Spenser Skates

Spenser Skates, CEO and co-founder of Amplitude, shares his journey from startup to public company. He discusses overcoming initial skepticism toward AI, which later became essential for the company’s growth. Spenser reveals how leadership shifts and strategic hires, including AI experts, revitalized the organization. He emphasizes the need for a technology-first mindset in AI development and contrasts traditional SaaS with AI-focused experimentation. Additionally, he highlights the importance of mentorship and a clear mission as key drivers for a founder's transition to an executive role.

In this engaging discussion, Spenser Skates, CEO and co-founder of Amplitude, shares insights on navigating the evolving landscape of AI and analytics. He reflects on the challenges of integrating advanced technologies with a legacy codebase while emphasizing the importance of maintaining Amplitude's core strengths. Skates discusses the risks and rewards of taking the company public and shares personal anecdotes about leadership transitions and work-life balance. His thoughts on grit and the need for talent in AI offer valuable perspectives for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Spenser Skates, Co-founder & CEO of Amplitude, shares his fascinating transition from building an AI voice assistant to creating a leading product analytics platform. He discusses the challenges of breaking into the analytics market and highlights Amplitude's innovative features, including real-time user tracking. Spenser reflects on his entrepreneurial journey from MIT and offers insights on leadership through growth phases. He also emphasizes the importance of integrating AI into analytics tools and how they empower product managers to make data-driven decisions.

Spenser Skates, CEO and co-founder of Amplitude, a leader in digital product analytics, shares insights on navigating the tumultuous SaaS landscape since their IPO. He discusses the current state of business software, the delicate balance of pricing AI products, and the impact of economic shifts on staffing decisions. Skates also emphasizes the potential durability of data moats in AI and reflects on his gaming adventures with Baldur's Gate 3, adding a fun twist to the serious business talk!

In this engaging discussion, Spenser Skates, the visionary founder and CEO of Amplitude Analytics, reflects on his entrepreneurial journey and recent IPO. He shares insights on choosing the right investors, emphasizing the importance of their support over favorable terms. Spenser discusses staying motivated during the critical second decade, innovating product development, and creating employee-friendly equity practices. He also highlights the role of data in AI advancements and admires influential operators, reinforcing a long-term, customer-focused mindset.