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a16z Podcast

Latest episodes

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340 snips
Jan 9, 2025 • 37min

Building Substack: Reinventing Culture through Subscriptions

Chris Best, co-founder and CEO of Substack, shares insights on redefining media through email, a tech from 1971. He discusses Substack's remarkable rise to over 3 million paid subscribers and the shift creators are making from traditional platforms to direct audience connections. The conversation touches on navigating the impact of AI in media, emphasizing the importance of human authenticity. Best reflects on lessons from his previous venture, Kik, and highlights how Substack empowers creators to achieve financial independence and thrive in a changing landscape.
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223 snips
Jan 3, 2025 • 35min

Crypto Trends for 2025: Stablecoins, App Stores, UX, and More

Explore the potential of dormant crypto holders and how innovative tech can re-engage them. Dive into the impact of stablecoins on traditional finance and the challenges of app store navigation for developers. Learn about the importance of simplifying crypto for mainstream users and enhancing their experience. The conversation also touches on critical choices developers face when deciding between building new tech versus using existing solutions, plus the evolving landscape of crypto regulation.
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381 snips
Dec 30, 2024 • 52min

Super Staffing Healthcare, Codifying Compliance, & Scaling Services

As we edge closer to 2025, the potential of AI to tackle clinician shortages in healthcare is discussed, revealing innovative solutions to enhance patient care. The podcast highlights how AI can streamline compliance in the financial sector, making regulatory processes more efficient. Additionally, there's a focus on how AI is reshaping service industries through automation and strategic acquisitions, redefining growth models while emphasizing the importance of blending technology with human factors for sustainable success.
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456 snips
Dec 25, 2024 • 43min

The Race for AI—Search, National Infrastructure, & On-Device AI

The race for AI is heating up, with 2025 poised to be a game changer. Discover how AI-native tools are challenging Google's search monopoly and reshaping user expectations. Explore the importance of compute as a national infrastructure and the competitive dynamics between tech giants and emerging disruptors. Dive into the future of on-device AI, offering enhanced privacy and performance. This conversation unpacks the thrilling opportunities that lie ahead for founders and nations in the evolving technology landscape.
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277 snips
Dec 20, 2024 • 42min

Jobs of the Future, Harnessing Earth Observation, & Gaming Tech Advances

As we look toward 2025, groundbreaking technologies are reshaping industries. Robots and hybrid engineering skills are driving a new industrial revolution. An explosion of Earth observation data is revealing transformative opportunities, especially in agriculture and defense. Meanwhile, gaming technology has evolved from entertainment to become a powerful tool for training and design, leveraging advanced simulations and AI. Prepare for a future where these trends redefine our interaction with machines and open doors to innovative solutions across various sectors.
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226 snips
Dec 16, 2024 • 45min

Scaling Shopify: Tobias Lütke and Ben Horowitz on Building a Global Giant

Tobias Lütke, CEO and co-founder of Shopify, shares his journey from a snowboarding store to leading a global e-commerce giant. He discusses the importance of adapting to AI and other technologies in retail. Lütke emphasizes hands-on leadership to align teams with company values. The conversation also covers change management in the face of corporate activism and the benefits of decentralization in driving innovation. They explore how crypto and AI can reshape the future of commerce, highlighting the community's role in technological progress.
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508 snips
Dec 11, 2024 • 45min

How AI is Transforming Labor Markets

AI is reshaping labor markets, especially in industries like healthcare and finance, where traditional tasks are increasingly automated. The discussion highlights the seismic shift in software dynamics, moving from basic databases to AI-enabled solutions. Startups are seizing opportunities to enhance operational efficiency while tackling longstanding inefficiencies. With AI's potential, new roles are emerging, emphasizing human skills, and there's a growing need for innovation in niche sectors, where deep industry insights can drive success.
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227 snips
Dec 6, 2024 • 39min

Fixing Education in America: What's Stopping Us?

Anurupa Ganguly, founder of Prisms, and Anna Edwards, co-founder of Whiteboard Advisors, share insights on fixing America's education crisis. They discuss how over half the population faces childcare deserts, while early childhood education suffers from outdated systems. Ganguly highlights the potential of AR/VR in teaching, while Edwards emphasizes the importance of data-driven strategies. Together, they explore how public-private partnerships and innovative tech can reshape educational outcomes and reclaim the American dream for future generations.
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396 snips
Dec 2, 2024 • 1h 50min

Prediction Markets and Beyond

In this discussion, Alex Taborrok, a Professor of Economics at George Mason University, and Scott Duke Kominers, a Harvard Business School Professor, dive into the nuances of prediction markets. They explore how these markets can outperform traditional polling, the dynamics of information sharing, and challenges in design. The conversation touches on blockchain's potential, the concept of futarchy, and the role of AI in enhancing prediction accuracy. They also tackle the importance of swift payouts and the implications of incentives on market integrity.
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385 snips
Nov 25, 2024 • 17min

Death of a Salesforce: Why AI Will Transform Sales

Sales is undergoing a revolution as AI increasingly replaces traditional CRM tools. Real-time insights from various platforms are streamlining tasks like prospecting. AI doesn’t just automate; it enhances strategies while keeping the human element in selling. The podcast explores how intelligent pipeline solutions are evolving team dynamics. Collaboration across sales, marketing, and support is essential for improving customer experiences. Finally, integrating AI into existing systems bridges gaps and transforms strategies into proactive tools.

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