
FYI - For Your Innovation
The FYI - For Your Innovation Podcast offers an intellectual discussion on recent developments across disruptive innovation—driven by research, news, controversies, companies, and technological breakthroughs. Hosted by ARK Invest, ARK and guests provide a unique perspective on how to best understand disruptive innovation.
Latest episodes

Jun 12, 2023 • 29min
Big Ideas Monday Mini: Precision Therapies
The podcast discusses how precision therapies target the root cause of diseases using innovative methods like AI, CRISPR gene editing, and DNA sequencing. These therapies offer personalized healthcare and could significantly impact the future of medicine.

Jun 8, 2023 • 50min
Revolutionizing Logistics with Keller Rinaudo Cliffton
Reducing complexity, increasing speed, enhancing the user interface, reducing costs, reducing waste, enhancing equality, and saving lives; this is the mission of Zipline. Today on the show, we are joined by Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, the co-founder of the company on a mission to provide the world with an autonomous drone logistics system that is incomparable to any other delivery service on the planet. Despite the enormous amount of skepticism they were up against, Keller and his team chose to turn science fiction into reality. Through delivering blood to hospitals in Rwanda, Zipline has been able to reduce the maternal mortality rate by 88%, and they have flown over 40 million miles for commercial purposes. In this episode, Keller talks about the variety of challenges that have made the Zipline mission far harder than they anticipated, their humble approach to product development, and what this groundbreaking business model means for the future of logistics and human kind.
“Five and a half million kids lose their lives every year due to lack of access to basic medical products. A big part of that is logistics.” — @KellerRinaudo
Key Points From This Episode:
The motivation behind the founding of Zipline.
What Zipline’s first year of operations in Rwanda consisted of.
Why the assumption that uptake of advanced technology always occurs in developed countries first is incorrect.
How Zipline has expanded its service since its founding.
The alternative delivery options to Zipline (and why Zipline believes its service offers so much more value to its customers).
Statistics that highlight the impact that Zipline has had on the Rwandan healthcare system.
Skepticism that the Zipline idea was met with prior to its launch.
Why naivete can be an entrepreneurial superpower.
The number of autonomous miles that Zipline drones have flown for commercial purposes.
Obstacles that Keller and his team have had to overcome to get Zipline to where it is today.
An overview of the expertise on the Zipline team.
Zipline’s approach to product development.
How Zipline has helped to evolve aerospace regulations.
Reasons for the drastic increase in demand for instant delivery.
The problems with traditional delivery mechanisms and how Zipline is solving them.

Jun 5, 2023 • 13min
Big Ideas Monday Mini: Autonomous Logistics
Welcome to the Big Ideas Monday Miniseries, brought to you by the For Your Innovation Podcast.
Big Ideas is meant to enlighten investors on the long-term impact of innovation. This annual research report seeks to highlight the technological breakthroughs evolving today and creating the potential for super-exponential growth tomorrow.
We believe that innovation is taking off now, corroborating our original research and boosting our confidence that ARK’s strategies are on the right side of change.
To learn more, view Big Ideas 2023.
This week’s Big Ideas Monday Mini Episode focuses on Autonomous Logistics.
Autonomous logistics—including trucks, drones, and robots—should lower delivery costs and increase convenience.
Based on our updated assumptions on pricing, ARK estimates that autonomous logistics revenue could scale from nearly zero today to $1-2 trillion by 2030. Autonomous delivery charges could range from $0.20 to $10 per trip.
Watch the video version here.

