In our recent Spotlight Series session, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jesse Middleton, General Partner at Flybridge and co-founder of WeWork Labs, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of startups, the evolving role of AI, and what it means for the venture capital world.

Jesse begun with his work helping to scale WeWork into a global name to now backing early-stage founders through Flybridge. One of the recurring themes of the discussion was artificial intelligence—and not just the hype around it, but the very real impact it’s having on how startups are built today.

He pointed out that AI is dramatically lowering the barriers to entry. With tools that used to be inaccessible now available to anyone with a wifi and a computer, more people than ever are jumping into entrepreneurship. But traditional challenges of building a company persist and VCs focus mainly on how founders stand out from the crowd. As Jesse noted, while it’s easier to start something, it’s harder to stand out.

One particularly thoughtful moment came when a member asked how this shift changes the venture capital space. Jesse explained that VCs are now evaluating startups not just on what they’ve built, but on how intentionally they’re using AI to solve a real, focused problem—not just layering it on for buzz or attention. He encouraged founders to resist the urge to over-engineer or overpromise, and instead to prove value early, especially when targeting underserved segments like small businesses.

Throughout the conversation, Jesse’s advice was grounded, candid, and full of useful takeaways for anyone entering the world of startups and entrepreneurship, especially in an era when AI is advancing at break breaksweat pace.

We’re incredibly thankful to Jesse for joining us and sharing his insights. Stay tuned for more Spotlight Series events as we continue spotlighting the voices shaping what’s next.

Missed this Spotlight Series? You can rewatch it by clicking RSVP using this link.

The Select Spotlight series is sponsored by The Fundrise Flagship Fund. The Fundrise Flagship Fund is a $1.1 billion portfolio of institutional-caliber real estate designed to give your portfolio a new level of balance, growing your net worth for decades to come. Select members will receive access to the Flagship Fund’s portfolio of nearly 5,000 single-family homes, 3.3+ million square feet of industrial facilities, and over 2,500 multi-family assets.Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus at Fundrise.com/Flagship. This is a paid advertisement.

Recently, as part of our ongoing Spotlight Series, we had the pleasure of hosting Scout Brisson, the CEO of De Soi, a non-alcoholic apéritif brand co-founded by pop icon Katy Perry and master distiller Morgan McLachlan. Scout shared her unconventional journey from MIT to leading a brand that’s redefining the beverage industry.​

Scout’s career began in management consulting at McKinsey & Company, where she sharpened her skills in strategic thinking and problem-solving. Her passion for innovation led her to M13, a venture studio, and eventually to co-founding DEUX, a functional food startup. These experiences laid the foundation for her role at De Soi, where she combines her analytical background with creative brand building.​

At De Soi, Scout is at the forefront of the “sober curious” movement, catering to a fast growing demographic seeking sophisticated, non-alcoholic alternatives. She emphasized the importance of creating a brand that resonates with consumers’ desires for wellness without sacrificing the social and celebratory aspects of drinking. Under her leadership, De Soi has launched innovative products like Très Rosé and Spritz Italiano, blending adaptogens with complex flavors to offer indulgent experiences without alcohol.​ She even shared a new product that is soon to rollout in stores nationwide and online.

Scout also discussed the challenges of scaling a startup, highlighting the significance of building a strong team and the difficulty of gauging talent during the hiring process.

Throughout the conversation, Scout’s insights into consumer behavior, brand strategy, and leadership provided valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Her approach to blending data-driven decision-making with authentic storytelling exemplifies the qualities of a modern, purpose-driven CEO.​

We extend our thanks to Scout Brisson for sharing her experiences and wisdom with our community. Stay tuned for more Spotlight Series events featuring trailblazing leaders who are shaping the future of their industries.​

Interested in reading our recap of our Spotlight with Rent App CEO and Co-founder Andrew Borovsky? You can read it here.

