Hey,
We just came back from Las Vegas.
We sat down with Mark Cuban and asked him everything founders and investors actually want to know.
How to build from scratch.
Whether AI is in a bubble.
What he’d build today.
And how to scale a media company when it feels like you’re running out of hours.
Here’s what we learned:
1. he told us the best way to grow our community is through you. to ask you to share the newsletter and social media online and with friends!
So I’m putting it to practice: I’ll give a 2 months discount to PMF to anyone that shares the newsletter on linkedin and sends me the post + I’ll also repost it!
Go!
2. Our pitch: we are building the Shark Tank of angel investing
We told Mark we’re building a media company that invests.
We started two years ago writing on LinkedIn while working in venture capital.
Now we get more than 4 million views every week, 300,000+ newsletter readers, and we’ve invested in 30 startups in the last four months.
I told him: “We’re like running the Shark Tank playbook. We use distribution to get into the best rounds.”
He smiled and said:
“That’s smart. The more people know you, the better deals you get. Write small checks, help founders reach more people, that’s how you compete.”
No pitch decks. No cold outreach. Just attention that compounds.
3. What business Mark would build today
We asked him directly:
“If you were starting from zero today, what would you build?”
“AI. AI. AI. That’s everything.”
He explained that the opportunity isn’t only in building AI companies, but in learning how AI works.
“You could be a kid in the Canary Islands or Madrid. With ChatGPT or Claude you have access to the world’s top experts. You just need to learn how to use it.”
He said AI lets you do more with less people and less money.
Knowledge of AI is now what knowing how to code was in 2005.
4. Are we in a bubble?
“No. We’re nowhere near a bubble.”
He lived through the dot-com boom and the crash. He said that in the 2000s, technology improvements slowed down.
Now with AI, everything keeps accelerating.
“It looks like a bubble because there’s so much capital going into GPUs, data centers, compute. But we’ve barely scratched the surface.”
He said he invests mostly in “picks and shovels” — the infrastructure that helps AI grow.
5. Why Mark is bullish on European founders
We told him we invest mostly in European founders going global.
He immediately said:
“Europe’s a better market in terms of usage. It’s easier to compete there.”
He was the first investor in Synthesia. The founders sent him a cold email, and he wired a million dollars.
He also invested in Lovable, another European company.
His view is clear:
European developers are undervalued.
Salaries are lower, so you can build more with less.
American investors are ignoring a lot of the best talent.
He added:
“If you guys find unique AI companies in Europe, particularly the picks and shovels, I’m your guy.”
6. Why he invested in Synthesia and Lovable
Cuban likes contrarian markets.
“When everybody’s looking over here, I look over there.”
That’s why he backed Synthesia early. He said valuations in Europe are lower, exits can come from US acquirers, and the consumer adoption curve is still early.
He sees the next wave of billion-dollar AI companies coming from Europe.
7. How to scale a media company
We told him about our setup: two people, 500K+ LinkedIn followers, 300K+ newsletter subscribers, 5 newsletters a week, and sponsors.
He looked at us and said:
“It’s like being a streamer. You’ve got to do something every day. It’s hard work.”
Then he gave us one of the most useful pieces of advice we’ve ever received:
“Use AI to think. Don’t just use it to write. Let AI ask you questions. Let two AIs talk to each other. You’ll get new ideas that humans wouldn’t think of.”
He said people underestimate how creative AI can be. Most just don’t ask it enough questions.
We already use AI for editing, writing, and ideas — but after this, we started using it to interview itself. The results are crazy.
8. What would Mark buy after selling his first company
When he sold his first company, he bought lifetime flight access.
“It was the best investment of my life.”
He told us that if he were to sell again, he’d do the same thing.
Then we asked when to raise money.
He didn’t hesitate:
“Never.”
“The only way to become a billionaire is to own as much of your company as possible.”
He said raising money is not an achievement, it’s an obligation.
Every dollar raised comes with someone expecting something back.
He told us to stay independent for as long as we can.
