TBPN

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

This is our full conversation with Brian Chesky, recorded live on TBPN.We discuss how Airbnb reaccelerated growth by rebuilding startup intensity and embracing “founder mode” leadership, why Chesky believes today’s AI chatbots are not the right interface for the future of travel and e-commerce, how Airbnb is using AI across the business with 60% of its code now written by AI, and why he believes the next major wave of AI innovation will come from immersive consumer products, visual interfaces, and agentic experiences rather than another wave of enterprise software.Sign up for TBPN’s daily newsletter at TBPN.comFollow TBPN:https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(01:34) - Apple and Intel Reach Chip Deal (10:05) - The American Economic Rollercoaster (27:52) - Timeline Reactions (43:48) - Josh Reeves, CEO and co-founder of Gusto, a company specializing in payroll, benefits, and HR solutions for small businesses, discusses the company's recent milestone of surpassing $1 billion in trailing revenue, attributing this achievement to their commitment to assisting small businesses. He emphasizes Gusto's focus on execution and support for small businesses, noting that while they have no immediate plans to go public, they are closely monitoring market conditions. Reeves also highlights the impact of AI on business growth rates and the increase in new business formations, expressing optimism about the potential for AI to empower more individuals to become business owners. (55:59) - Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO of Sweetgreen, discusses the company's recent nationwide launch of wraps, marking its most significant menu expansion to date. After a year of development, Sweetgreen introduced four signature wraps featuring a custom four-ingredient tortilla, aiming to offer a portable, healthy, and craveable option for customers. Neman emphasizes the importance of customer feedback in this innovation, highlighting the use of social listening tools and direct interactions to meet consumer demands for convenient and satisfying meals. (01:32:00) - Zal Bilimoria is the solo general partner at Refactor Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm he founded in 2016, focusing on hard tech startups in sectors like bio, climate, and aerospace. In the conversation, he reflects on his journey from product management roles at Microsoft, Google, YouTube, Netflix, and LinkedIn to becoming a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he co-launched their Bio Fund, before establishing Refactor Capital. Bilimoria discusses his investment philosophy, emphasizing a concentrated portfolio strategy, writing $1-2 million checks to 20-25 companies per fund, and highlights recent successes such as Astranis' $450 million Series E raise and PathAI's $1 billion acquisition by Roche. (01:56:27) - Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, is an American businessman and industrial designer who has led the company since its inception in 2007. In the conversation, he discusses Airbnb's accelerated growth post-pandemic, attributing it to a renewed startup intensity and a focus on enhancing the guest experience. Chesky also highlights the significant role of AI in the company's operations, noting that 60% of Airbnb's code is now written by AI, which has improved customer service efficiency and reduced costs. Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

This is our full conversation with Ryan Cohen, recorded live on TBPN.We discuss his $125/share bid to acquire eBay through a half cash, half stock deal and why he believes combining it with GameStop could unlock massive value, how he plans to cut billions in costs, operate with an owner mindset, and use GameStop’s physical store footprint to authenticate collectibles and drive growth, and why he sees eBay as a durable but under-optimized platform that can be rebuilt through live commerce, creator partnerships, and a faster, more focused operating model.Sign up for TBPN’s daily newsletter at TBPN.comFollow TBPN:https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(01:06) - OpenAI vs Elon Musk Continues (09:19) - U.S. Gets Early Access to AI Models (21:22) - Courtroom Simulator (23:25) - Coinbase Cuts 14% of Staff (28:37) - Meta's Cheap Stock May Be A Trap (32:51) - Harley Finkelstein, born November 8, 1983, in Montreal, is a Canadian entrepreneur and the president of Shopify. In the conversation, he highlights Shopify's recent achievements, including consecutive quarters with over $100 billion in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) and a 34% increase in revenue to $3.2 billion. He also discusses the growing adoption of Shopify by major brands like LVMH and Lands' End, the impact of AI on entrepreneurship, and the expansion of agentic commerce through platforms like ChatGPT and Google. (45:41) - Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Vernova, has over 20 years of experience in leadership, finance, and operations within General Electric, including roles as CEO of GE's Gas Power business and CFO of GE Aviation's Commercial Engine