The Simplest Way To Make $1M In 2026

The following summary is based on the provided transcript from the *My First Million* podcast, featuring hosts Sean Puri and Sam Parr along with guests John and Jordy from TBPN. The discussion focuses on "Sarah’s List," a strategic selection of ten companies that represent the best opportunities for professionals to join right now to achieve significant financial upside through equity. ### The Philosophy of Sarah’s List The concept is named after Sam’s wife, Sarah, who made her first million by joining Airbnb as employee number 3,000. While others were grinding at risky startups, she joined a "clear winner" that already had product-market fit. By the time the company IPO’d, her stock package had 5xed. The core thesis is that your time is an investment; therefore, you should join companies that are already "obvious runners" where the risk of failure is low, but the potential for 5x to 10x growth remains high. ### 1. Zuru Tech: The Future of Construction Zuru Tech, based in New Zealand, is a standout pick due to its founder, Nick Mowbray. Having already built the world’s third-largest toy company and a massive diaper brand through manufacturing prowess, Mowbray is now tackling home construction. His new venture, "Dreamcatcher," uses AI to allow users to describe a home, which is then rendered and built via a highly automated factory in China. The key insight is that Zuru understands the "hard part" of hardware: building the factory itself. Their process is reportedly ten times cheaper than traditional construction, positioning them to disrupt a multi-billion-dollar industry that has historically ignored technological innovation. ### 2. Varda Space Industries: Manufacturing in Orbit Varda Space Industries focuses on manufacturing materials in microgravity. While other space companies focus on launch, Varda partners with SpaceX to send capsules into orbit where gravity can be treated as an "off switch." This environment allows for the creation of unique pharmaceutical crystals, drugs, and fiber optics that are impossible to produce on Earth. By leveraging falling launch costs and focusing on the complex engineering of reentry capsules, Varda is positioned as a long-term leader in the emerging space economy. ### 3. Suno: The Democratization of Music Suno is an AI music generation platform that has reached a staggering $300 million in ARR just two years after launch. The bullish case for Suno is that it expands the music creator market from 40 million talented musicians to billions of people with an idea for a song. Much like ChatGPT became the "front door" for language models, Suno is becoming the primary interface for AI music. The hosts argue that it is not a fad but a cultural tool that will likely be integrated into platforms like Spotify rather than disrupted by them. ### 4. TrueMed: Fintech for Wellness TrueMed, founded by Justin Mares, is a fintech layer that allows consumers to purchase wellness products—such as supplements, cold plunges, and exercise gear—using pre-tax dollars from HSA or FSA accounts. By handling the complex telehealth eligibility requirements at checkout, TrueMed acts as an "index fund" for the wellness trend. It provides an immediate economic advantage to consumers and a conversion boost for merchants, capturing a significant take rate on a massive, growing category of spend. ### 5. HubSpot: The SAS Apocalypse Survivor Despite the recent "SAS apocalypse" and market uncertainty surrounding AI, HubSpot remains a top recommendation. With $3 billion in revenue and a strong moat among small-to-medium businesses, the current market valuation is seen as an overreaction to AI uncertainty. The hosts believe that while AI will change software, established "systems of record" like HubSpot are best positioned to deliver AI value to non-technical customers. For an employee, the public nature of the stock offers liquidity that private unicorns cannot match. ### 6. SemiAnalysis: The Moody’s of the AI Era SemiAnalysis is a high-end research firm led by Dylan Patel, who possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of semiconductor infrastructure. The business generates tens of millions in revenue by selling deep-dive data and valuation models to hedge funds and institutions. Historically, B2B publications in technology booms—like those covering the early computer era—have created massive wealth. SemiAnalysis is evolving into a critical authority on AI hardware, with potential to expand into credit ratings and investment funds. ### 7. Harvey: AI for the Legal Vertical Harvey is an AI platform specifically designed for law firms, already generating $200 million in revenue with an $8 billion valuation. Legal work is text-heavy, making it a perfect candidate for AI disruption. Unlike general tools, Harvey builds secure, bespoke workflows that handle compliance and validation. The "bull case" for legal AI is that as the cost of litigation drops, the volume of cases may increase a hundredfold, ensuring that even as lawyers become more efficient, the demand for legal services remains high. ### 8. SendCutSend: Re-industrializing America SendCutSend is a bootstrapped manufacturing company that has scaled to over $100 million in revenue. It allows engineers to upload CAD files and receive custom-cut metal parts with extreme speed and frictionless quoting. By applying software automation to traditional machine shop workflows, they have become a vital supplier for the "hard tech" and drone industries. Their success demonstrates that there is a massive market for domestic manufacturing when it is optimized for speed and ease of use. ### 9. Column: The Developer’s Bank Founded by Plaid co-founder William Hockey, Column is a chartered bank built from the ground up for developers. Hockey used his own capital to buy a bank, meaning the company has zero dilution from outside investors. Column provides the underlying infrastructure for major fintechs like Mercury, Ramp, and Brex. By owning the entire stack from the API layer down to the bank charter, Column offers a superior competitive advantage in a space traditionally hampered by legacy systems and middle-man service providers.