Podcasts about ai startup

Jeff Bezos joins the show from San Francisco along with his co-founder and co-CEO of AI startup Prometheus. Just announcing a new $12B series B funding round which values the firm at $41B. Bezos speaking for one of the first times about Prometheus' ambitions. From chips to jet engines to batteries to solar and manufacturing. That extending conversation, only on Squawk on the Street. Squawk on the Street Disclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful investor panel clip, a serial entrepreneur with exits to Apple, Oracle, and SAP shares what founders get wrong about building companies for acquisition.After multiple successful exits and a decade at Apple, he explains why chasing a sale too early destroys priorities — and why the best acquisitions happen when you build a real solution first.He also discusses the future of Applied AI, how AI will organize our chaotic digital lives, and why adversity often creates the biggest breakthroughs.Topics Covered:✅ Founder with exits to Apple, Oracle & SAP shares lessons✅ Why building to sell is usually the wrong strategy✅ Jeff Bezos “missionaries vs mercenaries” mindset✅ How great acquisitions actually happen✅ Applied AI opportunities in daily life✅ Why adversity often leads to success✅ Building startups the right way in 2026If you're a founder, investor, entrepreneur, or startup operator, this is a must-watch.

Anthropic, the firm behind AI assistant Claude, submitted a confidential filing to go public with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The firm, valued at close to a trillion dollars, could make its market debut by the end of the year as it sees a surge in interest for its range of AI products. Also in this edition: as France welcomes new data centre investments, we see what's driving that interest and what impact it could have on local communities. 

Headlines: – Welcome to Mo News (02:00) – US And Iranian Negotiators Reach Tentative Deal To Extend Ceasefire And Launch Nuclear Talks (05:40) – Anthropic Passed OpenAI As The World's Most Valuable AI Startup Ahead Of IPO (15:00) – What Happened When Oprah Used Claude To Come Up With Questions For Anthropic CEO Interview (17:20) – Treasury Department Prepares $250 Bill With Trump's Face On It (22:00) – Gretchen Whitmer Says She Won't Run For President In 2028, What Other Dems Are Likely Running (27:30) – ‘60 Minutes' Shakeup: Two Correspondents, Executive Producer Out (30:20) – Starbucks Says Afternoon Traffic Is Rising As Turnaround Starts To Take Hold (37:30) – What We're Watching, Reading, Eating (41:15) Thanks To Our Sponsors: – ⁠Monarch⁠ - 50% off your first year | Code: MONEWS – ⁠Factor⁠ - 50% off your first box | Code: monews50off – Industrious⁠⁠ - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Code: MONEWS50 – ⁠LMNT⁠ - Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix or 12oz cans purchase

In this episode of the Inventive Journey podcast, host Devon Miller talks with Michael Timmons, founder of GoodFences.ai, about a career built around solving difficult problems in unexpected places.Michael's journey started in Central Texas, where football taught him teamwork and an early software engineering job introduced him to the power of technology. He went on to earn an aerospace engineering degree from the University of Texas and spent four years working on NASA ground control software for the space shuttle. There, he helped modernize legacy code that traced back to the Apollo era and learned how high-pressure teams make decisions when the mission matters.From NASA, Michael moved into logistics work with American Airlines, where he helped solve complex railroad optimization problems. Later, he reunited with former NASA colleagues and launched a consulting company that ran for 17 years. That business exposed him to national missile defense, energy, insurance, criminal justice, international distribution, and large-scale modernization projects. In other words, Michael did not choose easy puzzles. Easy puzzles apparently did not make the calendar.The idea for GoodFences.ai came from a personal frustration. Michael and his wife bought a home and wanted to install solar panels. They knew the HOA rules, understood the state law, had a vendor selected, and expected the approval to move quickly. Instead, the process dragged on for eight months. Michael eventually joined the HOA board, giving him a front-row seat to both homeowner frustration and board-level inefficiency.That experience revealed a business opportunity. Many HOA architectural requests are repetitive, rule-based, and similar to past approvals. Yet boards, managers, and homeowners often spend hours or months moving them through manual processes. GoodFences.ai was created to automate much of that work, improve consistency, reduce administrative burden, and help communities approve compliant requests faster.Michael also shares practical founder lessons. One of his worst business decisions was buying an expensive tool before the company was ready for it. It looked useful, but timing matters. A powerful tool adopted too early can become a very polished money pit.His rule of thumb for new founders is simple: talk to people. Especially for technical and introverted founders, it is easy to stay heads-down building. Michael argues that conversations are essential because they create feedback, customers, partnerships, introductions, and momentum.This episode is a strong listen for SaaS founders, AI entrepreneurs, HOA professionals, property managers, technical founders, and anyone trying to turn operational frustration into a real company. Michael's journey proves that startup ideas do not always come from glamorous brainstorming sessions. Sometimes they come from trying to install solar panels and realizing the neighborhood approval process needs a software intervention.The most interesting part of Michael's story is that every chapter connects. Aerospace, logistics, missile defense, consulting, and HOA automation all involve systems thinking. They require someone to identify constraints, understand stakeholders, reduce waste, and create a process that works better than the old one. GoodFences.ai is the latest expression of that same skill set, aimed at a market where delays, inconsistent reviews, and volunteer board overload create very real pain. The result is a practical example of AI solving a workflow people actually experience.Learn more about Michael's company at goodfences.ai, and listen to the full episode for a practical look at AI automation, founder resilience, customer discovery, and solving painful business bottlenecks.To chat about this one-on-one, grab a free consult at strategymeeting.com

Nnamdi Emelifeonwu left a top London law firm to set up one of the UK's fastest-growing legal tech companies. He talks to host, Sir Richard Harpin, about how building a tool to help his visually impaired colleague to navigate complex legal documents led to co-founding Definely. It is an AI-powered legal tech platform designed to help lawyers access definitions, clauses and key information instantly without leaving the Word document they're working on. It is used by some of the world's leading law firms and global businesses and is now integrated into Anthropic's Claude. Nnamdi shares the reality of becoming a founder, the challenges of raising investment, and how solving one deeply personal problem evolved into a multi-million-dollar AI business. Themes include:The future of AI in the legal industry Building a startup from scratch Entrepreneurship, risk and resilience Scaling a B2B company Expanding into the USStarting a business in the UKBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek announces a permanent 75% price cut for tokens, Mark Gurman reports iOS 27 includes a Camera app update allowing settings to be moved around, and an HP BIOS update pushed by Windows Update rendered some high-end laptops unbootable. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE for free or get DTNS shows ad-free. A specialContinue reading "Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Announces 75% Price Cut – DTH"

