Podcasts about network effects

In this episode, general partner Chris Dixon joins economist and author Tyler Cowen to explore the themes behind Chris's book, Read, Write, Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet.They trace the internet's evolution from open, decentralized beginnings to today's consolidated platforms—and ask: how can we build something better? From stablecoins, tokenized payments, and open blockchains to AI's impact on coding, media, and politics, this wide-ranging conversation dives deep into how technologies like crypto and AI could help redistribute power online and reshape the future of ownership and innovation.The two also debate:Whether banks and legacy institutions will adopt stablecoinsThe long-term role of NFTs and digital property rightsHow AI might rewrite venture capital, education, and economic planningWhether we're heading toward a creative renaissance—or a world of AI-generated monocultureListen to similar conversations, listen to web3 with a16z: https://web3-with-a16z.simplecast.com/ Resources: Listen to Conversations with Tyler: https://conversationswithtyler.com/Find Chris on X: https://x.com/cdixonFind Tyler on X: https://x.com/tylercowenJoin a16z's Crypto Substack:https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/ Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

My guest today is Sid Malladi, founder of Novo. Behind every product, from wine to lumber to steel, is a complex web of B2B relationships, built slowly, at high cost, and constrained by risk. Novo aims to change that by building a digital network that accelerates onboarding, visibility, and trust. In this conversation, Sid takes us through that journey. We discuss the frictions that define B2B trade, the cold-start challenge of building a network from scratch, and how Novo approaches trust like a FICO score for businesses. We also explore the broader macro forces shaping supply chains today, from tariffs to AI, and why the most resilient companies are those creating deeper, more flexible webs of trade relationships. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE. ----- Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets (00:01:04) Introduction to Novo and B2B Trade (00:03:05) Challenges in B2B Trade Partnerships (00:08:16) Novo's Digital Network Solution (00:11:19) Scaling and Network Effects (00:17:14) Operational Efficiency and Revenue Growth (00:19:19) Macro Forces and Technology Adoption (00:24:38) Consumer vs. B2B Dynamics (00:24:58) Credit Networks and Margins (00:25:59) Building Private Networks (00:26:51) Early Discoveries and Business Models (00:28:02) The Role of Centralized Data (00:31:11) Risk Management in B2B Trade (00:31:51) Novo's Approach to Risk and Visibility (00:35:11) Integrating with Government and Private Systems (00:38:04) Challenges and Opportunities in Trade Networks (00:43:27) Adapting to Market Volatility (00:46:42) Future Plans and Expansion (00:49:09) Industry Outlook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Company episode of The Synopsis we draw on our 108-page research report on Airbnb; the company that pioneered the sharing economy and become a Silicon Valley poster child for what a succesful start-up can become.  Having started as a means to pay rent, Airbnb quickly turned into one of the world's largest accommodations provider. In a matter of just a decade, Airbnb was able to host more guests than Hilton could in 100 years. However, despite their large impact in how tens of millions of people traveled and millions more monetized  their unused properties, they struggled for years to turn a profit. That is until founder Brian Chesky decided to do something drastic and reshape the business—in the midst of Covid no less. In the matter of just a few years he took the business from losing $4bn a year to generating $3bn annually in free cash flow. With Airbnb having a firm grasp on the Alternative Accommodations segment, they are preparing to enter into new businesses and new verticals. Tune in for all of this and more!  Learn more about our 108-page report here.  For full access to all of our in-depth research reports, become a Speedwell Member here.  If you need help getting Speedwell Research to become an approved research vendor, so you can expense your subscription, please email info@speedwellresearch.com  *~*~*~* Mentioned Speedwell Memos:  Minimum Viable Products versus Maximum Possible Products Introducing the Piton Network Concept -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Show Notes (0:00) — Airbnb Intro Section 1: Business History (5:33) — From RISD to SF (19:05) — Cereal Boxes, Y Combinator (34:12) — Early Airbnb Experience, Competitors, International (43:10) — First Disaster (47:21) — Toshi Hotels, Regulation  (52:50) — Covid, Pulling the IPO (1:01:50) — IPO *~*~* Section 2: Industry and TAM (1:05:27) — Business, How do they Make Money? (1:18:13) — Experiences (1:22:31) — Margins and Cost Structure (1:25:26) — TAM Discussion (1:39:21) — Categories of Competition *~*~* Section 3: Competitors and Competitive Differentiation (1:42:16) — Booking Competition (1:52:21) — Merchant vs Agent Business Model, OTAs (2:02:17) — Booking's Alternative Accommodation Push, Booking vs Airbnb (2:12:25) — Expedia, VRBO (2:25:47) — Other Competitors (2:30:47) — Comparing all Competitors, Network Effects, Differentiation (2:45:26) — Competitive Advantages (2:54:28) — Airbnb Negatives *~*~* Section 4: Other Bets, Capital Allocation, Valuation (2:58:33) — New Services, Super App (3:13:25) — ROIC and Free Cash Flow (3:20:04) — Capital Allocation, Stock Awards (3:27:44) — Growth Drivers (3:35:42) — Valuation (3:37:11) — Risks and Conclusion -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Become a Speedwell Member here to gain access to *all* of our in-depth research reports and more!   Sign up for Speedwell's free newsletter and weekly memos here *-*-*- Follow Us: Twitter: @Speedwell_LLC Threads: @speedwell_research Email us at info@speedwellresearch.com for any questions, comments, or feedback. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Disclaimer Nothing in this podcast is investment advice nor should be construed as such. Contributors to the podcast may own securities discussed. Furthermore, accounts contributors advise on may also have positions in companies discussed. At the time of recording contributors had a position in Airbnb. Furthermore, accounts contributors advise on also may have  a position in Airbnb. This may change without notice. Please see our full disclaimers here:  https://speedwellresearch.com/disclaimer/

AI, private 5G, and edge computing are coming together to change industry. In this episode of the Network Effect, David de Lancellotti, Vice President of Enterprise Campus Edge Business at Nokia, discusses how this confluence of technologies will help businesses and workers. 

"We don't want this data to exist because if the owner knows it exists, they'll be all over us."This shocking confession from a contractor reveals the massive information gap plaguing the $2 trillion construction industry.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Ardalan Khosrowpour, CEO of OnsiteIQ, and we got to learn about why contractors intentionally hide project data from owners, how 95% of construction projects don't even use their BIM models, and the brutal reality of 3% profit margins that force underbidding... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why the construction industry suffers from deliberate information asymmetry✅ How network effects can create monopolies in vertical markets✅ The stark difference between contractor mindset ($1.5M profit) vs owner mindset ($150M asset)✅ Why selling to capital allocators beats selling to contractors every timeListen now on Spotify to discover how one founder is revolutionizing construction oversight by working with owners instead of contractors.-------------------------Chapters00:00 Intro01:45 The Power of Network Effects in Real Estate04:47 Understanding the Construction Intelligence Platform07:38 Data Capture and Its Impact on Project Management10:40 Misalignment of Incentives in Construction13:46 The Role of Transparency in Construction Projects16:44 Challenges in Selling Technology to Owners19:52 Monitoring and Analyzing Construction Progress22:45 Quality Control and Data Comparison in Construction34:14 Building a Data-Driven Construction Model39:45 Challenges in Selling to Owners43:13 Outbound Sales Strategies and Market Dynamics48:59 Generating Demand Through Product Value54:25 Defensibility and Competition in the Market

Recorded live from the Global Dollar Network event, Network Effect in New York City please enjoy this conversation with Ahmed Zifzaf, Head of Crypto Partnerships, WorldPay and CoinDesk Indices' Andy Baehr.#stablecoin #digitalfinance #finance #crypto #GlobalDollarNetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recorded live from the Global Dollar Network event, Network Effect in New York City please enjoy this conversation with Mike Dudas, Founder and Managing Partner, 6th Man Ventures and CoinDesk Indices' Andy Baehr.#stablecoin #digitalfinance #finance #crypto #GlobalDollarNetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recorded live from the Global Dollar Network event, Network Effect in New York City please enjoy this conversation with Paxos' Head of Product Ronak Daya and CoinDesk Indices' Andy BaehrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We deep dive into Kai Cenat's Streamer University and how it redefined the content game.Plus, we hit everything from Tyler Perry's “Straw” to Marvel's “Ironheart” and the AI-driven chaos of Murderbot. Pop culture meets pop money every time!00:00 Introduction and Weekly Catch-Up00:27 Deep Dive into Streaming Culture01:59 Movie Experience and IMAX Discussion07:59 Cruise Vacation and Relaxation09:13 Peaceful Aggression and Focus14:14 Comments and Community Engagement30:43 Introduction to Streamer University30:59 Understanding the Streaming World32:21 Kai Sinat's Streamer University Concept34:32 The Network Effect in Streaming36:18 The Future of Content Creation41:27 The Impact of Streaming on Society44:35 The Role of Technology in Content Consumption57:21 The Value of Art and Content01:02:16 Trailer Reactions and Discussions01:08:19 Diverse Heroes and Their Unique Journeys01:09:12 Iron Man's Evolution in the MCU01:09:48 MacGyver Style and Trailer Release Strategy01:11:24 Grading the Trailer and Viewer Comments01:13:18 Discussion on Character Strength and Development01:16:16 Tyler Perry's 'Straw' Trailer Reaction01:26:50 Murder Bot Trailer Reaction01:37:50 Outro and Final ThoughtsLink to the Full Video: https://youtu.be/-hydLeCgvPI#StreamerUniversity #KaiCenat #Ironheart #TylerPerry #Straw #AppleTV #Netflix #Murderbot #PopCulture #Television #Streaming #TwitchStreamers----------Show vs. Business is your weekly take on Pop Culture from two very different perspectives. Your hosts Theo and  Mr. Benja provide all the relevant info to get your week started right.Looking to start your own podcast ? The guys give their equipment google list recommendation that is updated often Sign up - https://www.showvsbusiness.com/----------Follow us on Instagram - https://instagram.com/show_vs_businessFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/showvsbusinessLike us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ShowVsBusinessSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuwni8la5WRGj25uqjbRwdQ/featuredFollow Theo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealtheoharvey Follow Mr.Benja on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@BenjaminJohnsonakaMrBenja --------

On this episode of Chit Chat Stocks, Ryan goes through a research report on a burgeoning network effect business hiding in plain sight: Instacart (Ticker: CART). We discuss:(03:10) The Genesis of Instacart(07:20) Building the Marketplace Network(11:08) Understanding the Transaction Mechanics(22:04) Monetization Strategies and Advertising(27:14) Competitive Landscape and Market Positioning(33:08) Consumer Behavior and App Segmentation(41:42) Management Changes and Leadership Concerns(51:14) Financial Projections and Growth Outlook*****************************************************JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER AND FREE CHAT COMMUNITY: https://chitchatstocks.substack.com/ *********************************************************************Chit Chat Stocks is presented by Interactive Brokers. Get professional pricing, global access, and premier technology with the best brokerage for investors today: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/ Interactive Brokers is a member of SIPC. *********************************************************************FinChat.io is the complete stock research platform for fundamental investors.With its beautiful design and institutional-quality data, FinChat is incredibly powerful and easy to use.Use our LINK and get 15% off any premium plan: ⁠finchat.io/chitchat *********************************************************************Bluechippers Club is a tight-knit community of stock focused investors. Members share ideas, participate in weekly calls, and compete in portfolio competitions.To join, go to ⁠Blue Chippers and apply! Link: ⁠https://bluechippersclub.com/*********************************************************************Disclosure: Chit Chat Stocks hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and nothing they say on this show is formal advice or a recommendation.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode is with someone who is an expert on the RIA market and the wealth management business model.We talk with Karl Heckenberg, the President & Managing Partner of Constellation Wealth Capital, an investment firm that recently closed on a $1B debut fund dedicated to providing differentiated, long-term capital solutions to well-positioned independent wealth management firms in the $8T and growing wealth management sector.Karl's deep experience in wealth management as both an investor, from his time as the CEO of Emigrant Partners and its affiliated company, Fiduciary Network, and time on the advisor side at Merrill Lynch, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Wells Fargo, and Charles Schwab, puts him in a position to understand the inner workings of wealth management businesses. He's also sat on the boards of Sarasota Private Trust Company, New York Private Trust Company, and Cleveland Private Trust Company, and is currently on the board at Alternative Fund Advisors.CWC has made investments into some of the industry's leading wealth management firms, including AlTi Global, Cresset Partners, AlphaCore, Lido, and others.Karl and I had a fascinating conversation about the evolution of the wealth management industry and why it's become such an attractive investment opportunity. We discussed: The intricacies of business growth and serving clients.Why private markets are such a critical component to differentiating a wealth management firm.Why we'll see a $1T independent wealth management business in the coming years.The parallels between the business evolution of alternative asset managers and wealth managers.Thanks Karl for coming on the show to share your wisdom and expertise at the intersection of wealth management and private markets.Subscribe to Alt Goes Mainstream to receive the weekly newsletter every Sunday and all of AGM's podcasts.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus' technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to our Sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions01:18 Podcast Opening Theme01:57 Introduction to Today's Guest: Karl Heckenberg03:57 Karl Heckenberg's Background and Career Journey06:10 Early Days of Wealth Management07:41 Post-GFC Evolution of RIAs08:59 Understanding the Independent Wealth Management Space10:15 Growth and Scale in Wealth Management12:17 Challenges and Opportunities in Wealth Management15:02 Importance of Client Experience19:34 Investment Strategies in Wealth Management20:07 Ownership and Equity Distribution20:54 Minority vs. Control Investments23:08 M&A in Wealth Management23:23 High-Quality Firms and Client Experience23:59 Capital Needs and Growth24:55 Advisory Services and Value Addition25:32 Comparisons with GP Stakes27:39 Durability and Resilience of Wealth Management Firms29:08 Exit Strategies and Public Market Potential29:40 Valuations and Capital Providers31:46 Future of Public Market Exits34:24 Compounding Growth and Returns35:05 Distribution and Liquidity35:34 Investment Grade Assets and Equity Returns35:47 Answering Key Investment Questions36:38 Investor Concerns and Market Dynamics36:59 Investment Buckets and Flexibility37:25 Private Wealth vs Institutional Investors38:02 Network Effects and Synergies38:27 Hesitations and Value Add of Constellation39:13 Collaborative Best Practices39:43 LP Side and Fundraising Timing40:08 Understanding the Wealth Channel40:24 Retail Distribution and Success Strategies41:05 Product Structuring and Client Diversification41:19 Impact of Technology on Wealth Management42:26 Importance of Private Markets Knowledge43:44 Diversification and Institutional Approach44:52 Challenges and Opportunities in Private Markets46:20 Advisors' Education and Differentiation48:26 Balancing Customization and Scalability49:32 Operational Efficiency and Retail Products51:16 Listening to Wealth Channel Needs51:30 Yield-Oriented Products and Diversification53:28 Educational Resources and Client Engagement54:14 Growth of Wealth Channel and Private Equity55:50 Consolidation and Future of Wealth Space58:35 Succession Planning and Client Experience01:04:37 Future of Wealth Management and Private Markets01:06:05 Closing Thoughts and Future Predictions Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

James Currier was born an entrepreneur. Before turning 18, he had launched 18 businesses. After years in corporate jobs, he fully embraced his entrepreneurial calling. He co-founded Tickle, one of the internet's first successful user-generated platforms, which grew to 150 million users before being acquired by Monster.com for $110 million. Now, as a founding partner at NFX, he invests in high-growth startups leveraging network effects. In this episode, James joins Ilana to discuss the power of network effects in scaling businesses, the key traits of great founders, and how to spot technology windows for timely investments. James Currier is a five-time founder, angel investor in DoorDash, Lyft, and Patreon, and a founding partner at NFX, an early-stage venture capital firm. He is an expert in building high-growth companies that leverage network effects.  In this episode, Ilana and James will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (00:27) Embracing Entrepreneurship from a Young Age (04:35) From Corporate Jobs to Building His First Startup (08:45) Navigating Rejections and the Dot-Com Crash (12:24) Understanding Viral vs. Network Effects (19:12) The Reality of Running Multiple Startups  (21:26) Why Attempting to Fix Healthcare Was a Mistake (27:10) Building NFX into a Leading Venture Firm (31:58) Balancing Optimism and Risk in Investing (35:16) The Key Traits that Make a Great Founder (37:45) What It Takes to Be a Successful Entrepreneur (40:33) The Role of Technology Windows in Startup Success James Currier is a five-time founder, angel investor in DoorDash, Lyft, and Patreon, and a founding partner at NFX, an early-stage venture capital firm. He co-founded Tickle, one of the internet's first successful user-generated companies, which was acquired by Monster.com. James also co-founded Wonderhill (merged with Kabam), IronPearl (acquired by PayPal), and Jiff (merged with Castlight). He is an expert in building high-growth companies that leverage network effects.  Connect with James: James's Website: nfx.com James's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jamescurrier  Resources Mentioned: NFX Article, Viral Effects Are Not Network Effects: https://www.nfx.com/post/viral-effects-vs-network-effects  NFX Article, Technology Windows: The Unseen Force Driving Your Startup: https://www.nfx.com/post/technology-windows NFX Article, How “Venture Capital 3.0” Impacts Founders in the AI Age: https://www.nfx.com/post/venture-capital-3  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

Vitalik Buterin is the creator of Ethereum, but he's also a true Bitcoin maximalist. In this episode, Vitalik tells his story as a bitcoiner, explains why he built Ethereum, and makes use of his knowledge to predict the future of the two networks. Time stamps: Introducing Vitalik (00:01:00) Vitalik's Early Involvement with Bitcoin (00:02:22) Writing for Bitcoin Weekly (00:03:01) Bitcoin's Early Fees and Transaction Model (00:06:45) Evolving Understanding of Bitcoin (00:09:15) Bitcoin Cash and the Scaling Debate (00:10:25) Dark Wallet Project (00:14:06) Coinjoin and Privacy Innovations (00:16:41) Colored Coins and Bitcoin 2.0 (00:21:05) Transition to Ethereum Development (00:21:58) Current Layer Two Innovations (00:24:11) Scaling and Privacy Innovations (00:25:55) Ethereum's Early Criticism (00:27:05) EVM's Role in Smart Contracts (00:28:11) Challenges of Parallelization (00:29:23) Sandboxing and Security (00:30:24) Future Scaling Ideas (00:34:49) Ethereum vs NXT vs Counterparty vs Omni/Mastercoin (00:35:37) Lessons from Ethereum's Success (00:37:07) The DAO Hack and Community Resilience (00:43:16) Ethereum's Network Effect (00:45:43) Ethereum's Ecosystem Resilience (00:49:35) Decentralization vs. Scalability (00:50:41) Critique of Ethereum Killers (00:51:21) Layer One and Layer Two Dynamics (00:52:53) SideShift (00:53:21) How Vitalik Cancelled Craig Wright (00:54:51) Current Characters in Bitcoin (00:58:03) Daniel Kravisz's Views on Craig Wright (00:59:04) Manipulative Tactics in Dating Advice (01:00:34) NoOnes: Marketplace for Global South (01:01:19) Bitcoin.com News Evolution (01:02:40) Bitcoin Magazine is Now Pro Trump (01:04:37) Libertarian Shifts in Crypto (01:05:03) Ethereum Domain Name Registrations (01:06:09) Layer Two Scaling Decision (01:08:08) Hardware Requirements for Ethereum Node (01:10:45) Philosophical Questions on Scaling (01:12:01) The Dystopia Scenario (01:13:03) Importance of Full Nodes (01:14:24) Technological Innovations (01:15:27) Running Full Nodes in Ethereum (01:16:30) Privacy and RPC Trust (01:17:28) Adapting Ethereum to New Cryptography (01:19:53) Scaling Debate in Ethereum (01:22:04) Respect for Ethereum's Approach (01:23:15) Zcash and Ethereum Collaboration (01:25:00) Challenges for Zcash (01:27:04) Impact of Developer Actions (01:28:01) Scaling Solutions in Bitcoin and Ethereum (01:30:43) Defining Rollups vs. Sidechains (01:31:40) Security Implications of Drivechains (01:34:03) Transition to Proof of Stake (01:36:19) ZK Coins and Shielded Client Side Validation (01:37:53) Thoughts on TheStandard.io (01:40:03) Backing Up Coins and Holding Keys (01:42:11) Evolution of Multi-Sig Technology (01:46:43) Privacy (01:48:14) Concerns About Centralized Data Collection (01:51:10) Impact of Snowden Revelations (01:53:35) Privacy as a Key Aspect of Decentralization (01:55:49) Ethereum's Cypherpunk Roots (01:57:07) Feedback from Cypherpunks on Ethereum (02:00:42) The Inspiration Behind DAOs (02:02:07) AI and DAOs (02:02:40) Vitalik's Public Image and Price Pressure (02:02:55) Media Attention and Its Impact (02:03:43) Decentralization and Attention (02:04:03) Price Influence and Market Dynamics (02:04:59) Focus on Ethereum's Values (02:06:01) Historical Use Cases of Ethereum (02:08:28) Next Bull Market Narrative (02:09:38) DeFi Ecosystem as a Proven Use Case (02:09:45) Political Instability and Financial Security (02:12:05) Polymarket, Prediction Markets and Mainstream Adoption (02:12:20) Zero Knowledge Proofs and Privacy (02:14:20) Roger Ver (02:15:23) Principles of Freedom and Privacy (02:22:57) Critique of Blockstream's Liquid (02:24:00) Bitcoin's Role in Decentralization (02:26:15) Transition to RISC-V (02:27:37) Adoption of RISC-V (02:28:36) Redesigning Ethereum in A Time Travel Scenario (02:31:30) Challenges in Ethereum's Development (02:32:45) Ethereum and Bitcoin Relationship (02:37:02) Complementarity of Bitcoin and Ethereum (02:38:40) Does Vitalik Still Use Bitcoin? (02:41:21) Lightning Network (02:42:06) Standardization of LN Invoies (02:43:20) Privacy Concerns with Bitcoin (02:45:42) Running Lightning Nodes (02:46:52) Home-Based Bitcoin Solutions (02:48:12) Tribalism in Crypto Communities (02:48:53) Ethereum's Evolution and Ideals (02:50:06) Collaboration Between Bitcoin and Ethereum (02:51:10) Diverse Blockchain Future (02:51:45) Is Vitalik a Bitcoin Maximalist? (02:52:59) Community Values and Challenges (02:53:45) Cultural Dynamics in Cryptocurrencies (02:56:05) Layer Two Solutions for Bitcoin (02:59:31) Vitalik's Online Presence (03:00:25) Closing Remarks and Future Guests (03:01:36)

Pete Flint, General Partner at NFX and founder of Trulia, joins us for an expansive conversation on how AI is reshaping the foundations of entrepreneurship, platform economies, network effects, and defensibility strategies.Drawing from his deep experience as both a founder and an investor, Pete breaks down what it means to build in a world where CAC is difficult to change and requires expanding LTV by designing invisible, agent-powered experiences and adopting “stackable” approaches to product development.Speaking on the low barriers to entry for startups, he highlights why speed now trumps precision, saying, “There is no prize for being right, but there is one for being fast.”This conversation is a must for anyone navigating the fast-moving world of AI, platform innovation, and startup strategy.What does it mean to build a startup in a world of frictionless tools and unpredictable technological shifts?In this episode, Pete, one of the world's most prominent internet entrepreneurs, helps us unpack how the dynamics of company-building are being transformed - not just by AI, but by new patterns of behaviour, demand, and value creation. We explore consumers' hyper-personalised requirements and what that means for founders navigating shifting entry points and stackable business models. He also speaks on cultural foundations and how an organisation's ecosystem affects outcomes.For anyone grappling with how to lead or build in this dynamic landscape, this episode offers a take on what truly matters.Key Highlights

