The economy is changing faster than we can comprehend. This is a lesson I learn over and over again from my teenage children. 

When my son turned sixteen, he refused to get a driver's license. At first, I was confused. He's an independent kid and he loves cars. But then he explained.

"Why go through the trouble," he asked, "when I can just get a ride on my phone?"

He has a point.

While driving was once a staple of the teenage experience, teenagers today opt for immediacy over independence.  My son would rather hop in an Uber or a Lyft than own a car, let alone go through the trouble of getting a driver's license.

Take a quick look at the markets and you'll see the effects this shift in consumption habits is exerting on our economy. In the last few years, for example, Airbnb joined the exclusive unicorn club alongside the likes of Lyft (now a decacorn), Stripe, and others. And in the gear up to its 2020 IPO, Airbnb's value has surpassed some of the world's oldest and most respected hotel brands.

Millennials and Gen Zers are already changing the way we consume. And for any shrewd venture capitalist, they should be influencing the way we invest, too. 

Smart investors recognize that the unique preferences of the young will give way to some of our economy's most transformative future industries. 

I've found footholds in emerging markets by observing two components of their unique experience: immediacy and healthy living. 

Immediacy 

Kids today have a hunger for immediacy. They grew up on the Internet and are accustomed to fast-delivery, fast-response, and fast-return. When they want something, they want it right away. I've observed this in my own family and in the habits of my kids' friends. 

Whether that be food through UberEats, streaming through Netflix, or a ride through Lyft. They're used to getting what they want and getting it quickly. 

Prospective venture capitalists should cast a critical eye toward business to consumer delivery times. How quickly, and at what cost, can a given firm deliver its product to its consumer? As the market continues shifting toward the demands of younger consumers, customers will be less forgiving of long wait times between purchase and arrival. 

In order to satisfy this new expectation, firms will need to refine their internal logistic processes. This is where, through watching my kids' habits, I've seen new opportunities time and again. 

Realizing the sense of urgency now pervading consumption, I invested in warehouse space in hundreds of cities around the country, all with one thing in common - they were within ten minutes of a major airport. 

As companies like Amazon overstock inventory in a bid to preempt online orders, warehouse space in the vicinity of airports and shipping hubs has become a prime commodity.  Understanding my kids' intolerance for long wait-times, I got in on the ground floor of this burgeoning industry. 

Healthy Living 

From vegan foods to premium gyms, healthy living has become an important component of Gen Z and Millennial life and a major source of the generation's social capital. 

Within the restaurant industry, the ever-increasing focus on healthier food poses an existential threat to traditional fast food. 

Millennials love the concept of fast food (immediacy!), but this adoration does not extend to the trans-fat and sugars typically found on the menu at America's biggest chains. When I take my kids out for lunch, they don't ask McDonalds or Burger King. They want healthier options with elevated atmospheres like Tocaya and Sweetgreen. 

That's why I've invested in fast casual restaurants that offer quick, reliable service without compromising consumer health. These ventures are vegan-friendly, organic, and clean. Proteins are easily swapped out for fish, chicken, beef, or vegan options, and the menus are flexible to accommodate a wide audience. These fast-casual restaurants serve the type of food that you'd feel good about eating in a bright, inviting atmosphere that reflects the high-quality of the food. 

Restaurants aside, this generation sees healthy living and exercise as integral parts of their identities. Where they exercise, much like where they eat, feel like a reflection of their personality. Just as they wouldn't grab a bite at McDonalds, even fewer are willing to pay for a sub-par fitness class. That's why they're happy to shell out two or three times the price for a luxury gym or for the flexibility and immediacy of apps like ClassPass. 

****

The most exciting thing about this investment strategy is that it's ripe for replication. Many of the companies that will be revolutionizing future markets are currently in their infancy, looking eagerly for capital to take a great idea to the next level. 

In my case, years of sitting in boardrooms listening to advice from analysts and CEOs has proved far less beneficial to my investment portfolio that simply sitting at the dinner table with my kids.