The American Dream: A Beautiful Lie?
Is the American Dream still real — or has opportunity become harder than ever?
In this Startup Istanbul Podcast episode, Burak Buyukdemir talks with Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride, authors of Capital Evolution and The New Builders, about the future of opportunity, capitalism, and entrepreneurship.
We explore:
The opportunity gap and why mobility has declined
How capitalism is changing and what comes next
Why many founders feel the system is not built for them
The difference between talent and access
Why the middle class matters for innovation
The real impact on founders in Türkiye, MENA, Africa, India, Latin America, and other emerging markets
What it takes to build in tough economic environments
Key Questions Covered:
Is the American Dream still achievable?
Why do we still tell the story if mobility is shrinking?
How should founders think about capital, access, and opportunity today?
What does the future of entrepreneurship look like in a changing economic system?
This episode is helpful for:
Founders starting or scaling a company
Investors looking into emerging markets
Students and builders curious about the next era of capitalism
Anyone wondering how economic change impacts real people
📘 Books by Seth Levine & Elizabeth MacBride:
Capital Evolution
The New Builders
🔥 Watch until the end for insights on how founders can succeed in systems that weren’t designed for them.
👇 Comment below:
Do you think the American Dream is still real? Why or why not?
#americandream #startups #founders #capitalism #opportunitygap #entrepreneurship #emergingmarkets #StartupIstanbul #SethLevine #ElizabethMacBride #CapitalEvolution
