10: Josh Wolfe - Illuminating Tomorrow

Josh Wolfe (Website, X) is co-founder and Managing Partner of Lux Capital, a venture firm focused on emerging science and technology at the outermost edges of what is possible. Josh is a masterful storyteller who moves seamlessly between science, culture, and markets. As an investor, he seeks the counter-narrative—what others aren't talking about—and has backed countless breakthrough companies in AI, space, biotech, robotics, defense, and beyond. Beyond investing, Josh founded Coney Island Prep charter school and is a trustee at the Santa Fe Institute. Our conversation explores the interplay between science and storytelling, the power of belief in both doubters and advocates, patterns in creative rebels, and what makes someone both "arrogant" enough to assert a new reality while remaining grounded enough to see reality clearly. We discuss America's scientific competitiveness, the value of competition in institutions, Josh's voracious appetite for the new, and his personal journey with control, trust, and family. Josh is one of my favorite examples of someone who is radically unhedged on himself: he leans into his genius—and thus sometimes, disfunction—in ways that make him authentically effective. Throughout the episode, he demonstrates his rare combination of wisdom and childlike curiosity, competitive drive, and deep care for the things that matter to him. His ideas on storytelling, science, and human nature offer a guide for thinking about bringing new things into the world. Episode transcript. Timestamps (2:12): Science & Stories (6:30): Are technology outcomes and timelines determined or variable based on cultural movements, societal reaction, and stories? (11:14): Who is Imagining the Future of Tomorrow? (16:34): Originality, AI, and Everything is a Remix (20:52): Improving as a Storyteller (23:55): Secrets & Magic (31:35): Josh's Biggest Believers (34:20): Belief Beyond Capital, Motivation, and Fuel (37:53): Patterns in Creative Rebels (40:53): "Arrogance of the Highest Order" in Entrepreneurs, Asserting Reality, Great Men of History, and Elon (47:02): US Exceptionalism and Celebrating Science & Technology (55:23): Institutions, Academia, Government, and Competition (1:00:56): Josh: Accomplished Yet Childlike - Finding the Edges (1:04:07): Breadth and Depth: a Heat-Seeking Ability to Go Deep (1:12:03): Managing Dowsides and Lessons that Could Have Been Learned Sooner (1:15:58): Control, Past, and Future (1:19:57): Learnings from Mom (1:20:57): Trust and learning from Optimistic Partners (1:22:54): Legacy Links & References Kevin G's Josh Wolfe Compilation Kevin's much shorter twitter thread summary of Josh's spikeyness Lux Q3 2024 LP Letter - Four Parables of Four Greek Titans