Learning in Public with Max Melmed

About Learning in Public with Max Melmed

This is an exploratory podcast. From alternative investments and technological innovations to our relationships with each other and our environment, we explore humanity's evolving relationship with money, technology, and our planet through real stories with real people. The goal is to learn and build deeper connections. Tune in as family, friends, investors, entrepreneurs, and other guests share stories, insights, and ideas. Various formats/topics explored - episodes labeled accordingly. This is our journey of learning in public, empowering an open exchange. We hope you join us.

Publisher

Max Melmed

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Jun 2024

Latest episode

24 Oct 2024

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Oct 2024

   Ben Haber, Co-Founder & CEO of Monark Markets - B2B Infrastructure for Private Markets

   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Personal Background 05:55 From Culinary Arts to Entrepreneurship 09:17 Transitioning to NYU and Discovering Private Markets 16:30 Founding Monark: The Beginning of a New Venture 22:21 Acquisition of Lex Markets and Its Significance 27:13 Navigating Regulatory Approvals and Compliance 29:14 Monark's Business Model and Market Positioning 39:09 Addressing Liquidity Challenges in Private Markets 48:32 The Current State of Private Market Investments 56:26 Building Trust and Relationships in B2B Sales 01:07:11 Creative Cold Outreach Strategies 01:10:01 Building Relationships and Networking 01:15:12 Navigating Youth and Experience in Business 01:19:13 Handling Adversity and Team Dynamics 01:23:18 Building Trust with Partners and Clients 01:30:09 Attracting Quality Supply in Private Markets 01:35:35 Future Vision: Private Markets and Public Market Parallels 01:44:06 Monetizing Market Data and Revenue Streams 01:57:36 Final Words of Wisdom Summary (AI Generated) In this conversation, Ben Haber, co-founder and CEO of Monark Markets, shares his journey from a childhood steeped in entrepreneurship to the founding of a company aimed at revolutionizing access to private markets. He discusses his unique experiences in high school and college, the acquisition of Lex Markets assets, and the challenges and opportunities in the private investment landscape. The conversation highlights the importance of liquidity, transparency, and the need for fair access to alternative investments. In this conversation, Ben Haber discusses the importance of creating a sustainable ecosystem for investors, the challenges of navigating B2B sales, and the significance of building trust and relationships in business. He shares insights on creative outreach strategies, the value of warm introductions, and overcoming age and experience barriers. The discussion also touches on handling adversity in business, ensuring investor confidence, attracting quality supply in private markets, and the future of private markets.

2. 

   17 Sept 2024

   John Paul DeVito - Unique Experiences and Powerful Stories From Nearly 50 Years on Wall Street

   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and John Paul DeVito's Journey in Finance 03:44 Early Years on Wall Street 09:24 Experience with Jordan Belfort 15:37 Initial Lessons & Evolution of Electronic Trading 25:08 Unique Experience and Perspective on 9/11 36:52 Moving forward with Entrepreneurial Endeavors 49:36 Inteliclear - Post Trade Processing For The Modern Era 01:06:40 The Backstory and Opportunity with OpenHand 01:19:05 Some stories and Life Lessons Summary (AI Generated Show Notes) In this episode, Max Melmed interviews John Paul DeVito about his early years on Wall Street and his experiences during September 11th. They discuss DeVito's journey into finance, the challenges he faced as an Italian on Wall Street, and the evolution of capital markets and electronic trading. They also touch on DeVito's involvement with Stratton Oakmont and the downfall of Adler Coleman. The conversation highlights the importance of regulatory compliance and the need for innovation in the industry. The conversation in this part focuses on the personal experiences of John Paul DeVito during the events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent founding of IntelliClear. John shares his perspective on the tragedy and the acts of heroism he witnessed. He emphasizes the importance of doing the right thing and helping others. The conversation then shifts to the founding of IntelliClear and the challenges of building a new business in the financial industry. John highlights the need for efficient back-office processing and the role IntelliClear plays in providing solutions for traditional and alternative assets. He also discusses the role of blockchain technology as a messaging layer and the future of capital markets. Openhand is a subscription-based trading platform that aims to provide benefits to its members. It offers credits back to members' accounts that are greater than their subscription fees, allowing them to donate to charitable causes. The platform also focuses on transparency and providing true costs to members, such as the true cost of margin debit balances and the highest interest rates on credit balances. Openhand aims to revolutionize capital markets and create a community of members who benefit from their trading activities.

3. 

   12 Aug 2024

   James Runnels, Founder and CEO of Digital Prime Technologies - Prime Brokerage Solutions for Digital Assets

   Summary James Runnels, founder and CEO of Digital Prime Technologies, discusses the concept of prime brokerage in the digital asset space. He explains that prime brokerage offers various solutions to alternative fund managers, including securities lending, margin financing, and repo financing. Digital Prime Technologies has built a tech stack that allows traditional institutions to enter the digital asset space as a digital prime broker. Their initial focus is on borrowing and lending of top cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. The company provides a peer-to-peer institutional lending platform called Tokenet, which emulates traditional tools used by banks and broker dealers. Digital Prime is proud of being the first to facilitate loans in digital assets through an SEC entity. They have integrated with various service providers and prioritize client feedback to drive innovation. Onboarding clients can be a lengthy process due to counterparty documentation and regulatory obligations. The network effect is crucial for Tokenet's success, as they need both inventory and demand from lenders and borrowers. The ability to offer over-collateralized loans and provide tools for loan management and communication resonates with conservative lenders. The rate for lending out Bitcoin is currently around 4-6%, but it can vary based on collateral, creditworthiness, and market conditions. Tokenet currently supports five tokens and stablecoins as collateral, but they hope to expand the list in the future. They are also exploring options for secondary liquidity through partnerships with platforms like TZERO. The advice for entrepreneurs is to never give up, keep showing up, and have a short memory for failures. James Runnels draws parallels between coaching youth sports and being a founder, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, goal-setting, and dealing with rejection. Digital Prime is currently raising capital and welcomes support from accredited investors. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:41 Prime Brokerage and Traditional Finance 06:34 Digital Prime's Turnkey Solution 11:59 Securities Lending and Collateralization 14:33 TokenNet: A Uniform Platform for Counterparties 28:20 The Journey of Digital Prime 34:25 Client Feedback and Building for the Future 36:57 Shortening the Onboarding Process and the Ideal Timeframe 40:36 Overcollateralization and Adjusting Lending Terms 44:42 Onboarding Institutional Clients and Counterparty Credit 47:24 Interest Rates and Collateral Types 49:54 Future Growth and Tokenization 54:03 Integration with Reputable Custodians 58:24 Founder and Employee Liquidity 01:01:31 Never Give Up: Perseverance in Entrepreneurship 01:04:56 Advice for Entrepreneurs: Keep Showing Up 01:09:13 The Technology and Benefits of TokenNet

4. 

   6 Aug 2024

   Alex Kane - Founder and CEO of Sporttrade, Venture Backed Sports Betting Exchange