Nick Rose, CFO of Enable, joins CJ to discuss one of the most overlooked yet powerful levers for growth, trust, and alignment in B2B commerce: rebates. They talk about how rebates are often dismissed as accounting clean-up or mistaken for discounts, but they are actually critical pricing incentives that foster long-term relationships. Nick describes how he first came to Enable as a customer and how it helped him uncover more than $7 million in missed rebates. He breaks down how rebates differ from discounts, how they can exceed net profit, and why manual rebate systems are so complex and inaccurate. Nick also explains how Enable is building a new SaaS category, and the importance of becoming a business's top three priority as a SaaS platform.If you're looking for an ERP, head to NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.—SPONSORS:Subscript is a modern billing and revenue recognition platform designed for SaaS finance teams that need flexibility and accuracy. From automated invoicing and dunning to compliant, transparent revenue recognition and real-time analytics, Subscript eliminates manual work, reduces errors, and gives you a single source of truth for all your financial data. Book a free demo at subscript.com.Rippling Spend is a spend management solution that handles your entire company's spending in one unified system. It enables you to bring your corporate cards, expense management, bill pay, and more into one place to achieve real-time visibility and uniquely granular control with automated policy controls across every type of spend. Get a demo to see how much time your org would save at rippling.com/metrics.Vanta's trust management platform takes the manual work out of your security and compliance process and replaces it with continuous automation. Over 9000 businesses use it to automate compliance needs across over 35 frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Centralize security workflows, complete questionnaires up to five times faster, and proactively manage vendor risk. For a limited time, get $1,000 off Vanta at vanta.com/metrics.Tropic is an intelligent spend management solution that consolidates your spend data and processes into one unified offering, enabling insights and decisive action. From spotting hidden optimization opportunities to automating painful procurement workflows and giving you the best market data to turn vendor negotiations in your favor, Tropic combines smart insights with real human expertise to keep you ahead of the curve. Visit tropicapp.io/mostlymetrics to learn how.MUFG is the largest bank in Japan and a global banking powerhouse with a focus on empowering Growth and Middle Market stage companies in North America and Europe. MUFG provides comprehensive banking services for VC-backed, PE-backed, and public companies with revenues starting at $40M. The bank combines its global capabilities with deep operational understanding to help companies accelerate their growth trajectory. Contact group head Bob Blee at bblee@us.mufg.jp to find out more.NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than 40,000 companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform, head to NetSuite https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Planful is a financial performance management platform designed to streamline financial tasks for businesses. It helps with budgeting, closing the books, and financial reporting, all on a cloud-based platform. By improving the efficiency and accuracy of these processes, Planful allows businesses to make better financial decisions. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.—FOLLOW US ON X:@cjgustafson222 (CJ)—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:18) Sponsor – Subscript | Rippling Spend | Vanta | Tropic(07:22) From Geography Major to CFO(10:44) How Nick Became an Enable Customer(13:45) $7–8 Million in Missed Rebates(17:01) Sponsor – MUFG | NetSuite | Planful(20:27) Complexity in Manual Rebate Systems(21:45) What Is a Rebate?(26:07) Rebates Exceeding Net Profit(27:30) Why Rebates Build Long-Term Relationships(28:43) Trust and Rebates(34:42) Channel Stuffing and Rebate Fraud(39:59) Bringing Rebates and Pricing Together(42:32) Rebates Versus Discounts(43:23) The Challenges of Creating a New Category(45:42) Becoming a Top Three Priority(48:53) Investor Thesis and Network Effects(51:08) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Bad Hiring Decisions(54:25) Advice to Younger Self(55:36) Finance Software Stack(56:45) Craziest Expense Story Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

Chewy's $30 Marketing Tactic: Building Lifelong Customer Loyalty.Watch on YouTubeChewy is internet-famous for their compassionate approach during the death of a pet. They offer full refunds on pet food and send flowers and a condolence card when a pet passes away (est. $30 investment once per customer). Tangible, heartfelt actions that are timely and on-brand can make a significant impact on retention and brand perception. Brand is your business's greatest asset. Almost any business can implement similar tactics to build goodwill, brand, and LTV.Think about the network effect of the free bag of dog or cat food. Similar CPG example: Two free full-size Quest bars.Chapters:(0:00) Chewy Creates Lifelong Customers with a $30 Investment(0:21) Chewy's Business Growth and Market Position $CHWY(2:08) The Emotional Impact of Losing a Pet (Grief Like a Family Member)(2:59) Chewy's Heartfelt Response to Pet Loss(3:28) Quest Protein Bars Network Effect: Give Two Free Full-Size Bars(3:53) The Power of Thoughtful Marketing(5:11) Stage 5 Tribe like Zappos ("Tribal Leadership")Links mentioned:Dr. Katie Lawlor survey on grieving pet loss: Couples' Perception of Stressfulness of Death of the Family Pet"Stage 5 Tribe" (Zappos) from book "Tribal Leadership" by Dave LoganMy podcast tools:Record on Riverside: emilybinder.com/riversideRecord / edit with AI (Descript): emilybinder.com/descriptShop my gear: beetlemoment.com/gearHire me:Speaking: emilybinder.com/speakingAdvisory Calls: emilybinder.com/callBring me into your next Zoom: thinkersone.com/emilybinderConnect:This podcast | My website | Beetle Moment Marketing | LinkedIn | X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Email updates Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to not only start a company but to grow it into something truly impactful, not just once but FIVE times? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, we dive into the experiences of Angel Gambino, a remarkable five-time exited entrepreneur. With over 20 years of experience crafting successful ventures and fostering economic equity through entrepreneurship, Angel offers a wealth of knowledge on various aspects of business growth and development..Having achieved success as a founder, co-founder or founding team member of five companies across the US, the UK, and Latin America, she has solidified her reputation as a visionary leader and strategic thinker. Her most recently role is as a fractional chief growth officer, helping start-ups build and grow their companies. Angel Gambino is a formidable force in the world of angel investing and entrepreneurship.Throughout the episode, Angel tells us the fascinating stories behind her ventures, highlighting key insights on fostering growth through strategic partnerships, navigating the emotional roller coaster of exits, and the importance of self-awareness in leadership. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an experienced investor, Angel's candid reflections and practical tips make this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking to make a positive impact through business. Her journey is not just about success—it's about creating prosperity and joy, making this discussion both inspiring and empowering. To get the latest from Angel Gambino, you can follow her below!https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelgambino/ https://www.angelclub.com/ Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing!Website: www.marciadawood.comLearn more about the documentary Show Her the Money: www.showherthemoneymovie.comAnd don't forget to follow us wherever you are!Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.appleSpotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotifyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-next-door-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciadawood

In this episode, I talk with Jeral Poskey, former project executive at Google, and current Founder and CEO of Swyft Cities, about a radically different approach to urban transportation that's fast, flexible, and surprisingly affordable. Spoiler: it's not autonomous or flying cars.When I first heard about Swyft's solution, I was skeptical.  But I'm increasingly excited about the possibilities, and how it could unlock walkable districts and neighborhoods within the suburban sprawl context (so basically everywhere).  We get into how Jeral's experience inside Google's real estate division led to the birth of Project Swyft, why traditional mass-transit infrastructure isn't feasible (at least on its own), and how Swyft's solution solves for the last few miles, weaves between buildings, and adapts to cities as they grow.If you're into urbanism, real estate, autonomous vehicles, or just want to understand what could actually make our cities function better (without waiting 20 years and wasting billions of dollars for a new train–looking at you, California), this one's worth your time.  And excitingly, Swyft has numerous projects underway around the world beginning in 2026.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Project Switch and Urban Transportation01:48 The Origins of Swyft Cities05:08 Innovative Transportation Solutions10:31 Skepticism to Curiosity14:09 The Last Mile Connection and Urban Challenges17:34 Economic Models and Urban Growth19:23 Modularity and Network Effects in Urban Transit21:16 AI and Efficiency in Transportation Systems23:40 Cost Comparisons and Infrastructure Decisions24:15 Understanding the Station Design and Functionality26:22 Infrastructure Flexibility and Cost Efficiency29:09 The Competition: Self-Driving Cars and Urban Mobility32:52 Private vs. Public Sector Transportation Solutions35:16 Real-World Applications and Case Studies40:01 Overcoming Skepticism and Educating Stakeholders43:45 Induced Demand: A Positive Perspective on Urban Transportation48:13 Future Vision: Scaling and Real Estate IntegrationWebsite: https://swyftcities.com/Newsletter: https://swyftcities.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=04dae35275c37b51b049b89c9&id=349fe9a899Twitter: https://x.com/jeralpo Twitter: https://x.com/swyftcitiesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jposkey/CONNECT WITH AUSTIN TUNNELL:Newsletter: https://playbook.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/austintunnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-tunnell-2a41894a/ https://twitter.com/AustinTunnellhttps://www.buildingculture.com/ https://www.instagram.com/buildingculture/ https://twitter.com/build_culture https://www.facebook.com/BuildCulture/ SPONSORS:Thank you so much to the sponsors of The Building Culture Podcast!Sierra Pacific Windows: https://www.sierrapacificwindows.com/ One Source Windows: https://onesourcewindows.com/ 

Build your business with beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/greg-isenberg?utm_campaign=Q22025-greg-isenberg-partnership&utm_medium=influencer&utm_source=podcast&utm_source_platform=podcast&via=greg-isenberg-Q22025&utm_marketing_tactic=awareness&utm_creative_format=podcast&utm_content=greg-isenberg&utm_term=greg-isenbergJoin me as I chat with Tyler Denk, co-founder of Beehiiv, to discuss how to grow a newsletter to 100,000 subscribers. He demonstrates Beehiiv's platform features including customizable websites, subscriber data collection, automated welcome sequences, and multiple monetization options. Tyler emphasizes there's no "silver bullet" for growth—success comes from combining multiple strategies that each contribute incrementally to building a valuable audience asset.Get the 5-step guide to 100K subscribers: www.gregisenberg.com/beehiiv-businessTimestamps• 00:00 - Intro• 02:58 - Overview of newsletter growth potential• 04:03 - Website building and email capture features• 15:00 - Subscriber data collection and welcome automations• 25:00 - Cross-promotion and "Boost" network for growth• 38:06 - Lead magnets and referral programs• 55:00 - Customized email collection based on content  • 1:08:35 - Monetization strategies (sponsorships, paid subscriptions)• 1:10:55 - Final thoughts on consistency and getting startedKey Points• Beehiiv's all-in-one platform includes website building, email capture, subscriber data collection, referral programs, and monetization tools• Multiple growth channels work together: lead magnets, email gating, referral programs, and cross-promotion with other newsletters• Monetization comes through direct sponsorships, Beehiiv's ad network, and the "Boost" feature where newsletters pay each other for subscriber referrals1) Website & Email Capture StrategyBeehiiv gives you a full website builder where you can create:• Custom landing pages• Email capture forms• Pop-ups targeted by traffic source• Different signup flowsThe key? Create MULTIPLE entry points that convert 15-20% of visitors to subscribers.Tyler's Windows 98-themed site stands out because it's INTENTIONALLY different!2) The Subscribe Flow MagicThis is GENIUS:After someone subscribes, Tyler shows:• Sponsored newsletter recommendations• A quick survey collecting demographic data• A welcome page with popular contentThis data helps him:• Sell premium sponsorships• Create targeted content• Understand his audience (60% founders!)3) Network Effects & Passive GrowthTyler gets 200-300 FREE subscribers weekly through Beehiiv's recommendation network!How it works:• Other newsletters recommend his in their subscribe flow• He recommends others in his flow"It's like getting $400-600 of value weekly just for existing on the platform" 4) The Boost Network (Paid Acquisition)Tyler spends $2-3K monthly buying subscribers through Beehiiv's Boost marketplace.• He pays $2.50 per subscriber• Only pays for subscribers who ACTUALLY ENGAGE• Has autopause features to cut off low-quality sources• Manages 155+ acquisition sources in one dashboardIt's like a vending machine: put in $2.50, get $4 back!5) Lead Magnets That ConvertTyler shared his seed deck on Twitter (100K views) with a simple signup form.The magic:• Created a custom landing page in Beehiiv• Set up a different signup flow (no recommendations)• Built an automation to deliver the deck instantly• Added new subscribers to his newsletterPro tip: Get sponsors for your lead magnets to fund MORE promotion!6) The Referral Program (1% of growth)Tyler built Morning Brew's referral program (led to 1M+ subscribers) and implemented a simpler version:- 1 referral = Access to Series B deck (digital, zero cost)• 3 referrals = $10 off merch (dropshipped, zero cost)7) Monetization (The Engine)Tyler makes $20-30K monthly through:- Direct sponsorships ($7K per placement)• Boost network referrals ($2-4 per subscriber)• No paid subscription (though many make $100K+/year this way)Beehiiv's sponsorship storefront lets advertisers book directly with just a $10 transaction fee!Notable Quotes:"Writing weekly and sharing my thoughts online has probably been the highest leverage thing that I've done in my entire career. It's opened so many doors to angel investing, meeting other founders, meeting people who are doing really cool shit." - TylerLCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.coFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND TYLER ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/denk_tweetsBig Desk Energy: https://www.bigdeskenergy.com

Unsupervised Learning is a podcast that interviews the sharpest minds in AI about what's real today, what will be real in the future and what it means for businesses and the world - helping builders, researchers and founders deconstruct and understand the biggest breakthroughs. Top guests: Noam Shazeer, Bob McGrew, Noam Brown, Dylan Patel, Percy Liang, David Luan https://www.latent.space/p/unsupervised-learning Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Excitement for Collaboration 00:27 Reflecting on Surprises in AI Over the Past Year 01:44 Open Source Models and Their Adoption 06:01 The Rise of GPT Wrappers 06:55 AI Builders and Low-Code Platforms 09:35 Overhyped and Underhyped AI Trends 22:17 Product Market Fit in AI 28:23 Google's Current Momentum 28:33 Customer Support and AI 29:54 AI's Impact on Cost and Growth 31:05 Voice AI and Scheduling 32:59 Emerging AI Applications 34:12 Education and AI 36:34 Defensibility in AI Applications 40:10 Infrastructure and AI 47:08 Challenges and Future of AI 52:15 Quick Fire Round and Closing Remarks Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Collab Excitement 00:00:58 Open Source and Model Adoption 00:01:58 Enterprise Use of Open Source Models 00:02:57 The Competitive Edge of Closed Source Models 00:03:56 DeepSea and Open Source Model Releases 00:04:54 Market Narrative and DeepSea Impact 00:05:53 AI Engineering and GPT Wrappers 00:06:53 AI Builders and Low-Code Platforms 00:07:50 Innovating Beyond Existing Paradigms 00:08:50 Apple and AI Product Development 00:09:48 Overhyped and Underhyped AI Trends 00:10:46 Frameworks and Protocols in AI Development 00:11:45 Emerging Opportunities in AI 00:12:44 Stateful AI and Memory Innovation 00:13:44 Challenges with Memory in AI Agents 00:14:44 The Future of Model Training Companies 00:15:44 Specialized Use Cases for AI Models 00:16:44 Vertical Models vs General Purpose Models 00:17:42 General Purpose vs Domain-Specific Models 00:18:42 Reflections on Model Companies 00:19:39 Model Companies Entering Product Space 00:20:38 Competition in AI Model and Product Sectors 00:21:35 Coding Agents and Market Dynamics 00:22:35 Defensibility in AI Applications 00:23:35 Investing in Underappreciated AI Ventures 00:24:32 Analyzing Market Fit in AI 00:25:31 AI Applications with Product Market Fit 00:26:31 OpenAI's Impact on the Market 00:27:31 Google and OpenAI Competition 00:28:31 Exploring Google's Advancements 00:29:29 Customer Support and AI Applications 00:30:27 The Future of AI in Customer Support 00:31:26 Cost-Cutting vs Growth in AI 00:32:23 Voice AI and Real-World Applications 00:33:23 Scaling AI Applications for Demand 00:34:22 Summarization and Conversational AI 00:35:20 Future AI Use Cases and Market Fit 00:36:20 AI Education and Model Capabilities 00:37:17 Reforming Education with AI 00:38:15 Defensibility in AI Apps 00:39:13 Network Effects and AI 00:40:12 AI Brand and Market Positioning 00:41:11 AI Application Defensibility 00:42:09 LLM OS and AI Infrastructure 00:43:06 Security and AI Application 00:44:06 OpenAI's Role in AI Infrastructure 00:45:02 The Balance of AI Applications and Infrastructure 00:46:02 Capital Efficiency in AI Infrastructure 00:47:01 Challenges in AI DevOps and Infrastructure 00:47:59 AI SRE and Monitoring 00:48:59 Scaling AI and Hardware Challenges 00:49:58 Reliability and Compute in AI 00:50:57 Nvidia's Dominance and AI Hardware 00:51:57 Emerging Competition in AI Silicon 00:52:54 Agent Authentication Challenges 00:53:53 Dream Podcast Guests 00:54:51 Favorite News Sources and Startups 00:55:50 The Value of In-Person Conversations 00:56:50 Private vs Public AI Discourse 00:57:48 Latent Space and Podcasting 00:58:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This week on Upstream, we're releasing an episode of The Riff (originally aired on March 25, 2025) where Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart discuss Don Jr.'s leveraging of the Trump brand, Dustin Moskovitz's departure to address AI risks, economic impacts of various policies, and geopolitical considerations with a focus on AI and China's tech ambitions. —

On today’s episode of “Marketplace Tech,” Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Daniel Cohan, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, about virtual power plants. These aren’t physical generating stations. They’re more of a network, usually managed by a local utility, that aggregates electricity from  different sources like businesses or homes. Essentially, these customers give energy back to the grid or help the utility balance supply and demand. As electricity demand grows, thanks to power-hungry AI data centers, electric cars and extreme weather, some providers are turning to virtual power plants to reduce strain on the grid.

On today’s episode of “Marketplace Tech,” Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Daniel Cohan, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, about virtual power plants. These aren’t physical generating stations. They’re more of a network, usually managed by a local utility, that aggregates electricity from  different sources like businesses or homes. Essentially, these customers give energy back to the grid or help the utility balance supply and demand. As electricity demand grows, thanks to power-hungry AI data centers, electric cars and extreme weather, some providers are turning to virtual power plants to reduce strain on the grid.

As AI (Artificial Intelligence) accelerates, data centers are reclaiming the spotlight. In this episode of the Network Effect, Paul Alexander, VP of Network Infrastructure in the UK and Ireland for Nokia, discusses how data centers are evolving to meet the modern world.  

Perry Marshall is one of the most expensive business strategists in the world. He is endorsed in FORBES and INC Magazine and has authored ten books. At London's Royal Society he announced the world's largest science research challenge, the 10 million dollars Evolution 2.0 Prize. His reinvention of the Pareto Principle is published in Harvard Business Review, and his Google book laid the foundations for the $400B digital advertising industry. He has a degree in Engineering and lives with his family in Chicago. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. The Network Effect is the most powerful moat you could possibly have around your castle (business). 2. The “If If or else guarantee” recognizes that in every transaction, somebody is taking the risk and it should not be the customer. 3. The only way to succeed is in the high end. A superior product for which you can command for a higher price with a good margin is literally the only way to make a lot of money for a small business. Get a copy of Perry's book on Amazon - Detox, Declutter, Dominate Sponsors Shopify Be ready to sell wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling — on the web, in your store, in their feed, and everywhere in between! Sign up for your 1 dollar per month trial period at Shopify.com/onfire NetSuite Over 41,000 businesses have future-proofed their business with NetSuite, by Oracle - THE number one cloud E.R.P. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at NetSuite.com/fire

Perry Marshall is one of the most expensive business strategists in the world. He is endorsed in FORBES and INC Magazine and has authored ten books. At London's Royal Society he announced the world's largest science research challenge, the 10 million dollars Evolution 2.0 Prize. His reinvention of the Pareto Principle is published in Harvard Business Review, and his Google book laid the foundations for the $400B digital advertising industry. He has a degree in Engineering and lives with his family in Chicago. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. The Network Effect is the most powerful moat you could possibly have around your castle (business). 2. The “If If or else guarantee” recognizes that in every transaction, somebody is taking the risk and it should not be the customer. 3. The only way to succeed is in the high end. A superior product for which you can command for a higher price with a good margin is literally the only way to make a lot of money for a small business. Get a copy of Perry's book on Amazon - Detox, Declutter, Dominate Sponsors Shopify Be ready to sell wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling — on the web, in your store, in their feed, and everywhere in between! Sign up for your 1 dollar per month trial period at Shopify.com/onfire NetSuite Over 41,000 businesses have future-proofed their business with NetSuite, by Oracle - THE number one cloud E.R.P. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at NetSuite.com/fire

On this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop is joined by Jesse and Leo, co-founders of Maitri, a social infrastructure project focused on fostering interoperability between different social media applications. They explore the limitations of current social networks, the importance of community graphs in building trust and reputation, and how to create a digital environment that prioritizes meaningful human connection over algorithmic engagement. The conversation also touches on AI, reputation systems, decentralized governance, and the future of online coordination in an era of increasing technological acceleration. For more about their work, visit maitri.network.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:13 Founding My Tree: The Vision and Mission01:10 Challenges with Current Social Media02:50 Building Community Graphs04:13 Philosophical Insights on Social Relationships08:32 Interoperability and Technical Aspects13:44 AI and the Future of Social Media23:47 The Philosophy of Reputation28:44 Balancing Inclusivity and Exclusivity29:30 Building Reputation Systems31:16 Financializing Behaviors and Social Media32:24 Open Source and Competitive Benchmarking33:25 Privacy and Positive Attestations44:08 Future of Media and Group Identity53:11 Coordination and Governance Challenges56:15 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKey InsightsInteroperability is the Key to Social Media's Future – Jesse and Leo emphasize that current social media platforms operate as isolated silos, preventing users from seamlessly interacting across networks. Maitri is designed as a social infrastructure project that enables interoperability between platforms, allowing for greater connectivity, user control, and shared network effects. Instead of monopolies controlling engagement, they envision a future where smaller, more specialized communities can thrive while remaining interconnected.Community Graphs Offer a More Nuanced Approach to Social Identity – Unlike traditional social graphs that focus on one-to-one relationships, community graphs provide a richer representation of how people engage within groups. These graphs account for the “fuzziness” of social membership, acknowledging that participation in a community is often subjective and context-dependent. This system aims to better reflect how humans naturally form trust and reputations within various groups.Reputation Systems Should Be Positive, Subjective, and Competitive – One of the key challenges in designing digital reputation systems is avoiding the pitfalls of social credit scores. Maitri's approach ensures that reputations are built through private, positive attestations rather than public negative ratings. This system mirrors real-world trust-building, where individuals accumulate credibility over time rather than being permanently defined by past mistakes. Additionally, by allowing multiple reputation frameworks to compete, users maintain agency over how they are evaluated.AI and Automation Will Radically Reshape Online Interaction – With AI-driven bots increasingly indistinguishable from humans, the internet is at risk of becoming an overwhelming space filled with automated engagement. Jesse and Leo highlight that while AI can be useful, there must be clear distinctions between human and non-human interactions. Maitri's reputation infrastructure could help address this challenge by providing proof of unique personhood, allowing people to differentiate between trusted human connections and AI-driven entities.Decentralized Coordination is a Crucial Missing Layer of the Internet – One of the biggest problems facing humanity is the failure to coordinate effectively. Traditional institutions and digital platforms have struggled to balance inclusivity with exclusivity, leading to either centralization or fragmentation. By creating digital primitives that allow for more efficient coordination—whether through financial incentives, reputation mechanisms, or group dynamics—Maitri aims to provide tools that help people organize at scale without relying on monopolistic control.The Future of Media is Many-to-Many, Not One-to-Many – The era of mass culture driven by television and radio, where everyone consumed the same media at the same time, is fading. Instead, we are moving toward a more fragmented but dynamic landscape where smaller communities cultivate their own cultural moments. While this shift eliminates shared cultural touchpoints, it allows for greater diversity of thought and expression. Curation and trust-based networks will become increasingly important as content continues to proliferate.Balancing Privacy, Identity, and Accountability is the Next Digital Challenge – The conversation highlights the ongoing tension between privacy and accountability in online spaces. While anonymous or pseudonymous interactions can protect free speech, they can also enable bad actors. Maitri's approach seeks to give users control over their identities by enabling flexible, context-dependent personas rather than enforcing a single, rigid identity. This allows for a balance between protecting privacy and maintaining trust in online interactions.

In this episode, we dive into the world of marketplaces with Pete Flint, co-founder of NFX, one of the leading venture firms specializing in network effects. Pete brings decades of marketplace experience, from the founding team at Lastminute.com to the creation of Trulia and its merger with Zillow. At NFX, Pete and his team have a unique perspective on how network effects drive defensibility in marketplace businesses.Here are three highlights from the conversation:The Key to Defensibility: Pete explains why network effects are the best form of defensibility for marketplace businesses and how they make companies resilient over time.AI's Role in Marketplaces: Pete discusses how AI is both disrupting and enabling marketplaces, and why it's creating entirely new marketplace models.The Best Advice for Marketplace Founders: Pete shares his top tips for aspiring founders, from identifying the hardest side of the marketplace to seizing opportunities during economic or regulatory change.Tune in to hear Pete's insights on building long-lasting, resilient marketplace businesses powered by network effects.

Despite your bad memories from the Block Size war, you should support Roger Ver's campaign for clemency – or at least this is what Layer Two Labs CEO Paul Sztorc thinks you should do. In this episode, we discuss why Roger deserves to stay free. Time stamps: Introducing Paul Sztorc (00:00:54) The host welcomes listeners and introduces guest Paul Sztorc, discussing Roger Ver's situation. Paul's Connection with Roger Ver (00:01:42) Paul shares his connection to Roger Ver and his experiences in the Bitcoin community. Roger Ver's Contributions (00:02:54) Discussion on Roger's significant investments and efforts in early Bitcoin companies. Challenges at Mt. Gox (00:03:59) Paul recounts Roger's volunteer work during the Mt. Gox crisis, highlighting his dedication. Bitcoin's Early Days (00:05:05) Reflections on Bitcoin's obscurity before mainstream recognition, including the Financial Times article. The Evolution of Bitcoin Conferences (00:06:18) Paul reminisces about early Bitcoin conferences and their small scale compared to today. Tax Evasion Claims and Bitcoin's Value (00:08:23) Discussion on misconceptions about Bitcoin's value and Roger's tax situation during its early days. Roger's Generosity and Alliances (00:10:34) Highlighting Roger's contributions to various libertarian causes and his personal sacrifices. The Block Size War (00:11:39) Introduction to the block size debate and its impact on Roger's reputation in the Bitcoin community. Michael Saylor's Skepticism (00:12:29) The host references a tweet from Michael Saylor expressing doubts about Bitcoin in 2013. Roger's Early Bitcoin Investments (00:13:13) Paul shares a story about Roger's commitment to Bitcoin, selling his Lamborghini for more BTC. Roger's Influence and Marketing (00:14:26) Discussion on Roger's positive energy and efforts to promote Bitcoin to the public. The Role of BitPay (00:15:38) Explaining how BitPay helped businesses accept Bitcoin, making it more accessible. Roger's Vision for Bitcoin (00:18:48) Paul discusses Roger's motivations during the block size war and his vision for Bitcoin's future. Aftermath of the Block Size War (00:20:06) Reflections on the complacency of the Bitcoin community post-war and the resulting divisions. Playing the Villain (00:20:45) The host introduces a playful debate format, questioning Roger's promotion of Bitcoin Cash. The Scammer Accusation (00:21:18) Discussion about accusations against Roger Ver being labeled a scammer due to perceived financial losses. The Block Size Debate (00:21:35) Debate on the implications of hard forks and naming conventions in the context of Bitcoin's block size. Satoshi's Conflicted Views (00:22:22) Exploration of Satoshi Nakamoto's ambiguous stance on block sizes and their impact on Bitcoin. Mt. Gox Video Controversy (00:24:23) Reference to Roger Ver's video on Mount Gox and its perceived implications for Bitcoin's credibility. Self-Custody Awareness (00:25:03) Discussion on the understanding of self-custody in Bitcoin during the early days compared to now. Roger's Involvement with Mt. Gox (00:26:57) Analysis of Roger Ver's proactive attempts to assist Mount Gox during its crisis. Historical Context of Criticism (00:29:06) Reflection on how hindsight alters perceptions of Roger's actions during the Mt. Gox incident. Debate Dynamics (00:31:00) Insights into Roger Ver's debate style and the challenges faced by opponents like Jimmy Song. Roger's Support of Craig Wright (00:36:22) Discussion on Roger Ver's past support for Craig Wright and subsequent regrets regarding that decision. Legal Battles with Craig Wright (00:40:14) Mention of Roger Ver's successful lawsuit against Craig Wright as a potential redemption. Romance Scams and Reporting (00:40:53) Discussion on how victims of romance scams often feel ashamed and do not report incidents. Karmic Justice and Roger Ver (00:44:16) Exploration of public anger towards Roger Ver and perceptions of justice regarding his past actions. Chaos Climbers in the Bitcoin Community (00:45:03) Analysis of individuals rising in influence by criticizing opposing factions during the block size war. Debate Analysis: Samson vs. Roger (00:46:02) Reflection on the 2018 debate between Samson and Roger, highlighting performance over substance. Clipping and Public Perception (00:48:11) Discussion on how clipped statements can distort public perception and impact reputations. Economic Growth and Human Welfare (00:49:07) The importance of economic growth for human welfare and the misunderstanding surrounding its implications. Performativity in Bitcoin Discourse (00:50:26) Critique of the performative outrage in Bitcoin discussions and its effects on community dynamics. Debate Takeaways and Misrepresentation (00:51:08) Observations on how the narrative from the debate overshadowed substantive discussions about Bitcoin. Scaling Solutions: Lightning vs. Bitcoin Cash (00:52:13) Comparison of the Lightning Network and Bitcoin Cash as competing solutions to Bitcoin's scaling issues. Hard Forks and Community Splits (00:54:43) Discussion on the implications of hard forks on community cohesion and the future of Bitcoin. Victimless Crimes in Forks (00:57:54) Reflection on the benefits of Bitcoin forks and the perception of them as victimless crimes. Toxic Bitcoin Maximalism (00:58:41) Analysis of how toxic maximalism emerged as a reaction to the proliferation of altcoins and forks. Conception of Money and Community (00:59:03) Discussion on the importance of a unified currency and the challenges posed by multiple forks. Ethereum as the Opposition (01:00:28) Exploration of Ethereum's role as a competing force against Bitcoin and its community dynamics. Network Effects and Complacency (01:00:52) Discussion on how dominant networks can lead to complacency and hinder competition in the crypto space. Block Size War and Ethereum's Rise (01:01:40) Exploration of Ethereum's growth during the block size debate and its impact on the crypto landscape. Scaling Challenges in Bitcoin (01:02:52) Overview of scaling solutions and the failures that led to external developments outside Bitcoin. Layer Two Labs Promotion (01:04:00) Introduction of Layer Two Labs and its mission to scale Bitcoin through sidechains. Drive Chains vs. Tree Chains (01:05:15) Comparison of Drive Chains and Tree Chains, highlighting conceptual differences and critiques. Bitcoin.com News Collaboration (01:08:40) Discussion about Bitcoin.com News and its valuable coverage of cryptocurrency topics. Critique of Current Thought Leaders (01:09:46) Speaker expresses disappointment in the insights provided by prominent figures in the crypto community. Exit Tax Controversy (01:11:20) Debate on the legitimacy and implications of the U.S. exit tax in relation to Roger Ver. Berlin Wall Explanation (01:21:19) Description of the Berlin Wall's historical significance and its role in the Cold War. The Berlin Wall Discussion (01:23:06) The speakers discuss the historical significance and implications of the Berlin Wall and its impact on families. Roger Ver's Moral Responsibility (01:27:02) A conversation about Roger Ver's rejection of the social contract based on his moral beliefs regarding taxation. Exit Tax Controversy (01:27:30) Debate on the fairness of the exit tax and its implications for individuals like Roger Ver. Roger Ver's Legal Representation (01:28:09) Discussion on Roger Ver's legal situation and the role of his law firm in his tax issues. Greg Maxwell's Threats (01:29:33) Mention of Greg Maxwell's threats towards Roger Ver and the potential consequences of such actions. Birthday Surprise (01:30:18) A light-hearted moment as the host celebrates a birthday surprise during the podcast. Tax Law Complications (01:32:07) The complexity of tax law and its implications for Roger Ver's financial situation are explored. Jameson Lopp's Tweet (01:35:14) Analysis of a tweet discussing Roger Ver's tax issues and the IRS's claims against him. CoinFlex Bankruptcy Discussion (01:37:01) Exploration of Roger Ver's financial troubles related to CoinFlex and the implications of his legal battles. Roger's Video Explanation (01:39:14) Discussion about a video Roger Ver released explaining his situation with CoinFlex and legal constraints. Legal Challenges and Persecution (01:42:43) Reflections on Roger Ver's past legal challenges and the perception of him as a criminal in the Bitcoin community. Vindictiveness of the Blocksize War (01:43:46) Commentary on the negative attitudes and tactics used by some during the blocksize debate against Roger Ver. Discussion on Roger Ver's Bitcoin Contributions (01:44:56) We discuss Roger Ver's early contributions to Bitcoin and the controversies surrounding him. Twitter Controversies and Public Perception (01:46:00) The conversation touches on Twitter dynamics and public perceptions of Roger Ver's financial status. Taxation and IRS Issues (01:49:02) Concerns are raised about the lack of clarity from the IRS regarding tax obligations for Roger Ver. Critique of Tax System (01:50:05) A critique of the U.S. tax system and the complexities faced by taxpayers is presented. Roger Ver's Future and Clemency (01:52:39) Discussion on Roger Ver's potential return to the U.S. and the implications of his clemency. Plea Deals and Coercion in Legal System (02:01:29) The speakers examine the coercive nature of plea deals in the U.S. legal system. Justice System Inequities (02:03:59) A reflection on the inequities in the justice system and the challenges of sentencing. Introduction to Alexander Vinnik (02:05:07) Discussion about Vinnik's arrest and his connection to the Mount Gox hack. Comparison with Roger Ver (02:06:18) Contrasting Vinnik's criminal actions with the legal troubles faced by Roger Ver. Plea Deals and Legal System Issues (02:06:39) Exploring the coercive nature of plea deals in the justice system. Vinnik's Sentencing and Release (02:08:39) Details about Vinnik's sentencing and the circumstances of his release. Negotiations for Prisoner Exchange (02:09:50) Discussion about the political implications of Vinnik's negotiation for freedom. Details on the Trade (02:10:46) Information about the American teacher traded for Vinnik and her situation. Question from the Audience (02:12:54) Transition to audience questions regarding Bitcoin's scalability and potential forks. The Exodus Question (02:13:02) Audience inquiry about the potential migration to alternative cryptocurrencies. Forking Bitcoin Discussion (02:15:17) Analysis of the challenges and implications of forking Bitcoin. Cultural Apathy in Bitcoin Community (02:20:15) Reflection on the disconnection between miners and Bitcoin's philosophical discussions. Future of Bitcoin and Sidechains (02:22:33) Speculation on Bitcoin's ability to scale and the role of sidechains in its future. Discussion on Bitcoin Market Dynamics (02:27:41) Exploration of Bitcoin's market behavior and the implications of pricing strategies in a competitive landscape. Contention in Bitcoin Governance (02:28:31) Debate on the contentious nature of Bitcoin governance and the challenges of achieving consensus within the community. Concerns Over Bitcoin's Cultural Issues (02:30:31) Discussion on potential cultural problems within Bitcoin and the implications for its future success. Measuring Decentralization (02:31:58) Introduction to the concept of decentralization and its measurement within cryptocurrency contexts. Critique of Mining Centralization (02:32:08) Examination of the complexities and contradictions in defining mining centralization in Bitcoin. Transparency and Decentralization (02:34:03) Discussion on the importance of transparency and the peer-to-peer nature of Bitcoin versus traditional systems. State Rejection of Bitcoin Reserves (02:40:55) Insights into states rejecting Bitcoin reserve bills due to volatility concerns, reflecting on societal attitudes toward Bitcoin. Bitcoin's Role in Black Market Transactions (02:44:27) Analysis of Bitcoin's potential as a payment system in both legal and illegal markets, emphasizing its dual utility. Roleplay Request on BTC vs BCH (02:48:10) Engagement in a roleplay scenario discussing the market's preference for BTC over BCH and its implications. Orthodox Plan for Scaling (02:49:21) Discussion on the orthodox plan for Bitcoin scaling and competition with Ethereum and other altcoins. Competition and Market Share (02:50:39) Analysis of market competition and the declining market share of Bitcoin compared to Ethereum and Monero. Libertarian Party Dynamics (02:53:11) Exploration of the fragmentation within the Libertarian Party and its implications for political strategy. Libertarian Vote in Elections (02:54:52) Investigation into the percentage of votes received by the Libertarian Party in recent elections. Trump's Influence on Libertarians (02:56:40) Discussion on Trump's appeal to Libertarians and its impact on voting patterns. Free Ross Campaign Strategy (02:59:17) Strategy for political advocacy, focusing on the Free Ross campaign and leveraging support for major candidates. Comparing Cryptocurrency Market Positions (03:01:56) Examination of the market positions of various cryptocurrencies and their relative values. Bitcoin Cash Capabilities (03:02:50) Discussion on the capabilities of Bitcoin Cash and its potential for innovation in the crypto space. Historical Context of Bitcoin Development (03:04:12) Reflection on Bitcoin's development history and the missed opportunities for innovation. Language and Technological Change (03:06:27) Analogy between language evolution and cryptocurrency dominance, emphasizing technological impacts. Early Bitcoin Innovations (03:09:39) Revisiting early innovations in Bitcoin and their relevance to today's cryptocurrency landscape. Ossification and Innovation in Blockchain (03:11:36) Discussion on the ossification of blockchain and the need for innovation in Layer 2 solutions. Programming Languages Debate (03:12:43) Comparison of programming languages used in Bitcoin and Ethereum, referencing Steve Jobs' philosophy. Bitcoin's Imperfections (03:14:15) Discussion on Bitcoin's evolution and the ongoing need for improvements despite claims of perfection. Vulnerabilities in Bitcoin (03:15:21) Concerns over the delayed disclosure of vulnerabilities in Bitcoin's code and its implications. Power Dynamics in Bitcoin Development (03:16:41) Analysis of the influence of Bitcoin Core on development and the challenges faced by forks. John Dillon's Controversial Emails (03:18:00) Exploration of accusations against John Dillon and the implications for Bitcoin's governance. Coinjoin Bounty Scandal (03:20:19) Revelation of John Dillon's involvement with a bounty fund and its impact on project funding. The Role of Competition in Development (03:22:14) Importance of competition among software in driving innovation and user satisfaction. Roger Ver's Legal Troubles (03:25:28) Discussion about the potential consequences for those prosecuting Roger Ver and the nature of his accusations. Mail Fraud Charges Against Roger Ver (03:27:12) Overview of the legal accusations against Roger Ver, particularly concerning mail fraud. Hypothetical Perspective on Roger Ver (03:28:44) A thought experiment about how perceptions of Roger Ver would change based on exposure to propaganda. Thoughts on Taxation and Consent (03:32:32) Discussion on the ethics of taxation and Roger Ver's views on consent in financial matters. Tax Dollars and Freedom (03:33:53) Discussion on how American tax dollars fund IRS enforcement and the implications for those wanting to leave the country. Exit Tax Debate (03:35:06) Debate on the fairness of an exit tax and its implications for American citizens leaving the country. Roger Ver's Legal Battle (03:36:04) Analysis of Roger Ver's resources and challenges in his ongoing legal issues with tax authorities. Future Tax Laws and Risks (03:36:30) Concerns about potential future tax laws and their impact on individuals' financial situations. Legal Precedents and Justice (03:37:53) Discussion on how Roger Ver's case may set precedents for others facing similar legal challenges. Political Influence on Justice (03:38:58) Exploration of the arbitrary nature of legal sentences and political influences on the justice system. Dignity in Departure (03:39:29) Reflections on the emotional toll of leaving the U.S. while maintaining dignity and facing potential repercussions. Logistics of a Pardon (03:40:30) Speculation on the political motivations behind a potential pardon for Roger Ver. Tax Law Evolution (03:41:53) Discussion on how tax laws have changed over time, affecting the classification of Bitcoin. Legal Advice and Accountability (03:43:14) Questioning the responsibilities of tax attorneys in guiding clients through complex legal issues. Closing Remarks and Thanks (03:44:15)

On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop speaks with Andrew Altschuler, a researcher, educator, and navigator at Tana, Inc., who also founded Tana Stack. Their conversation explores knowledge systems, complexity, and AI, touching on topics like network effects in social media, information warfare, mimetic armor, psychedelics, and the evolution of knowledge management. They also discuss the intersection of cognition, ontologies, and AI's role in redefining how we structure and retrieve information. For more on Andrew's work, check out his course and resources at altshuler.io and his YouTube channel.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:33 The Demise of AirChat00:50 Network Effects and Social Media Challenges03:05 The Rise of Digital Warlords03:50 Quora's Golden Age and Information Warfare08:01 Building Limbic Armor16:49 Knowledge Management and Cognitive Armor18:43 Defining Knowledge: Secular vs. Ultimate25:46 The Illusion of Insight31:16 The Illusion of Insight32:06 Philosophers of Science: Popper and Kuhn32:35 Scientific Assumptions and Celestial Bodies34:30 Debate on Non-Scientific Knowledge36:47 Psychedelics and Cultural Context44:45 Knowledge Management: First Brain vs. Second Brain46:05 The Evolution of Knowledge Management54:22 AI and the Future of Knowledge Management58:29 Tana: The Next Step in Knowledge Management59:20 Conclusion and Course InformationKey InsightsNetwork Effects Shape Online Communities – The conversation highlighted how platforms like Twitter, AirChat, and Quora demonstrate the power of network effects, where a critical mass of users is necessary for a platform to thrive. Without enough engaged participants, even well-designed social networks struggle to sustain themselves, and individuals migrate to spaces where meaningful conversations persist. This explains why Twitter remains dominant despite competition and why smaller, curated communities can be more rewarding but difficult to scale.Information Warfare and the Need for Cognitive Armor – In today's digital landscape, engagement-driven algorithms create an arena of information warfare, where narratives are designed to hijack emotions and shape public perception. The only real defense is developing cognitive armor—critical thinking skills, pattern recognition, and the ability to deconstruct media. By analyzing how information is presented, from video editing techniques to linguistic framing, individuals can resist manipulation and maintain autonomy over their perspectives.The Role of Ontologies in AI and Knowledge Management – Traditional knowledge management has long been overlooked as dull and bureaucratic, but AI is transforming the field into something dynamic and powerful. Systems like Tana and Palantir use ontologies—structured representations of concepts and their relationships—to enhance information retrieval and reasoning. AI models perform better when given structured data, making ontologies a crucial component of next-generation AI-assisted thinking.The Danger of Illusions of Insight – Drawing from ideas by Balaji Srinivasan, the episode distinguished between genuine insight and the illusion of insight. While psychedelics, spiritual experiences, and intense emotional states can feel revelatory, they do not always produce knowledge that can be tested, shared, or used constructively. The ability to distinguish between profound realizations and self-deceptive experiences is critical for anyone navigating personal and intellectual growth.AI as an Extension of Human Cognition, Not a Second Brain – While popular frameworks like "second brain" suggest that digital tools can serve as externalized minds, the episode argued that AI and note-taking systems function more as extended cognition rather than true thinking machines. AI can assist with organizing and retrieving knowledge, but it does not replace human reasoning or creativity. Properly integrating AI into workflows requires understanding its strengths and limitations.The Relationship Between Personal and Collective Knowledge Management – Effective knowledge management is not just an individual challenge but also a collective one. While personal knowledge systems (like note-taking and research practices) help individuals retain and process information, organizations struggle with preserving and sharing institutional knowledge at scale. Companies like Tesla exemplify how knowledge isn't just stored in documents but embodied in skilled individuals who can rebuild complex systems from scratch.The Increasing Value of First Principles Thinking – Whether in AI development, philosophy, or practical decision-making, the discussion emphasized the importance of grounding ideas in first principles. Great thinkers and innovators, from AI researchers like Demis Hassabis to physicists like David Deutsch, excel because they focus on fundamental truths rather than assumptions. As AI and digital tools reshape how we interact with knowledge, the ability to think critically and question foundational concepts will become even more essential.

We're revisiting this discussion from Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly about this 2025 Audie Award Finalist in Science Fiction. Kevin R. Free is the perfect voice for Murderbot, the rogue security unit who would rather just be watching serials, but is protecting its humans — and having a mental breakdown. In a story that takes place immediately after NETWORK EFFECT, Murderbot, ART, and their humans continue to assist colonists on a planet marked for corporate salvage. Free's depiction of Murderbot's unresolved mental trauma is harrowing, especially as it digs into its memories to find the possible sources. There is plenty of action, too, as the team faces possible corporate and alien dangers and corruption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adarsh Hiremath is the Co-Founder and CTO @ Mercor, an AI recruitment platform and one of the fastest-growing companies in technology. They have scaled to $70M in ARR in just 24 months. They are famed for working 6 days per week, 9AM to 9PM. All of their founders are Thiel fellows, they are also the youngest unicorn founders ever with the fundraise announced today raising $100M led by Felicis at a $2BN valuation.  In Today's Episode We Discuss: 04:36 How Debating Makes The Best Founders 06:05 Do People Treat You Differently When a Unicorn Founder 10:58 Scaling to $70M ARR in 24 Months 13:42 How Culture Breaks When Scaling So Fast  23:49 The Future of Foundation Models 24:05 OpenAI vs Anthropic 24:32 Data: Synthetic vs Human 27:10 The Future of Programming and AI 28:15 The Impact of AI Tools on Software Development 28:51 Why Software Will Become Commoditised 29:55 Network Effects and Marketplaces 33:13 Raising From Benchmark After a Helicopter Ride 37:30 Quickfire Round: Insights and Reflections  

Erica Gessert, CFO of Upwork, and former Senior Vice President of Finance & Analytics at PayPal, joins CJ for this episode. They discuss Erica's experience with forecasting models at PayPal, emphasizing the need for adaptable models that change with economic conditions. Delving into her role at Upwork, Erica explains the company's approach to customer acquisition costs, the significance of network effects in marketplace businesses, and Upwork's take rate strategies. The conversation covers Upwork's investment in R&D, how the company maintains platform trust in the face of bad actors, and the impact of AI. Apart from explaining how Upwork gained 20 points of EBITDA in just three quarters, Erica also sheds light on their North Star metrics, how they balance growth and profitability, their approach to M&A, and her experience reporting to Masayoshi Son during her time at Sprint. —SPONSORS:Planful is a financial performance management platform designed to streamline financial tasks for businesses. It helps with budgeting, closing the books, and financial reporting, all on a cloud-based platform. By improving the efficiency and accuracy of these processes, Planful allows businesses to make better financial decisions. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.MUFG is the largest bank in Japan and a global banking powerhouse with a focus on empowering Growth and Middle Market stage companies in North America and Europe. MUFG provides comprehensive banking services for VC-backed, PE-backed, and public companies with revenues starting at $40M. The bank combines its global capabilities with deep operational understanding to help companies accelerate their growth trajectory. Contact group head Bob Blee at bblee@us.mufg.jp to find out more.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Brex makes it easy to control spend before it happens, automate annoying tasks, and optimize your finances. Find out how Brex can help you make every dollar count at brex.com/metrics. Vanta's trust management platform takes the manual work out of your security and compliance process and replaces it with continuous automation. Over 9000 businesses use it to automate compliance needs across over 35 frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Centralize security workflows, complete questionnaires up to five times faster, and proactively manage vendor risk. For a limited time, get $1,000 off of Vanta at vanta.com/metrics. Tropic is an intelligent spend management solution that consolidates your spend data and processes into one unified offering, enabling insights and decisive action. It doesn't just show you where the problems are—it helps you solve them. From spotting hidden optimization opportunities, like duplicative spend, to automating those painful procurement workflows, to giving you the best market data that turns every vendor negotiation in your favor. Tropic combines smart insights with real human expertise to keep you ahead of the curve. Visit tropicapp.io/mostlymetrics to learn howRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. Whether it's multi-element arrangements, subscription renewals, or complex usage-based contracts, RightRev takes care of it all. That means fewer spreadsheets, fewer errors, and more time for your team to focus on growth. For modern revenue recognition simplified, visit rightrev.com and schedule a demo.—FOLLOW US ON X:@cjgustafson222 (CJ)—TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Preview and Intro(02:30) Sponsor – Planful | MUFG | Brex(06:17) Budgeting at PayPal(10:23) Forecasting Methodologies at PayPal(13:15) The Impact of the Calendar on Forecasting(15:01) Forecasting and Macroeconomic Indicators(16:29) Planning Will Take as Long as the Time You Allot for It(17:56) Surprising Insights About Freelancers(19:26) Sponsor – Vanta | Tropic | RightRev(24:55) Upwork's Customer Acquisition Cost(27:59) Freelancers and AI Adoption(29:07) Network Effects in Upwork's Model(31:14) Upwork's Take Rate Strategies(34:49) R&D Investing at Upwork(38:36) Selling Trusted Transactions(41:12) Upwork's North Star Metrics(42:59) Recognising the Potential of AI(44:05) How Upwork Gained 20 Points of EBITDA in Three Quarters(45:29) Balancing Growth and Profitability(46:41) Upwork's M&A Strategy(48:35) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Big Career Mistake(50:55) Reporting to Masa from SoftBank(52:49) Advice to Younger Self(54:18) Finance Software Stack(54:55) Craziest Expense Story Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

If 4 developers at a unicorn got a $1m check, could they copy your feature? Well, yes. We discussed why this question is stupid, and how to build true competitive advantages.(00:00) - Introduction (02:11) - Remote Work and Team Dynamics (02:47) - Exploring New Features and Innovations (04:59) - Customer Experience and Building a Moat (15:05) - Sticky Features and User Retention (17:52) - Salesforce and the Challenges of Switching Providers (18:34) - Bad Industry Practices and Network Effects (19:38) - Building Ecosystem Benefits and Integrations (20:38) - Strategic Partnerships and Preferred Partners (23:34) - Customer Feedback and Product Development (27:27) - Efficient Growth and Competitive Advantages (33:23) - Outbound Marketing Strategies This episode is brought to you by by Everstage - the highest rated Sales Commissions Platform on G2, Gartner Peer Insights, Trustradius with over 2,000+ customer reviews. Some of their customers include leading brands like Diligent, Wiley, Trimble, Postman, Chargebee etc.,You can go to https://www.everstage.com/revenue-formula to check out Everstage and mention Revenue Formula to unlock a personalized Sales Compensation Strategy Session with Everstage's RevOps experts—crafted for enterprise teams to maximize performance.Never miss a new episode, join our newsletter on revenueformula.substack.com

Ganesh Krishnan is the man behind some of India's most iconic startups, including BigBasket, Bluestone, Homelane, and TutorVista—India's first ed-tech startup before ed-tech was even a category.Ganesh explains how he thinks about business opportunities in India, why he keeps it simple, and why Indian entrepreneurs need to keep it simple. He shares candid stories—from raising BigBasket's first $10M on a flight to successfully exiting an ed-tech company 15 years ago.If you're curious about India's startup ecosystem and want to understand what works in India, this episode is for you!Read Ganesh Krishnan's latest book: Mastering Disruption: A Practical Guide to Understanding New-Age Business ModelsTimestamps00:00 - Trailer 01:37 - Introduction to K. Ganesh02:05 - Ganesh's Entrepreneurial Journey03:32 - The Growth Story Model06:28 - Challenges and Successes in Fundraising09:25 - Case Study: The BigBasket Story22:12 - Business Models and Market Timing33:51 - Opportunities in India's Broken Systems41:44 - The Evolution of Business Models42:15 - Valuation of Loss-Making Companies42:51 - Network Effects and Demand Economies of Scale43:51 - Platform Businesses vs Traditional Businesses46:27 - Challenges in Platform and Marketplace Ventures50:36 - Exploring SaaS and FinTech Opportunities51:41 - Growth and Monetization Challenges57:44 - Consumer Behavior and Microtransactions01:06:08 - The Rise of Quick Commerce01:09:21 - Vertical Software and Generative AI01:15:43 - What's Next for India's StartupsHi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

Parker and Van Alstyne's seminal paper explores two-sided network effects in information markets, demonstrating how firms can strategically offer products for free by leveraging distinct markets of content providers and end consumers. Their model reveals that by understanding network externalities, companies can increase consumer welfare and firm profits simultaneously through sophisticated product coupling and pricing strategies. The research provides critical insights into how digital platforms like operating systems and internet browsers create value by balancing the needs of different user groups, effectively explaining the economic logic behind seemingly counterintuitive business models that offer core products at zero cost.

In this episode, we'll talk to Sameer Singh, an angel investor known for his excellent blog on network effects, Breadcrumb.vc, former Atomico Angel, and current venture partner at SpeedInvest.We'll discuss how Sameer evaluates marketplace businesses:Evaluating Network Effects: Sameer walks through his four-step evaluation process for marketplace investments, focusing on unique multiplayer interactions and defensibility.Challenges in Early-Stage Marketplaces: He discusses common mistakes made by aspiring marketplace founders, such as picking overly narrow markets or trying to tackle too many problems at once.Future Trends in Marketplaces: Sameer emphasizes the lasting power of network effects and we explore some opportunities driven by behavioral shifts, especially with Gen Z and AI technology.A terrific episode, packed with valuable tips and sights. If you're building a marketplace or network effects business, you're going to love this.

Immersive audio is the next generation of communication in consumer, enterprise and industrial applications. In the latest episode of the Network Effect, Stefan Bruhn, Director, Audio, Strategy and Standards at Dolby Laboratories demos the technology and discusses its transformational abilities.

StartUp Health fosters a global community of mission-driven founders tackling major healthcare challenges through collaboration and access to resources. In this episode, Steven Krein, co-founder and CEO of StartUp Health, discusses the company's genesis and unique approach to fostering health innovation. He explains the organization's focus on curating a community of funded, like-minded founders working within specific Health Moonshot communities centered around critical health issues like Alzheimer's and diabetes. Steve highlights the organization's role in connecting founders with aligned funders, partners, and customers, and the resources provided, such as coaching, networking events, and marketing support. He also emphasizes the importance of mindset, funding for 12-18 months, a collaborative spirit, and effective communication as selection criteria for potential members joining the StartUp Health community. Tune in and learn how StartUp Health is revolutionizing healthcare innovation through the power of community and long-term, mission-driven entrepreneurship! Resources: Connect with and follow Steven Krein on LinkedIn. Learn more about StartUp Health on their LinkedIn and explore their website.

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode is with a founder who is building mission-critical software for private equity firms.I sat down in Citywire's London studio with Venkat Subramaniam, the Co-Founder of DealsPlus, to discuss why he has built a digital solution to streamline, digitize, and automate the management of complex holding and capital structures for private equity firms.Historically, private equity firms have relied on humans and manual processes to manage and track cap tables, transactions, and entities. This process has required significant human intervention and has often been rife with errors, making deals harder to consummate and transactions. Venkat has taken his 15 years of experience advising private equity managers on cross-border transactions, most recently as an Associate Partner at EY UK, to build DealsPlus to create a single source of truth for capital structures for private equity firms. DealsPlus works with a number of industry-leading private equity firms and is backed by a private equity firm with $38B in AUM.Venkat and I had a fascinating conversation about the challenges private equity firms face with managing and tracking transactions and portfolio companies. We discussed:Why it's been so hard to create a cap table management solution for private equity.Why it's much harder to build software for private equity firms than venture capital firms.How private markets can move from the Excel Age to the Digital Age.How to build software that provides a single source of truth.The atomic unit of value in private markets.Building an end-to-end platform versus building a point solution.What's next in post-investment ops tech innovation?Thanks Venkat for coming on the show to share your thoughts and wisdom on private markets tech.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus' technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Introduction and message from Ultimus01:59 Introducing Venkat Subramaniam and DealsPlus03:57 Venkat's Career Journey05:07 The Genesis of DealsPlus05:09 Challenges in Transaction Management06:25 The Lack of Uniformity in Private Equity Processes06:54 The Impact of Technology on Private Equity07:33 The Role of Cloud Computing08:24 The Consumerization of Enterprise Software09:04 Excel vs. Specialized Software09:34 The Importance of Cap Table Management10:04 Connecting Front Office and Back Office10:30 Building Effective Software Solutions13:24 Recurring Pain Points in Private Equity14:47 The Complexity of Private Equity Cap Tables15:44 Building a Platform for Private Equity16:43 Stakeholder Management in Private Equity18:50 Impact of Technology on Fund Operations20:25 Integrating DealsPlus into Workflows21:06 Best-in-Class Applications and Data Integration23:33 The Impact of Fund Size on Complexity25:42 Technology Adoption in Private Equity27:09 Network Effects in Private Equity Technology37:41 The Future of Private Markets Technology39:14 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Serial entrepreneur Jen DeJesus shares her journey in real estate, raising $3M+, and building a vertically integrated empire. Hear her insights on networking, capital raising, and creating trusted connections. Don't miss this episode of RaiseMasters Radio! Resources mentioned in the episode: Jennifer DeJesus Phone Number Website Interested in learning how to take your capital raising game to the next level? Meet us at Capital Raiser's Edge. Learn more here: https://raisingcapital.com/cre

