The Biggest Business Lessons from 2025 : Ep 379

In this reflective solo episode, Bridger Pennington breaks down the most important business lessons he learned throughout 2025—lessons shaped by growth, pressure, mistakes, and real-world execution. Bridger shares:What scaled—and what broke: the systems, strategies, and assumptions that worked early but failed under real growth.Decision-making under pressure: how higher stakes changed the way risks were evaluated and why speed mattered more than perfection.The cost of misalignment: lessons learned from hiring, partnerships, and incentives that weren’t fully thought through.Focus as a force multiplier: why fewer priorities, clearer goals, and saying “no” more often drove better outcomes.Long-term thinking in real time: how playing the long game while navigating short-term volatility reshaped how the business is built.This episode isn’t a highlight reel—it’s a practical breakdown of the lessons that actually moved the needle, and the frameworks Bridger is carrying forward into the next phase of growth.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this macro-focused solo episode, Bridger Pennington breaks down the global ripple effects of the recent U.S. action in Venezuela—and why events like this matter far beyond headlines and politics. Bridger unpacks:Geopolitics as a market force: how sudden state-level actions reshape risk premiums, capital flows, and investor behavior.Oil and energy implications: why Venezuela’s position in global energy markets makes this event far more consequential than it appears on the surface.Currency and inflation pressures: how geopolitical shocks transmit through FX markets, commodities, and inflation expectations.Second-order effects: why the real consequences often show up months later—in emerging markets, credit conditions, and global growth.Thinking like a macro investor: how fund managers and capital allocators should analyze geopolitical events without getting caught in emotional or political narratives.This episode is a framework for understanding how power, resources, and capital intersect—and how macro events like this can quietly reshape markets long before the average investor notices.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this process-driven solo episode, Bridger Pennington breaks down how strong investment committees and disciplined decision-making systems separate professional funds from reactive ones. Bridger walks through:Why structure beats instinct: how formal investment processes reduce bias, protect LP capital, and improve long-term outcomes.Building an effective IC: who should be involved, how authority is assigned, and how to avoid decision bottlenecks.From deal to decision: the step-by-step flow of sourcing, diligence, debate, and approval inside a well-run fund.Documentation as defense: why written investment memos, voting records, and frameworks matter more than most managers realize.Scaling without chaos: how a repeatable investment process keeps discipline intact as deal volume and fund size grow.Whether you’re launching your first fund or professionalizing an existing one, this episode gives you a clear blueprint for organizing your investment process and making better decisions at scale.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this forward-looking solo episode, Bridger Pennington breaks down why social media has become a critical advantage for modern fund managers—and why ignoring it is no longer an option. Bridger explores:Trust at scale: how consistent social content builds credibility with LPs long before the first pitch or intro call.Distribution beats persuasion: why owning attention makes capital raising easier, faster, and more predictable.Education as leverage: how explaining your strategy publicly positions you as a thought leader instead of just another manager asking for capital.Signal vs. noise: what types of content actually attract serious investors—and what wastes time and attention.The long game: how compounding audience trust over months and years turns social media into a durable asset for your fund.Whether you’re just starting to build an online presence or refining an existing one, this episode shows how social media can become one of the most powerful tools in a fund manager’s toolkit.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this tactical conversation, Bridger Pennington sits down with Lincoln to rank different types of investment funds by how difficult they are to manage once capital is raised. Moving beyond fundraising hype, they break down:Operational complexity: which fund structures demand constant hands-on management and which can be run with lean, repeatable systems.Time vs. scale tradeoffs: why some funds grow quickly but consume the operator’s life, while others scale more quietly with fewer moving parts.Team and infrastructure demands: the staffing, reporting, and compliance burdens that catch first-time managers off guard.Decision fatigue and risk: how strategy, asset class, and liquidity profiles change the stress level of managing a fund day to day.Designing for longevity: how to choose a fund model that fits your skills, lifestyle goals, and long-term vision—not just short-term upside.Whether you’re launching your first fund or refining an existing one, this episode helps you evaluate fund strategies through the lens of management difficulty before you commit years of time and energy.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this strategic conversation, Bridger Pennington sits down with Lincoln to rank different types of investment funds by how easy—or difficult—they are to raise capital for. Drawing from real-world fundraising experience, they break down:The fundraising ladder: which fund types attract capital fastest and which require the most credibility, education, and patience.LP perception vs. reality: why some strategies sound compelling but struggle to raise, while others quietly close capital with ease.Track record traps: how much past performance actually matters, depending on the fund structure and investor profile.Matching strategy to investor: how aligning fund type with the right LP base can dramatically shorten your raise timeline.Choosing wisely early: why picking the wrong fund structure can slow momentum before you ever get to your first close.Whether you’re deciding what kind of fund to launch or optimizing an existing strategy, this episode gives you a clear framework for thinking about capital raising before you ever pitch your first investor.