Scott Wilson: Why Half of AI Startups Will Die in Ten Years
Scott Wilson explains why frontier AI models face commoditization and why public markets refuse to buy inflated private tech startups.
Inside WashU's Endowment Fund | SpaceX Made Up 20% of Out AUM | Scott Wilson
With Harry Stebbings, Scott Wilson · Saturday, November 7, 2026
Scott Wilson, Chief Investment Officer of Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), details how he expanded the university's endowment from under $8 billion to nearly $20 billion, generating $17 billion in gains over nine years. Wilson explains his aggressive restructuring strategy, which included cutting all 36 hedge funds and pivoting heavily into direct company co-investments like SpaceX. He also offers critical analysis of venture mega-funds, evergreen structures, frothy private AI valuations, and contrarian opportunities in Europe and China.
Key takeaways
- Scott Wilson oversaw $17 billion in gains at Washington University in St. Louis, taking the endowment from under $8 billion to nearly $20 billion after cutting 36 hedge funds. Read more →
- Scott Wilson expanded WashU's endowment from under $8 billion to nearly $20 billion, generating $17 billion in gains over nine years. Read more →
- Scott Wilson expanded the Washington University in St. Louis endowment from under $8 billion to nearly $20 billion, generating $17 billion in gains across nine years. Read more →
- WashU grew its endowment from under $8 billion to nearly $20 billion over nine years, generating $17 billion in gains after Scott Wilson cut all 36 hedge funds. Read more →
- Washington University in St. Louis grew its endowment from under $8 billion to nearly $20 billion under Scott Wilson, producing $17 billion in gains over nine years while cutting all 36 of its hedge funds. Read more →
5 articles from this episode
WashU Left Sequoia and Cut Venture Mega-Funds
Scott Wilson grew WashU's endowment to $20B by ditching funds over $10B, exiting Sequoia's evergreen model, and tracking look-through risk.
Scott Wilson on Valuations: Europe and China Beat US Multiples
Scott Wilson grew WashU's endowment to $20B by hunting value in Europe and China while avoiding overpriced US revenue multiples.
Scott Wilson: Fund Concentration Limits Hurt Returns
Scott Wilson explains why WashU put 20% of its endowment into SpaceX and why standard 10% fund concentration limits destroy returns.
Scott Wilson on Why WashU Cuts Venture Managers
WashU CIO Scott Wilson explains why valuation discipline, not deployment speed, determines which venture managers get cut.
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