Alfred Wallfors is the Co-founder of Listen Labs, the AI customer research company.Companies like Microsoft use Listen to run AI-powered customer interviews, and Alfred talks about how they first landed them as a customer at a pitch competition.We talk why startups should pursue enterprise customers early on, why 85% of survey answers are random clicks, how AI is changing the $140B market research industry, leveraging VC's for customer intros, how to stand out when recruiting as a startup, and hiring for obsession.Thank you to Numeral, Flex, and Amplitude for supporting this episodeNumeral: The end-to-end platform for sales tax and compliance https://www.numeral.comFlex: Get premium banking and a net 60 day credit card at 0% APY https://home.flex.one/referral/bananacapitalAmplitude: AI analytics, all you have to do is ask https://www.amplitude.comTimestamps:(0:14) Listen: AI customer research tool(7:30) Fraud is a big problem in customer research(9:06) The $140B customer survey industry(12:08) Why running customer surveys is so hard(16:03) AGI will never replace humans(18:25) Surveys vs interviews(21:13) Importance of emotion in data collection(22:54) Using AI interviews to get product feedback(26:15) Building digital twins creates better data(32:22) Outperforming generic AI tools(34:17) Sweetgreen's Max Protein Bowl(36:09) Jevon's Paradox in customer research(40:37) Quantitative vs qualitative(42:38) Landing Microsoft as an early customer(44:50) Targeting enterprise customers from day 1(48:05) Building a VC customer intro leaderboard(51:53) Recruiting with billboard games(57:20) Hiring for obsession(1:02:07) Alfred's favorite movies(1:03:53) Listen's custom agent harness(1:06:24) Velocity Fellowship for Swedes moving to SF(1:08:34) Growing up with entrepreneurial older brother(1:09:46) No shoes in the officeReferencedTry Listen: https://listenlabs.ai/Careers at Listen: https://listenlabs.ai/careersSweetgreen protein bowls: https://listenlabs.ai/case-studies/sweetgreenToni Erdmann: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4048272/Episode with Erik @ Modal: https://www.thespl.it/p/building-ai-native-infrastructureFollow AlfredTwitter: https://x.com/itsalfredwLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wahlforssFollow TurnerTwitter: https://twitter.com/TurnerNovakLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakSubscribe to my newsletter to get every episode + the transcript in your inbox every week: https://www.thespl.it/

In this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Renji Bijoy joins Chris Lustrino to discuss why he believes spatial computing glasses will become the next major computing platform after smartphones. Immersed began as a VR productivity platform designed to make remote work feel more collaborative and immersive. Today, the company has over 1.5 million users who use its virtual workspace software to create multiple virtual monitors, collaborate with remote teams, and work from anywhere using VR headsets. But Renji believes the existing hardware from major tech companies still falls short. That led Immersed to develop Visor, its own lightweight spatial computing headset designed specifically for work productivity. The company is betting that slimmer, lighter, AI-enabled glasses can finally bring spatial computing into the mainstream. Chris and Renji explore the future of remote work, AI-powered computing, enterprise adoption, hardware manufacturing, crowdfunding strategy, and why Immersed sees itself competing to become the next major tech platform rather than simply building another VR app.  

-OpenAI introduced AI-generated pets to the Codex app, its agentic tool that helps with coding. -Meta has purchased Assured Robot Intelligence, a startup company that's building artificial intelligence for robots in order to "address critical challenges" in "high-value labor markets." -On Friday, Reuters reported that AI-generated acting and writing won't be eligible for Academy Awards. The new rules from the Academy ​of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will take effect beginning with next year's presentation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Could your strengths lie outside the traditional advisor path? My guest today is Brian Abatemarco, who navigated his career from financial planning into sales, and ultimately into the world of AI startups. From managing clients early in his career to discovering a passion for business development, Brian shares how leaning into your natural strengths can completely reshape your trajectory. Listen in to learn how AI is actually being used inside advisory firms today (and why it's not replacing advisors anytime soon), how automation can transform client service and operations, and what it really looks like to take a risk on something new. If you've ever questioned whether you're on the "right" path or wondered how to pivot without starting over, this episode offers a practical and honest look at building a career that works for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/p4c5dy7n 

The two wildly fast-growing rivals have raised massive sums, pushed into each other's home turf and now have dueling ad campaigns. Plus, Shapes, an app where humans and AI characters chat together in shared group conversations, is emerging from stealth with $8 million in seed funding. Think Discord, but with AI characters alongside humans.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacquelyn Goldberg, VP of Sales at Unframe AI, joins John Golden on Sales POP! to explain why resume pedigree is a shakier hiring signal than ever and why she screens for grit and intellectual curiosity instead — lessons she's used to scale her team to multi-million ARR in under a year at a Series A AI startup. Full conversation and more on Unframe's managed AI delivery platform at https://www.unframe.ai/.

Introduction What happens when a decade-long carrier executive decides that the best way to fix insurance operations is to stop advising from the inside and start building from the outside? Vijay Laknidhi spent his career at Travelers and Amtrust, sitting in the rooms where technology decisions stalled, procurement cycles stretched past usefulness, and AI pilots died in committee. Now, as GM of Commercial Insurance at Liberate, a voice AI company built exclusively for P&C, he runs what he calls "a Series A company inside a Series B company," tasked with scaling a P&L dramatically in a single year. In this episode of the Insurtech Leadership Podcast, host Joshua Hollander sits down with Vijay to unpack what it actually looks like to cross from buyer to builder, why commercial insurance is uniquely ripe for AI disruption, and what separates production-grade insurance AI from a compelling demo. Guest Bio Vijay Laknidhi is the General Manager of Commercial Insurance at Liberate, a voice AI company focused exclusively on property and casualty insurance. Before joining Liberate, Vijay spent over a decade in executive roles at Travelers and Amtrust, where he led underwriting, product, and operational functions across commercial lines. His carrier-side experience gives him rare dual fluency: he understands the internal politics, compliance requirements, and procurement friction that slow AI adoption at large insurers, and he now builds the products designed to break through those barriers. At Liberate, he operates with startup autonomy and carrier-grade expectations. Key Topics • The carrier-to-startup leap - Why a successful insurance executive would leave the stability of a Top 10 carrier to join a Series B startup, and what that transition actually demands • Voice AI in P&C operations - How Liberate applies voice AI to claims intake, FNOL, and policy servicing, replacing legacy IVR and manual call center workflows • Why commercial insurance is the AI beachhead - The structural reasons (submission volume, manual underwriting, broker friction) that make commercial lines more amenable to AI than personal lines • The demo-to-production gap - What separates an impressive AI proof-of-concept from a system that handles edge cases, compliance, and carrier-grade uptime in production • Selling to the buyers you used to be - How Vijay's decade on the carrier side shapes his approach to navigating procurement, legal review, and stakeholder alignment at prospect companies • Why every insurance leader must get hands-on with AI - The argument against delegating AI strategy to innovation teams or consultants, and why executives need direct fluency • AI-native architecture vs. legacy tech debt - Why recent startups like Liberate have a structural advantage over incumbents trying to bolt AI onto decades-old policy admin systems Notable Quotes -"I'm running a Series A company inside a Series B company. I own the P&L, I own the roadmap, and I have one year to prove the commercial insurance thesis." -"When you've sat in the buyer's chair for a decade, you know exactly which objections are real and which ones are just procurement theater." -"The gap between an AI demo and a production deployment in insurance is compliance, edge cases, and the willingness to handle the 2% of calls that don't fit a script." -"If you're a carrier executive delegating AI to your innovation team, you've already lost. You need hands-on fluency, not a briefing deck." Resources Guest: • Liberate: https://www.liberatetech.ai/ • Vijay Laknidhi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijaylaknidhi/ Host & Organization: • Joshua R. Hollander on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuarhollander/ • Horton International (USA): https://www.horton-usa.com/ • Insurtech Leadership Podcast (LinkedIn Showcase): https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/insurtech-leadership-show Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe on your favorite platform and leave a review. The Insurtech Leadership Podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Episode Summary In this episode, I sat down with Stan, a serial entrepreneur based in Spain, to unpack what it really looks like to build an AI startup in today's fast-moving landscape. We talked candidly about the similarities between the current AI boom and the dot-com era, why experience matters more than ever, and how Stan's third startup finally hit product-market fit after years of grinding with no revenue. We also got into the realities of scaling — from long workweeks and avoiding burnout to balancing clean code with customer demands. Stan shared how his team is using AI to reshape onboarding, training, and soft-skills development, while I reflected on career pivots, passion-driven work, and why playing the long game is essential in entrepreneurship. If you're building, scaling, or rethinking your role in the AI era, this conversation will give you plenty to think about. Links & Resources Evolve Platform AI – Learn more about Stan's AI-driven learning and development platform https://evolveplatform.ai/articles/interview-with-stan-suchkov-ceo-and-co-founder-of-evolve LinkedIn:  https://es.linkedin.com/in/stan-suchkov  

Dacia Toll, Co-CEO of Coursemojo and the co-founder of Achievement First, joined Michael and Diane on our latest episode of Class Disrupted to learn about how Coursemojo is using AI to support students and teachers in English Language Arts. Our conversation dove into how Coursemojo functions in real classrooms and the very human process DaciaContinue reading "The AI Startup Aiming to Help All Students Find their ELA Mojo"

The Cybercrime Magazine Podcast brings you daily cybercrime news on WCYB Digital Radio, the first and only 7x24x365 internet radio station devoted to cybersecurity. Stay updated on the latest cyberattacks, hacks, data breaches, and more with our host. Don't miss an episode, airing every half-hour on WCYB Digital Radio and daily on our podcast. Listen to today's news at https://soundcloud.com/cybercrimemagazine/sets/cybercrime-daily-news. Brought to you by our Partner, Evolution Equity Partners, an international venture capital investor partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs to develop market leading cyber-security and enterprise software companies. Learn more at https://evolutionequity.com

Mike Switzer interviews Chris Thibault, CEO of QWERKY AI in Columbia, SC.

V 87. epizóde som sa rozprával s Martinom Ďurišom, co-founderom a CEO Macaly, AI nástroja, ktorý za krátky čas prešiel cestou od malých tržieb k veľkému exitu. Martin veľmi otvorene rozpráva, ako sa dá vybudovať firma, ktorá ešte nemá „obrovské obraty“, ale pre kupca má hodnotu v niečom inom.Hneď na začiatku rozoberáme rast z malého projektu do momentu, v ktorom riešite predaj firmy a potrebujete vedieť, čo vlastne predávate. Martin vysvetľuje, že klasická chyba je nahírovať ľudí rýchlejšie, než to firma unesie, minúť cash a potom nemať pre investorov dobrú odpoveď na otázku, ako z „flat“ krivky spravíte exponenciálny rast. Práve tlak a stres z tohto momentu ich dotlačil k pragmatickému pivotu a k tomu, že začali stavať produkt tak, aby ho raz vedeli buď škálovať, alebo predať.Veľká časť epizódy je o tom, ako pilotovať produkt a pricing tak, aby ste vedeli predať aj „lacnú vec“ draho. Martin ide do detailu. Hovorí, že cena sa nerobí podľa toho, koľko stojí vyrobiť tool, ale podľa toho, koľko hodnoty ušetrí človeku alebo firme. Rozoberáme aj to, čo bola skutočná hodnota Macaly pre kupca. Martin povedal na rovinu, že v AI dobe bol trh hladný po AI talente, a tak tímy s reálnou expertízou mali pre veľkých hráčov hodnotu aj pri malých tržbách.Riešime aj stret korporátneho sveta a AI startupu po exite. Martin popisuje, čo sa môže stať, keď „rýchly“ tím príde do prostredia, v ktorom sa veci zrazu riešia iným tempom, a prečo je dôležité mať jasnú predstavu, ako má vyzerať AI firma budúcnosti. V závere ide do praxe: ako CEO používa AI pri práci s dátami, pricingom, dokumentáciou a marketingom? Prečo buduje agentný prístup v tímoch a čo podľa neho reálne funguje v marketingu AI nástrojov?Tento diel je plný praktických lekcií o pivote, cenotvorbe, predaji firmy a budovaní AI produktu tak, aby mal hodnotu aj mimo „hype“ obdobia. Užívajte!---------------------------------------------------------------------------Kapitoly: 00:00:00 – Predstavenie hosťa 00:00:15 – Z 10-tisíc na 15 miliónov 00:03:51 – Ako pilotovať produkt?00:11:48 – Ako predať lacný tool za draho? 00:17:24 – Aká je skutočná hodnota firmy? 00:23:05 – Tlak na predaj od investorov 00:30:53 – Korporátny svet a AI startup 00:35:42 – AI firma budúcnosti 00:44:53 – Ako CEO používa AI?00:50:25 – Ako robiť marketing pre AI nástroje? 00:55:59 – Čo odporúča Martin Ďuriš?00:58:31 – Zmysel života podľa Martina Ďuriša---------------------------------------------------------------------------Viac z podcastov nájdete na:https://www.truban.sk/podcast/---------------------------------------------------------------------------Všetky spomenuté knihy a podcasty nájdete v článku na blogu:https://wp.me/p5NJVg-Wl---------------------------------------------------------------------------Podcast si môžete vypočuť aj na streamovacích platformách:● Spotify ▸ https://spoti.fi/31Nywax ● Apple podcast ▸ https://apple.co/3n0SO8F---------------------------------------------------------------------------● Najlepšie z podcastu na Instagrame ●https://www.instagram.com/truban.podcast/● Truban.sk ●https://bit.ly/3r1vYQJ ● Instagram ●https://www.instagram.com/truban/● Facebook ●https://www.facebook.com/miso.truban● LinkedIn ●https://sk.linkedin.com/in/truban

In this episode, @sophianicolesy shares the story most people don't expect.. from being homeschooled and feeling behind in school, to giving up the one dream that defined her identity, and eventually building an AI startup. It's a conversation about what happens when your life doesn't go according to plan.. and how those moments shape who you become.This episode goes deeper into the foundations that quietly build successful people early.. the environment you grow up in, the people you surround yourself with, and the lessons you catch, not just what you're taught. Sophie shares how exposure, stewardship, and curiosity became her advantage. We also talk about AI.. not as hype, but as a real tool solving real problems for businesses today.We discuss:* The power of growing up around the right people* How early exposure shapes confidence and skill* Why internships matter more than most people think* How curiosity led her into AI and tech* The real business problem AI is solving today* Why most people misunderstand AI's practical useIf you're feeling lost, behind, or unsure of your path.. this episode will help you see your story differently.Follow Sophia Sy:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophiasy828Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOFI.AI.TECH.SOLUTION.INCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophianicolesy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofi_ai_tech/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sophianicole828 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rocket's new AI platform combines strategy, product building, and competitive intelligence, aiming to move beyond code generation. Also, the defense aviation startup is coming off two successful flight demonstrations, and with the next one, it's aiming to go supersonic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prime contractor teaming is one of the fastest paths into federal contracting — but only if you know how to find the right primes and reach out the right way. In this episode, Eric Coffey walks through the exact outreach framework he uses with a real cybersecurity and AI startup to get in front of prime contractors, book capability briefings, and position the company as a teaming partner or subcontractor on active government contracts. What you'll learn in this episode: How to use federal spending data to identify the right prime contractors — Eric demonstrates a live search using OpenCube IQ, filtering by NAICS code, state, and agency to surface realistic teaming targets instead of just Lockheed and Northrop Grumman The two-track teaming approach — Understand when a prime is your customer (buying your tech in-house) versus a teaming partner (combining your capabilities on a joint pursuit), and how to structure your outreach accordingly Why vendor and supplier portal registration matters before the email — Many primes have their own registration systems, and registering first gives your outreach a credible anchor point How to write a prime contractor outreach email that actually gets a response — Eric breaks down the structure: lead with their win, connect your solution to their active scope, and make a specific ask — not just "here's what we do" How to apply this same framework when reaching out directly to agency contracting offices — including contract commands like Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where you must name specific contacts to get anywhere EPISODE CHAPTERS:  0:00 – Welcome to the Federal Help Center Podcast  0:27 – Working With a Cybersecurity and AI Startup in Govcon 1:25 – Two Ways to Work With Prime Contractors: Customer or Teaming Partner 2:00 – Using Spending Data to Find the Right Primes and Agencies 3:00 – Filtering by State and Agency to Narrow Your Target List 4:20 – Researching Which Primes Are Winning at Specific Agency Offices 5:13 – Checking Prime Contractor Vendor and Supplier Portals First 6:10 – Real Outreach Example: Teaming Pitch to AMA on a NASA Contract 7:06 – How to Reach Agency Contracting Offices the Same Way  7:35 – Directing Your Outreach to the Right Person, Not the Inbox 8:05 – Community CTA and Closing    Join a community of small business owners helping each other break into and grow in federal contracting. If you want to learn more about the community and to join the webinars go to: https://federalhelpcenter.com/ Website: https://govcongiants.org/ Connect with Encore Funding: http://govcongiants.org/funding

-Sony Interactive Entertainment, owner of the PlayStation brand, has acquired Cinemersive Labs, a UK startup developing tools to convert 2D photos and videos into 3D volumes. -The famous fan fiction website Archive of Our Own or AO3 has finally exited open beta, 17 years after it launched way back in 2009. -Flipboard is rolling out its latest experiment, "social websites." The project offers publishers and creators an easier path into what's often called the "open social web," which includes the fediverse, as well as other protocol-based platforms like Bluesky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Predictable Revenue Podcast, Collin Stewart sat down with Gavin McNamara to unpack his product-market fit journey. It didn't start with a clear idea or a validated market. It started with messy consulting work, a personal problem, and a series of small signals that only made sense in hindsight. That's the reality most founders don't hear. Product-market fit isn't a single moment where everything clicks. It's something you work toward by following real problems, real customers, and narrowing in on what actually works. This is what that process actually looks like. Highlights include: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster (08:09), Finding Initial Customers (11:24), From B2C to B2B: Expanding Horizons (19:19), The Moment of Validation (32:19), And more... Stay updated with our podcast and the latest insights on Outbound Sales and Go-to-Market Strategies!

Most people know what they want. The problem is they keep waiting for certainty that never comes.Oolka founder, Utkrishta Kumar built India's first just-in-time fulfilment network at 27, helped scale Meesho through one of India's biggest social commerce pivots and then left before the IPO. Not because he had to, but because the regret of not starting felt heavier than the risk of failing.In this episode, Avnish and Utkrishta work through the questions early founders actually get stuck on:1. How do I know I'm ready to start up?2. How do you find PMF and is tracking PMF enough?3. How do I build an AI product that ChatGPT can't just replace tomorrow?4. If I've already made money, why does failure still terrify me?5. The conversation lands somewhere honest: you won't see the whole road. 6. You just need to be okay with the fogA new episode of Unstarted - every Thursday00:00  Leaving before the IPO00:56  Introduction: the one question every aspiring founder is asking 01:55  Growing up risk-averse 04:54 Q1: How do you know if starting up is the right move? 07:12 How to build a founder's operating system without an MBA 11:43 Q2: How do I know if I've reached PMF? 13:47 What Oolka does — and why every credit problem is individual 16:51 Why he left Meesho before the IPO — and the fear money doesn't fix 19:58 Q3: How do you build with AI without being replaced tomorrow? 26:49 Final advice: more than 70% never fire the bullet

Slava and Sacra's Jan-Erik Asplund discussed Perplexity, the $20 billion AI search startup, and its origins, growth trajectory, market positioning, revenue streams, and competitive landscape.

In this episode, Trey and Micah put Sean through a full AI hot seat — no softballs. Sean Stuart, co-founder of Rosella, spent years doing boots-on-the-ground research. Literally walking into random insurance offices in major metros, knocking on doors, and asking brokers to explain their world. What he found led him to build something most insuretech founders miss: a brokerage that respects the craft while using AI to do things the old guard can't move fast enough to copy.What we cover:- Why Rosella targets under $100K premium accounts- Their "Moneyball" approach to insurance- How AI phone assist is helping junior producers validate in months instead of years- Why building your own tech stack from scratch beats bolting AI onto Applied Epic- The real reason insurtechis a graveyard — and why Rosella is approaching it differently- Trey and Micah's unfiltered take on vertical selection, niche strategy, and what they'd do if they were building this themselvesConnect with Sean:Email: sean@rosellabrokerage.comResources & Links:

Amid the disruption being caused by AI, the legal profession could see massive changes in the next few years. Leading the charge is Ivo, whose founder Min-Kyu Jung spoke to Q+A about the potential for AI to take a much greater role how lawyers operate. The Kiwi former lawyer also talked about why getting massive scale in tech isn't possible in New Zealand, forcing a move to Silicon Valley. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Check out BeerBiceps SkillHouse Courses Here - https://www.bbskillhouse.comFor all BeerBiceps vlog content Watch Life Of BeerBiceps - https://www.youtube.com/@LifeOfBeerBicepsCheck out my Mind Performance app: Level SuperMindLink:- https://level4665.u9ilnk.me/d/F1ZOZV4OnTShare your guest suggestions hereMail - connect@beerbiceps.comLink - https://forms.gle/aoMHY9EE3Cg3Tqdx9Follow BeerBiceps SkillHouse's Social Media Handles:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeerBicepsSkillHouseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beerbiceps_skillhouseWebsite : https://beerbicepsskillhouse.inFor any other queries EMAIL: support@beerbicepsskillhouse.comIn case of any payment-related issues, kindly write to support@tagmango.comFollow Ansh Mehra's Social Media Handles:-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anshmehra.in/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CuttingEdgeSchool/videosLinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/anshmehra24Website: https://anshmehra.com/In this 483rd episode of The Ranveer Show, we are joined by Ansh Mehra, India's leading AI educator, who shares deep insights on Artificial Intelligence, LLMs (GPT, Gemini, Claude), Careers in the age of AI, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Tech. This episode takes you beyond basic prompt engineering and into the reality of how AI is reshaping the world by 2027.In this conversation with Ansh Mehra, we talk about the difference between AI Tools and AI Agents, the SHAPE Framework for staying employable, the ACE Framework for Context Engineering, and how to build a "Second Brain." We also understand the concept of "Intellectual Obesity" and why human skills like judgment, taste, and pattern finding are becoming more valuable than ever.This episode also covers the Sovereign AI Models in India (Sarvam, Bharat Gen), the role of hardware in AI's future, the transition from SEO to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and how students and founders can use tools like Perplexity and Claude to gain a competitive edge. Ansh also explains the potential for "Digital Immortality" and why high-level programming is outlasting simple coding.This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in their Spiritual Journey with Tech, Career Growth, Business Automation, Avoiding Job Displacement, and the Indian Tech Revolution.(00:00) – Start of the episode(04:05) – Coding is Dead, Programming is Life(06:52) – Meet Your 'Drunk Intern' (AI Agents)(10:31) – Mastering ACE: Context Engineering(12:12) – Claude vs GPT vs Gemini: The War(14:58) – The SHAPE Framework for Professionals(17:33) – Warning: Intellectual Obesity is Real(19:11) – 5 Human Skills AI Can't Replace(25:58) – How to Accelerate Your Career in 2026(33:41) – India's 1 Lakh Crore AI Revolution(36:53) – Digital Immortality & Cloning Your Brain(40:42) – Live Demo: High-Paying Job Roadmap(51:17) – Don't Build a "Stupid" AI Startup(1:00:17) – Future of Agencies & Graphic Design(1:04:42) – GEO: The New SEO Strategy(1:06:08) – AI in Cinema: Tumbbad & Beyond(1:11:01) – How to Build an 'AI Lab' in Office(1:17:51) – Avoiding the 'Lazy Brain' Trap(1:21:12) – AI in Schools: The Triple I T Delhi Way(1:25:12) – End of the episode

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA sit down with Karen Rudich, Canadian fintech entrepreneur and founder of sherloc. Karen explores her journey from investment banking to building an AI-driven startup focused on helping small businesses manage financial volatility. You'll hear how she navigates fundraising and builds resilient, purpose-driven teams in a fast-moving fintech landscape. The episode also explores: Karen's transition from banking into entrepreneurship The role of AI and predictive analytics in supporting SMEs The importance of value-aligned partnerships in scaling a business Lessons learned from fundraising and leadership challenges Practical advice for aspiring fintech founders Tune in for an insightful conversation on innovation, resilience, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of finance.

