Podcasts about Sequoia

Bob Casarona, CFP, Director Wealth Advisor with Sequoia Financial Group broke down a few of these commonly searched terms with Bill - Inflation - Equity - GDP - Credit Score

Tonight's reading comes from The Giant Sequoia. Written by Rodney Sydes Ellsworth and published in 1924, this story explores the lives of some of the oldest living things on planet earth. My name is Teddy and I aim to help people everywhere get a good night's rest. Sleep is so important and my mission is to help you get the rest you need. The podcast is designed to play in the background while you slowly fall asleep.For those new to the podcast, it started from my own struggles with sleep. I wanted to create a resource for others facing similar challenges, and I'm so grateful for the amazing community we've built together.

The rugged winding road ribbons under a canopy of dark reddish-orange sequoia trees at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. While driving along this road, we backpack through the wilderness to find an 80-foot-tall waterfall. Next, we drive to Fresno, California, to walk through an underground oasis of fruit trees at the Forestiere Underground Gardens. We end our trip learning about the movies filmed in Lone Pine, California, at the Museum of Western Film History.   

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst sit down with Nicolas Kopp, the founder and CEO of Rillet, to discuss how AI is transforming finance operations. The episode dives deep into the practical applications of AI-native ERPs, with Nicolas explaining how his platform redefines general ledger management. The discussion explores the future of finance workflows, from the zero-day close to AI-driven automation in accounting tasks. It's a compelling conversation about integrating advanced technology into finance without needing deep technical expertise.Nicolas Kopp is the founder and CEO of Rillet, the AI-native ERP designed to automate accounting and close books faster. Backed by Sequoia, Rillet empowers accountants by integrating AI seamlessly into financial workflows. Previously, Nicolas served as the US CEO of N26, a fintech bank valued at $9 billion, where he played a key role in leading its expansion into the US market. Prior to N26, he spent five years in investment banking at Morgan Stanley. Nicolas holds a BA from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland and an MSc in Accounting from the London School of Economics.In this episode, you will discover:How AI-native ERP systems like Rillet are revolutionizing general ledger operations.The process of automating complex accounting workflows with AI agents.Why finance leaders need to embrace AI and the practical steps to do so.The challenges and benefits of shifting from legacy systems to AI-driven platforms.How CFOs can leverage AI today, even without a dedicated tech team.Nicolas shared his journey from investment banking to leading Rillet, offering an inspiring look at how AI-native ERPs are transforming finance operations. His insights on automating workflows, achieving zero-day closes, and embracing AI-driven innovation provide essential guidance for finance leaders looking to stay ahead in the evolving landscape. This episode is a must-listen for professionals eager to drive change, innovate, and lead with purpose in the AI-powered future of finance.Follow Nicolas:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-kopp/Website - https://www.rillet.com/Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyFollow QFlow.AI:Website - https://bit.ly/4i1EkjgFuture Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[02:57] - What is an AI Native ERP?[06:41] - AI Agents and Workflow[09:15] - The Future of AI Agents with Autonomy[11:47] - The Story Behind the General Ledger[16:15] - The ERP Implementation Process[23:43] - CFO...

I get it wrong all the time when it comes to what shoes will sit and what will sell.  Like how I said the Cool Grey SB might catch a sale down the line. Nope! Gone instantly.  Also a review on the SB Pro B Sequoia. Only one more left in the set! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Brian D, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Lex chats with Matthew Le Merle - CEO of Blockchain Coinvestors, a leading blockchain and AI fund-of-funds. He reflects on the limitations of large institutions in adopting disruptive technologies and why he chose to back innovators over incumbents, using stablecoins as an example of asymmetric value creation. Le Merle explains his evolution from angel investor to institutional LP, highlighting the benefits of leveraging top-tier venture capitalists' expertise in inefficient early-stage markets. He outlines the psychological challenges of venture investing, where failures appear early and outsized wins often take a decade, contrasting this with the faster liquidity but higher existential risk in token markets. Finally, he critiques institutional allocators for over-relying on efficient markets, under-allocating to venture despite its role in driving future value, and positions his strategy as fully committed to early-stage blockchain and AI as the highest-returning segments. NOTABLE DISCUSSION POINTS:1. Innovation Threatens Incumbents, Benefits Disruptors: Major technological shifts, from the internet to blockchain and AI, create winners and losers. Incumbents often resist disruptive change because it threatens existing revenue models, while nimble startups and tech-first companies can rapidly capture new market opportunities.2. Venture Success Requires Navigating High Failure Rates: In early-stage investing, most portfolio companies will fail, often within the first 3–4 years. Returns are driven by a small number of outsized successes, usually via acquisitions rather than IPOs, requiring patience, resilience, and a disciplined investment strategy.3. Inefficient Markets Offer the Greatest Asymmetric Upside: Early-stage venture and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI are inefficient markets where superior access, insight, and execution can generate returns far above those available in traditional, efficient markets like public equities or bonds. TOPICSBlockchain Coinvestors, Band of Angels, AngelList, Blockchain Capital, Pantera, Sequoia, Andreessen, BlackRock, Fidelity, Blockchain, DeFi, Decentralized Finance, Investment, Venture Capital, Angel Investment, Fund of Funds ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT

Ashley Mays, CFP, Director Wealth Advisor with Sequoia Financial Group spoke to Bill about Based on a “USA Today” article, there are several financial concepts and terms that Americans are searching on the internet - 401k Plans-Compound Interest-Gross Income-ETFs-Capital Gains Tax

Celebrate American Adventures Month and National Parks Month with this inspiring episode of Big Blend Radio's “California Sequoia Country” podcast! Tune in as we explore the scenic wonders, outdoor adventures, and vibrant cultural experiences of Tulare County, California—home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia National Forest, and the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Joining the conversation are Holly Streit from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Suzanne Bianco from Visit Visalia, who share travel tips, hiking safety, family-friendly activities, and unique artistic experiences in the region. From shaded hiking trails and historical sites to public art and the Dark Sky Festival, this episode celebrates the magic of nature and how art enhances the experience of visiting Sequoia Country.