On this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop is joined by Katelynne Schuler, a thinker and innovator in the realms of psychology, religion, and philosophy. The conversation spans a wide range of compelling topics, including the layered nuances of Korean social hierarchy, the evolution of political language, and the shifting ideologies within Western conservatism. They explore the rebranding of the KKK, the deeper implications of free speech in a world dominated by digital platforms, and the unseen influence of corporations on government censorship. Katelynne also shares her insights on the psychology of "falls from grace" and how isolation during the pandemic may have catalyzed narcissistic tendencies in some people. The episode touches on larger philosophical questions about civilization, power, and media's role in shaping collective belief. To learn more about Katelynne Schuler, you can find her on Facebook under her name, Katelynne Schuler.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:32 Exploring Korean Culture and Social Nuances02:52 Language and Political Ideologies04:23 Project 2025 and Political Shifts06:21 The KKK's Rebranding and Conservatism10:25 Theocracy and Intersectionalism11:14 Free Speech and Internet History30:05 The Impact of COVID-19 and Vaccines34:15 Clearing Out and Cognitive Dissonance35:07 Pandemic Social Dynamics36:06 Narcissism and Social Isolation38:22 Conspiracy Theories and Social Impact41:34 Lockdowns and Quarantine43:25 Media Manipulation and Public Perception44:52 Nanotechnology and Conspiracy Theories49:42 Bill Gates and Genetic Engineering52:42 Trump, Publicity, and Media Influence58:41 Finance, Asset Valuation, and Media Future01:03:30 Pandemic Warnings and Conspiracies01:07:34 Conclusion and Contact InformationKey Insights1. The Power of Language in Social and Political SystemsKatelynne Schuler highlights the profound role that language plays in shaping social dynamics, drawing on Korean culture's use of honorifics as a prime example. In Korean, different forms of language are used depending on social rank, respect, and familiarity, essentially creating three distinct "languages" within one. This insight is paralleled with Western political discourse, where the left and right often use the same words but with entirely different meanings. The observation points to a broader idea that shared language does not guarantee shared understanding—a crucial realization in an era of increasing political division.2. Free Speech, Corporate Power, and Government CensorshipA central thread in the episode is the evolution of free speech in the age of digital platforms. Schuler and Alsop explore how platforms like Twitter and Facebook have become arenas where free speech is both enabled and curtailed. While platforms have the right to control content as private entities, the duo highlights the more concerning trend of governments using corporations as proxies to suppress dissent. This dynamic blurs the line between free enterprise and state censorship, raising questions about how much "free speech" really exists in online spaces.3. The Psychological Fallout of Isolation and "Fall from Grace"Katelynne offers a unique psychological perspective on how the pandemic-induced isolation created a rise in narcissistic tendencies. As people lost their social connections, especially those ostracized for holding unpopular views on COVID, their need for self-validation intensified. This "fall from grace" experience can push people toward more rigid thinking, strengthening their attachment to specific beliefs or ideologies. Schuler notes that this isn't a reflection of right or wrong beliefs but a psychological response to social exclusion. It's a profound insight into how isolation and rejection affect the human psyche.4. The Rebranding of Extremist IdeologiesOne of the more startling revelations is the claim that groups like the KKK have rebranded themselves with a new focus on Christian nationalism, moving away from racial exclusion and embracing ideological alignment with "Christian values." Schuler notes that this shift aligns with a broader push within segments of American conservatism to integrate Christian morality into governance. This evolution is compared to the broader concept of theocratic governance, where laws are designed to reflect specific religious values—a concept that is controversial, even within conservative circles.5. Global Power Shifts and Lessons from HistoryThe episode provides a historical deep dive into events like the Seven Years' War, which Winston Churchill referred to as the first true "world war." Schuler suggests that while Germany was ostensibly defeated in this war, its real victory lay in how it exported its people and culture globally, influencing future power structures. This insight parallels modern debates about nationalism and globalism, with the hosts exploring how smaller, insulated communities might have better weathered the COVID crisis by closing off from global networks—much like Germany's "export" strategy.6. Technology, Nanotechnology, and the Role of Bill GatesAlsop and Schuler address the controversial role of Bill Gates, focusing on his investments in biotech and nanotechnology. They discuss Gates' involvement in genetically engineered mosquitoes released in South America and the ethical questions it raises. There's also a hint of speculative intrigue around nanobots, with references to origami-style nanostructures found in human blood. While these claims are framed as emerging curiosities rather than confirmed realities, they touch on larger concerns about who controls emerging technologies and to what end.7. The Fragmentation of Media and the Future of InformationFinally, the episode explores the fragmentation of media and its impact on public consciousness. Unlike previous decades when a few major outlets shaped collective opinion, today's media landscape is fractured, with individuals curating their own reality through niche sources. While this decentralization of media offers more choice, it also leads to greater division, as people consume entirely different versions of reality. Schuler suggests that this lack of a shared narrative might weaken societal cohesion, as people lose common ground on basic truths. This shift toward decentralized media aligns with broader conversations about social media algorithms and "echo chambers," where everyone has their own version of reality.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1531: Nir Eyal examines why relying solely on the network effect isn't enough to ensure long-term success for a product or service. He explores how habit formation and deeper engagement strategies can create lasting value, fostering a resilient user base that doesn't just grow but thrives. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/2012/11/the-network-effect-isnt-good-enough.html Quotes to ponder: "Building a habit around your product is the real competitive edge not the network effect alone." "Products that thrive leverage not just user acquisition but also retention through habits and engagement." "The network effect may attract users, but habit formation keeps them coming back." Episode references: Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal: https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-Products/dp/1591847788 Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age by Jonah Berger: https://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Build-Word-Mouth-Digital/dp/1451686579 The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time stamps: Introducing Paul… again! (00:00:46) Core Untouched Soft Work (00:01:56) Peter Todd's Criticism (00:02:19) Debate on Soft Forks (00:04:44) Luke Dash Jr.'s Perspective (00:05:00) SPV Wallets and Full Nodes (00:08:51) Data Availability Issues (00:12:10) Neutrino and Privacy (00:14:16) Dandelion++ Proposal (00:17:05) Quality of Bitcoin Core Development (00:18:45) Libbitcoin's Fast Sync (00:19:36) Bitcoin Core Limitations (00:20:01) Governance Challenges (00:20:55) 
Responsibility in Development (00:24:39) Mainstream Adoption Concerns (00:25:31) Risk of Centralization (00:26:54) Michael Saylor's Influence (00:27:55) Wrapped Bitcoin and Smart Contracts (00:33:19) Bitcoin Core's Innovation Stagnation (00:34:31) BIP 300 and Soft Forks (00:37:11) Redefining Bitcoin Maximalism (00:38:27) The Miners' Interests (00:40:46) 
Layer Two Labs (00:41:56) Explaining the Core Untouched Soft Work Proposal (00:43:53) Challenges with Soft Fork Activation (00:46:04) Slow Progress of Soft Forks (00:48:12) Competition Among Layer 1 Solutions (00:49:21) Critique of the Lightning Network (00:51:31) Concerns Over Custodial Solutions (00:53:06) Historical Perspective on Lightning Network (00:54:17) Cultural Issues in Criticizing the Lightning Network (00:55:22) Incompetence in Development (00:56:40) Potential for Improvement (00:58:57) BIP Activation Dynamics (01:00:22) Prediction Markets for Bitcoin Soft Forks? (01:01:22) Political Control in Bitcoin (01:02:49) Concerns About Full Nodes (01:04:18) Covenants and Activation Delays (01:05:38) Blockstream's Influence (01:06:56) Why Covenants Are a Mistake (01:08:01) The Role of Miners in Soft Forks (01:09:13) Misguided Investments in Technology (01:10:21) Competition in Bitcoin Development (01:11:23) Privacy Improvements in Bitcoin (01:14:46) The Search for Innovative Solutions (01:17:13) User Experience and Adoption (01:21:41) No Interest in User Experience (01:22:45) Changing the Culture (01:23:19) Technological Gaps (01:24:04) Network Effects and Competition (01:25:15) Bitcoin's Complacency (01:26:34) Decentralization Spectrum (01:28:13) Historical Context of Competition (01:29:05) Privacy Innovations (01:31:29) Politicians Praising Bitcoin (01:34:10) Mainstream Adoption (01:35:31) Innovation and Disruption (01:37:33) Sponsor Plug and Market Insights (01:38:16) Community Questions (01:42:52) Blocking on Twitter (01:43:20) Perceptions of Bitcoiners (01:45:40) Miners' Misunderstanding of Bitcoin (01:46:37) Future of Bitcoin Projects (01:49:07) Privacy Improvements in Bitcoin (01:50:15) Monero's Position in Privacy (01:51:57) Mempool Policy and CUSF (01:54:36) Conway's Law in Bitcoin (01:58:20) Criticism of Bitcoin's Direction (02:00:09) Responsibility in Bitcoin Core Development (02:01:59) Ad Hominem Attacks in Bitcoin Proposals (02:04:15) Closing Statement on CUSF (02:05:06) The Future of Consensus (02:05:16) Soft Forks and Innovation (02:06:08) Understanding Soft Forks (02:07:12) Prediction Markets in Bitcoin? (02:08:18)

In this episode of the Network Effect, Liana Jo Ault, General Manager for the Energy Innovation Venture Incubator at Nokia, discusses how achieving net zero will require a combination of renewable energy and grid efficiencies, underpinned by networking technologies and driven by global collaboration. 

Are you confident in your strategy or just following a plan? In this episode, Kevin is joined by Seth Godin, and they examine the difference between strategy and tactics, the importance of addressing choices, and why leaders should embrace uncertainty to stay relevant. Seth emphasizes that strategy is not just a step-by-step plan but a philosophy of becoming. He shares his insights on systems thinking, how organizations often mistake marketing issues for strategy problems, and why traditional notions of strategic planning may be outdated. Kevin and Seth also discuss the impact of AI on decision-making, strategies for leading amidst uncertainty, and how we can leverage new tools like AI to make our strategies better. Listen For 00:00 Introduction 2:06 Importance of Strategy 2:59 The Craft of Writing a Book 6:41 What Is Strategy? 7:08 Examples of Strategy in Business 9:33 AI and Strategy 12:12 Using AI for Strategic Advantage 14:13 The Network Effect 18:20 Understanding Systems in Strategy 20:16 Role of Uncertainty in Strategy 23:16 Challenges in Defining Strategy 25:25 Encouragement for Leaders 28:02 Seth's Personal Interests 28:53 Book Recommendations by Seth 30:12 Final Takeaways Meet Seth Seth's Story: Seth Godin is an author, entrepreneur, and most of all, a teacher. He is the author of 21 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn), and his latest book, This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans. His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!). In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both. https://www.sethgodin.com/ https://seths.blog/ https://seths.blog/category/the-dip/ Book Recommendations This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans (Create a Strategy to Elevate Your Career, Community & Life) by Seth Godin  Naikan: Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection by Gregg Krech Bandwidth (An Analog Novel, 1) by Eliot Peper  A Beautiful Constraint: How To Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, and Why It's Everyone's Business by Adam Morgan and Mark Barden  Like this? Strategic Thinking for Leaders with Rich Horwath Is it Marketing or Leadership? with Seth Godin Join Our Community If you want to view our live podcast episodes, hear about new releases, or chat with others who enjoy this podcast join one of our communities below. Join the Facebook Group Join the LinkedIn Group   Leave a Review If you liked this conversation, we'd be thrilled if you'd let others know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Here's a quick guide for posting a review. Review on Apple: https://remarkablepodcast.com/itunes    Podcast Better! Sign up with Libsyn and get up to 2 months free! Use promo code: RLP  

Why do AI agents need crypto for payments? - Leading builders explore how blockchain could become the default payment infrastructure for the emerging AI agent economy. This in-depth conversation between Can Gurel (Delphi) and industry experts features: - Craig DeWitt (Skyfire) - Don Gossen (Nevermind) - Yuga Cohler (Coinbase) Key topics include: - Why traditional payment rails are insufficient for AI agent transactions - The emergence of agent-to-agent commerce and micropayments - How crypto enables programmatic, instant, and global payments - The evolution of shopping experiences in an AI-driven economy - Different payment patterns between human-agent and agent-agent interactions - Security and reliability considerations for autonomous AI payments The discussion provides valuable insights into how crypto infrastructure could facilitate millions of AI agents transacting in real-time, and explores the technical and business challenges of building payment rails for the next generation of autonomous systems. Watch more sessions from Crypto x AI Month here: https://delphidigital.io/crypto-ai --- Crypto x AI Month is the largest virtual event dedicated to the intersection of crypto and AI, featuring 40+ top builders, investors, and practitioners. Over the course of three weeks, this event brings together panels, debates, and discussions with the brightest minds in the space, presented by Delphi Digital. Crypto x AI Month is free and open to everyone thanks to the support from our sponsors: https://olas.network/ https://venice.ai/ https://near.org/ https://mira.foundation/ https://www.theoriq.ai/ --- Follow the Speakers: - Can Gurel on Twitter/X ► https://x.com/cannngurel - Don Gossen on Twitter/X ► https://x.com/dongossen - Craig DeWitt on Twitter/X ► https://x.com/cryptocwby - Yuga Cohler on Twitter/X ► https://x.com/yugacohler --- Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Acknowledgments 00:52 Panel Introduction and Topic Overview 05:17 The Problem: Why Existing Payment Solutions Aren't Suitable for AI Agents 14:06 Regulatory Challenges and KYC for AI Agents 22:12 Authentication and Verifiability in AI Agent Transactions 26:00 Network Effects and First Mover Advantage in AI Payments 38:29 Biggest Opportunities in AI Agent Payments 48:02 The Future of Shopping Cart Experience with AI Agents 1:02:46 Types of Payments Involving AI Agents 1:10:23 Reliability and Security Concerns with AI Agents 1:20:41 The Role of Humans in AI Agent Transactions 1:26:53 Closing Remarks Disclaimer All statements and/or opinions expressed in this interview are the personal opinions and responsibility of the respective guests, who may personally hold material positions in companies or assets mentioned or discussed. The content does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Delphi Citadel Partners, LLC or its affiliates (collectively, “Delphi Ventures”), which makes no representations or warranties of any kind in connection with the contained subject matter. Delphi Ventures may hold investments in assets or protocols mentioned or discussed in this interview. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be misconstrued for investment advice or as a recommendation to purchase or sell any token or to use any protocol.

How can teams overcome collaboration overload?Why are the three components of trust critical to building an effective team?My guest on this episode is Rob Cross, Senior Vice President of Research at i4cp and Katheryn Brekken, Senior Research Analyst at i4cp During our conversation Rob, Katheryn, and I discuss: Why eight out of ten teams actually underperform due to collaborative dysfunctions.How common collaborative dysfunctions, such as misalignment and priority overload, hinder team performance, and what to do about it. How companies like Roche and Supercell are using innovative practices to dramatically improve team collaboration.How HR can play a pivotal role in supporting effective team collaboration across an organization. Why combining “precision collaboration” with a high-trust environment is critical to increase team effectiveness. Connecting with Rob and Katheryn: Connect with Rob Cross on LinkedInConnect with Katheryn Brekken LinkedInLearn more about i4cp and team network effectEpisode Sponsor: Deeper Signals - Click here to get your free Core Drivers assessment and 14-day free trial! Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

An injunction in the wake of the Epic v. Google case highlights the value of network effects in the app store market and the limits of antitrust law to restore competition, the DOJ proposes a break-up of Google that may run into similar problems in the search market, and Ben explains why Tesla's taking a different approach to autonomous driving than Waymo.