Stanford GSB: View From The Top S8E6: Aravind Srinivas Has All The Answers
11 snips
Jun 18, 2025 
Aravind Srinivas, CEO and co-founder of Perplexity, an AI search engine aiming to democratize knowledge, shares his insights on navigating a late-stage startup. He discusses the importance of ethical AI, innovative monetization strategies, and maintaining unbiased answers despite advertising. Srinivas emphasizes his vision for technology that enhances productivity and transforms lives. He also reflects on cultural influences from his background in Chennai, the significance of team diversity, and the evolution of leadership in the fast-paced tech landscape.
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Chennai's Unique Knowledge Culture
- Chennai fosters a culture that values deep knowledge and education over wealth.
- Obsession with cricket statistics imparts early lessons in data and consistency.
Founding Team's Complementary Strengths
- Aravind co-founded Perplexity with Dennis, a motivated collaborator from his PhD days.
- He built a complementary founding team with top problem solvers and designers to multiply impact.
Fundraising: Demo Over Decks
- When fundraising, let investors use your product directly instead of relying on decks.
- Play to your strengths and focus on real demonstrations over polished presentations.