Send us a text

On Figma's first day trading on the NYSE, its stock soared over 250%, closing at $115.50 and giving the design software company a market cap near $68 billion. That's more than triple the $20 billion Adobe offered before regulators killed that deal in 2023. Silicon Valley is celebrating. The IPO raised $1.2 billion, mostly benefiting early investors like Sequoia, Greylock, Index Ventures, and Kleiner Perkins, whose combined stakes are now worth about $24 billion. It's a huge win for Silicon Valley VCs after a prolonged IPO drought that began in 2022.Featured Guests: Ben Narasin, founder and general partner, Tenacity VC | Jaya Gupta, partner, Foundation Capital

Learn more about the Sequoia Project's CMS0057F Implementation checklist here- https://sequoiaproject.org/interoperability-matters/payer-to-payer-api-workgroup/  Michael welcomes back (Episode 174, Oct 2024) the co-chairs of the Sequoia Project's Payer to Payer API Implementation Workgroup, Nancy Beavin (Medica) and Bob Oakley (Evernorth), to discuss their new work product, a downloadable tool designed to help payers assess their readiness for compliance with the payer-to-payer components of CMS-0057-F. Along with the workgroup's project manager, Jim Adamson (Point of Care Partners), Nancy and Bob offer updates on the workgroup meetings, the origin of the checklist, and their plans for the future.   

Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire's Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech's politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams.Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley.Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode:Jacob has reported on the Aqua 1 Foundation's mysterious crypto deal that puts $75 million dollars in Donald Trumps pocket.Trump signed the GENIUS Act last week, which aims to make crypto more mainstream and is widely viewed as openly corrupt. Trump has already made millions of dollars from crypto.Crypto is coming for the US 401k.Support the show

Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire's Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech's politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams.Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

My guest today is Ramtin Naimi. Ramtin is the founder of Abstract Ventures, one of the most talked-about seed funds in Silicon Valley. What makes Ramtin's story so compelling isn't just his firm's remarkable track record—including early investments in Rippling, Solana, and dozens of unicorns—but also the unconventional path he took to get there. From running a hedge fund straight out of high school to filing for bankruptcy at 24, then bootstrapping his way to building a $2 billion AUM venture firm using AngelList and relentless hustle. Our conversation begins in an unexpected place—the art world—where Ramtin has become a sophisticated collector, learning from mentors like Michael Ovitz about market dynamics that surprisingly mirror venture capital. We dive deep into how the art world actually works, and Ramtin explains how these lessons about "masterpieces" apply directly to identifying power-law companies in venture. We go deep on his approach to early-stage investing and how he built Abstract as a co-investment vehicle alongside firms like Sequoia, Benchmark, and Andreessen Horowitz. We explore his portfolio construction model, his philosophy on dilution-sensitive founders, and why he takes upwards of 30 pitch meetings per week to build his "frame of reference." We discuss why Abstract has the highest graduation rate from seed to Series A among all seed funds, and how this competitive advantage compounds over time. This is his first time telling his story, and we discuss the power of pattern recognition, relentless work ethic, and the unique opportunities available to those willing to start from scratch in Silicon Valley. Please enjoy this great conversation with Ramtin Naimi. Colossus Review Profile: Ramtin Naimi For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ramp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ramp.com/invest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. – This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlphaSense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alpha-Sense.com/Invest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. – This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ridgeline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Head to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ridgelineapps.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the platform. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Show Notes: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:05:40) Learning from Mentors and Starting to Collect (00:08:50) Parallels Between Art and Venture Capital (00:12:57) Challenges in Art Collecting (00:20:45) The Role of Status in the Art World (00:25:00) Who Makes the Most Money in the Art World? (00:28:19) Abstract Ventures: Early Stage Investing (00:42:34) Starting a Venture Capital Firm from Scratch (00:43:12) Overcoming Bankruptcy and Early Struggles (00:50:34) Evaluating Technical Capabilities and Momentum (01:02:53) Competing for Deals and Building Relationships (01:15:25) The Role of Brand in Venture Capital (01:22:39) Early Life and Entrepreneurial Beginnings (01:28:40) Starting a Hedge Fund and Learning Hard Lessons (01:31:26) Transition to Venture Capital (01:37:19) Building Abstract and Family Life (01:52:03) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Done For Ramtin

Bob Casarona, CFP with Sequoia Financial spoke to Bill about what bi-weekly mortgage payments are, how they work, and whether this strategy could be a smart move in your financial plan.

Jordan is a devoted practitioner of the shamanic healing arts and a teacher dedicated to the medicine path. His initiations first came through a decade of gnostic studies in Asia. After confronting severe illness, Jordan shed a career as a producer to walk the road of personal transformation, finding his medicine in shamanic study of plants. trees, breath and fasting. The “plant dieting” practices of the Amazon have radically transformed Jordan's life, vision, health and purpose and come to him primarily through Cocama elder, William Llerena Murayari. After 7 years of mentorship under Apache elder, Iron Eagle Joe, Jordan received the name Mockingbird and was given the blessing to teach through ceremony. He carries a facilitator certification from Embodied Masculine granted under the supervision of Amir Khalighi. --- TOPICS WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE:

