Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
[NEW] Try Fund Launch AI here: https://beta.fundlaunch.com?sl=yt
Fund Launch AI helps investors design and launch their fund by chatting with AI.
With real lawyers in the loop to finalize and launch your fund.
================================
We Help People Launch Funds! fundlaunch.com/?sl=youtube
Discover the strategic playbook behind scaling a successful investment fund in 2026 as Bridger Pennington sits down with Seth Merrill for a deep dive into fund operations, capital raising, investor psychology, and the systems elite fund managers are using to grow in today’s environment. This conversation breaks down the mindset and tactics that separate stagnant managers from those who scale with confidence and predictability.
You’ll learn what truly moves the needle when building a fund, how to streamline processes, and the key principles Seth applies inside top-performing funds. Whether you’re launching your first fund or looking to expand an existing one, this interview delivers practical insights you can immediately apply. If you find this valuable, be sure to subscribe for more in-depth discussions on fund building, investment strategy, and the future of alternative assets.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Inside Private Interview with Seth Merrill
0:33 Who Is Seth Merrill?
1:30 Three Investing Themes for 2026
1:56 Theme #1 - Get Large
3:13 Small Cap Premium Flips Upside Down
3:47 Mag Seven vs Rest of S&P
4:56 Why Scale Beats Small Caps Now
6:15 Staggering CapEx of Mag Seven
6:58 AI Data Centers’ Energy Hunger
8:39 Are Circular AI Bets a Bubble
10:16 Theme #2 - Downward Pressure on Rates
10:22 Valuations, Shiller PE and Rates
13:46 Theme #3 – Second Wave of AI
14:27 Sector Winners and Laggards in AI
15:23 Hunting AI Upside in Healthcare
17:33 Role of Bonds After Tariff Shocks
19:17 How to Position Bond Exposure
20:22 Concentration Risk and Antitrust Watch
21:27 Trump, Tariffs, and Fed Politics
24:29 Powell, Independence, and Rate Cuts
25:30 Why Fed Credibility Still Matters
25:59 Seth’s Closing Thoughts and Next Fund
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL:
Follow Me on Instagram: instagram.com/bridger_pennington/?sl=youtube
Like My Page on Facebook: facebook.com/fundlaunchsecrets/?sl=youtube
Follow Me on TikTok: tiktok.com/@bridger_pennington/?sl=youtube
Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bridger-pennington-670035127/?sl=youtube
ABOUT BRIDGER PENNINGTON:
Bridger Pennington is the founder of 2 investment funds that have done over 217 deals in the last 4 years. Additionally, he currently manages an 8-figure hedge fund Ugly Unicorn and is a strategic advisor to 8 portfolio funds.
He has started helping others launch their own funds through Fund Launch, an online program with over 60,000 students designed to help them start investment funds without working on Wall Street or having an Ivy League degree. Last year they launched 130 student funds, and have 12 student funds over $100 million.
Bridger has spoken on stage to thousands of people across the United States and is determined to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses through launching their own funds.
DISCLAIMER: This is NOT financial or legal advice. Fund Launch’s experiences with using a fund strategy are unique to them. You should not consume this content with the expectation that you will have similar or the same results. All fund projects are subject to multiple variables and risks that make it impossible to predict success. Since we cannot predict success or provide you with information on what an average customer experience is by creating a fund, you should assume you will not have the same type of success or any success at all. We encourage you to seek out advice from other qualified professionals for advice on setting up your particular fund.
[NEW] Try Fund Launch AI here: https://beta.fundlaunch.com?sl=yt
Fund Launch AI helps investors design and launch their fund by chatting with AI.
With real lawyers in the loop to finalize and launch your fund.
================================
We Help People Launch Funds! fundlaunch.com/?sl=youtube
Discover the strategic playbook behind scaling a successful investment fund in 2026 as Bridger Pennington sits down with Seth Merrill for a deep dive into fund operations, capital raising, investor psychology, and the systems elite fund managers are using to grow in today’s environment. This conversation breaks down the mindset and tactics that separate stagnant managers from those who scale with confidence and predictability.
You’ll learn what truly moves the needle when building a fund, how to streamline processes, and the key principles Seth applies inside top-performing funds. Whether you’re launching your first fund or looking to expand an existing one, this interview delivers practical insights you can immediately apply. If you find this valuable, be sure to subscribe for more in-depth discussions on fund building, investment strategy, and the future of alternative assets.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Inside Private Interview with Seth Merrill
0:33 Who Is Seth Merrill?
1:30 Three Investing Themes for 2026
1:56 Theme #1 - Get Large
3:13 Small Cap Premium Flips Upside Down
3:47 Mag Seven vs Rest of S&P
4:56 Why Scale Beats Small Caps Now
6:15 Staggering CapEx of Mag Seven
6:58 AI Data Centers’ Energy Hunger
8:39 Are Circular AI Bets a Bubble
10:16 Theme #2 - Downward Pressure on Rates
10:22 Valuations, Shiller PE and Rates
13:46 Theme #3 – Second Wave of AI
14:27 Sector Winners and Laggards in AI
15:23 Hunting AI Upside in Healthcare
17:33 Role of Bonds After Tariff Shocks
19:17 How to Position Bond Exposure
20:22 Concentration Risk and Antitrust Watch
21:27 Trump, Tariffs, and Fed Politics
24:29 Powell, Independence, and Rate Cuts
25:30 Why Fed Credibility Still Matters
25:59 Seth’s Closing Thoughts and Next Fund
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL:
Follow Me on Instagram: instagram.com/bridger_pennington/?sl=youtube
Like My Page on Facebook: facebook.com/fundlaunchsecrets/?sl=youtube
Follow Me on TikTok: tiktok.com/@bridger_pennington/?sl=youtube
Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bridger-pennington-670035127/?sl=youtube
ABOUT BRIDGER PENNINGTON:
Bridger Pennington is the founder of 2 investment funds that have done over 217 deals in the last 4 years. Additionally, he currently manages an 8-figure hedge fund Ugly Unicorn and is a strategic advisor to 8 portfolio funds.
He has started helping others launch their own funds through Fund Launch, an online program with over 60,000 students designed to help them start investment funds without working on Wall Street or having an Ivy League degree. Last year they launched 130 student funds, and have 12 student funds over $100 million.
Bridger has spoken on stage to thousands of people across the United States and is determined to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses through launching their own funds.
DISCLAIMER: This is NOT financial or legal advice. Fund Launch’s experiences with using a fund strategy are unique to them. You should not consume this content with the expectation that you will have similar or the same results. All fund projects are subject to multiple variables and risks that make it impossible to predict success. Since we cannot predict success or provide you with information on what an average customer experience is by creating a fund, you should assume you will not have the same type of success or any success at all. We encourage you to seek out advice from other qualified professionals for advice on setting up your particular fund.
