The rise and rise of Silicon Valley super-unicorn Michael Fertik is chronicled. Michael's relationship with venture capitalist David Cowan is lightly explored. David and all of Silicon Valley react to some shocking news that changes everything. Will there be an episode two? Continue to Episode 2: The Miracle of Failure to find out.
David puts on a brave public face as the shockwaves from Michael's decision reverberate beyond Silicon Valley. Senior leadership at Bessemer Venture Partners expresses concern for David's future. David gets a valuable piece of information from his arch rival Mike Maples, Jr.
Michael opens up on a network news magazine interview. David sees an opportunity to reignite his career and relationship with Michael. David surprises Michael with a bold proposal.
David and Michael assemble their new team for the first time. The merits of Qi and PuMDiNC are discussed. David and Michael are jointly interviewed on a flagship public television talk show. The Silicon Valley venture community contemplates its future.
The Heroic team gets down to business reading positive press about their boss and meeting with promising entrepreneurs. Prominent VCs Ann Miura-Ko and David Hornik predict hard times for non-Michael Fertik venture firms. David and Michael hear pitches from two aggressively counter-intuitive startups.
Michael and David hear pitches from startups with brashly dispassionate solutions to immigration and climate problems. David is impressed by the number of wins in one startup’s forecast. Public television talk show host Hobie Hill chats with Michael and David about the possibility of the tech bubble bursting and learns an interesting fact about the Yanomami tribe of the Amazon rainforest.
Michael and David continue their joint interview with public television’s Hobie Hill. Tennis, pasta and brotherhood are discussed. The co-founders of Jailaway unveil their enterprising solution to prison overcrowding. Bessemer Managing Partner Byron Deeter shows concern over Heroic’s investments. David defends Michael in a completely normal interview.
Michael and Zephyr meet with the co-founders of personal capitalization platform Palmzi and freedom tech pioneers Smartmouth. David finds himself increasingly left out of the Heroic decision-making process and confronts Michael with a strongly worded email.
Michael’s counterintuitive approach to venture consumes the industry. David is caught on camera questioning Michael’s investments. The Bessemer Venture Partners partnership issues an ultimatum. David’s long overdue confrontation with Michael is undermined by a familiar figure.
In this bonus episode our documentary crew goes behind the scenes at TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017 for the somewhat anticipated world premiere of Bubbleproof.