The {Closed} Session

Most AI pilots fail because founders are retrofitting old playbooks instead of rebuilding revenue architecture. Mark Roberge, founding CRO at HubSpot who scaled from $0 to $100M revenue, breaks down how AI compresses traditional sales cycles and transforms go-to-market execution. He reveals why selling time will jump from 25% to 75% of a rep's week, how AI enables real-time ICP refinement and account targeting, and why sustainable moats now depend on owning the point of work rather than systems of record.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most vertical AI companies fail because they're building features, not businesses. Rachel ten Brink, GP at Red Bike Capital and former Scentbird co-founder (scaled to 500K+ subscribers, $29M raised), breaks down how to build defensible vertical AI that survives the regulatory gauntlet. She reveals her operator's test for distinguishing product businesses from services wrappers, explains how winning data network effects emerge from proprietary processing of public data, and shares the specific go-to-market playbook that works for enterprise AI sales cycles.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most AI adoption in finance is just automation theater—real transformation requires rethinking entire workflows. George Lee, former CTO and M&A head at Goldman Sachs, explains why AI won't replace bankers but will compress deal cycle times from weeks to days. He breaks down how junior talent using AI companions can eliminate rote tasks while expanding analytical surface area, and why the "Boyle's law" principle means human capital will always find new problems to solve for clients.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most AI investment flows to infrastructure while founders ignore energy constraints that will determine who survives. George Lee, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Global Institute, breaks down the bottlenecks choking AI deployment from silicon to grid capacity.George reveals flexible demand management frameworks that could unlock 75-125 gigawatts of slack capacity, eliminating energy bottlenecks. He and Tom go on to discuss why Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds are building strategic energy advantages, and how nondeterministic AI systems require continuous sampling protocols.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI startups fail because founders obsess over models, not company building. Harrison Miller is a former VP/GM from Amazon.com’s early years, and former MD of Summit Partners, which over 40+ years has invested $40B in more than 550 tech companies. He explains why execution, not algorithms, determines survival.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom Chavez, Founding General Partner at super{set}, in conversation with his brother - R. Martin Chavez, Partner and Vice Chairman, Sixth Street,  Board Member at Google, and former CFO of Goldman Sachs.Tom and Marty discuss their brief stint as roommates, their brotherly relationship, and R. Martin's experiences as an investor, entrepreneur, and corporate leader. Listen for insights on startups, leadership, investing, artificial intelligence, ethical technology, and being part of the early LGBTQ+ community on Wall Street.Listen to The Brothers Chavez in Conversation!Watch the full conversation here.***Listen (or watch) all episodes of The {Closed} Session at www.theclosedsession.comsuper{set} is a startup studio where great data+AI ideas become transformational software companies. With our people-first performance culture and company-building playbooks, we found, fund, and scale high-potential businesses.Learn more about super{set} - including co-founding with us and open roles across our portfolio of companies - at www.superset.comLearn more about our VECTOR program - a 12-week fully-paid launchpad for technical product leaders to receive direction, build magnitude, and co-explore company creation alongside super{set} - at superset.com/vectorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

super{set} Celebrates First Exit: LiveRamp to Acquire Data Collaboration Software Startup Habu for $200M!Joining Tom and Vivek in the studio today are Habu co-founders Matt Kilmartin (CEO) and Mike Moreau (COO) to give the full story behind how Habu was conceived, built out, scaled, and sold.Habu is a leader in the data collaboration category with innovative data clean room technology. Habu enables companies to share, make sense of, and act on insights on decentralized data without compromising privacy or data ownership – enabling companies to realize the full value of their data regardless of where it resides. In January 2024, Habu entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by LiveRamp for $200 million in a highly strategic transaction.But Habu wasn't a category leader and a $200 million company from day one. Matt, Mike, Tom and Vivek started selling before even slinging code, bringing together a kick-ass team in the beginning that saw the company through pivots to growth. Early customers like Pepsi and Disney played a crucial role in co-innovating with Habu as design partners. And Matt and Mike developed a rapport as leaders and co-founders to power the company through to exit. Learn how Habu became super{set}'s first win in the latest episode of The {Closed} Session!Learn more about the Habu exit here: https://www.superset.com/feed/super-set-celebrates-first-exit-liveramp-acquires-data-collaboration-software-startup-habu See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Announcing super{set} Fund II!The world has tilted in our favor. We’ve been building companies in the data+AI