50X

50X dissects the anatomy of extraordinary long-term investments. We track the often circuitous route to exceptional long-term returns, exploring the foundations of value creation and how that rarest of investment commodities—conviction—is created, maintained, threatened, and sometimes lost. Each episode of 50X looks in detail at an investment that has appreciated at least 50-fold. It is created by Will Thorndike and Compounding Labs, in partnership with Colossus.

Will Thorndike Host Will Thorndike

Will is the author of The Outsiders, co-founding partner of Compounding Labs, and Chairman of two public businesses.

50X

Ep.2

Asurion: The Flywheel Era (‘01-‘07) with Kevin Taweel

Kevin Taweel is the co-founder and Chairman of Asurion. We cover the early leadership hires that had a profound impact on the company, why "divine discontent" became the centerpiece of their culture, and the auspicious timing of their equity recapitalization process.

05.14.2025

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50X

Ep.1

Asurion: The Early Days (‘95-‘01) with Kevin Taweel

Kevin Taweel is the co-founder and Chairman of Asurion. We cover the process for identifying the perfect acquisition target, how vertical integration revolutionized the handset insurance industry, and the pivotal capital allocation decisions that drove Asurion's growth.

05.07.2025

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50X

Ep.4

Private Equity in the Public Markets with Rob Small

Rob Small is a Managing Director at Berkshire Partners. We cover TransDigm's approach to capital allocation, Rob's position management over time, and compare TransDigm with traditional PE portfolio companies.

08.04.2022

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50X

Ep.3

Operator to Capital Allocator with Nick Howley

Nick Howley is the Founder and Executive Chairman of TransDigm. We cover TransDigm’s evolution while under public ownership, unpack its approach to special dividends, and examine meaningful acquisitions alongside disruptive crises.

07.28.2022

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50X

Ep.2

TransDigm: Redeeming the Most Painful Loss with Rob Small

Rob Small is a Managing Director at Berkshire Partners. We cover the core elements composing TransDigm’s business quality, Berkshire’s and Stockbridge’s initial investments, and the trajectory of Rob’s conviction.

07.21.2022

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50X

Ep.1

TransDigm: Foundations with Nick Howley

Nick Howley is the Founder and Executive Chairman of TransDigm. We cover TransDigm’s foundations under private ownership, dig into its core value drivers, and explore the business's early M&A motion.

07.14.2022

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