Week 4/5 of Summer 2025! We ditched the beaches and headed for the hills - the giant sequoias and mountains of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to be specific. Come along with us as we recount our favorite campgrounds hikes and ranger talks in these parks that quickly stole our hearts.*Generals Highway Length Limits - The section we mentioned between Giant Forest Museum and Foothills Visitor Center is not advised for vehicles longer than 22/24 ft, and prohibited for single vehicles longer than 40 ft and combination vehicles longer than 50 ft.**Tokopah Falls trail is “pretty exposed” to the sun - it is not exposed in the sense of cliffs by the trail for really any of it.***Big Meadows Campground is a Sequoia Natl Forest campground but is not dispersed camping as we said it was. It is reservable on recreation.gov. It has a few 40ft+ sites.Thanks for listening! Please let us know what you think! You can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at lettersfromtheroadpod@gmail.com.If you feel like kicking us a few bucks you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord. Get full access to Letters From the Road at lettersfromtheroad.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, James Davis, PharmD, BCOP and Victoria Nachar, PharmD, BCOP summarize the latest key clinical updates on BTK inhibitors in CLL based on data recently presented at the annual ASCO and EHA meetings, including:The randomized phase III FLAIR trialThe randomized phase III SEQUOIA trialThe randomized phase III BRUIN CLL-321 trial Presenters:James Davis, PharmD, BCOPClinical Pharmacy Specialist, Malignant HematologyMUSC Hollings Cancer CenterAssistant ProfessorMUSC College of PharmacyCharleston, South CarolinaVictoria Nachar, PharmD, BCOPClinical Pharmacist Specialist, HematologyUniversity of Michigan Rogel Cancer CenterAnn Arbor, MichiganLink to full program: https://bit.ly/3H2EcSX

Why did a Sequoia partner in faraway Silicon Valley feel the need to troll the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor? Bradley breaks down the power dynamics at play in Sean Maguire's inflammatory remarks about Zohran Mamdani: a high-performing VC chasing attention, a prestigious firm caught in the crossfire, and the challenge of balancing individual expression with institutional risk. Maguire's move wasn't a misstep, says Bradley, it was a calculated play for relevance in a niche echo chamber. Also in this episode: The UK's plan to lower the voting age to 16 offers a blueprint for U.S. reform, a rumination on the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the human species, and why Bradley lost his lifelong aversion to Billy Joel.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Be sure to watch Bradley's new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

- GM Profit Plummets on U.S. Tariffs - Nissan to Close Plants in Mexico - Stellantis Could Close Plants to Meet CO2 Regs - Former UAW Leader and Local Turn Against Shawn Fain - German Brands Still Dominate China Luxury Segment - BYD's Luxury Brand Headed to Europe - Russian Auto Industry Goes From Bad to Worse - VW Offers Screaming EV Lease Deal - Next-Gen Mach-E Not Coming Until 2030 - German Chancellor Blasts EV Fleet Mandate - Toyota Tundra, Sequoia Updates

- GM Profit Plummets on U.S. Tariffs - Nissan to Close Plants in Mexico - Stellantis Could Close Plants to Meet CO2 Regs - Former UAW Leader and Local Turn Against Shawn Fain - German Brands Still Dominate China Luxury Segment - BYD's Luxury Brand Headed to Europe - Russian Auto Industry Goes From Bad to Worse - VW Offers Screaming EV Lease Deal - Next-Gen Mach-E Not Coming Until 2030 - German Chancellor Blasts EV Fleet Mandate - Toyota Tundra, Sequoia Updates

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 22Episode Overview:Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred Podcast! Today, we have a true titan in the world of digital marketing and growth—a master architect of scale renowned for transforming data into undeniable results. If you're a business professional or entrepreneur seeking your next breakthrough, looking to optimize customer acquisition, or aiming to understand the mechanics of sustainable scaling, you're in for a treat.Our guest is the visionary founder of Round Barn Labs, a growth marketing agency that has been instrumental in scaling some truly impressive businesses. He is also the brilliant mind behind the "Always Be Testing" podcast and the insightful "Flywheel" blog on Beehiiv. He lives and breathes experimentation, data-driven decisions, and building lasting momentum. Join me now for my conversation with Tye DeGrange.Guest Bio: Tye DeGrange is the Founder and CEO of Round Barn Labs, a leading growth marketing agency specializing in affiliate and influencer marketing for top tech brands, including Grammarly, Nextdoor, Meta Quest, and Atlassian. With 20 years of experience in performance marketing, Tye has driven growth for startups and Fortune 500 companies across e-commerce, B2B SaaS, and Consumer Tech. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in History, Tye began his career at Sequoia-backed AdBrite, one of the first ad networks. Under his leadership, Round Barn Labs has earned accolades such as Boutique Agency of the Year and recognition as a Top 30 Global Affiliate Marketing Agency. Based in Austin, TX, Tye is passionate about building growth-focused teams and identifying innovative revenue opportunities. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis, exploring Austin with his wife Blaine, and spending time with their two young children, Hayward and Gray.Resource Links:Website: https://www.roundbarnlabs.com/Product Link: https://www.roundbarnlabs.com/services-2/affiliate-marketing-agencyInsight Gold Timestamps:01:28 Your motto line, Elevate Trust and Embrace Influence03:46 What's the evolution that you've seen and where do you see it moving to?07:00 Are you monetizing effectively in a competitive way?07:43 Is this juice worth the squeeze for you, all in, not just media costs11:09 Your podcast is called Always Be Testing 14:08 First and foremost, you want to have kind of a solid tracking platform14:18 Trust is really essential to everything we do17:37 If it was taken away, would you have gotten that customer anyway?18:06 Priced right is half sold22:05 On paid search, is that still relevant24:20 I also read Jim Collins' book, Good To Great29:23 You might have a bigger impact than you realize32:30 Affiliate tends to be a lot of cat herding, a lot of moving parts34:28 You talk about embracing a culture of relentless experimentation and learning36:10 The website is

Immad grew Mercury to $500M in annualized revenue and profitable. Mercury is one of the fastest-growing fintech startups ever. No wonder they just raised $300M from Sequoia at $3.5B. Immad breaks down exactly how he structured a viral launch, why fundraising is easier with zero customers than you think, and how he unlocked massive word-of-mouth growth. If you're building a startup, especially in fintech, you can't miss this episode.Why You Should ListenHow Mercury went from $0 to $1M ARR in just 5 monthsHow Mercury leveraged Twitter to explode user growth at launchWhy building with zero users might be your secret advantageWhy Immad believes defining company culture at employee #4 was critical to hitting $500M in revenueKeywordsMercury, Sequoia, Immad Akhund, startup fundraising, fintech startup, product market fit, neobank, early-stage growth, Y Combinator, banking as a service, startup culture00:00:00 Intro00:09:23 How Immad Validated the Idea for Mercury00:17:53 Why Immad Turned Down VC to Start Another Company00:28:11 How Immad Raised a $6M Seed Round Before Writing Any Code00:36:08 Launching Mercury and Going Viral on Twitter00:47:08 Knowing You Have Product Market Fit00:51:48 Raising a $20M Series A Just 3 Weeks After Launch00:53:10 The Importance of Defining Your Culture EarlySend me a message to let me know what you think!