Plus: OpenAI is investing in a new AI startup building software aimed at letting AI agents solve complex problems in finance and biotech. And Micron slumps after Google reveals new memory technology for AI models. Danny Lewis hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Murray sits down with Matthieu Hafemeister, co-founder and CEO of Concourse. Matthieu shares his journey from growing up in Paris to launching a fast-scaling AI startup in New York, drawing on his experiences in venture capital at Andreessen Horowitz and operational roles at Jeeves. Together, they dive deep into how Concourse leverages agentic AI to revolutionize finance teams—from automating workflows across complex data sources to increasing team capacity and strategic output. Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at Concourse's rapid growth, its recent $12 million Series A raise, and the evolving landscape of AI for enterprise finance. Matthieu also offers insights on the challenges of founder-led sales, best practices for scaling go-to-market, and why staying lean is a key part of their strategy. Whether you're a SaaS founder, finance leader, or simply curious about the future of agentic AI, this conversation is packed with practical lessons and fresh perspectives. Don't miss it! Show Notes: 00:00 "Startup Growth and Complexity Insights" 06:03 Data Integration for Workflow Efficiency 07:36 AI Adoption Accelerates Across Industries 10:59 "AI Automating Workflows, Not Tools" 13:40 "AI Startup's Breakout Journey" 19:47 Evolving Pricing with Token Model 23:26 "AI Impact on Margins" 25:53 Streamlining Finance Team Workflows 27:31 "Custom AI for Enterprise Success" 30:41 "Proof of Concepts Drive Success" 34:38 "Concourse.ai: AI Insights Hub" Links: SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/concourse-raises-12-million-in-series-a Matthieu Hafemeister's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthafemeister/ Concourse's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/concourseai/ Concourse's Website: https://www.concourse.co/ To learn more about Ben check out the links below: Subscribe to Ben's daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben's SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

Luyu Zhang is part of a new wave of Chinese founders who are building at home but betting their companies in America. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annatong/2026/02/24/this-middle-school-dropout-built-his-ai-startup-in-china-now-hes-scaling-it-in-silicon-valley/

Omar already built and sold an AI startup for over $100M. But when the generative AI wave hit, he realized the technology wasn't just the future of software—it was the future of labor. So he started Eudia to completely transform how enterprise legal teams operate.In this episode, Omar breaks down how he scaled from $2M to $20M ARR in just 12 months. He reveals the exact cold email strategy he used to land C-suite design partners, why he bought an existing legal services company to accelerate his AI platform, and why replacing human labor with AI is the ultimate business model.Why You Should ListenWhy selling AI as a service is a much bigger opportunity than selling SaaS.How to secure Fortune 500 design partners using cold emails.Why playing to win beats playing not to lose.How to build a data moat that AI wrappers can't compete with.Why ARR shouldn't be your only measure of startup success in the AI era.Keywordsstartup podcast, startup podcast for founders, AI startups, product market fit, AI enabled services, legaltech, B2B SaaS, enterprise sales, finding pmf, generative AI00:00:00 Intro00:01:45 Why AI is the Future of Labor00:04:55 Replacing In-House vs. Outsourced Legal Teams00:09:35 Selling His First AI Startup for $100M00:12:11 Why the $1 Trillion Law Firm Industry is at Risk00:21:59 Landing Fortune 500 Design Partners via Cold Email00:28:26 Playing to Win vs. Playing Not to Lose00:33:45 Raising a $6M Seed Round with an 80-Page Transcript00:38:53 Buying a Legal Services Company to Accelerate Growth00:44:55 Scaling from $2M to $20M ARR in 12 MonthsSend me a message to let me know what you think!