4 snips
Jun 1, 2023 • 54min
The Future of Genetics in Pediatric Care with Dr. Caleb Bupp
Join us today for a conversation on the exciting progress and possibilities of genetics in pediatric care, with Dr. Caleb Bupp. Caleb is the Division Chief of Medical Genetics and Genomics at Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, and we get to hear from him about his path into this role, and how he first discovered his passion for helping young ones. Our guest comments on the central themes of parental communication, cost reduction, and genetic exceptionalism before we delve into some of the most noteworthy points of progress in the pediatric field at the moment. We look at the Project Baby Bear and Project Baby Deer programs, and the important impact that the speed and timing of results can have on the care of kids, with Caleb explaining the societal norms and expectations around genetics and engagement with these datasets. He also raises some concerns about access to care and shares an inspiring success story from the last few years, so make sure to tune in to get it all.
If you have a sick kid and you can do a test to figure out why they’re sick really fast, you give better care.” — Dr. Caleb Bupp
Key Points From This Episode:
Caleb takes us through his career journey and the roots of his interest in genetics and pediatrics.
Reflection on the Concert Genetics Conference and Caleb’s involvement.
Reducing costs and freeing up resources for more impactful care.
Thoughts on the intangible value of providing comprehensive patient information for parents.
Dr. Bupp weighs in on the topic of genetic exceptionalism.
Surprising recent developments in fields of genetics and pediatrics.
Potential challenges with the amounts of information that clinicians needs to process.
Experiences and progress with the Project Baby Bear program.
Caleb’s recent paper and presentation on the work at Project Baby Deer.
The impact of earlier and faster intervention when treating children.
How more proactive and effective screening can affect general societal health.
Caleb shares the standout story of a patient with variants of uncertain significance and DFMO (difluoromethylornithine, a substance being studied in the treatment of cancer).
Applying the principals of drug repurposing to other scenarios.
Looking to the future and Caleb’s hopes for the short and long-term of the pediatric space.

May 29, 2023 • 27min
Big Ideas Monday Mini: Molecular Diagnostics
Welcome to the Big Ideas Monday Miniseries, brought to you by the For Your Innovation Podcast.
Big Ideas is meant to enlighten investors on the long-term impact of innovation. This annual research report seeks to highlight the technological breakthroughs evolving today and creating the potential for super-exponential growth tomorrow.
We believe that innovation is taking off now, corroborating our original research and boosting our confidence that ARK’s strategies are on the right side of change.
To learn more, view Big Ideas 2023.
This week’s Big Ideas Monday Mini Episode focuses on Molecular Diagnostics. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) costs have collapsed, making molecular diagnostic tests more feasible and turbocharging our understanding of tumor biology.[1]
By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), cancer diagnostics labs have created less invasive tests like liquid biopsies to supplement tissue biopsies.[2]
As proof of clinical utility accumulates, ARK estimates that the total addressable market (TAM) for molecular cancer diagnostic tests in the US is ~$95 billion, its revenue increasing more than 20% annually during the next five to ten years, from ~$5 billion in 2022 to $24 billion in 2030. Moreover, the collective enterprise value of molecular cancer testing companies should expand at a similar rate from ~$30 billion in 2022 to $145 billion in 2030.
Wach the video version here.

4 snips
May 25, 2023 • 47min
Building a Commercial Space Station with Amir Blachman and Michael López-Alegría
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest human-made object in low Earth orbit and serves as a unique platform for scientific research and technological development. It was first made operational in the year 2000 and acts as a symbol of international diplomacy, demonstrating how countries can work together to achieve a common goal, despite political or cultural differences. And as the ISS enters its third decade of operation, it nears the end of its planned operational life, which is set for 2028, at the earliest. Joining us today to discuss the ISS, its incredible achievements, and its future are two leading figures from Axiom Space, Chief Information Officer Amir Blachman, and Chief Astronaut Michael López-Alegría. In our conversation, we discuss the plan to retire ISS and Axiom Space’s role in transitioning to becoming a commercial space station. We learn about Ax-1, the first fully private astronaut trip to the ISS, led by Axiom Space, and what to expect from their second upcoming mission, Ax-2. Michael and Amir also provide insight into the founding of Axiom Space, the expert team that runs its operations, and the key factors that sets the company apart from its competitors. To learn more about Axiom Space, the history of the ISS, and the future of spaceflight, be sure to tune in today!
“We’re facilitating the extension and invention of commerce in space through which we offer access to countries, institutions, industries and individuals that have ideas that fuel the human economy beyond earth.” – Amir Blachman
Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing today’s guests, Amir Blachman and Michael López-Alegría.
An overview of the International Space Station (ISS) and its functions.
The ISS’s importance as a lab and as a symbol of diplomacy.
Why the ISS will eventually need to be replaced and how it should be done.
Axiom Space’s goal to build the world’s first commercial space station.
A breakdown of how Axiom Space plans to accomplish this.
How things have changed at the ISS in the past two decades.
Examples of how the ISS has benefited humanity.
Axiom Space’s role in transitioning the ISS into becoming a commercial space station.
The origins of Axiom Space and how they were chosen to be the partner for this project.
A rundown of Axiom Space’s business model for their commercial space station.
Some of the innovative ways that countries and companies are using the ISS.
Insights into Axiom Space’s user base and why they fly with them to the ISS.
The details of Ax-2, Axiom Space’s second upcoming mission to the ISS.
An overview of Ax-1, the first fully private astronaut trip to the ISS.
Takeaways from Ax-1 and how they conducted research.
How Ax-1 helped Space Axiom grow as a company.
Some of the research that will be conducted on the Ax-2 space mission.
Michael’s thoughts on the future of space travel for everyday people.
Insight into the factors that have helped make Axiom Space so successful in this field.
Hear Michael’s predictions of when we’ll see the first human on Mars.

