Oliver Leo

World’s top creator of animated celebs, vinyl toys & digital collectibles⚡️

[Alexander Wulff @4lexsvv]

“Move fast and break things” is terrible advice when the thing you’re breaking is someone’s finances.

Some startup clichés should have stayed in Silicon Valley.

In finance, almost right is still wrong.

Boring accuracy wins.

[Nicolai @nicomoel]

A venture studio that needs a genius founder to rescue every company has failed at building a venture studio.

The whole point is that the system should carry some of the weight.

Talent still matters enormously.

But if every successful outcome requires another once-in-a-generation founder, you haven't created a repeatable model.

You've created a very expensive talent search.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

One of the biggest economic warning signs isn't how much Americans owe.

It's WHAT they're willing to fall behind on.

The credit card is one thing.

But when families start choosing between:

Electricity.

Car payment.

Groceries.

Insurance.

Medicine.

Housing.

You're no longer watching irresponsible spending.

You're watching people rank necessities.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

There are two economies.

In one:

The stock portfolio is up.

The house appreciated.

Interest earns interest.

Assets make money while you sleep.

In the other:

The credit card charges interest.

The car depreciates.

Rent disappears every month.

Late fees charge late fees.

Money also works while you sleep.

Unfortunately it's working for somebody else.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

Here's an economic indicator nobody puts on CNBC:

37% of parents say their kid will probably miss at least one school activity this year because of the cost.

43% would go into debt for back-to-school purchases if it helped their kid fit in.

That's brutal.

Parents aren't financing luxuries.

They're financing belonging.

Because nobody wants their kid to be the one who can't go.

The cost-of-living crisis eventually reaches the children too

[Alexander Wulff @4lexsvv]

A lot of startups don’t need another funding round.

They need customers.

But selling to investors is a lot more fun than admitting nobody’s buying.

[Shaun Gold | Venture Comedy @butshaunn]

Founders will spend six hours debating product strategy with advisors before calling three customers.

I understand. Customers are difficult.

They say things like:

"I don't need this."

"I wouldn't pay that."

"What does this button do?"

Very hostile environment.

Unfortunately, they also possess the rare ability to buy your product.

Talk to them.

Your advisory board may understand SaaS.

Debbie from procurement understands why she hasn't given you $30,000.

I want to hear from Debbie.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

We talk about consumer debt like Americans collectively bought Ferraris and went to Ibiza.

A lot of debt is considerably less exciting.

The refrigerator died.

Someone got sick.

The car needed brakes.

Groceries came before payday.

The electric bill was higher than expected.

That's what makes the debt problem scary.

You can stop buying luxuries.

You can't unsubscribe from emergencies.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

Retirement math in America:

Social Security says:

“Here's a cost-of-living adjustment.”

Healthcare says:

“I'll take some of that.”

Groceries say:

“Me too.”

Insurance:

“Don't forget me.”

Utilities:

“Hi.”

The 2026 Social Security COLA was 2.8%.

Medicare Part B alone increased 9.7%.

Apparently the cost of living got a bigger raise than the people trying to afford it.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

Being poor is expensive.

Being behind is even more expensive.

Miss the bill?

Late fee.

Carry the balance?

Interest.

Bad credit?

Higher rate.

Can't buy the car outright?

Finance it.

Can't cover the emergency?

Borrow.

Can't afford insurance?

Risk an even bigger bill.

The people with the least money are constantly charged the most for needing more time.

Then we wonder why catching up is so hard.

[Alexander Wulff @4lexsvv]

I’ve seen startups spend six months building something a customer would have told them was wrong in six minutes.

That one still hurts.

Building feels productive.

Talking to customers can feel like you’re slowing down.

Then you find out you were just moving very quickly in the wrong direction.

[Shaun Gold | Venture Comedy @butshaunn]

Some of the best early investors don't know what "pre-seed" means.

They own businesses.

They understand your industry.

They have money.

That's pretty much the entire technology stack.

Founders overlook these people because we're trained to search LinkedIn for someone with "Investor | Operator | 14x Founder | AI | Web3 | Future of Humanity" in their bio.

Meanwhile, Gary owns 11 HVAC companies and immediately understands why your software matters.

Find more Garys.

Gary has money.

Gary understands customers.

Gary doesn't have a podcast.

Three green flags.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

There's a huge difference between “I can't afford a vacation.” And:

“I can't afford electricity.”

“I can't afford groceries.”

“I can't afford my car payment.”

“I can't afford my insurance.”

One is cutting back.

The other is falling behind.

And when people start falling behind on the bills required to participate in normal life that's a much bigger economic warning than people skipping Starbucks.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

The American middle class has developed an incredible financial skill:

Keeping everything JUST alive.

Minimum payment on the card.

Payment plan on the hospital bill.

Car payment barely on time.

Utilities before shutoff.

Rent before the late fee.

Checking account hovering above zero.

Nothing collapses.

Nothing gets paid off either.

That's not financial stability.

That's financial plate spinning.

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

Debt used to finance your future.

Mortgage bought the house.

Student loan bought the education.

Business loan built the company.

Now debt increasingly finances the present.

Groceries.

Gas.

Utilities.

Medical bills.

Car repairs.

That's a completely different kind of debt.

Borrowing to build something can create wealth.

Borrowing to make it to Friday means Friday already owes money.

[Shaun Gold | Venture Comedy @butshaunn]

VCs reject 99% of the startups they see and still manage to invest in companies that go to zero.

You almost have to respect it.

[Shaun Gold | Venture Comedy @butshaunn]

Startup founders will raise $3 million and immediately start giving advice on capital allocation.

Bro.

You just acquired capital.

Let's see how the allocation part goes.

[Nicolai @nicomoel]

If a VC needs three warm introductions before they'll meet a founder, I'm not sure they should brag about their ability to discover outliers.

[Nicolai @nicomoel]

We launched a pizza place. Yes, a pizza place.

Paper Plate opened in the heart of Copenhagen, and we had a line around the block.

I love this because it shows the freedom of the venture studio model.

We can build software. AI. Defense.

And if we see an opportunity to build a great pizza business, we can build that too.

The same principles still apply: systems, brand, operations, data and great people.

This time they just come with pizza. 🍕

You can follow on IG and if you are in Copenhagen, stop by.
https://t.co/LXpxg9ugSA

[middleclassparty @middle_class_us]

Maybe we need a new Middle Class Index.

Forget GDP.

Forget the stock market.

Track the $1 aisle.

Dollar General says sales of $1 products surged 16%.

Overall same-store sales?

3.5%.

So the cheapest stuff grew nearly FIVE TIMES faster.

That's not some obscure economic statistic.

That's millions of shopping carts saying the same thing:

“How cheap can we make this trip?”