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Articles by Brian Feinstein
Building a Song from One Word
By Brian Feinstein, Founder, FeinLine Academy • July 16, 2026 Editor’s note: this exercise is excerpted from The FeinLine Philosophy, a new book of 25 creative songwriting exercises by ASCAP composer and arts educator Brian Feinstein. While Brian’s exercises are especially useful for musical theater writers, they’re great for any type of songwriter looking to hone their craft. ******** Great songs often begin with a single moment of inspiration: one word that opens the door to an entire world.
Presidential Control of Independent Agencies Has a Price
The Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Slaughter strips independent agencies of removal protections that made regulatory policy predictable across administrations. In new research, Brian Feinstein and Daniel Hemel find that equity markets assign real value to precisely that kind of insulation. On June 29, the Supreme Court held in Trump v.
The Government’s Costly Definition of ‘Small Business’
This commentary originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal on July 5, 2026 by Brian D. Feinstein. The views are entirely the author’s own opinion.
The Government’s Costly Definition of ‘Small Business’
A system of subsidies and exemptions wastes taxpayer dollars and discourages companies from growing. The headquarters of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, March 24, 2025. Getty Images Beginning on July 4, the Small Business Administration will let small firms borrow up to $10 million with the government’s backing—double the previous amount, and the most the agency has ever offered.
Sexual orientation differences in trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among adults in treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder
Sexual minority (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer) individuals experience increased rates of mental health burdens compared to their heterosexual peers (Meyer & Frost, 2013; Wittgens et al., 2022). A systematic review of nearly 200 studies demonstrated that, compared to heterosexual adults, sexual minority adults were more likely to report mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders and had increased rates of suicide attempts and deaths by suicide (Plöderl & Tremblay, 2015).
The Constitutional Money Problem
The project of bolstering the administrative state’s perceived legitimacy is central to administrative law. Despite the pitch of debate in elite legal circles, however, little is known about the views of ordinary citizens—the very people whose beliefs constitute popular legitimacy. This Article provides evidence of Americans’ actual views concerning what features contribute to agencies’ perceived legitimacy.
Introduction to Symposium on Peter Conti-Brown & Sean Vanatta’s Private Finance, Public Power: A History of Bank Supervision in America, by Brian D. Feinstein - Yale Journal on Regulation
This post introduces Notice & Comment’s symposium on Peter Conti-Brown and Sean Vanatta’s Private Finance, Public Power: A History of Bank Supervision in America. For other posts in the series, click here. Bank supervision resists easy categorization. Sometimes, supervisors resemble cops on the beat, enforcing laws and pursuing violators. At other times, they are akin to public-health inspectors, detecting unsafe conditions and calling for intervention before harm spreads.
Exploring Drivers of Binge Eating in Individuals With Food Insecurity and Recurrent Binge Eating: A Qualitative Analysis
Although food insecurity is associated with binge eating, the mechanisms of this relationship are unclear. We interviewed adults with food insecurity and binge eating to learn what drove their binge eating. Drivers included fluctuating food access, mental and physical health, and binge-promoting narratives.
Sexual orientation and mental health in a US cohort of children: a longitudinal mediation study
Supporting Information Filename Description jcpp13873-sup-0001-TableS1-S7.docxWord 2007 document , 70.9 KB Table S1. Comparisons of female and male children on sexual orientation across waves. Table S2. Comparisons of participants in the analytic sample to those who were excluded on baseline characteristics. Table S3. Comparisons of sexual orientation groups (from Wave 1 to 2) on primary variables of interest at baseline (Wave 1). Table S4.
A CEO’s tactical guide to driving profitable growth
In the software world, a “growth at all costs” mindset has given way to “profitable growth.” Building a venture-backed business was easier when only growth mattered. But now CEOs need to drive both growth and profitability. In the public markets, the companies with the highest growth efficiency (which we define as ARR growth rate + free cash flow margin) command the highest multiples: In this guide, we unpack a software profit and loss statement (P&L) into its component parts.