May 22, 2023 • 18min
Big Ideas Monday Mini: Orbital Aerospace
Welcome to the Big Ideas Monday Miniseries, brought to you by the For Your Innovation Podcast.rnrnBig Ideas is meant to enlighten investors on the long-term impact of innovation. This annual research report seeks to highlight the technological breakthroughs evolving today and creating the potential for super-exponential growth tomorrow.rn rnWe believe that innovation is taking off now, corroborating our original research and boosting our confidence that ARK’s strategies are on the right side of change.rnrnTo learn more, view u003ca href=u0022https://ark-invest.com/big-ideas-2023/u0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022 target=u0022_blanku0022u003eBig Ideas 2023u003c/au003e.rnrnThis week’s Big Ideas Monday Mini Episode focuses on Orbital Aerospace. Aerospace costs are declining, thanks to advancements in deep learning, mobile connectivity, sensors, 3D printing, and robotics. As a result, satellite launches and rocket landings are proliferating.rnrnIn the coming decade, satellite broadband and hypersonic flight could generate annual revenues of ~$84 billion and ~$270 billion, respectively.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://ark-invest.com/big-ideas-2023/orbital-aerospace/u0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022 target=u0022_blanku0022u003eWach the video version hereu003c/au003e.

May 18, 2023 • 57min
Bettering Human Health Through Artificial Intelligence with Sean McClain and Joshua Meier of Absci
Drug development is an extremely expensive endeavor, in large part because of the 96% failure rate of clinical drug trials. However, the new frontier of medicine has arrived, and Sean McClain and Joshua Meier (respectively the Founder/CEO and Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer of Absci) are leading the charge. Absci is a public company harnessing generative AI to create more effective medicines faster and less expensively. During this episode, Sean and Joshua explain how their pooled approach to antibody production works, why they focus so heavily on data, the metrics they use to evaluate their models, and why they are certain that personalized medicine is going to be a reality in the future. There are countless possible mashups of AI and drug discovery, and Absci attempts to bring an innovative approach to biologics to positively impact human health!
“We’re not just developing AI within biologic drug discovery for the sake of it. We’re really wanting to utilize this to be able to discover new biology.” — @SeanRMcClain
Key Points From This Episode:
Sean’s original idea behind the founding of Absci and how it has evolved into what it is today.
How Absci is making the process of drug creation much more efficient.
The career path that led Josh to Absci.
How antibodies are currently produced.
The most important aspects to consider when developing an antibody.
A high-level overview of how Absci generates data.
The number of AI-generated designs that Absci can validate in any given week.
Metrics that Absci uses to evaluate their models.
What humanization is in the context of antibody design.
Understanding Absci’s naturalness model.
A common problem in the AI field.
The potential for collaboration with Big Pharma.
How the models Absci is developing can be applied in different contexts.
Sean and Joshua’s thoughts on what the future of medicine is going to look like.
How AI is likely to change the way we approach scientific and technological developments.

