The Peel with Turner Novak

In this discussion, Nathan Benaich, founder of Air Street Capital and author of the influential State of AI report, delves into groundbreaking trends shaping the AI landscape. He discusses the shift toward reasoning and tool calling in AI models, and the significant rise of Chinese open-source projects. The conversation also touches on the reality of AI monetization and the emergence of sovereign AI strategies driven by geopolitical motives. Benaich reflects on whether we are in an AI bubble and shares insights on AI investments and opportunities in Europe’s defense sector.

Marcelo Lebre, Co-founder and President of Remote, shares his journey in revolutionizing global payroll. He dives into the complexities of payroll automation, revealing why many still cling to outdated spreadsheet systems. The conversation highlights the challenges of navigating European regulations and how Remote addresses them. Marcelo recounts the lessons learned from launching Remote during the pandemic and offers insights on managing distributed teams. His story includes eight failed startup attempts, culminating in the creation of the $3B API that changed the industry.

Kevin Hartz, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Eventbrite and Xoom, dives into the evolving tech landscape and his belief that AI represents a massive bubble that's still in its infancy. He emphasizes the importance of supporting teenage founders, sharing insights on how he identifies exceptional young talent. Hartz recounts investing nearly all his first startup's proceeds into PayPal’s seed round, drawing lessons from the legendary PayPal Mafia. He also discusses pioneering tech like Palantir while reflecting on personal milestones, such as starting a family with genomic editing and surrogates.

Jason Calacanis, an influential investor and founder, dives into captivating discussions about media and startups. He shares lessons from his experiences with interview legends like Oprah and Charlie Rose. Jason reflects on launching multiple media companies and the origins of the All-In podcast, revealing its impact on the 2024 elections. He analyzes Trump's media strategy and his early investments in Uber and Robinhood. Finally, he warns about job automation's rapid pace, urging founders to innovate for independence.

Steven Fabre, Co-founder and CEO of Liveblocks, dives into the future of AI and human collaboration. He explains how to effectively integrate AI into software, emphasizing it as a teammate rather than a mere add-on. They discuss the evolution of Liveblocks from simple components to a sophisticated AI collaboration layer. Steven highlights the challenges of building effective collaboration tools and shares insights on transitioning from designer to CEO. He also touches on lessons learned in enterprise sales and how to launch successfully on Product Hunt.

Zaid Rahman, Co-founder and CEO of Flex, leads an AI-native private bank tailored for high-net-worth middle-market owners. In the conversation, he reveals how Flex scaled to a $70 million revenue run rate in just two years and raised an impressive $60 million Series B. Zaid discusses the unique needs of mid-market businesses, innovative products like a 60-day interest-free credit card, and insights from launching during a challenging market. He also shares the crucial role of events and community-driven customer acquisition in Flex's growth.

Matteo Franceschetti, Co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, dives into the fascinating world of sleep optimization. He shares the pivotal role of sleep in overall health and offers practical tips for improving sleep routines. Matteo explains how Eight Sleep uses AI and temperature control to enhance sleep quality, and he discusses the unique challenges of building a hardware company. With insights on future innovations in sleep technology and the importance of mission-driven hiring, he paints an exciting picture of the evolving health landscape.

Rahul Vohra, the Founder and CEO of Superhuman Mail, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including selling companies to LinkedIn and Grammarly. He reveals the impressive $700 million ARR and 40 million daily users of Superhuman, discussing how email integrates within Grammarly’s ecosystem. Rahul emphasizes designing products like video games to enhance user engagement and revisits his quantitative guide to achieving product-market fit. His experiences highlight the strategic importance of robust integration and the evolution of AI in productivity tools.

Will Gaybrick, the President of Technology and Business at Stripe, explores cutting-edge topics in tech and finance. He delves into Stripe's exciting work with stablecoins and how AI is revolutionizing payments. Discover insights on why AI-driven companies are growing 3.5x faster than traditional SaaS. Will discusses the complexities of building financial infrastructure, modular product design, and the company's cautious approach towards an IPO. Tune in for an engaging look at the future of commerce and Stripe's role within it!

Roger Ehrenberg, Co-founder of Game Changers Ventures and IA Ventures, dives into the world of seed-stage investing and sports ownership. He shares insights on how COVID transformed the sports landscape and the potential of innovative formats like the Tomorrow Golf League. Ehrenberg discusses the significance of real estate adjacent to stadiums and the evolving business models in sports. He also highlights traits of successful founders and gives valuable advice for emerging managers, emphasizing empathy and a drive to solve problems.