Differences in infection and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among older adults in Columbus, Ohio
PLOS ONE, Mar 2023 This is a preview of a remote PDF: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0282702&type=printable Ethan Morgan, Christina Dyar, Brian A. Feinstein. , PLOS ONE, 2023, Volume 18, Issue 3, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282702
Differences in infection and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among older adults in Columbus, Ohio
Loading metrics Open Access Peer-reviewed Research Article Abstract Introduction In the United States, rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have increased year after year for the past six consecutive years. Even so, the majority of research has focused on younger populations with little work examining infections and prevention methods among older adults. Methods Data come from the Columbus Health Aging Project (N = 794).
Knowledge of human papillomavirus vaccination: A multi-institution, cross-sectional study of allopathic and osteopathic medical students
Loading metrics Open Access Peer-reviewed Research Article Abstract Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a well-established and successful tool for preventing HPV-related cancers. However, vaccine uptake remains low, influenced by patient hesitancy around safety concerns and little opportunity to discuss the vaccine with trusted healthcare providers.
The Roles of Discrimination and Aging Concerns in the Mental Health of Sexual Minority Older Adults
Abstract Purpose: Sexual minority (SM) older adults report poorer mental health than their heterosexual peers. While all older adults can experience age discrimination and other aging concerns (e.g., functional decline), SM older adults also experience sexual orientation-related discrimination and aging concerns (e.g., that they will have to be less open about their sexual orientation to get support as they age).
Ten lessons from a decade of vertical software investing
A few years ago, we published the initial version of our vertical SaaS manifesto. Since then, we have seen vertical SaaS continue to evolve—especially as new forms of monetization arise and augment the traditional software-based model. Accordingly, we have updated this piece to reflect the changing face of vertical SaaS, deeper insights into pricing and packaging, and the emerging importance of B2B payments in vertical SaaS in a new Bonus Law.
PrEP Stigma and logistical barriers remain significant challenges in curtailing HIV transmission among Black and Hispanic/Latinx cisgender sexual minority men and transgender women in the US
Acknowledgments The authors thank study participants for their time. Disclosure statement No potential conflict of interests were reported by the authors. Declaration of interest statement The authors declare no conflicts or special interests. Authors’ contributions RW and LE designed the study, collected all data, and contributed to writing the manuscript. CC conducted data analyses and interpretation and wrote portions of the manuscript.
Assumptions about patients seeking PrEP: Exploring the effects of patient and sexual partner race and gender identity and the moderating role of implicit racism
Study procedures Examples of all study materials are included as S1 File. Prior to widespread survey distribution, a focus group of 10 allopathic medical students reviewed and provided feedback on the patient vignettes and study measures. Minor edits to item wording and study platform mechanics were made based on focus group comments. Following completion of the informed consent and eligibility criteria items, participants were randomized to one of 12 experimental conditions shown in Fig 1.
Differences in Sexual Behaviors, HIV Testing, and Willingness to Use PrEP between Gay and Bisexual Men Who Have Sex with Men in China
Abstract Objectives: Accumulating evidence suggests that there may be differences in sexual behaviors, condom use, and HIV prevention service utilization (e.g., HIV testing, PrEP use) between gay and bisexual men, but this remains under-explored, especially among gay and bisexual men in China. Methods: We surveyed 4,142 gay and bisexual men on a geosocial networking app in China.
The Promise of Digital Mental Health for LGBTQ+ Youths
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability. Not a subscriber? Subscribe Now / Learn More PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development. Need more help?
Unique risk factors for suicide attempt among bisexual/pansexual versus gay/lesbian individuals
The study was funded by The New Jersey Psychological Association. Brian Feinstein’s time was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K08DA045575; PI: Feinstein). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.
Breaking new ground to IPO: The Procore Story
When I first met Procore’s founder and CEO, Tooey Courtemanche, nothing about him or Procore fit the profile of a typical venture capital investment. Tooey’s path into entrepreneurship was unorthodox. He was a veteran of the first dot-com bubble, living in Santa Barbara, and had spent a decade struggling to get widespread adoption of Procore. A few times in those early years, the company even struggled to make payroll.