“I don't know if any rational person ever became a billionaire running a disruptive company.” — Keith TeareIs capitalism by permission of democracy, or is democracy by permission of capitalism? That's the question Keith Teare and I have been circling for a while on our weekly tech roundup, and this week it triggered a full-blown discussion of our 21st century economic and political fate.Earlier this week, Vinod Khosla — one of Silicon Valley's most successful venture capitalists — posted on X that “capitalism is by permission of democracy.” Keith agrees. I'm not so sure. My sense is that as AI start-ups approach valuations that rival the GDP of nation states, the old equation inverts. Governments no longer permit capitalism. Capitalism permits government. The Sam Altmans and Elon Musks of the future, running 10 or $15 trillion dollar startups, won't lobby politicians. They'll replace them. Dario Amodei's confrontation with the US government, then, is a sneak preview of the future. Indeed, as what Om Malik calls a “symbolic capitalist”, Amodei is a good example of the type of engaged capitalist who will usurp traditional politicians. That's the good news. The bad news is that other examples of symbolic capitalists include Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. Five Takeaways•       Keith Says OpenAI Will Be Worth $10 Trillion in Five Years: I told him I'd take him to dinner if he's right. He said I'd have to do more than that. His logic: NVIDIA promises $1 trillion in new revenue by the end of next year, Anthropic did $5 billion in new revenue in a single month, and the three expected IPOs — Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceX — would together raise more money than the entire IPO market of the last decade. The Netscape moment, if it comes, won't be a moment. It'll be an earthquake.•       Fundrise Is the Canary in the Coal Mine: A fund holding private shares in Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceX, Databricks, and Anduril went public this week at $34 and closed above $100. Retail investors paying three times net asset value for companies that aren't even public yet. Keith says that's not irrational — it's the market pricing the future. I'm less sure. History is littered with futures the market got catastrophically wrong.•       Om Malik Reframes the Entire Debate: His essay on “neo-symbolic capitalism” argues that value in the 21st century derives from symbols, narratives, and reputation rather than products. In that framing, Amodei's fight with the government isn't a miscalculation — it's brand-building. Musk is the master of it. Altman tries to wear every hat simultaneously. Peter Thiel is in Rome talking about the Antichrist. And the billionaires who signed the Giving Pledge now want out.•       Keith and I Disagree on What $10 Trillion Means: Keith says the government retains power regardless of corporate size. Being big doesn't give you political power unless governments are corrupt. I think that's naïve. If AI companies approach valuations that rival the GDP of nation states, the old equation inverts. Government doesn't permit capitalism. Capitalism permits government. The Amodeis and Musks of the future won't lobby politicians. They'll replace them.•       Contrarianism Is at the Very Core of Innovation: The one thing Keith and I agree on this week. Every billionaire is irrational. Musk is on the spectrum. Thiel believes in the Antichrist. Amodei thinks he can fight the US government and win. Keith concedes: no rational person ever became a billionaire running a disruptive company. The question is whether that irrationality is a feature of capitalism or a threat to democracy. We disagree on the answer. About the GuestKeith Teare is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and publisher of That Was The Week, a weekly newsletter on the tech economy. He is co-founder of SignalRank and a regular Saturday guest on Keen On America.References:•       That Was The Week — Keith's editorial on public markets and price outcomes.•       Om Malik on neo-symbolic capitalism — the essay that reframes the Amodei debate.•       Episode 2835: Why Dario Amodei Might Be the 21st Century's First Real Leader — last week's TWTW, where the Amodei debate began.•       Episode 2836: Is Elon Human? — Charles Steel on the curious mind of Elon Musk, referenced in the conversation.•       Fundrise (VCX) — the IPO that triggered this week's discussion, trading at 300% above NAV.About Keen On AmericaNobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,800 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting.WebsiteSubstackYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotify Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction: AI and unreason define the world (01:49) - Markets as prediction machines: NVIDIA's $1 trillion promise (04:42) - The three IPOs that would dwarf a decade of IPOs (05:50) - Fundrise (VCX): retail investors paying 300% premium (09:23) - Keith's prediction: OpenAI at $10 trillion in five years (11:44) - The Anthropic debate continues: tactics vs. morals (14:22) - Silicon Valley's behind-the-scenes support for Amodei (16:42) - What happens when an AI company rivals a nation's GDP? (23:05) - Om Malik on neo-symbolic capitalism (28:10) - Musk as the master of symbolic capitalism (30:08) - Bezos, Project Prometheus, and the Prometheuses of AI (32:07) - Peter Thiel, the Antichrist, and the Giving Pledge collapse (35:27) - Vinod Khosla: capitalism by permission of democracy? (38:23) - Or democracy by permission of capitalism?

The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:   The New AI Startup That's Gunning For Workday, Oracle, & SAP, Q&A (Darian Chwialkowski, Third Stage Consulting) What Manufacturers Need to Know About Industry 4.0 (Jeff Winter, VP at Belden Inc.) What You Must Know Before Choosing A New ERP System We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.  

Plus: Intuit halts management stock sales and accelerates buybacks. And Micron will build a second manufacturing site in Taiwan for AI memory products. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In dieser Folge spricht Markus mit Katrin Freihofner, Co-Founder von Straion, einer Plattform für AI Code Governance.Straion adressiert ein Problem, das viele Unternehmen gerade erst erkennen: AI kann zwar Code generieren, kennt aber keine firmenspezifischen Regeln, Sicherheitsanforderungen oder Architektur-Standards. Straion sorgt dafür, dass AI-generierter Code automatisch mit den internen Richtlinien eines Unternehmens abgeglichen wird und wirklich production-ready ist.Katrin erzählt von ihrem Weg vom Product Design bei Dynatrace und Elastic zur Startup-Gründerin – und wie aus einem Side-Project ein VC-finanziertes AI-Startup wurde.Wir sprechen darüber, wie Straion Enterprise-Kunden gewinnen will, warum Sicherheit und Zertifizierungen für junge Startups eine große Herausforderung sein können und wie AI den Arbeitsalltag von Gründer:innen verändert.Außerdem geht es um:wie Straion AI-generierten Code mit firmenspezifischen Regeln und Guidelines verbindetwarum große Softwareteams hunderte Coding-Standards verwalten müssenwarum Enterprise-Kunden für Startups besonders schwer zu gewinnen sindKatrins wichtigste Founder-Learnings: Fokus behalten und Prioritäten setzenwarum AI zwar produktiver macht, aber Arbeit gleichzeitig intensiver werden kannProduction: Hanna Moser Musik (Intro/Outro): www.sebastianegger.com

Plus - Disney+ is rolling out its TikTok-like ‘Verts' short-form video feed; Bumble to launch an AI dating assistant, ‘Bee' Presented by Adaptive. Learn more at adaptivesecurity.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ethan Pierce couldn't read when he finished third grade, but years later went on to win a full scholarship to Harvard. Recognising that not all students have the support he had, he founded Adaptive Reader, an AI-powered platform that adapts classic literature and other books to different reading levels and languages.In this episode, Ethan talks about building a product around the learners the education system leaves behind, why your first startup idea is probably wrong (and why that's a good thing), and how listening to teachers changed everything he thought he knew about edtech design.We discuss:How Ethan's own struggles with reading in school inspired Adaptive Reader's missionWhy 130 user research interviews convinced him that print was a non-negotiable equity needHow Adaptive Reader designs for learners across neurological differences, physical disabilities, and languagesAbout Ethan PierceEthan Pierce is the Founder and CEO of Adaptive Reader, an AI-powered accessibility platform that makes any text accessible to any reader—across languages, reading levels, and formats. A former struggling reader who went on to earn a full scholarship to Harvard, Ethan is passionate about using technology to break down barriers to literacy and learning.Adaptive Reader has been recognized globally for advancing accessibility and inclusive learning, winning the Harvard President's Innovation Challenge and the MIT Solve E Ink Prize.Learn more about Adaptive Reader: https://adaptivereader.com/Follow Ethan Pierce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanpierce13/Follow Adaptive Reader on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adaptive-reader/---If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Send questions for our guests or any feedback to: madeforuspod@gmail.comOther episodes you might like:Speechify CEO Cliff Weitzman on building the 'voice of the internet'---Connect with Made for UsShow notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

Few founders have seen Silicon Valley from every seat at the table.After co-creating Google Maps at Google, serving as CTO at Facebook, and later as co-CEO of Salesforce, Bret Taylor is now building AI agents at Sierra to redefine customer experience.On Grit, he explains why “competitive intensity” is a core value at their fast-growing company and why he believes AI won't lead to a world where people stop working.Guest: Bret Taylor, co-founder of SierraConnect with Bret XLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comFollow GritLinkedInX​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/