James Randall Morgenson live a life outdoors. From a young age his live and draw to the wildest corners of California's Sierra Nevada range prepared him for nearly 3 decades as a back country ranger in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.He was a legend for younger rangers and his ability to read the landscape and predict how people would respond to the terrain was unlike anyone else in the park system. But in the summer of 1996, Randy himself goes missing. The search for one of their own began and what information was found left the unanswered questions lingering in the dark.Welcome back to Tragedy with a View.The outdoors are a beautiful that can be filled with light and bliss and many different ways to bring yourself closer to those you love and yourself. But they can also be filled with terror and death, imminent and oppressive. Join me as we dig into these stories that inspire you to be just a little bit more careful while you're in the outdoors. Please rate and subscribe from whatever listening platform you use. Merch is now available here!Be sure to join us on Patreon for exclusive content, sneak peaks, and more!Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get the most up to see photos and relevant episode information. And don't forget to send us a Campfire Confessional to tragedywithaview@gmail.com - accepting all stories from the outdoors but especially looking for those that make us laugh to help lighten the heaviness that comes with tragedy. 

On July 4, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed by President Trump - 1,000+ pages - a lot to digest. Bob Casarona, CFP with Sequoia Financial, to break down a few of the provisions - Extension & Expansion of TCJA Provisions New Credits & Deductions for individuals Timing and next steps

The Newcomer Podcast returns just in time to have Eric, Tom, and Madeline weigh in on Meta's audacious AI hiring spree. The tech giant has enticed researchers from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic with huge paydays in the hopes it can bring its Llama models up to par with the competition. Next up, Ramp's report that companies have stopped purchasing AI tools made a lot of buzz this week, but it's still too early to call an AI peak.Later on in the episode, Grok's offensive replies aren't enough to slow down xAI's latest model launch. We close out the episode rehashing Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire's latest inflammatory tweets over New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.00:35 — Meta poaches top researchers to ail its flailing models11:13 — XAI outperforms despite Grok's offensive replies18:27 — It's too early to call the AI bubble28:50 — Shaun Maguire's tweets bring attention to Sequoia

This week, Sequoia Holmes of the Black People Love Paramore podcast and co-host of the Daily Dirty on Sirius XM joins the recap to debrief Amaya's ascent, Chris and Huda falling apart, Cierra being kicked out the villa, and Nicolandria is back! This episode is brought to you by Quince. To get the softest towels, the best sheets, and the chicest accessories, go to www.quince.com/2bg1r for free shipping and returns on us!  Listen to our PRE-SHOW and watch us on VIDEO only on Patreon. Join the Rose Garden today! CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Merch EMAIL: 2blackgirls1rose@gmail.com Follow Natasha's Substack The Nite Owl: theniteowl.substack.com Follow Justine for beauty content: @justlydiak Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Agenda: [00:00] The AI Talent Crisis No One's Ready For [03:00] Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman: Why Two Legendary VCs Walked Away From $1B to Join Meta [12:00] Meta's AI Talent Magnet: Will It Actually Work? [15:00] Cursor Is Breaking the Market: Can Anyone Compete? [18:30] OpenAI's SBC Bombshell: More Stock Comp Than Revenue [22:00] CoreWeave's Power Play: Buying Their Landlords [26:00] Is Circle Next to Go Shopping with Meme Equity? [28:00] PE Is Back: The Olo Take-Private Explained [35:00] Why Triple, Triple, Double, Double Is No Longer Sexy [41:00] QSBS Hack: The Billionaire's Tax Loophole You're Missing [48:00] Microsoft's AI Layoffs: Salespeople Are Dead, Long Live Engineers [50:00] “If You Need a Week to Learn AI, You Should Be Fired” [53:00] Will Sequoia's Sean Maguire Be Pushed Out? Place Your Bets [57:00] Will There Be a Recession in 2025? Jason Bets $75K It's a No [1:00:00] Is Linda Yaccarino Still CEO of X by Year-End? [1:03:00] Circle and CoreWeave's Meme Rally: Real or Mirage?  

Is Silicon Valley building the future or just trying to rule it?From Elon Musk's new political party to retail investors buying fake OpenAI stock, the startup world is getting weirder, faster.In this episode, Chris Saad and Shira Lazar break down a massive week in tech, politics, and startup culture. They unpack Elon Musk's launch of the “America Party,” the legality of Robinhood and SoFi offering access to OpenAI and SpaceX shares, YouTube's crackdown on mass AI content, Sequoia Capital's culture war PR disaster, and the impressive metrics behind Figma's upcoming IPO.In this episode, you will:Learn why Elon Musk is launching a political party—and how it could shake up US politicsUnderstand how Robinhood and SoFi are fractionalizing access to top private companies like SpaceXDiscover the legal and ethical questions behind tokenized startup sharesExplore YouTube's new policy to demonetize “AI slop” and what it means for creatorsHear why a Sequoia partner's tweet has triggered backlash in tech VC circlesReflect on the growing disconnect between Silicon Valley values and social responsibilityWhether you're a startup founder, tech enthusiast, or just trying to make sense of where innovation is heading, this episode is your insider's guide to the stories shaping the future of business.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

HEADLINES:♦ Saudi's Jahez Acquires 76% of Qatari Snoonu from Founder Hamad Al-Hajri in $245M Deal♦ Egypt's Sawiris to Invest $100M in Morocco's Electric Motorbike Market♦ Backlash Grows as VC Shaun Maguire Reignites Controversy Days After Apology♦ Kuwait's $1 Trillion Wealth Fund Sells $3B Bank of America Stake” Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

