how we build companies from the ground up. During our conversation, we covered:What a venture studio actually is and how it differs from traditional VCWhy do we research industries deeply before ever writing a business planThe role of operating partners as true co-foundersWhy second- and third-time founders are choosing to build with a studio instead of going soloHow Interplay went from 3 new companies in Q4 2025 to targeting 10+ in 2026Big thanks to Andy for pulling back the curtain on how we build. We’re grateful to have him here at Interplay.⏱️ Chapter Markers: 00:00 Introduction to Andy Bilinsky 01:15 Andy's Entrepreneurial Background03:30 Early Career: Hyper-Growth at Haute Look05:45 BeachMint, Science Incubator & Chirp Ads08:00 Launching Lensable From Scratch09:30 Why Andy Joined Interplay13:00 What Is a Venture Studio?15:30 Interplay's Thesis-Driven Approach18:00 The Role of Operating Partners20:30 What Makes a Great Studio CEO24:00 Why Successful Founders Don't Go Solo27:30 The Value of a Firm as Co-Founder30:00 Administrative Support & De-Risking33:00 Distributed Teams & Geographic Flexibility35:00 Studio Growth: From 3 Companies to 10+Links:Andy Blinsky: LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

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 isWhy banks pulled back after the Global Financial CrisisHow private lenders stepped in to finance everything from consumer loans to equipment, infrastructure, and fintech platformsWhere 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.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 Introduction to Ivan Zinn01:40 What Private Credit Actually Is03:05 Asset-Based Lending Explained04:36 Why Banks Don’t Make These Loans08:11 How Private Credit Filled the Financing Gap09:19 Ivan’s Journey into Credit Investing11:49 Why Scale Matters in Private Credit16:32 Is There Still Room for Small Credit Managers?18:35 The Rise of Fintech-Driven Lending Models19:29 Biggest Mistakes New Credit Managers Make24:46 What CEOs Get Wrong When Raising Debt29:08 Aligning Expectations Between Lenders and Founders31:16 Why Private Credit Is Still Technologically Behind35:30 Massive Opportunities for Fintech Builders40:06 Selling Atalaya Capital Management to Blue Owl42:30 Should Asset Managers Go Public?44:58 Final Advice for Fintech EntrepreneursLinks:Ivan Zinn: LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

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 impactWhy labor markets may determine where we go nextGlobal 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.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome & Why 2025 Defied Gravity02:00 – Global GDP Surprise & Market Performance03:30 – The Structural Bull Market in Gold & Silver07:45 – When Would Gold Actually Fall?10:00 – 2026 Outlook: Cautiously Constructive11:45 – AI’s Real Impact on Productivity & Labor14:30 – Middle East Conflict & Oil Markets17:15 – Are Trade Wars Really Over?19:30 – Structural Protectionism & Supply Chains22:00 – The Americas Strategy & Regional Integration26:30 – U.S. Debt: Is There a Real Solution?29:45 – The Fed, Growth & Kevin Warsh’s Role32:45 – Final Takeaways for 2026Links:Chris Zhang: LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

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 Meroka, who's tackling one of the root problems:Consolidation that strips doctors of autonomyMisaligned incentives across the systemOutdated models that sacrifice care for throughput70% 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.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro01:20 – What is Meroka?03:30 – Why Independence Matters in Healthcare05:30 – The Trade-Off Between Scale & Patient Experience07:20 – Breaking Down Reimbursement Rates10:30 – Why Scale Has Meant Consolidation—Until Now14:50 – How Independent Practices Survive17:00 – The Myth That Doctors Are Bad at Business20:30 – Meroka’s Employee Ownership Model23:50 – Comparing to Private Equity Models26:00 – The Future of Healthcare as a Real Market28:30 – Final Thoughts & GratitudeLinks:Alex Barrett: LinkedInMeroka: Website, LinkedInInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter

This conversation blew me away. I sat down with Lydia Fenet, an auctioneer who’s raised over a billion dollars, and what started as a chat about charity auctions quickly turned into one of the most insightful masterclasses on sales, persuasion, and audience psychology I’ve ever heard.Lydia isn’t just good on stage, she’s world-class at reading people, building trust instantly, and closing with confidence. What’s wild is how much of what she does applies directly to startup life: pitching investors, closing enterprise deals, selling your vision.If you’re a founder, operator, or anyone in business, this episode is packed with tactics that’ll shift how you think about selling anything to anyone.⏱ Chapter Markers00:00 – Intro: Why Auctioneering Matters To Entrepreneurs01:15 – Lydia’s Unconventional Path Into Auctioneering04:00 – The High-Stakes World Of Charity Auctions06:15 – Launching The First Auctioneer Talent Agency08:00 – What Makes A Great Charity Auctioneer?11:00 – Sales Psychology On Stage13:45 – Audience Dynamics And Identifying Your “Auction Foil”17:30 – Anchoring Luxury With Impact: Values-Based Selling20:00 – The Power Of The Underbidder22:00 – Auction Tactics That Apply To Enterprise Sales25:00 – Selling With Empathy, Not A Script27:30 – The Power Of Suggestion And Painting The Picture31:00 – Closing Thoughts & Key TakeawaysLinks:Lyndia Fenet: Website, LinkedInBook (Written by Lyndia Fenet): The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You: Command an Audience and Sell Your Way to SuccessBook (Written by Lyndia Fenet): Claim Your Confidence: Unlock Your Superpower and Create the Life You WantInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterMPD: LinkedIn, Twitter