space for 25 years, mostly while it was niche and nerdy. With the AI revolution fully upon us, we’re thrilled to announce that super{set} has closed a $90 million second fund to invest in companies at inception.Since launching our first fund, super{set} has founded, funded and scaled 16 data+AI startups. Fund II brings our committed capital in active funds to $176M and comes on the heels of super{set}’s first exit: the acquisition of leading data collaboration company Habu for $200 million in January 2024.super{set} General Partner Jeremy Klein joins Tom and Vivek for this special episode digging into Jeremy's background and early work at the inception of super{set}, the immense data+AI opportunity today, why super{set} has raised Fund II, and how super{set} will partner with co-founders in Fund II. Don't miss this big news!Learn more about the Fund II announcement at superset.com/feed/super-set-fund-ii-90-million-to-intensify-our-serial-focus-on-data-ai-company-buildingRead Tech Crunch's Exclusive Coverage: "Boutique startup studio super{set} gets another $90 million to co-found data and AI companies"Learn more about our VECTOR program - a 12-week fully-paid launchpad for technical product leaders to receive direction, build magnitude, and co-explore company creation alongside super{set} - at superset.com/vectorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Talent and career development in startups is typically nonexistent - so at super{set}, we're changing that. While a startup’s opportunities for rapid growth and trial by fire are incredible, we believe startup employees can still benefit from intentional mentorship and development. No - it's not about bringing in professional coaches who lack hands-on company-building expertise. And no, it's more than advice from the balcony unmarried to what life is actually like in the startup trenches.Joining Tom and Vivek in the studio are the first graduates of super{set}’s coaching program for its employees: Jen D’Amico (Head of Business Development at Ketch), Anupam Gupta (Head of Customer Success at Ketch), and Ted Flanagan (Chief Customer Officer at Habu, recently Acquired by LiveRamp). How can startups improve outcomes by becoming more self-aware and assessing strengths and development areas better? How can entrepreneurs create the soil conditions for their employees to perform, even within the fast-paced startup environment? What advice do Jen, Anupam, and Ted have for startup employees - and the founders at the helm - around the globe? Join us in the first episode of Season 5 of The {Closed} Session!Listen (or watch) all episodes of The {Closed} Session at www.theclosedsession.comLearn more about Ketch at www.ketch.comLearn more about Habu (acquired by LiveRamp) at www.habu.comLearn more about super{set} - including co-founding with us and open roles across our portfolio of companies - at www.superset.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rachel Gollub is a distinguished engineer, programmer, and entrepreneur with a storied career in Silicon Valley: she started her career as part of the founding team behind the Java programming language and ended it as CTO of healthcare giant Optum. Along the way, Rachel managed to start several companies on top of a quick stopover at Stanford.In this episode, Rachel reflects on her experiences working alongside tech luminaries like James Gosling and dives into the challenges and triumphs she encountered while navigating the male-dominated field of technology. What does it take to build a successful team in the fast-paced world of startups? How do you bounce back from setbacks and learn from failed ventures? Rachel shares her insights, drawing from her rich experience in taking ideas from inception to reality, and the critical role of adaptability and innovation in entrepreneurship. Join Vivek and Rachel in this episode of 'The {Closed} Session' as they explore the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and healthcare AI. The conversation delves into her thoughts on the current state and future of AI, particularly in healthcare, where she's been a driving force in integrating advanced technologies to revolutionize patient care and outcomes. Stay for Rachel’s unique perspective on where technology is headed, especially in the realm of healthcare AI.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone’s talking about what went down at OpenAI - but what does it mean for ethical and responsible AI, and what are the lessons for entrepreneurs on startup board governance? With the abrupt dismissal of CEO Sam Altman, questions loom over the stability and direction of one of AI's most influential entities. Let’s uncover the twists and turns in this high-stakes boardroom drama.Why was Sam Altman abruptly dismissed - only to be brought back again? What role did board member Helen Toner and the responsible AI community play in the firings? Who is on deck next as the newest members of the board - and who else should OpenAI consider bringing? What choices face Sam Altman - and key partner at Microsoft Satya Nadella - and what should these leaders do next? Finally, what can the AI and startup communities learn from how it all went down?Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya give us their timely takes on what happened at OpenAI. With incisive commentary and expert insights, they explore the events leading to Altman's sacking and the broader implications for AI governance. Note this episode was recorded on November 27th, 2023, and published on December 1st, 2023 so it may not reflect the most current developments at OpenAI.Read Tom Chavez’s op-ed in Tech Crunch on the need for an interdisciplinary approach to AI alignment: https://www.superset.com/feed/tom-chavez-in-tech-crunch-answering-ais-biggest-questions-requires-an-interdisciplinary-approachListen to more episodes at www.theclosedsession.