This week, Sasha Orloff and Nicolas Kopp, CEO & Founder at Rillet, discuss how Rillet is transforming accounting by leveraging AI to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and build lean finance teams. They also talk about the company's $25 million funding from Sequoia, the importance of clean data, and Rillet's customer-focused approach. -- SPONSORS: Notion Boost your startup with Notion—the ultimate connected workspace trusted by thousands worldwide! From engineering specs to onboarding and fundraising, Notion keeps your team organized and efficient. For a limited time, get 6 months of Notion AI FREE to supercharge your workflow. Claim your offer now at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://notion.com/startups/puzzle⁠⁠⁠⁠ Puzzle

Roth conversion aren't really sure what it is or if it is right for you? Bob Casarona CFP, with Sequoia Financial talks what a Roth conversion is, who it makes sense for, and what traps to avoid before you make the move. What is a Roth Conversion? Who are the best candidates? Watch for pitfalls

You've heard it before and you'll hear it again. AI is a gold rush. It will change everything. But 2025 is different, That Was The Week tech newsletter publisher Keith Teare argues. This is the year that the AI gold rush is changing everything. In our reflection of the first six months of 2025, Keith argues that we're witnessing a fundamental "phase shift" - not just another tech cycle, but an inflection point where scale becomes a necessity for survival. From Meta's $100 million developer deals to the consolidation of 80% of venture capital into just five firms, from Cloudflare's revolutionary "toll booth" economy replacing advertising models to the tokenization of private markets through platforms like Robinhood, the rules of Silicon Valley are being rewritten. As graduates face an employment crisis and AI superstars command unprecedented compensation, Keith and I debate whether this transformation represents capitalism's natural evolution or a dangerous concentration of power that could reshape the global economy forever.1. Scale Has Become a Survival Requirement2025 marks a shift where scale isn't just advantageous—it's necessary for survival. With 80% of venture capital flowing to just five firms (Andreessen, Sequoia, Cotu, Lightspeed, and one other), and late-stage investors writing billion-dollar checks for 3-5x returns instead of traditional smaller bets for 100x gains, the venture capital game has fundamentally changed.2. The "Toll Booth" Economy is Replacing AdvertisingCloudflare's "paper crawl" initiative represents a seismic shift from advertising-based revenue models to direct payment systems where AI companies must pay publishers for content access. This could create new revenue streams for content creators while giving them control over how their intellectual property is used for AI training.3. Tokenization is Democratizing Private MarketsRobinhood's tokenization of companies like SpaceX and OpenAI allows European retail investors to buy shares in private companies through crypto-backed tokens. This convergence of private markets, public markets, and crypto could fundamentally change who can access high-growth investments.4. AI Superstars Command Unprecedented ValueWhile AI eliminates many jobs, it's creating extreme value concentration among top talent. Meta's $100 million deals for individual AI experts and OpenAI's $6 billion deal with Johnny Ive illustrate how differentiated developers are becoming incredibly valuable in an age where most workers face displacement.5. 2025 is the Inflection Point, Not the FutureUnlike previous tech cycles, Keith argues this isn't about future potential—the transformation is happening now. With companies like OpenAI reaching $14 billion in annual revenue and AI's economic impact becoming undeniable, 2025 represents the moment when AI shifted from promise to reality, making it a true inflection point rather than just another tech trend.Where Keith and I fundamentally disagree is over jobs. He seems to skate over the implications of jobless consequences of AI, believing in some sort of magical age of abundance in which we will all be free to pursue our hobbies. I think this is entirely wrong. This is where his Silicon Valley language about having to “scale or die” is so terrifying. Over the next couple of decades, tens of millions of people are going to lose both their jobs and careers to the AI revolution. Some might find other kinds of work, but most won't. The age of abundance is total a myth. Instead of “scale or die”, the mantra of the coming age will be “scale or starve”. What we are about to experience is the kind of economic scarcity that will utterly transform our societies and politics. 2025 might be an inflection point for Silicon Valley. But that existential moment for the rest of us will come in around 2030.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Finishing strong today with Sequoia Simone (@sequoiasimone) as we dive into the final part of the 2022 adaptation of Persuasion. Topics discussed include: ruching, whether Elliot is a villain, octopus dreams, the Mandela Effect, gelatinous tears, the bunny, Mary in therapy, Mrs. Clay's happy ending, and the NON-FLASHBACK!Cast and Crew of Persuasion (2022)Glossary of People, Places, and Things: Old Navy crinkle shirts, Bridgerton, Lizzie McGuire, Fleabag, David Lynch, Marianne Afertoft, Sexy Beast, The City and the City, Poldark, Death Comes to Pemberley, Bolthouse Farms, Quietly Yours, Joe AndersonFor more from Sequoia, you can listen to her other podcasts But Make It Scary, Professional Talkers and You Pod It, Dude! For updates on her work, follow her on Instagram at @sequoiasimone.Next Episode: Eligible by Curtis SittenfeldTeepublic is now Dashery! Check out our new merch store at https://podandprejudice.dashery.com.Our show art was created by Torrence Browne, and our audio is produced by Graham Cook. For bios and transcripts, check out our website at podandprejudice.com. Pod and Prejudice is transcribed by speechdocs.com. To support the show, check out our Patreon!Instagram: @podandprejudiceTwitter: @podandprejudiceFacebook: Pod and PrejudiceYoutube: Pod and PrejudiceMerch store: https://podandprejudice.dashery.com/

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating from a bag of popcorn that a sports team mascot has touched with their costumed hand. Dr. Don - not risky

Today's show:In this powerhouse VC roundtable, @Jason sits down with Sequoia's Doug Leone and Cyberstarts' Gili Raanan to share brutally honest insights on startup recruiting, evaluating second-time founders, and how to truly find product-market fit. They break down why big-tech résumés can be misleading, how to structure early teams, and what separates “missionary” talent from mercenaries. Plus, the myth of early ARR, the art of founder-board trust, and how AI is (and isn't) reshaping startup velocity. Must-watch for founders, VCs, and anyone building from 0 to 1.Timestamps:(03:25) The origins of Wiz and how VCs know when to invest(05:17) What qualities are investors looking for in founders and entrepreneurs?(09:53) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups(18:40) How to know when you've reached true Product Market Fit: the experts sound off(19:20) Notion - Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist(25:39) The secrets of recruiting top talent(29:54) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech(39:38) Judging a startup's revenue quality and “founder vs. salesman” deals(53:38) Is venture capital kind of a SCAM?(55:00) Seed Investing: “Pick them right and early”Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpFollow Lon:X: https://x.com/lonsFollow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisThank you to our partners:(09:53) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups(19:20) Notion - Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist(29:54) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/techGreat TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarlandCheck out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.comSubscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

In this episode of Fire Ecology Chats, Fire Ecology editor Bob Keane speaks with Nathan Stephenson and David Soderberg about new evidence that addresses if large patches of fire severe enough to kill most sequoias is a normal part of the sequoia fire regime.Full journal article can be found at https://fireecology.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s42408-024-00316-5

On this week's episode of America on the Road, Jack Nerad and Chris Teague dive into two very different test vehicles, starting with the rugged yet refined 2025 Toyota Sequoia TRD Off-Road 1794 Edition. Jack used the full-size SUV as his vehicle of choice for a family road trip to California's central coast, for the college graduation of his youngest daughter. Powerful and luxurious, the Texas-built Sequoia pairs a 437-horsepower i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain with a 10-speed automatic transmission and part-time four-wheel drive. Off-road gear like Bilstein shocks, skid plates, and a locking rear differential came into play during the drive, while the massaging leather seats and walnut wood trim brought a layer of comfort that softened the SUV's muscular edge. It's not cheap. The model Jack tested came in at $85,700. But it delivers a capable mix of trail-readiness and upscale design. Jack will provide a full report. Chris takes a long look at the 2025 Chevrolet Trax, a subcompact SUV that trades brute force for practicality and affordability. Starting at just $21,895, the Trax is powered by a 137-horsepower, turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. It reaches 60 mph in 8.8 seconds and offers an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway. While it doesn't have an all-wheel drive variant, it's larger than its predecessor, with more rear legroom and cargo space, and its updated interior includes an 11-inch touchscreen on LT and higher trims, wireless smartphone integration, and intuitive climate controls. Though modest in power, the Trax is easy to drive and well-equipped for the price. Are its days numbered because of tariff issues? Chris and Jack will weigh in on that and the Trax's merits. In the news this week, Chevrolet stunned the industry by unveiling the 2026 Corvette ZR1X, a 1,250-horsepower hybrid supercar featuring a twin-turbo V-8 and front electric motor, capable of hitting 60 mph in under two seconds. The car's performance is supported by cutting-edge features like a 1.9 kWh electric assist system, 10-piston brakes, and active aerodynamics, positioning it squarely in hypercar territory. Nissan revealed a full redesign of its Leaf EV, with a new 75-kWh battery, SUV-like stance, and high-end tech, including dual 14.3-inch displays and Plug & Charge functionality. The interior gets a minimalist refresh aimed at maximizing space and comfort, while the platform's new 3-in-1 powertrain improves efficiency and range. But while Nissan is hoping to sell many Leaf EVs, EV registrations have begun to slip in the U.S., declining 4.4 percent year-over-year in April, the first drop in over a year. Market share fell to 6.6 percent as consumer demand softened and manufacturers reconsidered pricing, while upcoming federal legislation may soon phase out the current EV tax credit program, adding further instability. We'll have details on all the ramifications. The news might be better for hybrids, like the OG hybrid, the Toyota Prius. The automaker just announced details on the 2026 Prius. It will offer up to 196 horsepower, available all-wheel drive, and a host of new safety and infotainment features, all while delivering as much as 57 mpg combined. The Prius also refines its sleeker design, updated hybrid tech, and ride dynamics, aiming to appeal to a broader range of buyers. This week's special guest is Sean Nguyen, a lubricant expert from Pennzoil. He will share valuable advice on keeping your car running smoothly, including what to look for in modern motor oils and how often you really need to change them. He discusses the evolution of engine oil technology and how choosing the right oil can extend the life and efficiency of your vehicle, so stay with us for that. To wrap things up, a listener from Stockton, California, asked whether it's safe to rely on driver-assist features like lane-keeping and automatic stop during traffic.

Happy Juneteenth! The show welcomes back Sequoia Holmes of Black People Love Paramore and the Daily Dirty to listen to more Black artists from Eurovision's past, adding on to the series we began last summer. Jeremy's loving that Pip style, Sequoia is a girl-group girlie, and Dimitry's thinking about curly hair... or not.Last year's Juneteenth episode: https://maximumfun.org/episodes/eurovangelists/episode-23-black-people-love-eurovision-paramore/Vote in our listener playlist poll: https://forms.gle/h4PZ9u15yaLsGBBp8This week's companion playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3DdMQ7DmiqMNDb5hP97nQs The Eurovangelists are Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya and Dimitry Pompée.The theme was arranged and recorded by Cody McCorry and Faye Fadem, and the logo was designed by Tom Deja.Production support for this show was provided by the Maximum Fun network.The show is edited by Jeremy Bent with audio mixing help was courtesy of Shane O'Connell.Find Eurovangelists on social media as @eurovangelists on Instagram and @eurovangelists.com on Bluesky, or send us an email at eurovangelists@gmail.com. Head to https://maxfunstore.com/collections/eurovangelists for Eurovangelists merch. Also follow the Eurovangelists account on Spotify and check out our playlists of Eurovision hits, competitors in upcoming national finals, and companion playlists to every single episode, including this one!

