Sourcery

Alfred Lin, a partner at Sequoia Capital and seasoned operator, shares his insights into the venture firm's founder-first investing philosophy. He delves into what makes an outlier founder, emphasizing the role of unique insights and tailored support. Alfred recounts how he assisted Kalshi in navigating regulatory challenges and contrasts DoorDash's efficiency strategies with Uber Eats. He discusses the significance of revenue quality over rapid growth, the impact of pivots, and the evolution of Zipline's medical drone delivery, all while highlighting the shifting landscape of AI and competition.

Michael Barton, Sector Head at Coatue, dives into how the $70B hedge fund navigates market shifts. He discusses the profound impact of retail investors post-Gamestop and how Coatue leverages insights from online platforms like Reddit for idea generation. Barton highlights AI as a game-changer in advertising revenue and the integration of public and private investing. He emphasizes the need for adaptive risk management and the art of crafting concise pitches to win buy-in from stakeholders, ensuring Coatue stays ahead in the tech landscape.

Elad Gil, a serial entrepreneur and investor known for his work with high-growth tech companies, joins forces with Jared Kushner and Eric Wu to discuss Brain Co, an AI incubation venture addressing the urgent need for enterprise AI adoption. They delve into why traditional approaches fail, explore the significance of their recent $30M Series A funding, and share insights on successful AI implementations. Gil emphasizes the importance of mentorship in incubation and reflects on his experiences with controversial founders, highlighting the lessons learned.

Elad Gil, a prolific investor and entrepreneur who has backed over 200 companies like Stripe and Airbnb, dives into the tech industry's evolution. He shares insights from the 1999 IPO boom, highlighting the potential pitfalls of today's AI rush. Elad discusses what distinguishes short-term fads from lasting success and outlines the four reasons founders should consider selling their companies. He also examines the energy constraints impacting AI development and offers a perspective on navigating both regulatory landscapes and investment strategies.

Jonathan Siddharth, Founder and CEO of Turing, breaks down the AI revolution as automation looms over $30 trillion of human work. He highlights Turing's shift from basic data labeling to expert research, making it a powerhouse for elite AI labs like OpenAI and Google. Siddharth explains innovative training methods for models, contrasts Turing’s offerings against competitors, and discusses the critical role of human-generated data. He emphasizes Turing's unique positioning as a 'picks-and-shovels' player in the AGI infrastructure landscape.

Zach Dell, Co-founder and CEO of Base Power, leads a dynamic company shaking up America's energy landscape with rapid deployment and domestic manufacturing of distributed batteries. He discusses raising $1B in Series C funding and highlights the unique mix of strategic investors fueling their growth. The conversation also delves into why energy is now the bottleneck for AI innovation, the excitement of expanding into high-solar states, and the ambitious plans to launch their first factory in Austin, all while emphasizing a blue-collar culture of teamwork and hands-on leadership.

In this engaging discussion, Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, and Joshua Steinman, CEO of Galvanick, share insights on the future of defense technology. Lowery highlights the 'sixth domain of warfare' and how Epirus is developing directed-energy systems to counter drone swarms. Steinman digs into the vulnerabilities of industrial cybersecurity, stressing the critical need for robust defenses against attacks that could disrupt essential services. Together, they explore how geopolitics, AI, and national security shape the landscape ahead.

In this insightful discussion, venture capitalists Patrick Salyer (Mayfield), Tony Wong (500 Global), and Astasia Myers (Felicis) share their expertise on fundraising in AI. They dive into what true traction means beyond just revenue, highlighting metrics like engaged usage and rapid iteration. The panel explores the explosive growth of AI voice technologies and agents, and discuss strategies for navigating inflated growth expectations. Key topics include the necessity of defensibility through integrations and the evolving landscape of valuations in the AI sector.

Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner at Mayfield and a 17-time Forbes Midas List honoree, explores the transformative potential of AI. He emphasizes that AI represents a 100x opportunity, blending conversational interfaces with reasoning machines to democratize creation. Chaddha warns about inflated valuations in the market, advocating for real revenue over 'vibe revenue.' He underscores the importance of founder traits like authenticity and team focus, while outlining the collaborative intelligence stack that will define the future of work.

Eric Allison, Chief Product Officer at Joby Aviation, discusses the exciting expansion of eVTOL aircraft and Joby's innovative air taxi plans. Filip Aronshtein, CEO of Dirac, explains how his company automates manufacturing workflows with BuildOS, improving efficiency and quality. Steve Simoni, President of Allen Control Systems, highlights the importance of AI-enabled defense systems against drone threats. Together, they explore the intersection of aerospace, AI, and defense, unveiling a visionary blueprint for America's industrial future.