Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, hosts of the popular business and technology podcast Acquired, are raising a new fund to invest in startups. GeekWire spotted a new SEC filing that revealed the fund, which will allow them to utilize allocations offered to them more formally. The hosts are both experienced in the venture capital world, having worked together at Madrona in Seattle before launching Acquired as a side project in 2015.
Acquired has grown into one of the world’s leading technology and business podcasts, doubling its listener base each year since inception. With over 600,000 monthly listeners, the show ranks among the top five tech shows on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Despite their new fund, Gilbert and Rosenthal are focused on creating the best episodes of Acquired rather than building a new venture capital firm. Through the podcast, they have been able to invest in startups such as Vanta, Modern Treasury, and Go1, gaining unique access to participate in investment rounds as these companies scale.
Each episode of Acquired features in-depth stories and strategies of companies, with episodes typically running three to four hours in length. Recent episodes have covered companies like Microsoft, Nike, Costco, and LVMH, with notable guests including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, and the late Charlie Munger of Berkshire Hathaway. Revenue for the podcast is generated through sponsors and subscribers, allowing Gilbert and Rosenthal to continue creating high-quality content for their audience.
Gilbert recently shifted his focus to Acquired by moving to a new role at Pioneer Square Labs, a Seattle startup studio he helped launch. Meanwhile, Rosenthal remains an investor at San Francisco-based Kindergarten Ventures. The duo is careful not to let their new fund distract them from producing top-notch episodes for Acquired, which has gained a reputation as a must-listen for those interested in technology, business, and investing. Their extensive background in the tech industry and venture capital gives them a unique perspective on the companies they cover in each episode.
The fund created by Gilbert and Rosenthal will provide a more structured way for them to invest in startups they encounter through Acquired. By formalizing their investment process, they can take advantage of unique opportunities that come their way through the podcast. Acquired’s success and growing audience demonstrate the hosts’ ability to deliver valuable content to listeners interested in the inner workings of companies and technology giants. With a focus on creating engaging and informative episodes, Gilbert and Rosenthal aim to continue building upon the success of Acquired while leveraging their new fund to invest in promising startups.