AI-generated responses prioritize brand mentions over traditional link citations for business impact. Thomas Peham, CEO and co-founder of Otterly.AI, demonstrates how strategic brand positioning in AI answers drives higher attention and conversion potential than conventional SEO linking strategies. The discussion reveals why optimizing for product mentions in commercial queries delivers superior business outcomes compared to content-based link acquisition, and explores the fundamental shift from link-centric to mention-centric optimization strategies for AI search visibility.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we'll be joined by Brian Kuenzi, Founder of a Stealth AI Startup.   Brian gets specific about what works when audit teams try to modernize. He breaks down why new methodologies fail without clear ownership, discipline, and follow-through and how innovation doesn't mean abandoning rigor.   He shares practical examples of how to put structure around new ideas, set non-negotiable expectations, and still give teams room to test and improve. The result: audit processes that are flexible where they should be, consistent where they must be, and focused on producing real outcomes.   Be sure to connect with Brian on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.    Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

In this Forbes Talks episode, StackBlitz CEO Eric Simons, an alum of the Next Billion Dollar Startup list, joins Forbes' Katharine Schwab. He discusses the pivotal board-level ultimatum that spurred the creation of Bolt.new and catalyzed a new wave of software development. Simons also delves into his bold strategy of effectively halting human hiring to prioritize AI agents, his ambitious target of achieving $10 million in gross margin per employee, and the implications of a future where an individual can utilize a digital team to accomplish the output of fifty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maroon Weekly host Aubrey Barb sits down with Aron Frishberg, a UChicago third-year currently on a leave of absence to pursue his AI-generated film startup, Mona. Aron discusses life during the early stages of a startup, how AI-generated films might impact the entertainment industry, and the continued importance of his UChicago education in the entrepreneurial world. Edited by: Aubrey Barb Featuring: Aron Frishberg and Aubrey Barb

We're kicking off our AI Workplace and Culture series with Martha Shaughnessy, founder and CEO of The Key PR. Martha isn't just observing the AI transformation—she's living it. Her firm works with tech startups building with AI, and she's implementing AI tools in her own company.What we really appreciated about our conversation is Martha's refusal to give easy answers. She's both optimistic and pessimistic about where we're headed.What We Talked AboutMartha walked us through what's actually happening in the startup world right now (spoiler: it's all AI, all the time). We dug into why communications needs to be involved at the earliest stages of strategy, not bolted on at the end. She shared her framework for crisis communication when the tools and rules keep changing. And we explored what it means to co-create work when everything is shifting underneath us.Martha also brought what she calls her "punk ass perspective" on who gets to dominate the tech conversation—and why that matters for all of us.Key TakeawaysMost companies are either building with AI from the ground up or retrofitting existing products. The Wild West analogy applies, except those already on top (Google, Amazon, OpenAI) have such a dramatic lead that the playing field is fundamentally different.For most people, technology is magic. They don't care how it works—they care why it matters. The job is finding both the selfish impact (how it affects you personally) and the global impact (how it makes the world better).In crisis communication, simple truth beats complicated explanations every time. Over-explaining makes people suspicious. And sometimes you just have to take it—because if you messed up, someone's going to be mad.The "get it off my desk" jobs are most at risk. But curiosity, creativity, and systems thinking? Those become more valuable than ever. Martha's hope is that we graduate from productivity-first culture and reinvest in what makes us human.AI can do tremendous good—and tremendous harm. From literacy tutoring for kids with dyslexia to environmental damage from energy demands, this technology cuts both ways. We need visionary leadership and diverse perspectives in the room to navigate it well.Communications needs to be at the table early. Not as a bolt-on at the end, but at the concept stage when you're still figuring things out. That's where you catch potential crises before they happen.About Martha ShaughnessyMartha is the founder and CEO of The Key PR, a Bay Area-based communications firm she founded in 2017 with a mission to deliver high-impact, no-BS communications to her clients. Over the past 20+ years, Martha has worked with tech companies, startups, and nonprofits, helping them navigate the complex intersection of technology, culture, and human impact. She specializes in helping organizations tell stories that matter—finding the human thread in even the most technical products.Connect with MarthaMartha welcomes conversations about big ideas. Reach out if this resonated with you:Email: martha@thekeypr.com or yo@thekeypr.comWebsite: thekeypr.comLinkedIn: The Key PRResources:Navigating a big transition? Check out our Pivot Plan: 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Your Next Big Move.Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.Interested in going deeper in your own leadership and building your network? Join the waitlist for The CoCreate Work Leadership Book Club to explore the themes from this episode in community—through powerful reads, reflection prompts, and live conversations.Our last session of the Culture Crash Course just ended, but if you're interested in a Culture Crash Course for your organization or team, please contact us at support@cocreatework.com.Interested in leadership development for your team? Our Workshops are a great wait to develop your team's skills and connection.At CoCreate Work, we believe in asking great questions. Click here to receive our guide to 40 Powerful Questions to accelerate your growth.We would love to connect with you!CoCreate Work on LinkedInCoCreate Work on InstagramLa'Kita on InstagramChloe on InstagramVisit our Podcast PageQuestions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at podcast@cocreatework.com

Plus: Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix strike a new all-cash deal. And Netflix reports a rise in revenue and profit. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Minnesota officials say the FBI has shut them out of the investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman in her car by an ICE agent in Minneapolis yesterday. And the U.S. trade deficit shrank in October to its lowest level since 2009. Pierre Bienaimé hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edition for Dec. 30. Meta becomes one of the first major U.S. tech companies to buy a startup with Chinese roots, as it agrees to acquire Manus for more than $2 billion. Plus, tensions in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. square off over their support for rival factions in Yemen. And WSJ chief economics commentator Greg Ip and White House reporter Meridith McGraw explain why “affordability” is likely to be a major talking point in next year's midterm election campaign, and what politicians can do to address it. Luke Vargas hosts. Programming note: What's News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Octopus Energy to spin off AI utility management platform Kraken Technologies. And three Chinese tech companies plan IPOs in Hong Kong. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices