Which is harder: being a founder or being an investor? Mike Lazerow has done both, building and selling companies for nearly $1 billion and now running a $400M VC fund and a PE firm. His answer might surprise you. In this interview, Mike unpacks the "existential dread" of entrepreneurship versus the challenges of deploying capital. He shares why he's most excited about AI transforming "boring" businesses , the reality of feeling lost and purposeless after a massive exit, and the single most important lesson he's learned: your network is your net worth. Check out the company: https://velvetseavc.com

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: [email protected]

00:00 - Founder vs. Investor: Which is Harder?

01:19 - Why I Still Prefer Being an Entrepreneur

02:04 - Scratching Both Itches: VC vs. PE

05:49 - The Best Part of Being an Investor

07:23 - Why AI Will Revolutionize "Boring" Businesses

12:03 - The Post-Exit Depression No One Talks About

14:30 - Feeling Lost After Selling for $1 Billion

16:01 - Why We're the Luckiest People in the World

19:57 - Why I Keep My Anonymity

23:36 - Money Buys Security, Health & Freedom

27:30 - Why Idle Brains Go Dark

31:41 - Your Network IS Your Net Worth

38:45 - Giving GaryVee His First Office Space

40:40 - The #1 Rule in Life & Business

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/ai-product-testing

▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFx

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

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