The Select Spotlight series is sponsored by The Fundrise Flagship Fund. The Fundrise Flagship Fund is a $1.1 billion portfolio of institutional-caliber real estate designed to give your portfolio a new level of balance, growing your net worth for decades to come. Select members will receive access to the Flagship Fund’s portfolio of nearly 5,000 single-family homes, 3.3+ million square feet of industrial facilities, and over 2,500 multi-family assets.Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus at Fundrise.com/Flagship. This is a paid advertisement.

In our latest Spotlight Series virtual event, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Andrew Borovsky, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Rent App. The conversation traced Andrew’s impressive journey through some of tech’s most iconic companies—and the lessons that ultimately led him to build one of today’s most exciting fintech startups.

Andrew began by sharing stories from his early days as a product designer at Adobe and later Apple, where he was part of the team that helped bring iCloud to life. He spoke about the culture of innovation at Apple, and how working alongside some of the sharpest minds in tech shaped his approach to product development and user experience.

The discussion then turned to his time at Square, where Andrew joined after co-founding 80/20, a design consultancy that was acquired by the payments giant. At Square, he helped build tools that empowered small business owners—an experience he credits with fueling his passion for creating financial products that serve overlooked communities.

That passion is front and center in his current venture, Rent App (by Visible), which enables renters to pay landlords directly—bank-to-bank, without fees or limits—and even build credit with each on-time payment. Andrew spoke candidly about the complexities of the rental ecosystem and how Rent App is helping to bridge the gap between financial technology and real estate.

Throughout the event, Andrew offered valuable insights on leadership, product design, and the importance of staying close to the user. He also reflected on the evolution of fintech, and why now is the moment to rethink how people interact with money—especially in areas like rent, where the stakes are high and the tools have traditionally fallen short.

We’re incredibly grateful to Andrew for joining us and sharing his story. Stay tuned for more Spotlight Series events featuring the leaders and innovators shaping the future.

The Select Spotlight series is sponsored by The Fundrise Flagship Fund. The Fundrise Flagship Fund is a $1.1 billion portfolio of institutional-caliber real estate designed to give your portfolio a new level of balance, growing your net worth for decades to come. Select members will receive access to the Flagship Fund’s portfolio of nearly 5,000 single-family homes, 3.3+ million square feet of industrial facilities, and over 2,500 multi-family assets.Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus at Fundrise.com/Flagship. This is a paid advertisement.

In our latest Spotlight Series virtual event, we had the pleasure of hosting Samantha Patil, the dynamic founder and CEO of Well Traveled Club. Samantha walked us through her journey from leading marketing efforts at some of the biggest names in tech—including Pandora, Snap Inc., and Dollar Shave Club—to building a modern travel community that’s redefining the way people discover and share travel experiences.

Her inspiration for launching Well Traveled was rooted in personal frustration. Despite her love for exploring new places, she found the traditional travel planning process overwhelming and unreliable. Much of that, she explained, came down to the impersonal nature of existing review platforms. “People are heavily influenced by reviews,” she noted, “but who is doing the reviewing matters just as much as the review itself.” Samantha pointed out the simple truth: you’re far more likely to trust a recommendation from a friend—or someone who shares your tastes and values—than from a random internet user whose idea of a “great experience” might be totally different from yours.

That insight became a core pillar of Well Traveled Club, a members-only social platform built for a new generation of travelers. By curating a community of like-minded explorers, food lovers, and culture seekers, the platform offers personalized recommendations that feel more like trusted word-of-mouth than anonymous noise. For Samantha, it’s about creating a space where people can both give and receive travel advice that feels authentic, relevant, and real.

Throughout the session, Samantha emphasized the power of community, the importance of intentionality in building a brand, and the value of being bold enough to act on an unmet need. Her story is one of both personal conviction and professional brilliance—a reminder that when you build something that solves a problem you truly understand, you’re already ahead.

We’re so grateful to Samantha for sharing her time, perspective, and inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Stay tuned for more Spotlight Series events with the innovators shaping tomorrow’s travel, tech, and lifestyle experiences.