Operations. He discusses the significant role GE Vernova plays in global electricity generation, with its equipment contributing to about a third of the world's electricity outside China. Strazik emphasizes the company's commitment to meeting the growing global demand for electric power through its diverse portfolio, including gas turbines, nuclear power plants, wind turbines, and grid electrification technologies. He also highlights the importance of investing in automation and workforce development to scale production efficiently and address challenges in building new power plants, particularly in remote locations. (01:12:59) - Brian Elliott, CEO of Blitzy, discusses the company's recent $200 million funding at a $1.4 billion valuation, highlighting their autonomous software development platform designed for complex enterprise use cases. He explains how Blitzy serves industries like banking and insurance by autonomously improving large codebases over extended periods, utilizing foundational models from OpenAI, Gemini, and Anthropic. Elliott emphasizes their direct go-to-market approach, demonstrating rapid codebase analysis and autonomous operation, setting a new benchmark for autonomy in software development. (01:20:24) - Stephen Balaban, co-founder and former CEO of Lambda, has transitioned to the role of Chief Technology Officer, passing leadership to Michelle Combs, the former CEO of Sprint and SoftBank International. In their discussion, they emphasize a shared commitment to scaling the company's AI infrastructure by focusing on capital formation and operational expansion, aiming to provide the most efficient computing power for their customers. Balaban will continue to lead product vision and technology direction, while Combs will drive growth and operational excellence. (01:29:17) - Ryan Cohen, CEO of GameStop and co-founder of Chewy, has made an unsolicited $56 billion bid to acquire eBay, offering $125 per share in a half-cash, half-stock deal. He envisions transforming eBay into a formidable competitor to Amazon by integrating GameStop's physical stores with eBay's online platform, enhancing services like live commerce and authentication of collectibles. Cohen emphasizes his commitment to the venture, proposing performance-based compensation and expressing confidence in his ability to revitalize eBay's operations. (02:02:20) - Timeline Reactions Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

This is our full conversation with Anjney Midha, recorded live on TBPN.We discuss his thesis behind AMP and why he believes compute is the most constrained and valuable resource in the AI economy, how billions of dollars in underutilized compute are creating a massive inefficiency that his firm is aiming to solve by building a coordinated “compute grid,” and why he’s structuring AMP as both an infrastructure and capital platform to back the next generation of AI labs, unlock scientific breakthroughs, and accelerate progress across the entire ecosystem.Sign up for TBPN’s daily newsletter at TBPN.comFollow TBPN:https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(02:42) - Neural Computers (20:48) - GameStop Offers $55B for eBay (28:44) - Nat Eliason, an entrepreneur and writer, is the Head of Founder Development at Alpha School, where he is launching a high school program that promises students will earn $1 million by graduation or receive a full tuition refund. In the conversation, he discusses his journey from running an SEO-focused marketing agency to exploring personal knowledge management and AI, leading him to develop this innovative educational model that combines AI-driven academics with real-world entrepreneurial experience. (58:12) - Michael York, co-founder and CEO of Casa, discusses his journey from joining Uber at 18 to launching Casa, a subscription-based homeownership platform. He explains how Casa acts as a personal property manager, handling maintenance and services for homeowners by leveraging advanced technology to create detailed home profiles. York also highlights the company's recent $20 million Series A funding and plans for expansion beyond San Francisco and Los Angeles. (01:11:15) - Maddie Hall, CEO and co-founder of Living Carbon, discusses her company's mission to restore degraded U.S. lands by planting genetically enhanced trees that capture more carbon and produce sustainable forest products. She highlights a recent $500 million deal with Octopus Energy Generation to reforest up to 250,000 acres, aiming to remove 50 million tons of CO₂ over 40 years. Hall also emphasizes the importance of active intervention in reforestation projects and the potential for these efforts to offset emissions from data centers and AI operations. (01:18:43) - Anjney Midha is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, focusing on AI, infrastructure, and open-source technology, with prior roles including VP of Platform Ecosystem at Discord and co-founder of Ubiquity6. In the conversation, he discusses the strategic rationale behind GameStop's acquisition of eBay, emphasizing the potential to eliminate $2 billion in marketing inefficiencies and leverage GameStop's physical stores for verifying collectibles, thereby creating a competitive edge in the AI-driven e-commerce landscape. (01:44:23) - Ben Lamm, a serial technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, discusses the company's recent advancements in de-extinction efforts, including the successful creation of woolly mice and dire wolf puppies, demonstrating their ability to revive extinct species through genetic engineering. He highlights the role of AI in accelerating these processes and mentions the company's expansion into projects like the bluebuck, emphasizing their commitment to biodiversity restoration. Lamm also touches on potential partnerships with ecotourism and governments to reintroduce these species into natural habitats, aiming to blend conservation with education and economic opportunities. (01:54:43) - Jake Stauch, founder and CEO of Serval, an AI platform for employee support, discusses the company's new program, Serval Start, designed to deploy AI in large enterprises and train future founders. He emphasizes the importance of talented individuals who can build relationships, sell products, and develop solutions to effectively implement AI in complex organizational environments. The program aims to provide participants with hands-on experience in deploying AI, accelerating their career paths toward entrepreneurship. (02:01:35) - Garth Sheldon, representing Pampalasa, discusses the company's recent $140 million fundraising success and the development of autonomous energy-capturing nodes designed for deployment in the Southern Hemisphere's power-dense oceans. These nodes, each generating approximately 500 kilowatts, aim to provide scalable, renewable energy solutions for data centers, with plans to manufacture them near the deployment sites to optimize logistics and costs. (02:09:38) - Katie Haun, a former federal prosecutor and venture capitalist, is the founder and CEO of Haun Ventures, a firm specializing in digital assets and blockchain technology. In the conversation, she discusses the firm's recent $1 billion fundraise aimed at supporting founders building the "new economy," focusing on three structural shifts: new financial rails and infrastructure, new assets and markets, and the intersection of AI and crypto. Haun emphasizes the importance of stablecoins, the tokenization of financial products, and the potential of prediction markets, while also highlighting the need for platforms to address regulatory challenges such as insider trading and federal preemption. (02:25:18) - Nick Abouzeid is the co-founder and CEO of Rivet, an AI-enabled tax preparation firm that serves over 500 fast-growing companies. In the conversation, he discusses the challenges of implementing AI models in tax workflows, highlighting their unreliability and the necessity of human oversight to ensure accuracy. He also introduces TaxBench, a benchmark developed to evaluate AI models' performance in tax-related tasks, revealing significant capability gaps in current models. Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

This is our full conversation with Mike Isaac, recorded live on TBPN.We discuss what it’s actually like inside the OpenAI vs. Elon Musk courtroom, from early morning lines and limited seating to the unexpected mix of superfans, reporters, and curious spectators, how Elon’s legal strategy blends big-picture “save humanity” messaging with more tactical arguments around control and competition, and why the case often feels less like a traditional trial and more like theater, where personality, narrative, and jury perception may matter just as much as the underlying facts.Sign up for TBPN’s daily newsletter at TBPN.comFollow TBPN:https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(01:29) - Tech Earnings Quad Kill Recap (28:44) - Mike Isaac, a technology reporter at The New York Times and author of "Super Pumped," discussed his experiences covering high-profile tech trials, including the Apple vs. Samsung case and Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in the ZeniMax lawsuit. He shared insights into the challenges of attending these trials, such as early morning courthouse arrivals and the competition for press seating, and highlighted the public's growing interest in tech industry legal battles, noting the presence of Elon Musk fans in the courtroom. Isaac also reflected on the dynamics of jury selection, emphasizing the importance of selecting jurors with varying levels of familiarity with the tech industry to ensure a fair trial. (01:07:20) - Kyle Harrison, a General Partner at Contrary, discusses his 300-page book, "The Anduril Thesis," which explores the history and strategy of defense technology company Anduril Industries. He highlights the company's unique position in the defense sector, emphasizing its counter-positioning against decades of military-industrial history and its innovative approach to defense production. Harrison also touches on Anduril's recent product developments, including autonomous systems and partnerships, and reflects on the broader landscape of defense technology investment. (01:19:06) - David Marcus, CEO of Lightspark, discusses