   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:41 The Concept of a Sports Betting Exchange 11:07 Sporttrade - Running a Fair and Orderly Market 23:49 Attracting and Working With the Right People 32:35 How to Convey the Value of Sporttrade, Simply. 42:41 The Moral Dilemma of Building a "Sin" Business 48:53 Reducing the Cost of Sports Betting 53:23 Founder and Employee Liquidity for a Venture Backed Business 01:06:02 Rapid Fire Questions... Why Would a Bettor Use Sporttrade? 01:08:54 What is the tape? (Specifically on Sporttrade) 01:11:09 What would you put on a billboard? 01:13:16 Best under $200 purchase 01:14:36 Biggest Learnings and Character Traits from Parents 01:18:48 Advice for fellow founders building venture scale businesses 01:22:56 Advice to yourself when starting out. 01:23:11 The Importance of Perseverance 01:23:47 Ways listeners can be helpful... Summary -- (All notes are AI generated) In this episode, Max Melmed interviews Alex Kane, the founder and CEO of Sport Trade, the largest sports betting exchange in the United States. They discuss the background and origin story of Sport Trade, as well as how a sports betting exchange operates differently from traditional sports betting apps. They also delve into the challenges of creating a fair and orderly market for in-play betting, and the importance of liquidity and market makers in the exchange. The conversation highlights the parallels between the financial trading industry and sports betting, and the potential for sports betting to evolve into a more efficient market. In this conversation, Max Melmed and Alex Kane discuss the similarities and differences between sports betting and electronic trading. They explore the positive and negative aspects of sports betting and how Sporttrade aims to provide a net positive experience for customers. They also touch on the importance of founder and employee liquidity in a venture-backed business. Alex emphasizes the need for transparency, fairness, and competitive pricing in the sports betting industry. He shares his vision for Sporttrade as the leading sports betting exchange and the importance of building a strong team and network. Lastly, they discuss the value of advice, the impact of parents, and the advice Alex would give to his younger self. Keywords sports betting, sports betting exchange, Sport Trade, origin story, market makers, liquidity, in-play betting, fair and orderly market, sports betting, electronic trading, similarities, differences, positive sum game, negative sum game, net positive experience, founder liquidity, employee liquidity, venture-backed business, transparency, fairness, competitive pricing, sports betting exchange, advice, parents Takeaways Sport Trade is the largest sports betting exchange in the United States, offering a different experience from traditional sports betting apps. The exchange operates similarly to a stock exchange, with prices sourced from various market makers and customers able to place limit orders. The challenge of creating a fair and orderly market for in-play betting is addressed through a modified auction system that accounts for the delay between the event and the broadcast. The partnership with market maker Dime Line Trading has been instrumental in providing liquidity and ensuring a positive user experience. The long-term vision for Sport Trade is to create a more efficient and transparent sports betting market, similar to the financial trading industry. Sports betting and electronic trading have similarities and differences, and it's important to understand the nuances of each market. Sports betting is a negative sum game, but it can still be a net positive experience for customers if it is regulated and operated responsibly. Founder and employee liquidity are important considerations in a venture-backed business, and it's crucial to find the right balance between risk and reward. Transparency, fairness, and competitive pricing are key factors in building a successful sports betting platform. Advice from experienced individuals can be valuable, but it's important to be selective about who you take advice from and to trust your own instincts. The support and guidance of parents can play a significant role in shaping an individual's success and character. Don't give up on your dreams and be willing to take risks in pursuit of your goals.

5. 

   16 Jun 2024

   Victor Melmed - From Siberia to Ellis Island to Vietnam and Beyond.

   In this episode of Learning in Public, Max Melmed interviews his father, Victor Melmed. They discuss Victor's journey, including his immigration to the United States, time in Vietnam, and successful career as an entrepreneur. Victor shares stories and lessons learned along the way, emphasizing the importance of mindset, treating people better than you'd like to be treated, as well as recognizing risks opportunities. Overall, it is a heartfelt and insightful discussion between a father and son. Please note : While there are only 2 curse words throughout the episode, there are multiple war stories and this episode is not intended for children. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 10:54 Two Holocaust Survivors Fulfill the American Dream 16:44 Smile and be nice 20:27 Comments on religion and family 22:44 Joining the Military and the 6 P's 29:48 Nisht Geferlach 31:57 Fort Bragg Training Camp Story 44:24 Ordered to go to Vietnam 46:07 The Red Baron and early battles 56:10 Challenges in Combat Situations 01:05:34 Threatened to get court marshalled, but ultimately saved hundreds of soldiers 01:20:09 Instead of R&R - Getting shot and nearly killed 01:32:20 Transition from Military to Entrepreneurship 01:35:09 Start of Melmed Realty 01:38:11 Biggest changes in society 01:39:46 Rapid Fire Stories and Advice about Life and Business 01:44:10 Mule Story 01:45:00 Horse story 01:48:53 Importance of mentors 01:52:39 Caught up and drinking Kool aid 01:57:01 Attitude and Mindset - new neighborhood story 01:58:26 Bill Veeck Story 02:03:02 What would you do today? Disney Opportunity 02:07:07 Final Words of Wisdom... Ask the hard questions 02:09:02 If you've got something to say - say it. 02:11:59 Trust your gut.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

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