7 snips
May 11, 2023 • 52min
Exploring Virtual Worlds with Yonatan Raz-Fridman from Supersocial
The concept of the metaverse has been around for decades, but recent advances in technology and the growing popularity of virtual worlds and online gaming have led to renewed interest in the idea. To help us unpack the nuance of the metaverse is Yonatan Raz-Fridman, the CEO and Founder of Supersocial, a metaverse enterprise building immersive digital experiences. Supersocial aims to pioneer the future of digital interactions, where people can seamlessly merge reality with fantasy and connect in ways that transcend physical boundaries. In our conversation, we unpack the complexity of the metaverse and its potential to shake up traditional commerce. We dive into the behavior shift happening around the metaverse and whether it’ll be adopted by the current or next generation of users. Discover the opportunities Supersocial is creating and how virtual worlds can help businesses achieve brand recognition and create unforgettable branded experiences. We hear how virtual worlds are breaking down barriers within commerce, an example of a brand helping Supersocial innovate in the space, the power of user-generated content, and much more. Tune in to this enlightening episode as we unravel the potential of virtual worlds and the exciting future that lies ahead for individuals and businesses alike.
“I think for this new generation, the virtual world is essentially not a mimic of real life. It’s a whole different frontier.” — @yonatanrf
Key Points From This Episode:
Background about Yon and why he decided to start Supersocial.
How Supersocial is different from a traditional gaming studio.
We discuss the future of virtual worlds and the ways video games will evolve.
The opportunities for innovation that Unreal Engine 5 provides.
An overview of the challenges associated with building virtual worlds.
Yon unpacks the behavior shift regarding the metaverse.
Whether the metaverse will be adopted by the current or next generation of users.
Why Minecraft has only been viewed as a video game and not as a platform.
Find out how virtual worlds can help brand recognition and branded experiences.
Bringing virtual worlds and traditional commerce together.
Hear an example of a brand that is leveraging the virtual space.
Ways customer relationship management is being redefined.
Discover the possibilities of the metaverse facilitating e-commerce virtually and physically.

May 4, 2023 • 1h 9min
The Current State of Artificial Intelligence with James Wang
Scaling laws are as important to artificial intelligence (AI) as the law of gravity is in the world around us. AI is the empirical science of this decade, and Cerebras is a company dedicated to turning state-of-the-art research on large language models (LLMs) into open-source data that can be reproduced by developers across the world. In this episode, James Wang, an ARK alum and product marketing specialist at Cerebras, joins us for a discussion centered around the past and the future of LLM development and why the generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) innovation taking place in this field is like nothing that has ever come before it (and has seemingly limitless possibilities). He also explains the motivation behind Cerebras’ unique approach and the benefits that their architecture and models are providing to developers.
“All great science is reproducible, and AI is the great empirical science of our decade, so we wanted to make sure it’s reproducible.” — @draecomino
Key Points From This Episode:
Why Cerebras attracted James.
James explains the concept of wafer-scale computing and why it is so advantageous in the AI space.
A historical overview of large language model (LLM) development.
What James believes to be the most significant natural law that has been discovered in this century.
Why Cerebras wants to get state-of-the-art LLM data into the hands of as many people as possible.
The Cerebras GPT law.
Looking towards the future of LLMs.
Standard practice when it comes to training an LLM (and the problems that developers have been battling for years).
The potential advantage of Cerebras CS2 chips and computers.
Understanding the concept of disaggregated architecture.
How the Cerebras approach differs from the approach taken by other companies (NVIDIA and Dojo, for example).
Cerebras offerings that are available to be used by the public.
The current GPU cloud shortage (and why this adds to the appeal of Cerebras software).
Why the progress being made in the GPT space is incomparable to developments that have come before it.
Potential directions that the world could be heading in as a result of AI developments (and why James is optimistic about it all).
The AI use case that is keeping James up at night.