This Week in Startups YC Valuations, VC Slowdown, and Office Hours with CustomerIQ | E2136
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Jun 10, 2025 
In this conversation, Sean Steigerwald, the founder of CustomerIQ—a unique AI sales agent for your inbox—shares insights on the current startup valuation landscape amidst a VC slowdown. He discusses why Y Combinator startups are still achieving lofty valuations despite low ARR. The chat also dives into early-stage investing efficiency and how AI is revolutionizing enterprise sales. Steigerwald demos his innovative tool designed to help users manage follow-ups seamlessly, highlighting the evolving role of automation in sales communication.
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Global Families Avoid U.S. Schools
- Jason Calacanis shares an anecdote about affluent, multi-national families in Singapore avoiding sending their kids to school in America due to fears about re-entry and visa issues.
- This reveals a shift in global startup hubs as founders consider alternative domiciles like Singapore or Dubai.
OpenAI's Revenue and Future Model
- OpenAI reached $10 billion ARR mainly from a mix of consumer and business subscriptions.
- The consumer side may evolve to free, advertising-supported models as AI costs decline and competition grows.
VC Fund Pace Normalizing
- Venture capital funds accelerated investments during COVID but are now slowing, returning closer to pre-COVID pacing.
- Concentrated fund deployment compresses risk and timing, making venture bets more sensitive to market cycles.