

"World of DaaS"
Word of DaaS with Auren Hoffman
deep dive into Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) businesses. World of DaaS is a podcast for data enthusiasts, by data enthusiasts, where Auren Hoffman talks to business and technology leaders about all things data - building it, acquiring it, analyzing it, and everything in between.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 28, 2025 • 52min
Venturehouse Group CEO Mark Ein - moneyball for CEOs, real estate data & buying sports teams
Mark Ein, CEO of Venturehouse Group, shares insights from his impressive career, where he's backed companies valued over $1 billion. He discusses the advantages of cross-sector investing, emphasizing how lessons from one industry can propel another. Ein dives into evaluating sports teams beyond just financials, highlighting the factors of scarcity and desirability. He also talks about the evolving landscape of office occupancy post-pandemic and how PropTech has gained traction. Plus, he explores the influence of sports betting on fan engagement, revealing its potential for amplifying excitement.

Oct 24, 2025 • 15min
The LM Brief: The Ethics of Agentic AI - Balancing Autonomy and Trust
Dive into the ethical dilemmas of agentic AI, where autonomy meets accountability. Explore how autonomy varies on a spectrum and the importance of fairness in algorithmic bias. Discover the balance between transparency and performance, especially in high-risk areas. The discussion touches on liability challenges and the significance of human-centric design. Practical steps for responsible deployment emphasize risk assessment and continuous governance. Ultimately, it's about prioritizing trust over mere capability.

Oct 21, 2025 • 45min
Astroten Founder Richard Shotton - why your A/B tests fail and how behavioral science can fix them
Richard Shotton, founder of Astroten and a leading voice in behavioral science, discusses why A/B testing can often lead marketers astray by missing core behavioral insights. He explains how social proof and scarcity can dramatically enhance marketing strategies. Richard reveals surprising findings, like how the phrasing of 'sold out' versus 'out of stock' impacts consumer perception. He also highlights the pratfall effect, showing that admitting minor flaws can actually increase product likability. Dive into why understanding behavioral biases is crucial in decision-making!

Oct 17, 2025 • 15min
The LM Brief: The Energy Bottleneck Behind AI’s Growth
Electricity is fast becoming the ultimate bottleneck for AI development. As demand for data centers skyrockets, reliable power is now the competitive edge. Countries are looking into nuclear-powered facilities to secure energy supply. The predicted energy consumption of global data centers by 2030 is staggering, with the U.S. set to account for a significant share. Modern AI racks require immense power, and cooling demands further complicate efficiency. Innovations in power supply and infrastructure are crucial for sustaining AI's rapid growth.

28 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 47min
Clay COO Varun Anand - why cutting-edge GTM teams are moving away from traditional CRMs
Varun Anand, Co-founder and Head of Operations at Clay, discusses how cutting-edge go-to-market teams are shifting from traditional CRMs to data-first workflows. He explains the advantages of usage-based pricing, highlights the underutilization of LinkedIn's data, and the role of AI agents in automating sales tasks. Varun also shares insights on building scalable systems through GTM Engineers and the evolving function of SDRs. Plus, he touches on how unconventional hiring fosters creativity within teams.

11 snips
Oct 10, 2025 • 15min
The LM Brief: How Leaders Can Close the AI Intelligence Gap
Scaling AI is more about organizational maturity than technology. With less than 15% of organizations ready for this challenge, data immaturity and shadow IT are significant hurdles. Effective governance and cultural shifts are essential for success. The focus should be on AI's business impact rather than just model performance. Preparing the workforce through reskilling and nurturing human skills like creativity will be key. Ultimately, coordinated efforts across data and people determine the effectiveness of AI initiatives.

Oct 7, 2025 • 48min
Beniamin Mincu CEO, MultiversX - building the trust layer for AI
Beniamin Mincu, CEO of MultiversX and blockchain visionary, dives into the crucial intersection of AI and trust layers. He discusses how blockchain can provide accountability in AI interactions, ensuring transparency amid rising AI-generated content. The conversation covers AI sovereign chains, the implications of the geopolitical AI arms race, and why global tech development is shifting outside Silicon Valley. Mincu also highlights the everyday use of blockchain and challenges traditional work-life balance norms, advocating for focused ambition in tech.

18 snips
Oct 3, 2025 • 14min
The LM Brief: How to Actually Look for a Job (Without Wasting Everyone’s Time)
Discover how to turn job hunting into a disciplined, full-time endeavor. The hosts emphasize shifting from begging for favors to proactively solving company issues. They advocate for quitting to focus your energy and offer a five-step strategy: achieve radical clarity, define your value, provide tangible work before outreach, craft concise emails, and exit gracefully. The key takeaway? Helping is far more effective than begging—reframe your approach by understanding company needs and showcasing your value!

Sep 30, 2025 • 46min
OpenGov CEO Zac Bookman - GovTech, data access, and AI transformation
Zac Bookman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenGov, leads a company delivering cloud software and AI solutions to U.S. government agencies. In this discussion, he explores the challenges of making public data accessible and the importance of partnerships in GovTech. Zac highlights the transformative impact of COVID on government digitization and expresses the need for startups and academics to leverage public data. He shares insights on the balance between data access and privacy, all while maintaining a focus on authentic company culture and efficient hiring.

Sep 26, 2025 • 14min
The LM Brief: AI Overviews and the Future of Publishing
A lawsuit from Penske Media against Google over AI-generated summaries raises concerns about copyright and the future of publishing. The discussion highlights how these summaries can harm publisher revenue by reducing traffic. The hosts explore the potential risks to journalism and the reputation of brands when nuances are lost. They also consider whether platforms should compensate publishers amidst a decline in web traffic. Lastly, there are reflections on how to ensure fair compensation for creators as AI continues to evolve.