Coinbase and How to Regulate the Cryptocurrency Market - The New York Times
The idea that regulation chills activity in new markets is intuitive, but not always accurate. Sometimes the opposite is true. April 14, 2021 By Brian Feinstein and Kevin Werbach The authors are professors of legal studies and business ethics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Since last fall, cryptocurrencies — digital tokens that represent monetary value, stored on completely decentralized networks of public digital ledgers — have boomed.
Financial Lawmaking and the Incoherence of Antinovelty Doctrine
Courts do not look kindly on innovative financial regulatory institutions.
Bisexual orientation cannot be reduced to arousal patterns
In their article, Jabbour et al. (1) claim to demonstrate “robust evidence for bisexual orientation among men,” but their research is guided by problematic assumptions about, and definitions of, sexual orientation, bisexuality, and arousal. First, it is well established that sexual orientation is multidimensional [inclusive of identity, attraction, arousal, behavior, etc. (2, 3)].
Twitter and the Federal Reserve: How the U.S. central bank is (and is not) surviving social media
Since 1994, the Federal Reserve has launched—or, in many cases, been shoved into—an era of more open communication. Before 1994, the Fed would not even publish the results of its interest-rate decisions, leaving the news to percolate through market activity. Central bankers cultivated an aura of mystique, focused on opacity in communication. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan nurtured this image with particular enthusiasm.
Does Regulation Chill Cryptocurrency Trading?
Regulations have not decreased cryptocurrency trading within some U.S. and foreign markets. Cryptocurrencies may have matured beyond their tulip craze stage and emerged as a durable class of investments. Yet their regulatory treatment remains unsettled. Cryptocurrency proponents argue that new regulation is often inappropriate for these novel assets secured by technical mechanisms. They further claim that regulation of this developing technology would stymie beneficial innovations.
INSIGHT: FCA and Covid-19 Fraud-Time to Update Lincoln’s Law for Trump’s Administration
“We’re at war,” President Donald Trump declared at a coronavirus press conference, “and we’re fighting an invisible enemy.” Just as expanded government spending during military conflicts often attracts war profiteers, so too will Washington’s multi-trillion-dollar stimulus inevitably engender waste, fraud, and abuse.
INSIGHT: FCA and Covid-19 Fraud-Time to Update Lincoln’s Law for Trump’s Administration
“We’re at war,” President Donald Trump declared at a coronavirus press conference, “and we’re fighting an invisible enemy.” Just as expanded government spending during military conflicts often attracts war profiteers, so too will Washington’s multi-trillion-dollar stimulus inevitably engender waste, fraud, and abuse.
Bisexuality, minority stress, and health
PMCID: PMC5603307 NIHMSID: NIHMS846005 Brian A. Feinstein, Ph.D. and Christina Dyar, Ph.D. Brian A. Feinstein Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer Brian A.
Sexual orientation-related stigma and relationship functioning among female same-sex couples
Abstract This article discusses how sexual orientation-based stigma serves to undermine functioning in female same-sex relationships. We particularly focus on the unique roles of interpersonal stigma (e.g., victimization, microaggressions) and structural stigma (e.g., institutional forms of discrimination), highlighting critical limitations and gaps in this literature and offering suggestions for future studies.
The Longitudinal Associations Between Outness and Health Outcomes Among Gay/Lesbian Versus Bisexual Emerging Adults
Stall, R., Paul, J. P., Greenwood, G., Pollack, L. M., Bein, E., Crosby, G. M., & Catania, J. (2001). Alcohol use, drug use and alcohol-related problems among men who have sex with men: The Urban Men’s Health Study. Addiction, 96, 1589–1601. CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
Launching BVP X, our tenth fund – Bessemer Venture Partners – Medium
Partners Byron Deeter, Kristina Shen, and Brian Feinstein in the firm’s Silicon Valley office Today, we’re announcing a new, $1.85 billion fund: BVP X. Ten is a milestone kind of number and launching our tenth fund inspired moments of reflection derived from our experiences working alongside entrepreneurs and companies we’ve advised over the last half-century.
Commentary: The Mick Mulvaney Proposal That Could Change the CFPB for the Better
The political equivalent of a Halley’s Comet sighting occurred during a House hearing last week: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau acting director Mick Mulvaney asked Congress to dilute his power by turning the CFPB into a bipartisan commission. Even stranger, congressional leaders of both parties seem uninterested. Mulvaney argued that a bipartisan, multi-member structure would prevent “wild swings” in regulations.