the launch of Grid Global Accounts, a platform offering global dollar accounts with real-time money movement across 65 countries, integration with Visa's network for spending at over 175 million merchants, and support for stablecoins and Bitcoin. He highlights the platform's ability to delegate payments to AI agents, enabling users to authorize agents to perform transactions on their behalf while maintaining control. Marcus also notes that recent regulatory advancements and improved wallet technologies have made such innovations feasible. (01:26:57) - Turner Caldwell, co-founder and CEO of Mariana Minerals, discusses the company's focus on automating mining operations to enhance efficiency and productivity. He explains their approach to integrating autonomous systems across the entire mining and refining process, aiming to double productivity through better orchestration and logistics management. Caldwell also highlights the potential for autonomy to fundamentally change mining operations, enabling more selective mining methods and reducing costs. (01:36:13) - Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter since September 2022, has revitalized the platform by focusing on the creator economy and forming strategic partnerships. He discusses the launch of the Next Wave Fund, a collaboration between Kickstarter and Google, aimed at supporting early-stage tech startups and small businesses in hardware, software, gaming, and connected technology. This initiative offers selected applicants $10,000 in non-dilutive capital, guidance from Kickstarter's Design & Technology team, and access to Google's training programs to help them launch and scale their products. (01:45:51) - Puneet Mehta, founder and CEO of Netomi, an AI platform for customer service, discusses how his company leverages agentic applications to proactively enhance customer experiences by addressing issues upstream, rather than reacting to problems after they occur. He highlights Netomi's recent $110 million funding round, emphasizing partnerships with Accenture and Adobe to deploy their technology across Fortune 500 companies. Mehta also shares his background in automated trading and event correlation systems, underscoring his enterprise-focused approach to solving complex customer service challenges. (01:52:37) - Timeline Reactions (01:58:54) - Alexander Embiricos, the product lead for Codex at OpenAI, discusses the rapid growth and diverse applications of Codex, highlighting its expansion beyond coding to assist various professionals, including sales, marketing, and finance. He emphasizes the importance of Codex's ability to autonomously perform tasks across different applications, enhancing productivity by allowing users to delegate complex tasks. Embiricos also underscores the significance of user experience in AI interactions, noting that thoughtful design elements, such as natural cursor movements, build trust and improve usability. (02:20:55) - The TBPN Simulator Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(00:00) - - John & Patrick Collison, the co-founders of Stripe, discuss the significant surge in new business creation, noting a 71% year-over-year increase in Q1, attributing this growth to AI's role in simplifying entrepreneurship. They highlight Stripe's initiatives like agentic commerce, enabling AI agents to perform tasks such as purchasing domains and deploying websites autonomously. Additionally, the Collisons address the challenges posed by increased fraud attempts in the AI economy and outlines Stripe's efforts to enhance fraud prevention through tools like Stripe Radar. (28:27) - - Henri Stern, a leader at Stripe, discusses the rapid growth of his team following an acquisition, the challenges posed by the competitive talent market, and the evolving landscape of stablecoins and their potential impact on traditional banking. He highlights the emergence of non-dollar stablecoins, the concept of tokenized deposits, and the integration of AI tools in security practices. Stern also explores the intersection of AI and cryptocurrency, noting the rise of agentic wallets and the potential for innovative business models enabled by programmable money. (42:46) - - Jeff Weinstein is a product lead at Stripe, where he has significantly contributed to the growth of their payment APIs and the development of Stripe Atlas, simplifying company formation for entrepreneurs. In the conversation, he discusses the importance of customer obsession, the role of metrics in driving impact, and techniques for effective product development within large companies. He also highlights initiatives like Stripe's "Study Group" to enhance product craft and shares insights into Stripe Atlas's mission to increase global entrepreneurship. (01:06:58) - - Zach Abrams, Zach Abrams is a fintech entrepreneur and product leader best known as the co-founder and CEO of Bridge, a company building infrastructure to help businesses move and manage money using stablecoins. Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(00:22) - Big Tech Earnings (15:28) - AI Jitters Return to Wall Street (19:23) - Red vs. Blue Button (36:51) - Jason Yanowitz, co-founder of Blockworks, a crypto-focused media and data company, discusses the company's recent $192 million valuation, highlighting investments from firms like Parafine Reciprocal and Coinbase Ventures, as well as participation from 20 customers, including founders and operators from Solana, Kraken, and Canton. He outlines Blockworks' evolution from a media and events business to becoming the largest data company in crypto, emphasizing their strategy of building a strong audience base before developing data products. Yanowitz also addresses the current state of the crypto market, noting a dichotomy where institutional crypto adoption is thriving while token markets are underperforming, and anticipates that upcoming regulatory clarity will mandate disclosures for all token projects, potentially benefiting Blockworks' disclosure platform. (49:31) - Even Rogers, CEO and Co-Founder of True Anomaly, discusses his transition from a 10-year tenure in the U.S. Air Force to establishing the company, aiming to address the weaponization of space by nations like China and Russia. He highlights the development of their space-to-space engagement platform, Jackal, designed for space superiority, and Mosaic, the software that operates it, emphasizing their rapid deployment and testing methodologies. Rogers also touches on the challenges of tracking objects in space, the importance of reducing coverage gaps, and the company's growth trajectory, including a recent $650 million fundraising round and plans to scale up manufacturing and personnel. (01:02:09) - Maria Spiropulu, an experimental particle physicist with over 30 years of experience at CERN and Fermilab, discusses her work in particle collisions, including the discovery of the Higgs boson, and the development of quantum networks for secure communication. She highlights the potential of quantum computing to revolutionize fields like quantum chemistry and materials science, while emphasizing the importance of addressing cybersecurity challenges posed by these advancements. Additionally, Spiropulu underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure that technological progress benefits society as a whole. (01:33:08) - Stepan Simkin, co-founder and CEO of Squads, discusses the development of stablecoin infrastructure to assist businesses in managing their financial operations. He highlights the challenges companies face in adopting stablecoins, such as the complexity of handling them post-transaction, and emphasizes the importance of integrating stablecoins with traditional banking systems to facilitate seamless financial operations. Simkin also notes the advancements in programmable blockchains and the growing maturity of the stablecoin market, which have enhanced confidence among regulators and the broader market. (01:45:03) - Kashish Gupta, co-founder and co-CEO of Hightouch, an AI platform for marketers, discusses the company's recent $150 million Series D funding at a $2.75 billion valuation, led by Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital Ventures. He highlights Hightouch's evolution since its 2020 inception, emphasizing their AI-driven approach to enabling marketers to generate on-brand content like ads and emails efficiently. Gupta also addresses the transformative role of AI in marketing, noting that Hightouch's platform allows marketers to rapidly launch and test numerous campaigns, leveraging AI to optimize media spend and content creation. (01:57:36) - Dan Magy, co-founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, discusses the company's mission to revolutionize drone manufacturing through advanced, modular designs and on-demand production capabilities. He highlights the development of the xCell platform, a containerized manufacturing system that enables rapid production of unmanned systems directly at the tactical edge, addressing the challenges of contested logistics. Magy also announces Firestorm's recent $82 million Series B funding, led by Washington Harbour Partners, to accelerate the deployment of these expeditionary manufacturing solutions. (02:06:57) - Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, discusses the company's strategic investments across various stages of the customer lifecycle, including the introduction of Trump accounts to engage younger users, the growth of Robinhood Banking and the Robinhood Gold Card, and the expansion into active trading. He highlights the company's focus on promoting beneficial products like retirement accounts with a 3% contribution match and the innovative Robinhood Strategies, a low-cost passive digital advisor with capped fees. Tenev also addresses customer feedback, noting the company's responsiveness in enhancing features such as paying dividends up to 17 days early and considering the addition of international stocks to meet user demand. (02:29:44) - Parag Agrawal, former CEO of Twitter, discusses the rapid development of AI agents utilizing the web, highlighting the significant progress made in the past six months. He emphasizes the importance of aligning incentives between content owners and AI developers to ensure sustainable growth and open access to web