Playing With Unicorns

A fast-paced AMA tackling why AI sparks fear and how politics lags behind tech. They talk commercializing applied AI, when technical cofounders still matter, and what creates real defensibility in AI companies. There's a deep dive on marketplaces — winning wedges, Latin America opportunities, and how graph neural networks could change matching. Funding paths, investor proof, and changing education for an AI world also come up.

Discussion of whether AI will displace marketplace discovery and how defensible platforms remain. Exploration of which marketplace types are most vulnerable and why. Practical tactics like indexing, auto-listing from photos, and AI-driven customer care to boost supply and cut costs. New revenue plays such as advertising, cross-border trade enabled by translation and payments, and provenance for secondary markets.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Zach Resnick, the founder and CEO of Ascend (formerly FlyFlat), a membership program for frequent travelers that eliminates 90% of travel decisions and saves 35% off biz/first class flights. Ascend has been helping my partners Jose and Jeff with all their travels for a couple years now, saving FJ Labs over six figures since we first learned about them. Prior to starting Ascend, Zach opened hundreds of credit cards, manufactured over $100M in credit card spend, and started three other travel companies. In addition, he started a crypto hedge fund and a blockchain and fintech-focused venture fund. We covered the following: • How he opened 300 credit cards. • Tips to save lots of $ on travel with miles and points. • Why as a former VC Ascend hasn't raised much capital. • How to save time and be healthier when traveling long-haul.

The venture market is in flux. AI is booming while the rest of venture is in the dumps. Venture capital as an asset class is evolving and retrenching. Fewer deals are happening at higher prices. New marketplace types are emerging. AI is impacting marketplaces in unexpected ways and new technologies are coming of age. There is much to discuss! You can follow along live on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch. If you are interested in seeing past episodes, including the supporting materials presented during the stream, check out my blog's Playing with Unicorns section. It takes me a while to write episode summaries. For the latest shows, check out Playing With Unicorns on YouTube, Spotify, or iTunes.

Clutch has had an incredible ride. As the "Carvana of Canada" it was a highflier in 2021. It had a brush with death in 2023 and effected an incredible turnaround. They are now once again on a tear. Dan Park, Clutch's Founder & CEO, joined us to share all the lessons learned along the way.

There’s a deep dive into how geopolitical changes are shaping global trade and tech investments. Tips for persuading investors and the future of fashion marketplaces highlight the conversation. The speaker shares innovative wealth management strategies ideal for entrepreneurs. Excitingly, they discuss the potential impact of AI and humanoid robots in our daily lives. Personal stories, like a snow kiting adventure turned injury, provide insights on resilience and startup challenges, while addressing education for the jobs of the future.

Discover the exhilarating future of marketplaces! Dive into cross-border commerce and the rise of live video sales. Learn about innovative niche marketplaces, from restaurant equipment to children's books. Explore the impact of climate tech on energy solutions and how automation is reshaping installations. Uncover the transformation in B2B platforms, driven by user-centric models and AI. Plus, get insights into real estate trends, AI's influence on customer experiences, and the challenges of market fluctuations!

The discussion revolves around AI's booming influence in venture capital, contrasting the current investment landscape. Insights into AI's disruptive potential across various sectors, including sports, fashion, and healthcare, are shared. The conversation highlights the transformative effects of AI on job roles without complete replacement. Strategic advice for entrepreneurs exploring AI solutions is provided, alongside personal anecdotes about marketplace success. Additionally, thrilling plans for extreme adventures add a fun twist to the insightful journey.

Topics covered in this podcast include AI trends, augmented reality, starting OLX, Midas details, retail investor opportunities, seed round insights, crypto market perspectives, activism in startups, potential fiat currency crisis, future adventure plans, marketplace validation, AI investments, and job evolution amidst technological advancements.

In this podcast, the speaker shares secrets to accomplish a lot in a passionate life. They discuss outsourcing tasks, minimizing news consumption, managing business and personal life, creating a yearly photo album, acknowledging financial privilege, imposter syndrome and happiness, and the effectiveness of virtual assistants.