Who Conducts Oversight? Bill-Writers, Lifers, and Nail-Biters
The landmark Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 charges Congress, through its standing committees, to “exercise continuous watchfulness” over the executive branch. Yet committees differ markedly in their performance of this responsibility; the modal House committee convenes no oversight hearings in the typical year, while other committees hold many dozens of hearings. This Article compares the characteristics of committee chairs that pursue oversight vigorously with those that do not.
A descriptive analysis of where and with whom lesbian versus bisexual women drink
Brian A. Feinstein Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing and Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USACorrespondencebrian.feinstein@northwestern.edu , PhD, Elizabeth R. Bird Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA , MS, Anne M.
Hill Republicans must strengthen Congress - big league
With unified Republican government on the horizon, congressional Republicans may be tempted to place on the backburner their branch’s function as a check on presidential power. They should resist this temptation. Instead, congressional Republicans should take up the mantle of reversing the decades-long shift of authority from Capitol Hill to the White House. Over many decades, the executive branch has accumulated powers traditionally held by Congress.
Development and Initial Validation of the Sexual Minority Women Rejection Sensitivity Scale
The goals of the current studies were to develop a measure of sexual orientation rejection sensitivity (RS) for sexual minority women (SMW) and to examine its preliminary reliability and validity. In Study 1a, data from 150 SMW were used to develop scenarios for the SMW Rejection Sensitivity Scale (SMW-RSS). In Study 1b, data from a second sample of 128 SMW were used to streamline the SMW-RSS and test its factor structure.
How Smart Founders Can Take Advantage Of The Platform Shift
About 15 years ago, the Internet triggered a platform shift in the delivery of enterprise software; a wave of cloud startups quickly unseated the kings of the server era. Now, another platform evolution — the mobile era — is upon us. For nimble and opportunistic founders, the shift toward mobile is a monumental opportunity to stake ownership in a newly dominant platform. Smart founders can build software for mobile from the ground up instead of populating it with scraps from prior infrastructures.
How Smart Founders Can Take Advantage Of The Platform Shift
Posted on 28 febbraio 2016
Ten Questions Every Founder Should Ask Before Raising Venture Debt
There’s an adage that says your first job as a startup CEO is to make sure your company never runs out of cash. When financing a growing company,venture debt can be a great supplement to venture capital. Much has been written to help founders think through venture capital, but venture debtremains a bit of a black box.
Ten Questions Every Founder Should Ask Before Raising Venture Debt
When financing a growing company,venture debt can be a great supplement to venture capital. Much has been written to help founders think through venture capital, but venture debtremains a bit of a black box. Read More
Drones need software, too
Venture capitalists aren’t seers. But at Bessemer Venture Partners, we try to dive deep into a particular sector to find great investments. The thinking is that by thoroughly getting to know the pain points — and players — in a particular sector, we can identify trends and predict opportunities for investment. And, in turn, we will be better equipped to identify and support the next generation of transformative companies.
Check out these playbooks from successful industry cloud startups
Industry cloud software companies are on the verge of taking off, with several already achieving multibillion-dollar valuations. At Bessemer, we’ve been fortunate to partner with more than a dozen industry software companies. And we’ve watched them attack the field in a variety of ways.
A cloud for every industry -- real estate, health care, & beyond
Jonathan Bush and Todd Park didn’t mean to start a software revolution. They just wanted to get paid. In 1997, the duo founded a birthing clinic in San Diego, with plans to franchise the model. Before long, things started to go wrong. Their company lacked a system to keep track of insurance claims. Jonathan and Todd quickly faced a cash flow crisis. They turned to Park’s younger brother, who created a cloud-based administrative system that made dealing with insurers less painful.
Change committees to fix gridlock in Congress
As Washington welcomes the 114th Congress, the capacity of our national legislature to address the nation’s problems is in doubt. Public approval of Congress hovers near historic lows. The contrast between Congress’ bare ability to pass routine legislation and President Barack Obama’s willingness to act unilaterally suggests the White House may supplant Capitol Hill as the nation’s chief policymaker.
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