January 13, 2026
Seth Levine – Foundry
Where Capitalism Meets Purpose: Seth Levine on the New Entrepreneurial Era
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American capitalism is almost always under scrutiny—whether it’s debates over how to define it or questions about whether it truly serves the average worker. That scrutiny has only intensified in an era where a handful of tech giants dominate entire markets and artificial intelligence sparks both opportunity and anxiety. Confidence in capitalism has wavered, but our next guest on The Reboot Chronicles, Seth Levine, brings a fresh and reassuring perspective. As a longtime venture capitalist and co-founder of Foundry, a Boulder-based firm managing nearly $4 billion in assets, Seth has spent decades backing entrepreneurs and building companies across the globe. He’s also the co-author of The New Builders, a book that champions overlooked entrepreneurs and argues for a more inclusive, resilient form of capitalism. With his deep experience in venture capital and his passion for reimagining the system to better serve workers and communities, Seth joins us to remind listeners that capitalism can—and must—evolve to meet the challenges of our time.
Rethinking Capitalism
In his new book, Capital Evolution, Seth Levine—alongside co-author Elizabeth McBride—frames the conversation around what he calls the “next phase of capitalism in the U.S.” He situates today’s debates over socialism versus capitalism within a broader historical arc, explaining that we are currently living in the age of neoliberalism, a system built on the premise that a company’s sole responsibility is to maximize shareholder value. While this model has dominated for decades, Seth argues that its limitations are now impossible to ignore, as public confidence in capitalism continues to erode.
Unlike earlier works that either defended neoliberalism outright or called for wholesale alternatives such as socialism, Capital Evolution takes a more nuanced stance. Seth is clear: this is not an advocacy for socialism, but rather a defense of capitalism itself—one that insists the system must evolve. The book explores how capitalism can be restructured to ensure broader participation and shared prosperity, positioning reform not as a rejection of capitalism but as its renewal.
Entrepreneurship In Times Of Disruption
Entrepreneurship has shown itself to be an answer for people during times when things are shaky or uncertain. Seth notes that more businesses were closing than opening in the United States, but that turned around during COVID. During a time when people were losing their jobs and were uncertain of what was going to happen, many people became entrepreneurs as a way to regain control. We are currently going through another round of discomfort as no one knows what AI is going to change, and where, as some of us might see confusion, Seth sees this as an opportunity for entrepreneurship to rise and be an outlet for those who want to take control.
A Message For Future Builders
As with all of our guests, we wanted to ask them for advice to give to the next generation, and in this case, the next generation of builders. The first piece of advice Seth shares with us is “don’t take money from VCs, it’s a bad deal.” Many times, it comes with a lot of logistics that starry-eyed entrepreneurs can miss or don’t fully understand, as they are blinded by a chunk of cash. To hammer the point home, he mentions “the average venture investment lasts longer than the average US marriage right now.” It is important to enter this deal with your eyes as open as possible, and if something does not feel right, do not take the capital from an investor. The best way to get capital from Seth’s perspective is it sell something that people want to buy.” Simple, but if you can fill a want in a community, chances are that is all the capital you will need.
