EPISODE · Jan 28, 2026 · 48 MIN
Seth Levine of Foundry Group on Capital Evolution, AI, and the Future of Company Leadership
from Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig · host Seth Levine, Michael Koenig
Get 90 Days of Fellow's incredible AI notetaker for free at fellow.ai/cooGuest: Seth LevineBook: Capital EvolutionPodcast: Between Two COOsHost: Michael KoenigWhat we coverWhy Seth wrote Capital Evolution and why nowWhy today’s economic shift is structural, not cyclicalHow power has moved from public institutions to businessesWhat companies are being asked to carry that they weren’t built forHow AI fits into this broader realignmentEarly signals that companies are adapting well to AIWhat strong executive teams do differently during uncertaintyCommon leadership traps when change happens too fastA real crisis from a portfolio company and what the executive team did wellThe new leadership muscle operators need for the next decadeEpisode Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Introduction01:40 – Seth’s 30-second pitch for Capital Evolution04:05 – Why this shift is structural, not cyclical07:20 – What’s broken in the current economic model11:00 – The power shift from government to business15:10 – What leaders are quietly losing18:45 – Where AI fits into this realignment23:30 – What boards see when AI adoption works28:05 – How strong executive teams handle uncertainty33:40 – Leadership traps during rapid change38:10 – A crisis inside a portfolio company44:00 – The new muscle operators must build48:50 – A moment Seth never thought he’d see
What this episode covers
Seth Levine, Managing Director at Foundry Group and co-author of Capital Evolution, joins Between Two COOs to talk about how the American economy is changing - and what that means for the people actually running companies. This is not a theoretical conversation. Seth explains why this moment is a structural shift, not a cycle. We talk about how power has moved from government to business, why companies are now carrying responsibilities they were never designed for, and how AI is accelerating both strong and broken operating systems inside organizations. We also dig into what Seth is seeing from his seat as an investor and board member. How high-functioning executive teams behave during uncertainty. The traps leadership teams fall into when change outpaces their operating model. And a real crisis inside a portfolio company that shows what great operational leadership looks like when things break. If you’re a CEO, COO, operator, or investor trying to understand how AI and economic realignment are reshaping leadership, this episode will give you a clearer view of what’s coming next.
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Seth Levine of Foundry Group on Capital Evolution, AI, and the Future of Company Leadership
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