Crucible Moments

In this engaging discussion, David Vélez, the Founder and CEO of Nubank, shares his unique journey from Colombia to revolutionizing Brazil's banking system. Alongside co-founder Cristina Junqueira and Sequoia Capital's Doug Leone, they detail their battle against a banking oligopoly that imposed high fees on customers. Their story of resilience and innovation reveals how Nubank transformed the financial landscape with a strong focus on ethics and customer care, achieving over 100 million users and marking a significant milestone in fintech.

Drew Houston, co-founder and former CEO of Dropbox, shares insights on navigating the chaos of startup life. Alongside fellow co-founder Arash Ferdowsi and Sequoia Capital partner Brian Schreier, they discuss their explosive growth fueled by a clever referral program. Drew reveals the trials of strategic pivots and the innovative move to 'Magic Pocket,' which transformed their data infrastructure. They delve into lessons of resilience, adaptability, and the importance of focusing on core work use cases to regain growth and profitability.

Bill McDermott, CEO of ServiceNow, known for his rapid growth strategies, shares insights with Pat Grady of Sequoia Capital. They discuss ServiceNow's remarkable rise to a $225B market cap, fueled by elite-level execution. McDermott emphasizes how a people-centric approach and innovative culture have driven the company's success. The conversation also highlights the transformative role of AI in improving enterprise efficiency, showcasing practical applications that enhance productivity across various industries.

Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, shares insights into his journey from physics graduate to leading a financial revolution. He discusses how Robinhood transformed investing by making it accessible through mobile platforms and overcoming hurdles like regulatory challenges. Micky Malka and Andrew Reed join in to explore the rise of free trading and the meme stock phenomenon, detailing the emotional connections formed during market tumult. Together, they emphasize the necessity of resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving financial landscape.

Steve Chen, co-founder and CTO of YouTube and former PayPal employee, shares the incredible journey of YouTube's inception. He discusses the fraught transition from a video dating site to a major platform, overcoming technical limitations and legal battles. Zahavah Levine, YouTube's General Counsel, recounts the complex negotiations with music labels and the looming legal threats that shaped their early strategies. Together, they reveal how innovative engineering and creative marketing propelled YouTube to revolutionize the internet and media landscape.

In this insightful discussion, Matthew Rabinowitz, founder of Natera, shares his deeply personal journey from tragedy to revolutionizing genetic testing. Joined by co-founder Jonathan Sheena, CEO Steve Chapman, and SVP Chitra Kotwaliwale, they detail how overcoming personal loss inspired the creation of transformative technologies like Panorama for prenatal screening. The team explores advancements in oncology, highlighting their innovative Signatera test. Together, they emphasize resilience and collaboration in advancing healthcare solutions and improving global health outcomes.

Tony Xu, CEO of DoorDash, and Miki Kuusi, Head of International at Wolt, share their journeys of building successful delivery platforms. They delve into the challenges of scaling operational excellence and maintaining company culture during rapid growth. Insights on navigating labor law reforms in the gig economy highlight the need for modernization. The conversation also touches on urban reorganization and the balance of physical and digital ambitions, offering a forward-looking perspective on the future of commerce in cities.

Tony Xu, the Founder and CEO of DoorDash, shares fascinating insights into how he built a delivery giant despite immense skepticism. Alongside Sequoia Capital's Alfred Lin and DoorDash's Keith Yandell, they discuss the pivotal decisions that propelled DoorDash, especially their focus on suburbia and local businesses. They explore the challenges of fundraising, navigating financial strains, and cultivating resilience during tough times. The conversation delves into how the pandemic became an unexpected opportunity for growth and innovation.

Daniel Dines, founder and former CEO of UiPath, shares the inspiring story of building a global RPA leader from Bucharest. Joined by Andra Ciorici-Chelmus, Brandon Deer, and Luciana Lixandru, they discuss key turning points in their journey, including a transformative visit to India that realigned their strategy. They explore the challenges of scaling a rapidly growing company, the integration of AI, and the resilience required to innovate in a competitive landscape, proving that greatness can emerge from unexpected places.

Join Steve Huffman, CEO and co-founder of Reddit, Chris Slowe, Reddit's CTO, and Alfred Lin from Sequoia Capital as they share Reddit's fascinating journey from a college project to a cultural juggernaut. They discuss the challenges of maintaining moderation while upholding free speech, and the pivotal moments like the Reddit Blackout when users demanded change. The trio also delves into the evolution of Reddit post-acquisition, highlighting its struggle to balance corporate pressures with community values as they navigated toward a successful IPO.