content. Agrawal also addresses the challenges posed by varying web access policies and the need for efficient solutions to enable agents to interact seamlessly with diverse web infrastructures. Andrew Reed is a partner at Sequoia Capital focused on early-stage investments in software, AI, and developer tools. He works closely with founders on product, go-to-market, and scaling, with an emphasis on backing technically driven teams building foundational technology companies. (02:44:03) - Gabriel Stengel, founder and CEO of Rogo, discusses the company's recent $160 million Series D funding round, led by Kleiner Perkins, valuing Rogo at $2 billion. He highlights the rapid adoption of AI tools in the financial sector, emphasizing Rogo's role in enhancing productivity and investment decisions for institutions like investment banks and hedge funds. Stengel also addresses the importance of aligning AI applications with business objectives, managing token consumption, and adapting organizational structures to integrate evolving AI technologies effectively. Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(00:14) - In-Car Surveillance (12:22) - Goblin-Mode (14:48) - Jon Gray, President and COO of Blackstone, joined the firm in 1992 and has been instrumental in its growth to managing over $1.3 trillion in assets. In the conversation, he reflects on Blackstone's evolution from a small advisory business to a global investment powerhouse, emphasizing the firm's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to delivering premium returns. Gray also discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on various industries, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities it presents for investors. (36:18) - Colleen Aubrey, Senior Vice President of Applied AI Solutions at AWS, has been with Amazon for over 20 years, leading teams in advertising and now focusing on AI-driven applications. She discusses the launch of Amazon Connect Decisions and Amazon Connect Talent, emphasizing the transformative potential of AI agents as teammates that can fundamentally change business operations. Aubrey highlights the importance of trustworthiness and observability in AI agents, ensuring they can explain their actions and reasoning, thereby fostering confidence and enabling effective collaboration within organizations. (44:02) - Anthony Liguori discusses the evolution of AI models from simple token prediction to advanced agentic systems, emphasizing the integration of tools and memory to enhance capabilities. He introduces Amazon Bedrock Managed Agents, highlighting its three components: runtime definitions for agents, dedicated compute environments with unique identities for governance, and an inference API compatible with existing applications. Liguori also shares his personal experience, noting that these advancements have significantly increased his productivity and enjoyment in coding. (51:57) - Colin Zima, CEO of Omni Analytics, discusses his company's mission to build a comprehensive data platform that integrates AI, spreadsheets, and dashboards atop a semantic layer, ensuring reliable AI operations. He highlights the uniqueness of each business's semantic layer and the importance of bridging traditional data structures with modern AI capabilities. Zima also addresses the evolving landscape of data infrastructure, emphasizing the increased portability of data systems and the need for pragmatic, cost-effective solutions in analytics. (01:00:47) - Alex Epstein, author of *Fossil Future*, is a philosopher and energy expert who advocates for the continued use of fossil fuels to promote human flourishing. In the conversation, he discusses the critical importance of maintaining open access to the Strait of Hormuz for global energy stability, the role of OPEC and its member countries in regulating oil supply and prices, and the potential of solar energy innovations, such as space-based solar power, while emphasizing the current limitations and challenges associated with these technologies. (01:25:34) - Shira Lazar is a Canadian television personality, actress, writer, and video blogger, best known as the creator and host of "What's Trending," a pioneering digital news brand. In the conversation, she discusses her extensive experience in the digital media and creator economy, highlighting the evolution of live streaming since launching "What's Trending" in 2011. She also explores the current landscape of the creator economy, noting opportunities for both large-scale influencers and niche creators, while emphasizing the challenges faced by mid-level creators in monetizing their content. (01:41:09) - Anshul Gupta, co-founder of Actively, discusses how their platform enhances revenue team productivity by deploying per-account agents that proactively guide and assist sales representatives throughout the customer lifecycle. These agents integrate data from various sources, including product analytics and communication tools, to provide comprehensive context and actionable insights, enabling more efficient and effective sales processes. Gupta also highlights the potential for organizational changes, such as