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this deep-dive solo episode, Bridger Pennington takes you inside the mechanics of private equity funds—how they’re structured, how they operate, and what actually drives returns behind the scenes. Stripping away the jargon, Bridger breaks down:The engine of PE: how general partners deploy capital, create value, and engineer exits that produce outsized gains.Incentives that matter: the real role of management fees, carried interest, and fund economics—and why misaligned incentives can break a deal before it starts.Deal flow dynamics: where great PE deals originate, why most people never see them, and how top managers build pipelines that stay full.Risk in disguise: the hidden assumptions inside a PE fund model and how to stress-test a strategy before raising a single dollar.Why LPs love PE: the performance patterns, cash flow profiles, and structural advantages that make private equity a cornerstone of major investor portfolios.Whether you’re exploring private equity for the first time or leveling up your technical understanding, this episode gives you a clear, practical look at how PE funds actually work under the hood.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this high-impact solo episode, Bridger Pennington breaks down the core principles behind the Fund Launch Formula—Bridger’s proven framework for helping normal people launch and scale investment funds without Wall Street pedigrees or giant networks. Bridger dives into:The 2026 advantage: why market cycles, regulation shifts, and capital flows are making this one of the best windows in a decade to start a fund.The three-part formula: how great fund managers build a world-class strategy, attract the right capital, and create repeatable systems that scale.The “Credibility Gap”: the real reason most first-time fund managers fail to raise money—and how to close that gap with a few targeted actions.Leverage without legacy: how to use partnerships, platforms, and modern tools to compete with firms that traditionally required 20 years of track record.Momentum mechanics: how small wins compound early, and why the first 90 days of building your fund determine everything that follows.If you’re planning to launch a fund in 2026—or even considering it—this episode gives you the roadmap, mindset, and strategy to start with confidence and execute like a professional.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this focused solo episode, Bridger Pennington breaks down the most overlooked part of launching a fund: validating your idea before you spend months building the wrong thing. Pulling from real conversations with emerging managers and seasoned operators, Bridger unpacks:Vision vs. reality: how to stress-test your fund idea against actual market demand instead of wishful thinking.Avoiding “founder fog”: why early conviction can trick you into chasing deals that don’t fit your thesis — and how to recalibrate fast.LP psychology 101: the questions investors care about far more than your pitch deck, and how to position your idea so it resonates.Market proof without millions: simple ways to validate a niche, a strategy, or a target asset class using traction signals anyone can gather.The clarity multiplier: how a validated idea turns your fund vision into a roadmap, helping you recruit partners, attract LPs, and build momentum with confidence.Whether you’re refining your first concept or pressure-testing a new strategy, this episode gives you the tools to make sure your fund idea isn’t just exciting — it’s viable.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com

In this candid solo episode, Bridger Pennington pulls back the curtain on what entrepreneurship looks like when a founder is juggling six simultaneous fronts—employees, customers, investors, banks, regulators, and family—while sometimes going months without a personal paycheck. Bridger explores:Day-zero uncertainty versus 100-hour weeks: why the unknown is tougher than the grind and how “ignorance debt” means failure never truly resets anyone to zero.Success shockwaves at home: the uncomfortable truth behind friends and relatives saying, “You’ve changed,” and why that reaction is normal for entrepreneurs.The eat-last mentality: how leaders keep everyone else paid first and still show up with energy and conviction.The spiral-staircase effect: fighting the same battles at ever-higher stakes because personal growth always precedes business growth.Starting before life gets crowded: AI and low start-up costs have removed most excuses—waiting only makes the leap harder.Want to launch a fund? Click to watch a free training:https://fundlaunch.click/how-to-leadSign up to watch the free training and discover how to launch a fund. Stop leaving carry on the table doing one-off deals. Your track record deserves a fund.All Information Shared Are The Sole Thoughts and Opinions Of The Author. Do Not Take Any Information As Legal Or Financial Advice. You Should Seek A Certified Accountant And A Professional Legal Team Before Taking Any Further Action.‍*Results may vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to market conditions, investor demand, and investment strategy. While our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch a fund, we cannot guarantee any specific results or outcomes. Your success will depend on your own efforts, diligence, and ability to execute on the strategies and techniques that you decide to pursue. We make no representation or warranty that you will achieve any particular level of success or earnings, and you accept the risk that the results may differ from those described in our materials.****We are not selling or soliciting a security in any way, shape, or form. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.fundlaunch.com