Generative Now | AI Builders on Creating the Future

Recorded live at Lightspeed’s offices in San Francisco, this special episode of Generative Now dives into the urgency and promise of AI interpretability. Lightspeed partner Nnamdi Iregbulem spoke with Anthropic researcher Jack Lindsey and Goodfire co-founder and Chief Scientist Tom McGrath, who previously co-founded Google DeepMind’s interpretability team. They discuss opening the black box of modern AI models in order to understand their reliability and spot real-world safety concerns, in order to build AI systems of the future that we can trust. Episode Chapters: 00:42 Welcome and Introduction00:36 Overview of Lightspeed and AI Investments03:19 Event Agenda and Guest Introductions05:35 Discussion on Interpretability in AI18:44 Technical Challenges in AI Interpretability29:42 Advancements in Model Interpretability30:05 Smarter Models and Interpretability31:26 Models Doing the Work for Us32:43 Real-World Applications of Interpretability34:32 Philanthropics' Approach to Interpretability39:15 Breakthrough Moments in AI Interpretability44:41 Challenges and Future Directions48:18 Neuroscience and Model Training Insights54:42 Emergent Misalignment and Model Behavior01:01:30 Concluding Thoughts and NetworkingStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano sits down with Kayvon Beykpour, co-founder and CEO of Macroscope, which launches today, and the former co-founder of Periscope. They dive into how Macroscope will serve as an “understanding engine” for software companies, giving leaders real-time visibility and saving engineers time with AI-powered workflows. Kayvon reflects on his journey from building Periscope and leading product at Twitter to reimagining how teams manage both human and agentic workforces. They get into philosophies on starting companies, management styles, and how AI could be the thing that helps managers solve their biggest challenges. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:52 Introducing Macroscope: The New Product01:24 The Problem Macroscope Solves02:30 How Macroscope Works03:52 The Future of AI in Software Development08:58 Empowering Leaders with Macroscope10:56 Kayvon's Journey: From College Startup to Macroscope16:22 The Periscope Story: From Idea to Acquisition28:22 The Rise and Challenges of Periscope32:43 Twitter's Live Feature Evolution33:59 Integrating Audio Conversations35:07 Challenges in Twitter's Product Strategy35:32 The Clubhouse Acquisition Attempt36:27 Twitter's Cultural Shift with Spaces38:48 Managing Large Teams at Twitter44:05 Macroscope: The Genesis47:03 The Role of LLMs in Macroscope48:36 The Elon Musk Encounter54:23 The Pivot to Macroscope59:21 Future of Macroscope and Product DevelopmentStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this special episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano talks with Semil Shah, founder and partner of Haystack VC and partner at Lightspeed. Together, they have a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation on the state of AI, venture capital, and the future of media. They get into everything from Meta’s high-stakes AI talent spree and Apple’s uncertain strategy, to the Figma IPO, to the evolution of the seed stage, and the brewing battle between AI agents and the open web. Semil also shares hard-earned insights on founder strategy, brand building, and why design still wins.Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction00:30 Reflecting on Long Island01:47 M&A Frenzy and Talent Wars02:10 Meta's Strategic Moves06:30 Apple's AI Strategy11:12 Figma's IPO Success21:33 The State of Seed Investing25:30 The Model's Mathematical Basis26:00 Case Study: Firebase Acquisition27:19 Seed Fund Strategies and Challenges30:30 Founders' Incentives and Signal Risk36:40 AI Agents vs. CDNs: A Legal Playground42:57 The Evolution of Podcasts and Media51:31 The Future of AI Branding56:03 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano sits down with Rahul Vohra, founder of the email client Superhuman, to unpack the future of AI-powered productivity. Rahul shares the origin story of Superhuman, how game design principles shaped its blazing speed and keyboard-first UX, and why time—not email—is the real problem it solves. He dives into the thinking behind their recent acquisition by Grammarly, his vision for an AI-native productivity suite, and what it means to build both apps and agents for the future. Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview01:00 The Superhuman Email Experience02:28 Building Superhuman: Challenges and Innovations04:50 The Importance of Speed and Efficiency05:36 Superhuman's Unique Features and Early Decisions11:44 The Acquisition by Grammarly15:35 The Vision for an AI Native Productivity Suite22:32 Exploring Verticalized Workflows22:52 The Excitement of the Superhuman-Grammarly Deal24:23 The Strategy of Bundling28:10 AI's Role in Future Productivity32:26 Superhuman's Use of AI41:53 Lessons from Previous AcquisitionsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. The views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent the views of Lightspeed. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano sits down with two co-investors: Steve Jang, Co-Founder and Partner at Kindred Ventures, and Scott Belsky, Partner at A24 and founder of A24 Labs. Together they explore the current state and future of consumer AI, from why most products still look like chatbots, to what’s next in AI-powered hardware, browsers, and personal agents. They dive into the concept of “personal AI,” discussing memory, context, and the emerging opportunities (and risks) around consumer data and model control. They also touch on use cases like AI-powered dating wingmen, simulated versions of ourselves, and the next generation of AI-first operating systems. Episode Chapters: (00:00) Welcome and Introductions(00:43) The Current State of AI Products(02:48) Surprises and Challenges with LLMs(05:24) Future of Consumer AI and Personal AI(15:49) Memory and Personalization in AI(21:52) Potential Risks and Business Models(24:22) The Battle for User Data in AI(25:11) Optimism in AI Model Inference(27:00) The Role of Open Source Models(28:13) The Future of AI Hardware(28:54) Challenges and Opportunities in AI Hardware Startups(30:29) The Evolution of Consumer Hardware(38:36) The Reinvention of Browsers(46:23) The Potential of AI-Enhanced Browsers(47:54) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this episode, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano sits down with the Foundation for American Innovation’s Chief Economist Sam Hammond to talk AI policy. Sam breaks down the key infrastructure needed for AI developments and how policymakers are adapting to rapid technological change. He also shares insights on AI training data and fair use, workforce disruption, and how, when it comes to AI, everything can change in just a few months.Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Meet Sam Hammond: Background and Role03:06 The Big AI Policy Issues05:09 Energy and Chip Policy06:47 Fair Use and Copyright in AI13:37 The Urgency of AI Regulation17:03 Potential AI Crisis and Legislative Response20:25 Challenges in AI Regulation21:39 Acceleration vs. Regulation in AI Development22:34 AI Safety and National Security23:51 Fair Use and Copyright in AI Training Data25:39 AI-Induced Labor Disruptions33:36 State-Level AI Regulation 36:02 Global Cooperation on AI Safety37:29 Advice for AI Startups38:34 Optimism for AI and Policy Advancements41:07 ConclusionStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed partner Michael Mignano sits down with the former Stitch Fix COO and founder of The Yes, Julie Bornstein. They talk about Julie’s latest venture: Daydream, an AI-powered fashion discovery engine built for the LLM era. Julie shares how her decades at Nordstrom, Sephora, and Pinterest shaped her vision, why now is the moment for natural language search in shopping, and how AI will transform fashion.Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Interview01:06 Julie Bornstein's New Venture: Daydream02:44 The Evolution of E-commerce and AI03:28 From Nordstrom to Daydream05:35 Technological Innovations in Fashion12:02 The Yes: Launching During a Pandemic15:15 Acquisition by Pinterest and Future Plans17:49 The Vision for Daydream22:57 Introduction to Style Passport23:27 Iterative Shopping Experience24:02 Bringing Brands Together24:45 Technical Implementation of Models25:24 Challenges with Large Models26:12 Building Mini Models for Fashion27:28 Competition from Large Model Providers30:25 Video Shopping and Social Media Integration31:43 The Role of Agents in Shopping35:20 Future of Shopping Interfaces37:13 Being a Serial Founder41:48 Launch and Future Plans43:09 Conclusion and FarewellStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

This week, Lightspeed Partner Mike Mignano sits down with his colleague Bucky Moore, a fellow partner at Lightspeed to explore the rapidly shifting landscape of AI and infrastructure. They unpack the evolution from hardware to cloud to AI-native architectures, the growing momentum behind open-source models, and the rise of AI agents and reinforcement learning environments. Bucky also shares how his early days at Cisco shaped his bottom-up view of enterprise software, and why embracing the new is the key to spotting trillion-dollar opportunities.Episode Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to the Conversation(00:38) Bucky Moore's Background and Early Career(01:39) Insights from Cisco: Old World Meets New World(03:54) Transition to Venture Capital(08:15) The Evolution of Infrastructure Investment(15:50) Impact of AI on Infrastructure(24:37) Training AI Agents: Challenges and Innovations(25:07) The Future of Reinforcement Learning Environments(25:51) Infrastructure for AI Agents(26:49) Emerging Opportunities in AI Infrastructure(28:58) The Impact of Salesforce's Data Policies(33:00) The Evolution of AI Compute(39:47) The Role of New AI Architectures(42:47) The Future of Venture Capital in AI(46:44) Predicting the Next Trillion-Dollar AI CompaniesStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

This week, Lightspeed Partner Mike Mignano sits down with Moritz Baier-Lentz, Partner and Head of Gaming and Interactive Media at Lightspeed. From the world’s #1 ranked Diablo II player to Goldman Sachs banker to VC, Moritz has lived multiple lives—all shaped by a deep passion for games. In this episode, Moritz joins Michael Mignano to talk about the AI revolution in gaming: how generative tech is transforming studios, gameplay, and player experiences. They dive into what makes games work in 2025 and why the next billion-dollar games may not look like games at all. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview01:16 Moritz Bayer's Gaming Journey02:53 The Economics of Gaming06:28 Competitive Gaming and Personal Growth09:32 Marathon Adventures and Life Philosophy13:16 Venture Capital in Gaming24:38 AI's Impact on Gaming29:50 Future of Gaming and AI39:40 Game Theory Podcast and Final ThoughtsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comwww.lsvp.com/gametheory X: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.comEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

What is the future of AI in the workplace? What kinds of jobs would you trust an AI to do? In this episode of Generative Now, host and Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano explores how AI is transforming the workforce, with insights from four sharp thinkers: Semil Shah, founding general partner at Haystack and Lightspeed Venture Partners, on the risks of replacing junior talent with agents, Suno Co-founder Mikey Schulman on AI’s power to unlock creativity, Anu Atluru, founder, physician and angel investor, on how AI is reshaping medicine, and Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo and current CEO of Sunshine, on what companies must do now to adapt—or risk being left behind.Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction: AI and the Future of Work00:20 Exploring AI's Impact on the Workforce01:14 The Co-Pilot Phase of AI02:47 AI in Investment Banking and Consulting06:00 Artificial Super Intelligence: The Next Frontier09:33 Mikey Shulman on AI's Role in Creativity11:59 Anu Atluru on AI Transforming Medicine20:18 Marissa Mayer on AI's Organizational Impact26:56 Conclusion: Embracing AI's PotentialStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

This week, Lightspeed Partner Mike Mignano sits down with Gabriel Stengel, founder and CEO of Rogo, to explore how AI is transforming the world of finance. Gabe shares his journey from sleepless nights as a junior investment banker at Lazard to building Rogo, a cutting-edge AI platform that automates the grueling work of benchmarking, earnings analysis, and pitch deck creation in seconds. They discuss the origins of Rogo from Gabe’s time at Princeton, the challenges of building AI tools for elite financial institutions, and why the next generation of analysts might just be digital. Gabe also unpacks the technical edge that sets Rogo apart and the ways in which financial services may look very different in the near future. Episode Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to the Interview(00:55) Gabe Stengel's Background and Rogo's Inception(02:44) Early Challenges and Evolution of Rogo(07:29) The Role of AI in Finance(12:07) Investor and Customer Reception(13:49) Pivotal Moments and Product Market Fit(21:53) Balancing Enterprise Security and Feature Development(23:45) Navigating the Challenges of AI Startup Speed(25:45) Rogo's Impact on Investment Banking Workflows(28:34) AI's Role in Professional Services and Legal Work(32:33) Future of Rogo and Financial Services(37:18) Challenges and Strategies in Enterprise Sales(42:02) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

This week, we are revisiting a conversation between Lightspeed partner Michael Mignano and Anthropic’s head of product, Mike Krieger. Mike is known for co-founding Instagram, one of the most beloved pieces of consumer technology, and now he has taken his talents to Anthropic. They discuss the challenges AI product builders face and the evolution of product innovation and draw parallels between two transformative eras: the social media revolution that gave birth to Instagram and today's AI renaissance. Episode Chapters: (00:00) Introduction(00:54) Mike Krieger's Journey to Anthropic(03:17) Building Product Strategy at Anthropic(07:43) Rapid Iteration and Safety(10:58) Differentiating AI Models and User Experience(17:57) Impact of AI on Consumer Products and Business Models(24:39) Enterprise vs. Consumer Product Strategy(29:19) AI in Personal Life Management(30:15) Open Source and Claude Integrations(33:09) AI-Assisted Product Development(37:13) Scaling Teams and Processes at Anthropic(42:17) Reflections on AI and Future ProspectsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

This week, we are revisiting a conversation between Lightspeed partner Michael Mignano and Arvind Jain, the founder and CEO of Glean about the evolution of AI-assisted enterprise search.Arvind shares what insights helped to start Glean's journey in 2019, how the company leveraged transformer-based models early on, and how Glean developed the market for this product. They also talk about competition, the technical aspects of integrating Glean across SaaS platforms, and the monumental impact of ChatGPT on the industry. Episode Chapters(00:00) Introduction (01:15) Why Arvind Created Glean to Solve Enterprise Search Problems(03:50) Technical Foundations: Building Glean with Transformers(09:04) Product Market Fit and Early Challenges(12:16) The Impact of ChatGPT and Market Evolution(13:42) Glean's Architecture and Model Integration(17:58) The Future of AI in Enterprises(27:52) Leadership, Competition, and Company Culture(35:48) Reflections and Lessons from Rubrik to Glean(41:15) Lightning Round and Closing RemarksStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

How can AI make meetings better? That’s the simple question that inspired Granola, a productivity tool that can tell you what was actually discussed in that meeting last week and what the real next steps are. In this episode of Generative Now, host Michael Mignano, partner at Lightspeed, sits down with Granola co-founders Chris Pedregal and Sam Stephenson at their headquarters in London. They talk about how they first met, their early product bets, and how they decided to focus on solving one painful problem: the chaos that follows every meeting. They share the story behind their early experiments with GPT-3 and how that eventually evolved into a tool designed especially for people who find their days filled with back-to-back meetings. Chris and Sam explain why they avoided flashy AI features to focus on simplicity and habit-forming design, how they quickly found their product-market fit, and what it means to adapt quickly in the age of LLMs. Episode Chapters00:00 Welcome and Introduction01:15 Finding the Right Co-Founder01:51 Tools for Thought and AI03:24 Identifying the Problem04:38 Building the Solution05:07 The Evolution of AI and App Layer07:46 Challenges and Innovations11:20 Business Model and Future Outlook14:24 The Launch and Early Success17:52 Theoretical vs. Practical User Needs18:17 Stress and Software Design19:28 Scaling with AI22:05 Maintaining Quality and Taste24:10 Building a Silicon Valley Startup in London28:03 The Future of Granola30:27 Early Feedback and Iteration35:09 Privacy and Data HandlingStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

Can a pivot to AI actually save a company? In the case of Gamma, it did that and more. In this episode of Generative Now, host Michael Mignano, partner at Lightspeed, talks with Jon Noronha, the co-founder of Gamma, an AI-powered platform that helps users create interactive and engaging presentations, websites, and social media assets. Nearly four decades since the creation of PowerPoint, they talk about how Gamma is treading new ground in the presentation space. Jon discusses how Gamma almost failed until they made the bold decision to pivot to AI in 2023, and how that move brought them millions of new users around the world. They get into the company's initial struggle for product-market fit, the impact of generative AI models like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion, and the strategic moves they made to adapt and thrive. Jon also shares where he thinks Gamma might go next. Episode Chapters:(00:00) Welcome and Introduction(00:41) Founding Gamma and Initial Vision(04:00) Challenges and Pivot to AI(07:04) AI Integration and Breakthrough(08:38) Expanding Beyond Presentations(15:45) User Experience and Prompt Engineering(20:11) Building Value Beyond AI(21:14) Competing with Industry Giants(25:03) The Future of AI Interfaces(29:43) Voice Interaction and AI(34:35) Gamma's Growth and Team Dynamics(36:47) Anticipating AI Model Innovations(39:05) Conclusion Stay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

Exceptional AI products begin with exceptional teams, but in 2025, AI staffing has never been harder. In this episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed partner Michael Mignano dives into the realities of AI recruiting and team building, sharing insights from some of today’s top AI leaders. You’ll hear from:Demi Guo, CEO and Co-Founder of PikaMati Staniszewski, CEO and Co-Founder of Eleven LabsBill Dally, Chief Scientist of NVIDIADan Shipper, CEO and co-founder of EveryAmy Anton, Vice President of Talent, AI at LightspeedTogether, they explore what defines a strong AI team, the evolving role of creative talent, how to scale without losing culture, and why generalists may thrive in an AI-powered workforce. The episode also touches on the shift from the knowledge economy to the allocation economy, and what that means for hiring in the AI era.Whether you're an AI founder, operator, or just thinking about your next hire, this episode unpacks what’s working (and what’s not) in AI HR, staffing, and team design.Chapters: (00:00) What’s Challenging about Hiring AI Teams?(01:25) Demi Guo and Mati Staniszewski: Creative Talent in AI(03:36) Dan Shipper: Finding Space to Experiment (08:05) Scaling AI Teams: Insights from NVIDIA(10:52) Building Strong AI Teams: Advice from Lightspeed(16:48) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

There’s no doubt we have more choices for entertainment than at any other point in history. And yet, once a series ends, it can be difficult to find something you like just as much. But what if AI could give you a seemingly endless supply of quality content? In this episode of Generative Now, host Michael Mignano, partner at Lightspeed, sits down with Rohan Nayak, CEO and co-founder of Pocket FM, an audio platform that has pioneered the audio series format. Rohan talks about how he identified a gap in the audio entertainment space and how Pocket FM leverages  AI to optimize everything from audience retention to discovery to identifying hit shows. He also discusses how Pocket FM’s employment of AI has allowed for the making of an all-in-one content creation and consumption platform, where creators can use AI as a writing coach, editor, and productivity partner — all in one. The conversation offers a glimpse into the future of storytelling and how AI is reshaping the way content is created, discovered, and consumed.     Episode Chapters:(00:00) Introduction (02:23) Story of Rohan and Pocket FM(06:02) Solving for a content gap(08:42) Creating a new audio entertainment format(11:06) Building Pocket FM(17:17) Using AI in audio content creation(21:11) Human and AI partnership in content creation(24:07) Challenges of improving an AI writing model(28:45) Using AI to identify blockbusters(33:00) AB testing with content(36:11) Training AI to create webtoons(41:14) Evaluating and propagating content(43:47) Matching content with users(44:50) Future of Pocket FM(48:02) Closing ThoughtsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this special mailbag episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano tackles your questions from X and LinkedIn. He gets into AI's market expansion, startup defensibility, which verticals investors are watching, and how the most interesting new roles are being shaped by AI.  Plus, Michael shares what is exciting about consumer AI products right now.Episode Chapters(00:00) Introduction (00:35) AI Opportunities: New vs. Existing Markets (02:09) Will SaaS TAMs Expand or Contract with AI? (02:59) Creating Defensibility for Consumer AI Startups (05:29) Emerging Roles: Agent Engineers vs. Agent Managers (08:25) Best Verticals for Consumer AI (11:39) What Acquisition Could Fix Apple's AI Lag? (13:19) AI's Potential in Dispute Resolution (14:38) The State of VC Funding in AI Stay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

History may not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes. Vibe coded games, like a flight simulator from @levelsio, are reminiscent of early iPhone app store games like Flappy Bird and Paper Toss. How else are consumer tech cycles evolving? Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano welcomes back investor Semil Shah for their quarterly check-in. They talk about the landscape of VC seed investing, the impact of AI on tech hubs like New York, LA, and the Bay Area, and whether accelerators like Y Combinator still have the same edge?Flight Simulator: fly.pieter.comEpisode Chapters:(01:22) LA vs NYC Tech Scenes(02:54) AI's Geographic Pull(05:37) Gaming as Future Consumer Tech(08:35) Vibe Coding(17:40) Seed Investing in the AI Era(25:13) The Series A Crunch(36:03) Rising Series A Standards(41:14) Bootstrapping vs VC for AI(45:26) Value of University Degrees(55:32) YC's Expanded Cohorts(57:52) Overlooked Seed TrendsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

This week, we’re revisiting a conversation with Scott Belsky, who recently announced a new role leading innovation at A24. Lightspeed Partner and Host Michael Mignano talks with Scott about the evolution of marketing with generative content, the future of personalization, and overlooked opportunities in the AI landscape. This conversation took place at the Robin Hood Opportunity x AI Summit. Robin Hood is the largest foundation fighting poverty in New York City.  The group has invested nearly $3.5 billion over 35 years and Robin Hood supports all five boroughs with food pantries, high-performing schools, job-training programs, shelters and more. The group has a venture-like approach; they scale programs that are working and find new programs to fill gaps. Episode Chapters(00:00) Intro(00:32) Scott Belsky on AI and Creativity(04:06) The Role of Creators(5:18) AI Generated Content on Social Media (7:59) Customers Inspiring Product Development(09:59) The Hyper Personalization of Digital Experiences (13:57) Overlooked Business Opportunities in AI(18:38) How AIs Can Scale SMBs (20:46) Legal Risks with Enterprise Adoption(25:02) Custom Tuned Models Generated From IP(26:34) The Rise of AI Agents(29:12) Why Scott Belsky is An AI OptimistStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.