Why Half the Stock Market Disappeared (And Where Smart Money Is Going Instead)

In this episode of The Legacy Lounge, Deborah Stavis sits down with Jeff Carnrite, partner at Carnrite Ventures, for a deep dive into the world of venture capital and why private market investing is becoming essential for building wealth in today's economy.

From family consulting firm to venture powerhouse, Carnrite Ventures has been identifying breakthrough companies for over a decade. But as Jeff explains, the venture landscape has fundamentally changed, with fewer companies going public, massive value is now being created in private markets that most investors never see.

Jeff reveals why companies like Stripe and OpenAI are staying private longer, how top-quartile VC funds consistently outperform other private assets, and what it really takes to identify winners at the earliest stages. He shares the inside story of portfolio companies that pivoted from near-failure to massive success, explains the dermatology AI startup that found its breakthrough by switching from B2B to D2C, and details their groundbreaking investment in Colossal Biosciences, now valued at over $10 billion and working to de-extinct the woolly mammoth.

Beyond the numbers, this conversation explores Carnrite's unique "fund size as strategy" approach, their deep Houston network advantage, and the innovative Rice University venture studio partnership that's bridging the gap between world-class biotech IP and commercial success.

You'll discover:

👉 Why 80% of American companies remain private and what that means for investors
👉 The real difference between early-stage VC and late-stage growth equity
👉 How to evaluate venture performance: TVPI, DPI, and benchmarking against top quartile funds
👉 Why founder resilience matters more than your financial models
👉 The truth about venture returns: one-third hits, one-third survivors, one-third zeros
👉 How energy storage and AI infrastructure are creating massive opportunities in Texas
👉 Why Houston is becoming a dark horse for life sciences innovation

Plus, Jeff opens up about building a people-first business alongside his father, the art teacher's advice that shaped his investment philosophy, and why the "college pipeline dream" might be the worst advice of our generation.

Whether you're a family office, high-net-worth individual, or simply curious about how the next generation of wealth is being created, this conversation will change how you think about private market investing.

Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT below with your biggest takeaway from this episode!

#LegacyLounge #VentureCapital #PrivateMarkets #CarnriteVentures #WealthCreation #EarlyStageInvesting #HoustonTech #StartupInvesting #FamilyOffice

To learn more about Stavis Wealth Transfer Solutions, visit us here: https://staviswealth.com/

Stavis Wealth Transfer Solutions, LLC (“Stavis Wealth”) is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration with the SEC alone does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This presentation is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide investment advice. No offer or sale of any security is being made by this presentation. Investments in a private fund can only be made through the subscription agreements for such private fund and should only be made following review of the applicable fund documents. Stavis Wealth does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice.