This episode of Skin in the Game features a deep, candid conversation with Felix Hartmann, founder of Hartmann Capital on what it really means to build and invest at the frontier of technology.

Felix’s story starts long before hedge funds and venture capital. He moved to the U.S. from Germany during the 2008 financial crisis, initially planning to stay for just a year. That plan changed quickly. Early exposure to markets, coding, and emerging technology led him down a path of trading, crypto infrastructure, and eventually founding his own firm and launching Hartmann Capital the same day he signed his first apartment lease.

A major theme throughout the episode is conviction through firsthand experience. Felix doesn’t invest from a distance. He tests products, uses them extensively, and looks for signals that can’t be captured in a pitch deck. Whether it’s VR games, smart glasses, or brain computer interface technology, he believes the clearest insight comes from being a real user and understanding how a product fits into daily life.

The conversation explores why Felix shifted away from liquid crypto trading and toward long-term venture investing in frontier categories like VR, spatial computing, wearables, and neural interfaces. He explains how hardware limitations slowed VR adoption, why smart glasses may be closer to a breakout moment, and how enterprise use cases often precede consumer adoption. The discussion also touches on sub-vocal communication technology that allows people to interact with devices without speaking out loud and why it could fundamentally change how humans interface with machines.

Saxon and Felix also discuss the realities of investing on the “bleeding edge,” where traditional metrics don’t exist and patience is required. Felix breaks down how power-law outcomes often come from non-consensus bets and why underfunded categories tend to attract the most mission-driven founders.

The episode closes with reflections on geography, talent, and ecosystem building from Florida’s role in capital formation to the continued importance of Silicon Valley and Los Angeles for early-stage innovation.

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Collins, Founder and CEO of Alumni Ventures, to explore how venture capital is evolving and why network-driven investing is becoming increasingly powerful. Mike shares the origin story of Alumni Ventures and how it grew from a small alumni-based experiment into one of the most active venture platforms in the world, backing hundreds of companies across stages, sectors, and geographies.

The conversation dives into how Alumni Ventures approaches investing without leading rounds, instead partnering alongside top-tier venture firms while leveraging a global network of investors, operators, and founders. Mike explains how this “connected capital” model creates value beyond the check and why collaboration, rather than competition, is core to the firm’s strategy.

We also touch on broader trends shaping the future of venture capital, including artificial intelligence, energy innovation, healthcare, and the globalization of entrepreneurship. Drawing on decades of experience as both an operator and investor, Mike offers a thoughtful perspective on long-term thinking, governance, and what truly drives successful outcomes in venture backed companies.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at a modern VC model, with insights that are relevant for founders, investors, and anyone curious about where innovation and capital are headed next.

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We sat down with Andrew Wright, founder of Franklin Street, for a fascinating conversation about market dynamics, building resilient businesses, and the future of the Tampa Bay region.

Andrew shared how he launched Franklin Street at 26 and grew it into a full ecosystem of real estate services from capital markets and leasing to insurance and property management. He talks about why diversified revenue streams matter, especially in industries that ebb and flow with economic cycles.

We also unpacked today’s commercial real estate environment. Andrew describes the moment as a “rain delay” transactions are slow, liquidity is tight, and valuations are still adjusting after rapid interest-rate hikes. Even so, Florida remains uniquely strong thanks to continued population and capital migration. As lenders start pushing stalled assets toward resolution, he believes new opportunities will emerge.

Beyond market trends, Andrew shared insights on scaling teams, building culture, and developing young talent. His emphasis on authenticity, mentorship, and long-term potential over static skill sets is a refreshing and realistic take on leadership today.

We also explored the future of Westshore, including transportation needs, density, and how thoughtful planning could unlock the next phase of growth for the district. Add in his perspective on AI’s impact on real estate operations, and this episode covers a ton of ground.

If you're interested in real estate, leadership, or Tampa’s economic evolution, this is a must-listen.

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