INTERVIEW | Make Money in the AI Wave by Investing in the Infrastructure Behind It with Evan Schlossman
Evan Schlossman is a principal at Neostellar, where he focuses on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, particularly the infrastructure powering AI systems, including compute platforms, data infrastructure, and enabling technologies. Before joining Neostellar, Evan worked in business intelligence at the Lifetime Value Company and as a consultant at Deloitte. With an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a background in economics from Cornell, Evan brings a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, finance, startups, and investing.
On this episode we talk about:
How Evan discovered his interest in technology, business, and investing from an early age
Why young people should experiment with different careers, internships, and side projects before deciding what they want to do
Evan’s transition from pre-med to consulting, startups, and eventually venture capital
The rise of “boring” Main Street businesses like laundromats, car washes, roofing, and HVAC companies as potential entrepreneurial opportunities
How AI can modernize the back-office operations of traditional businesses and increase their leverage
Why Neostellar focuses on the infrastructure powering AI rather than simply betting on the next consumer-facing AI application
The investment thesis behind AI infrastructure, including compute, data, memory, and storage
Evan’s perspective on evaluating businesses based on cash flow, opportunity cost, career stage, and personal goals
Top 3 Takeaways
Experiment before committing to a career path. You don't need to know at 18 what you want to do for the rest of your life. Internships, side projects, freelance work, and conversations with people in different industries can help you discover what actually interests you.
Look beyond the obvious AI companies. Rather than trying to predict which consumer-facing AI application will win, consider the foundational infrastructure that all of these technologies need, such as compute, data, memory, and storage.
Don't overlook the value of your own time. When evaluating a business opportunity, especially a small service-based business, consider the opportunity cost of your time and what it would cost to hire someone else to operate the business. Your real economic return isn't simply the business's cash flow.
Notable Quotes
"It's a matter of talking to people, keeping your options open, right? Trying to identify what's out there, what do you like doing, what sort of fits that intersection of interests and what you're good at."
"Don't, you know, undervalue your time, right? Because if you are running this business and that's your day-to-day job, there's an opportunity cost for your time."
"No matter what products end up winning in two, three years... what are the foundational components that they are going to need to be a part of?"
Connect with Evan Schlossman:
Other: Neostellar — portfolio, team, white papers, quarterly earnings calls, and company information
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