Matthew Mandel

I’m an investor at Union Square Ventures in NYC. I write about the things I’m most excited about like technology, philosophy, business, and culture. If you’re interested in following my writing, you can subscribe below:

  • Against The End of History of Venture Capital

    I’ve written previously about the deep tech opportunity. While lean software startups have been a great place to invest venture capital over the last thirty years, I believe we’re living through a shift where future returns in venture capital will be more driven by companies that engage in fundamental innovation. Another way to put this…

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  • Cactos

    The dramatic reduction in the cost of solar energy means we can cheaply produce clean power– but only when the sun is out. Batteries are a natural companion to solar, capable of soaking up surplus energy when the sun is shining, and using that energy or feeding it back to the grid at night. Fortunately, batteries…

  • Presto

    Electric vehicles are a prime example of how electricity will be used in more complex ways as we electrify everything to reduce carbon emissions. As batteries, they enable shifting electricity usage in time, and as vehicles, they enable shifting usage in space. At USV, we’ve been interested in facilitating this future of more programmable energy.  The…

  • The Deep Tech Opportunity

    Venture History Modern venture history begins with General Georges Doriot’s American Research and Development (ARD) Corporation. ARD invested in a wide range of novel technologies, from off-shore oil and radiation detection to, most importantly, minicomputers. As Tom Nicholas notes in his VC: An American History, ARD’s value grew at an attractive 15.8% compound annual growth…

  • Collaborative Intelligence

    Humans are not simple creatures. Although we like to present ourselves as coherent wholes to the outside world, on the inside, we’re divided. Marvin Minsky argues in The Society of Mind that minds are composed of smaller agents, each with specialized roles and drives. Inside Out similarly imagines the mind as made up of joyful,…

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