Abbas goes off about Iran and Israel trading blows, his mother-in-law staying over, returning the Sequoia, and the viral NYC mayoral race. SEE ME ON THE ROAD

We're joined again today by Sequoia Simone (@sequoiasimone) to discuss this...movie? Topics discussed include: what is ART?, which Austen hero Pedro Pascal is playing, peegate, what if the other guy is an okay option, friendzoning, Regency-era bathing suits, rich Americans, Gaydy Russell and her lesbian European tours, and indoor plumbing. Today's episode covers the film through Anne's arrival in Bath. Cast and Crew of Persuasion (2022)Glossary of People, Places, and Things: Claude Debussy, Materialists, Past Lives, Pedro Pascal at Cannes, BoJack Horseman, Shadow and Bone, My Lady Jane, Crazy Rich Asians, Drake and Josh, Downton Abbey, Pod and Prejudice Live at the Ripped Bodice.For more from Sequoia, you can listen to her other podcasts, But Make It Scary and Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them, plus her NEW podcasts, Professional Talkers and You Pod It, Dude! For updates on her work, follow her on Instagram at @sequoiasimone.Next Episode: Persuasion (2022) Part 3Teepublic is now Dashery! Check out our new merch store at https://podandprejudice.dashery.com.Our show art was created by Torrence Browne, and our audio is produced by Graham Cook. For bios and transcripts, check out our website at podandprejudice.com. Pod and Prejudice is transcribed by speechdocs.com. To support the show, check out our Patreon!Instagram: @podandprejudiceTwitter: @podandprejudiceFacebook: Pod and PrejudiceYoutube: Pod and PrejudiceMerch store: https://podandprejudice.dashery.com/

Send us a text[Original air date, April 9, 2024]  Miguel Armaza interviews Jack Zhang, CEO & Co-Founder of Airwallex, a global payments and treasury giant that moves $7 billion in monthly transaction volume and serves 100,000+ clients, including Brex, Rippling, and SHEIN.Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Airwallex was last valued at $6.2 billion and has raised over a billion dollars from Sequoia, DST, Square Peg, Greenoaks, Mastercard, Tencent, Salesforce, and many more.In this episode, we discuss:How investing in a coffee shop led him to co-found a global payments networkWhy Airwallex prioritizes people with great leadership skills who are also technicalThe impact of AI in financial servicesNew risks of AI-powered financial fraudPartnering with almost 100 banks around the world… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join 80,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

What if having more fun was the key to being a better founder?Seriously. Not just to feel good, but to actually unlock better decisions, more creativity, and a business that's built to last.In this episode, I sit down with Freddie, founder of POP and one of the most insightful coaches I know. We talk about something that doesn't get spoken about enough in founder circles: how to reconnect with yourself as you scale. Not in a fluffy way. But in a practical, energising, real kind of way.Together, we unpack:• The internal work that often gets left behind. • The difference between grinding through growth and actually enjoying the ride. • Why so many founders feel guilty for wanting things to be fun• Practical advise on how to make your scaling journey more enjoyableIf you're feeling stretched, stuck, or like you're starting to lose the spark you had at the beginning… give it a watch!About Freddie:Freddie has always been fascinated by what makes people tick. She started out in anthropology, then spent years headhunting top-tier venture investors, meeting 1000s of people across the tech ecosystem. That curiosity led her into coaching, where she's trained with some of the world's leading thinkers in psychology, philosophy, breathwork, and leadership development. Through her practice, POP, she now works with ambitious founders and investors—helping them scale their impact without losing themselves in the process. Her clients include 100+ VC-backed founders, from early-stage to unicorns, backed by funds like Sequoia, General Catalyst, Lightspeed, Atomico, and Northzone.More from James: Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com

It's the moment you've all been dreading--I mean, waiting for...Persuasion (2022)! We're joined by Sequoia Simone (@sequoiasimone) to discuss this most beloved film and at which point it lost each of us. Today's episode covers the movie through Anne and Mary's Italian chat. Topics discussed include: modernizing Austen's language, flashbacks, thick teardrops, multiracial casting in period pieces, the Fleabag-ification of Anne Elliot, the breakup box, gay Lady Russell (happy Pride!), Mary as Emily Gilmore, Regency Era therapy, and the Anne/Wentworth friendship.Cast and Crew of Persuasion (2022)Glossary of People, Places, and Things: Sarah Snook, Joel Grey, Joel Fry, Ella Enchanted, Fleabag, Arrested Development, Schitt's Creek, Galavant, Emma (2020), Pride and Prejudice (2005), Sister Wives, Emily Gilmore, RobespierreFor more from Sequoia, you can listen to her other podcasts, But Make It Scary and Fanatical Fics and Where to Find Them, plus her NEW podcasts, Professional Talkers and You Pod It, Dude! For updates on her work, follow her on Instagram at @sequoiasimone.Next Episode: Persuasion (2022)Teepublic is now Dashery! Check out our new merch store at https://podandprejudice.dashery.com.Our show art was created by Torrence Browne, and our audio is produced by Graham Cook. For bios and transcripts, check out our website at podandprejudice.com. Pod and Prejudice is transcribed by speechdocs.com. To support the show, check out our Patreon!Instagram: @podandprejudiceTwitter: @podandprejudiceFacebook: Pod and PrejudiceYoutube: Pod and PrejudiceMerch store: https://podandprejudice.dashery.com/

 What happens when a city kid from Lincoln Heights stares into the glowing red eyes of something unexplainable in the Yosemite wilderness — and walks away changed forever? In this gripping and eerie episode, we sit down with Rudy Escobar, a Southern California native who shares multiple encounters with creatures he believes were Bigfoot, stretching from the shadowy pines of Sequoia National Park to the moonlit lake edges of Yosemite. Rudy recounts the terrifying moment when a creature stood up — over nine feet tall — with glowing candy-apple red eyes, walking smoothly across the forest like it was gliding. From childhood dreams and paralyzing fear to logs thrown at his car and strange psychic abilities, Rudy's story is more than just an encounter — it's a haunting transformation. You'll hear tales from Dorst Camp and the San Bernardino Mountains — and by the end, you'll wonder what you would do if a tree started watching you back.