“More money won’t help you scale. Being great will. Focus on quality, consistency, and your community. Ask your readers to help you grow.”
That hit hard.
What he’s investing in now
He told us most of his cash is sitting in money market funds.
“When the tide goes out, I want to see who’s standing naked.”
He’s waiting for the next big crash to buy.
“When everyone else runs, that’s when I invest.”
The bottom line
Cuban’s mindset is simple but brutally honest.
Work harder than anyone else.
Stay independent.
Learn AI.
Use media to build leverage.
And go where no one is looking.
“In business, it’s 24 by 7 by 365. The whole world’s trying to kick your ass.”
If you’re building something, this is your playbook.
Cheers,
Guillermo
PS: what did you think about the video intro? I was super hyped editing it!
FAQS
🧠 Founders & Builders: Startup and Media Growth
1. What advice did Mark Cuban give on building a startup from scratch in 2025?
Mark Cuban said founders should focus on learning and leveraging AI, even if they’re starting with zero resources. He believes knowledge of AI today is like knowing how to code in 2005 — it’s the new leverage.
2. How does Mark Cuban recommend scaling a media company?
Cuban compared running a media company to being a streamer: consistency beats everything. He advised using AI not just for writing, but for thinking — letting AI question and challenge ideas to create original content faster.
3. What’s Mark Cuban’s best advice for founders raising money?
“Never.” Cuban said raising money should never be seen as an achievement. True wealth and control come from staying independent and owning as much of your company as possible.
4. How does Mark Cuban think founders can grow faster with limited resources?
He believes community and distribution are the ultimate advantages. The more people know you, the better deals you get — no cold outreach, no pitch decks, just attention that compounds.
🤖 AI and Venture Capital
5. Does Mark Cuban think AI is in a bubble?
No. He believes we’re nowhere near a bubble. Unlike the dot-com crash, AI technology is accelerating — not plateauing. The infrastructure phase (GPUs, data centers, compute) is still early.
6. What kind of AI companies is Mark Cuban investing in?
He focuses on “picks and shovels” — the infrastructure behind AI: tools, platforms, and systems that make AI adoption easier and faster.
7. What would Mark Cuban build if he were starting today?
He said: “AI. AI. AI. That’s everything.” His advice is to learn how AI works and use it as leverage — because it lets you achieve more with fewer people and less money.
🌍 European Founders & Global Expansion
8. Why is Mark Cuban bullish on European founders?
He sees Europe as a more efficient, undervalued talent market. Salaries are lower, competition is easier, and American investors are ignoring massive opportunities — especially in AI infrastructure.
9. Why did Mark Cuban invest in Synthesia and Lovable?
Because they were contrarian bets. Cuban loves markets that others overlook. He saw Europe’s valuations as cheaper, exits as more accessible, and AI adoption still in the early innings.
📈 Media, Community, and Attention
10. What did Mark Cuban say about using distribution to win deals?
He confirmed that media leverage is the new edge in investing. The more visible you are, the better the deal flow — attention is the new capital.
11. How can founders use AI creatively in media?
Cuban suggested using AI to “think,” not just automate. He recommends letting two AIs “talk to each other” to generate unique insights and creative ideas that humans wouldn’t think of.
💰 Investment & Wealth Building
12. How does Mark Cuban invest his money today?
Most of his capital sits in money market funds — he’s waiting for a market downturn to buy when others panic.
13. What was Mark Cuban’s best personal investment after selling his first company?
A lifetime flight pass. He said it gave him freedom, flexibility, and opportunity — the best ROI he ever had.
14. When does Mark Cuban think founders should raise capital?
As late as possible. He argues that every dollar raised adds obligation and limits freedom. Independence compounds faster than capital.
🦈 Big Picture Takeaways
15. What’s Mark Cuban’s core philosophy for founders?
Work harder than anyone. Stay independent. Learn AI. Build media leverage. Go where no one else is looking. In his words:
“In business, it’s 24 by 7 by 365. The whole world’s trying to kick your ass.”