adjusting management structures and team ratios, as companies realize efficiency gains from implementing these agents. (01:47:21) - Apurva Shrivastava, co-founder and CEO of Avoca, discusses how his company builds AI agents for physical service businesses, particularly home services, to handle tasks like answering calls and booking jobs. He explains that both he and his co-founder, Tyson, grew up assisting their mothers' service businesses, which inspired them to create solutions that address common industry challenges. Apurva highlights the significant advancements in AI voice models, noting that while they can now engage in conversations indistinguishable from humans for the first 30 seconds to a minute, there is still progress to be made for longer interactions. (01:53:59) - Bubble Boi, a semiconductor industry expert, discusses the advantages of maintaining a traditional job to stay connected with engineering challenges, the early stages of the AI investment cycle with significant capital expenditures expected over the next three years, and the impact of large language models on market dynamics, noting that financial institutions are rapidly adopting these technologies for research. Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

(02:02) - China Blocks Manus Sale (03:38) - Zak Brown, an American motorsports executive and former professional racer, is the CEO of McLaren Racing. In the conversation, he recounts his early passion for racing sparked by attending the 1981 Long Beach Grand Prix, leading him to karting and eventually founding Just Marketing International, a motorsports marketing agency. Brown emphasizes the importance of aligning corporate sponsorships with business objectives, fostering partnerships that benefit both McLaren and its sponsors. (34:03) - Will Hurd, a former CIA officer and U.S. Representative from Texas, discusses his upbringing in San Antonio, his early interest in computer science, and his transition from the CIA to politics. He highlights his role as president of Icon Prime, a division of the 3D-printing construction company Icon, focusing on building military barracks and exploring construction solutions for space exploration. Hurd emphasizes the potential of 3D printing to revolutionize construction by reducing costs and improving efficiency, aiming to address housing shortages and enhance military infrastructure. (01:00:12) - Anush Elangovan, Vice President of AI Software at AMD, joined the company through its acquisition of Nod.ai, where he was co-founder and CEO. In the conversation, he discusses AMD's open-source approach to AI software, emphasizing the integration of AI to enhance performance optimization and the importance of a unified hardware and software strategy. He also highlights AMD's commitment to supporting developers by providing seamless, heterogeneous runtimes and compilers, enabling efficient utilization of CPU, GPU, and NPU resources. (01:18:19) - Augustus Doricko, CEO of Rainmaker Technology Corporation, discusses his company's pioneering efforts in cloud seeding, highlighting their success in modifying weather patterns to produce precipitation in regions like Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and the Middle East. He explains the process of cloud seeding, which involves introducing materials into clouds to induce rainfall, and emphasizes the advancements in precision and reliability achieved through their drone technology. Doricko also addresses public concerns about the safety of cloud seeding agents, noting the company's shift towards using naturally occurring proteins as alternatives to traditional chemicals like silver iodide. (01:53:16) - 𝕏 Timeline Reactions (02:28:59) - Rick Caruso is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist, known for founding Caruso, one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the U.S., and for his significant contributions to Los Angeles' urban landscape. In the conversation, Caruso discusses his focus on family well-being, recent ventures including expanding the Commons in Calabasas and acquiring a golf course, and his strategic push into markets outside California due to challenges in the state's business environment. He emphasizes the importance of guest experience in his developments, the role of feng shui in design, and his commitment to creating generational wealth through local knowledge and disciplined investment. Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive

Diet TBPN delivers the best of today’s TBPN episode in 30 minutes. TBPN is a live tech talk show hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays, streaming weekdays 11–2 PT on X and YouTube, with each episode posted to podcast platforms right after.Described by The New York Times as “Silicon Valley’s newest obsession,” the show has recently featured Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, and Satya Nadella.Follow TBPN: https://TBPN.comhttps://x.com/tbpnhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2L6WMqY3GUPCGBD0dX6p00?si=674252d53acf4231https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/technology-brothers/id1772360235https://www.youtube.com/@TBPNLive