Village Global Podcast [Highlight] Eric Yuan & Reid Hoffman on Startups vs. Big Tech in the AI Era
Jan 13, 2026
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and venture capitalist, and Eric Yuan, founder and CEO of Zoom, dive into the dynamics of startups in the AI landscape. They emphasize the importance of focusing on peripheral areas where big tech is less dominant. Eric points out that small teams can swiftly leverage AI for innovation, while both note that enterprises are slower to adopt AI due to various concerns. They share strategies for startups to effectively sell AI solutions to businesses by involving customers and leveraging unique data.
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Pick Battles Outside Big Tech's Core
- Startups should avoid attacking a large company's core advantages where the platform has clear dominance.
- AI widens the surface area where startups can take focused risks and move faster than big companies.
Big Platforms Create Both Barriers And Opportunities
- Big platforms like Microsoft have deep assets that block startups in certain enterprise areas.
- Yet startups still have broad opportunities to build compelling products even in spaces where platforms are strong.
Leverage Small Teams To Move Fast With AI
- Use small, focused teams to leverage AI tools and move far faster than large organizations.
- Test and deploy quickly because startups can take risks large companies often won't.