The Select Spotlight series is sponsored by The Fundrise Flagship Fund. The Fundrise Flagship Fund is a $1.1 billion portfolio of institutional-caliber real estate designed to give your portfolio a new level of balance, growing your net worth for decades to come. Select members will receive access to the Flagship Fund’s portfolio of nearly 5,000 single-family homes, 3.3+ million square feet of industrial facilities, and over 2,500 multi-family assets.Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus at Fundrise.com/Flagship. This is a paid advertisement.

In this edition of our Spotlight Series, sponsored by Fundrise Flagship Fund, we had a conversation with Zach Resnick, founder and CEO of FlyFlat, to discuss how he built a company that makes premium air travel more affordable and accessible.

Zach’s journey into the world of luxury travel began in college, where he started a business helping people maximize their credit card points. Seeing firsthand how complex and underutilized the world of travel rewards could be, he realized there was a huge opportunity—what if he could apply the same strategy to first and business-class flights? That idea became FlyFlat, a service dedicated to finding the best possible deals on premium airfare, saving customers thousands of dollars on each booking.

During our conversation, Zach emphasized how traditional travel agencies and airline booking systems often don’t prioritize customer savings. Instead of relying on standard pricing, FlyFlat leverages advanced search methods, industry partnerships, and deep knowledge of airline pricing models to unlock significantly lower fares for their clients. Their team works directly with individuals and businesses to ensure they get the best value without sacrificing comfort.

For frequent travelers who value luxury but also appreciate smart spending, FlyFlat is a game-changer. At Select, we admire founders who redefine industries, and Zach’s expertise in optimizing travel costs while delivering a premium experience makes FlyFlat a must-know service.

To learn more about how FlyFlat can elevate your travel experience, visit FlyFlat.

The Select Spotlight series is sponsored by The Fundrise Flagship Fund. The Fundrise Flagship Fund is a $1.1 billion portfolio of institutional-caliber real estate designed to give your portfolio a new level of balance, growing your net worth for decades to come. Select members will receive access to the Flagship Fund’s portfolio of nearly 5,000 single-family homes, 3.3+ million square feet of industrial facilities, and over 2,500 multi-family assets.

Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus at Fundrise.com/Flagship. This is a paid advertisement.

In our recent Spotlight Series, sponsored by Fundrise Flagship Fund, we sat down with Fernando Braun, co-founder and CEO of 2250, to discuss how his company is reshaping the skincare industry with a more thoughtful, truly personalized approach.

Fernando shared how his journey into skincare began much like many others—navigating a maze of overwhelming choices, marketing gimmicks, and products that often failed to deliver. Recognizing a major gap in the industry, he and his co-founder Ness set out to create 2250, a brand built on transparency, efficacy, and personalization.

One of the key insights Fernando highlighted was how most skincare companies claim to offer customization but, in reality, simply funnel customers toward pre-existing formulas. 2250 takes a different approach, tailoring regimens based on individual skin needs rather than forcing people into one-size-fits-all solutions. Their goal is to make skincare both effective and effortless, ensuring users no longer waste time or money on products that don’t work for them.

With a dedicated team of skincare specialists and a focus on building a foundation for long-term skin health, 2250 has quickly gained a loyal following. Fernando also emphasized the importance of education in skincare, empowering customers to make informed decisions rather than relying on industry hype.

At Select, we admire brands that challenge the status quo, and 2250 is a perfect example of innovation done right. To explore more about their philosophy and products, visit 2250.care.

The Select Spotlight series is sponsored by The Fundrise Flagship Fund. The Fundrise Flagship Fund is a $1.1 billion portfolio of institutional-caliber real estate designed to give your portfolio a new level of balance, growing your net worth for decades to come. Select members will receive access to the Flagship Fund’s portfolio of nearly 5,000 single-family homes, 3.3+ million square feet of industrial facilities, and over 2,500 multi-family assets.

Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus at Fundrise.com/Flagship. This is a paid advertisement.