Markets navigate fresh trade headlines and tech disruption: Unlimited's Bob Elliott and G Squared Capital's Victoria Greene weigh in on market sentiment and positioning. Our Kate Rooney reports on whether the Trump agenda could chill Silicon Valley's startup pipeline through its attacks on higher education. Shaun Maguire of Sequoia Capital joins exclusively from the Reagan National Economic Forum to discuss venture capital and the tech ecosystem, including his firm's exposure to Musk-led companies like SpaceX, xAI, and The Boring Company. Home Depot CFO Richard McPhail speaks exclusively on how tariffs are impacting retail and housing, and Tim Sloan of Fortress gives a read on the real estate market. 

Episode 60: Can you really build an $8 billion SaaS startup by yourself using AI agents? Nathan Lands (https://x.com/NathanLands) sits down with Matan Grinberg (https://x.com/matansf), a physicist, AI founder, and creator of Factory AI—one of Silicon Valley's best-kept secrets. Matan has published papers alongside luminaries and built a company trusted by top VCs and tech insiders. In this episode, Nathan and Matan dive deep into the power and practicality of Factory AI—an agentic software platform that allows anyone to build full-featured SaaS applications using only natural language. After years of focusing on large enterprise clients and remaining under the radar, Factory AI is now opening up to everyone and revealing what's possible when state-of-the-art “droids” (purpose-built AI agents) collaborate to automate the entire software development lifecycle. Watch them attempt to build a DocuSign competitor in minutes live on the show, and explore how AI is changing the future of engineering, entrepreneurship, and creative problem-solving. Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd — Show Notes: (00:00) Enterprise-Focused Product Expansion (05:45) Engineering Task Automation Tools (07:01) Quick Project Setup Outline (10:43) AI Revolutionizing Software Development (14:29) Customer-Centric Problem Solving (18:10) Progress Through Efficiency Improvements (19:22) Agency: The New Success Metric (24:54) Expanding Product to Small Teams (25:38) Unified Platform for Software Development (30:44) Importance of Foundational Knowledge (33:55) Technology: Rise, Apex, and Decline (35:40) Future Technology Beyond Smartphones — Mentions: Want the ultimate guide to use Gemini's game-changing features? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/wdn Promo link for 14 day free trial w 10M extra free tokens: LINK Matt Grinberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matan-grinberg/ Factory: https://www.factory.ai/ Docusign: https://www.docusign.com/ Shaun Maguire: https://x.com/shaunmmaguire Sequoia: https://www.sequoiacap.com/ Datadog: https://www.datadoghq.com/ Sentry: https://sentry.io/ Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/ Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw — Check Out Matt's Stuff: • Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/ • Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/ • YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow — Check Out Nathan's Stuff: Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/ Blog - https://lore.com/ The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

Shaun Maguire, partner at Sequoia and former physicist turned investor, joins the Limitless Podcast to explore why we're on the verge of a technological renaissance. From AI and silicon photonics to humanoid robots and space infrastructure, Shaun makes the case that the next 20 years will make the internet boom look tame. We dive deep into why America needs 10 SpaceX-level companies, the return of hardware innovation, the energy constraints of the future, and how frontier technologies like Neuralink and Mars colonization might reshape civilization. ------

Immad Akhund is the CEO of Mercury. Launched in 2019, Mercury has raised $500M in funding from Sequoia, Coatue, CRV, Andreessen Horowitz and others. He is a former part-time partner at Y Combinator and is an active angel investor, with more than 350 investments in startups including Rippling, AirTable, Rappi, Applied Intuition, and Substack. In Today's Episode We Discuss: 04:38 Exclusive News: New Fund Announcement 05:15 Lessons from 350 Angel Investments 12:27 Why Founders Should Always Push for the Highest Price 14:40 Biggest Wins and Misses in Angel Investing 22:56 How Sequoia Came to Lead the Series C for Mercury 31:32 Why Move From Angel to VC 33:41 Is It Wrong For Founders to Also Have Funds with LP Capital? 36:28 AI Investments: Overhyped or Worthwhile? 41:14 Raising a First Time Fund: Challenges & Surprises 49:47 The Future of Venture Capital 54:36 Quickfire Questions and Reflections  

My guest today is Matt Huang, co-founder of Paradigm, a leading crypto investment firm with over $12 billion in assets under management. Before launching Paradigm in 2018 with Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, Matt was a partner at Sequoia Capital, where he led many of the firm's crypto investments. It's widely reported that Michael Moritz called Matt “the only regrettable loss in Sequoia's history.” In our conversation, Matt shares his framework for navigating the often illegible frontier of crypto, how his early investment in ByteDance (now worth 10,000x his initial capital) shaped his approach to identifying exceptional founders, and why he believes so deeply in crypto's long-term potential. His firm, Paradigm, not only invests in many of the leading companies in the industry, it also builds open-source tools used by most of crypto. Matt has a rare blend of IQ and EQ that allows him to understand technical complexity, bring together unique talents, and ride out crypto's notorious volatility. Whether you're crypto-curious or crypto-skeptical, I think you'll find his perspective valuable. Please enjoy my great conversation with Matt Huang. Matt Huang's Profile in Colossus Review. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to Ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. – This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. –  This episode is brought to you by AlphaSense. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at Alpha-Sense.com/Invest and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:06:15) Matt Huang's Early Life and Career (00:08:13) College Years and Early Career (00:12:27) The Failed Startup and Lessons Learned (00:25:58) The Journey to Sequoia Capital (00:32:51) Discovering Bitcoin and Crypto (00:39:33) Founding Paradigm (00:45:40) Building a Unique Investment Team (00:46:37) The Role of Engineers and Researchers (00:48:03) Challenges and Volatility in Crypto (00:52:11) The FTX Investment and Its Aftermath (00:58:40) Crypto as a New Financial System (01:05:19) The Importance of Stablecoins (01:09:54) AI and Crypto: The Next Frontier (01:16:19) Personal Motivations and Mission (01:29:23) The Role of Regulation in Crypto (01:32:27) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done for Matt