Essays
Long-form essays on markets, AI and building, and a few personal ones, by Matt Owen, a chartered accountant in Cape Town.
Why the Bike Worksideas · Oct 2026 · 5 minBuilding Is Free Now. Asking Isn't.ideas · Oct 2026 · 7 minI Switched Off My AI Companyideas · Oct 2026 · 7 minUnknown Is Not Zeroideas · Oct 2026 · 7 minThe Criterion That Didn't Firemarkets · Jul 2026 · 7 minThe Machine Is the Shortlistideas · Jul 2026 · 6 minEgos and IdeologyWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 26 minReading the ClocksWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 18 minSA & Africa: A View From the MarginsWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 26 minThe AI ReckoningWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 30 minThe Arithmetic and the HorizonWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 12 minThe Case for OptimismWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 25 minThe Cracks Already ThereWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 34 minThe Democratic TrapWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 21 minThe Demographic CrunchWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 28 minThe End of the Bull RunWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 28 minThe Energy BottleneckWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 23 minThe Lens of HistoryWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 16 minThe Math Doesn't WorkWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 30 minThe Opportunity FrameworkWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 18 minThe Survival FrameworkWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 22 minThe World Outside AmericaWTFAWGmarkets · May 2026 · 28 minThe Knowing-Doing Gapideas · Apr 2026 · 7 minThe Anonymous Accountpersonal · Apr 2026 · 6 min100 Things I Believe to Be Truepersonal · Apr 2026 · 12 minHabits Over Goalsideas · Mar 2026 · 6 minThe Uncomfortable Truth About Crypto: Why The Market is Structurally Brokencrypto · Jan 2026 · 6 minLife Lessons from Dadpersonal · Jul 2024 · 3 minThere Will Be Blood — Crypto Market Analysiscrypto · Jul 2017 · 5 min