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone’s talking about AI - so The Ethical Tech Project decided to listen. Joining forces with programmatic privacy and data+AI governance platform Ketch, The Ethical Tech Project surveyed a representative sample of 2,500 U.S. consumers and asked them about AI, the companies leveraging AI, and their sentiment and expectations around AI and privacy.  On the latest episode of The {Closed} Session, get an inside look at the survey results in a deep-dive conversation with the team at The Ethical Tech Project.Are Americans aware of the rapid pace of change in AI? How do they feel about companies mining their personal data and leveraging that data into LLMs and other AI tools? What are consumer expectations of the right to privacy alongside ethical data principles like transparency, fairness, agency, and accountability? In test purchase scenarios, will consumers choose products with ethical AI features?Joining Tom and Vivek on The {Closed} Session are Slingshot Strategies partner and pollster Evan Roth Smith and Ketch Head of Solutions Jonathan Joseph to dig into the survey results and get us into the head of the typical American consumer. Find out just how much consumers will reward ethical AI - with their hard-earned cash and trust - when offered by the companies and products they love.To learn more about The Ethical Tech Project, visit ethicaltechproject.org and subscribe to their Substack newsletter at news.ethicaltechproject.com.Download the survey report at ethicaltechproject.com/survey. Learn more about Ketch at www.ketch.comLearn more about Slingshot Strategies at slingshotstrat.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The {Closed} Session Spotlight Series showcases a different co-founder from the super{set} portfolio in every episode. Today's guest is Lindsey Meyl, Co-founder at RevAmp (rev-amp.ai), a "Datadog for RevOps" platform that offers observability across the revenue engine, monitoring performance, flagging when something is amiss, and determining the root cause of how to fix it.Lindsey Meyl is an “entrepreneur by accident” - a serial startup employee who joined Tom and Vivek across multiple builds at Krux, Habu, Ketch, and more, who typically swooped in at the Series, A, B and beyond to lead direct sales, sales management, and sales operations. After seeing the same problems and patterns across the companies she was working with across super{set}, she went all-in on the RevAmp opportunity at super{set}. Lindsey says, "We cannot keep operating off of CRM data infrastructure from the 90s."RevAmp (rev-amp.ai) inspects, identifies, and intervenes. RevAmp inspects by analyzing data sources to uncover insights related to volume, conversion, and timing within the customer journey and across key indicators like ICP, roles, and segments. RevAmp’s algorithm identifies and detects revenue growth opportunities and potential risks based on this data. And RevAmp intervenes, responding with trigger alerts and automated fixes to address issues. Learn more at rev-amp.aiRevAmp is hiring! Find open roles, including Head of Product and Head of Engineering, here: https://careers.superset.com/companies/revamp-2#contentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed, the fiercest competitors can sometimes become friends. Omar Tawakol is a prime example. As the founder and CEO of BlueKai, he went head-to-head with Tom, Vivek, and the 'Krux mafia' for dominance in the Data Management Platform arena. A serial entrepreneur with roots in New York and Egypt, Omar eventually steered BlueKai to a successful acquisition by Oracle before creating Voicea, which Cisco acquired. Today, he's pioneering a new venture called Rembrand (rembrand.com), which innovates in product placement through generative fusion AI.Have you ever heard of a 5-year-old CEO? Omar Tawakol made his first sale by pitching coasters to neighbors. From playground profits to knockout big exits, Omar shares how he had “no choice but to build companies” from an early age. What makes the human element the most rewarding part of company building? Are better algorithms or richer data the key to winning in tech? Where does AI stand in the current hype cycle? How do you intertwine AI into human workflows?  And, how not to let success get to your head.Omar joins Tom and Vivek on the latest episode of The {Closed} Session to recount tales from the entrepreneurial ringside, insights from his journey as a serial startup champ, and a sneak peek at his latest venture that's punching above its weight in the AI arena. Plus, a totally unpaid-for-promotion: where to find the best coffee in Menlo Park.Learn more about Rembrand at rembrand.comLearn more about super{set} at superset.comFind more episodes at www.theclosedsession.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How does Google search data reveal hidden human truths and behaviors? What philosophical challenges arise when interpreting big data? In what ways does data reflect societal biases and preconceived notions? What's the potential of data science in revealing patterns that might be invisible to human analysts?Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is a data scientist, New York Times bestselling author, and sought-after keynote speaker. His 2017 book, Everybody Lies, on the secrets revealed in internet data, was a New York Times bestseller; a PBS NewsHour Book of the Year; and an Economist Book of the Year. His 2022 book, Don’t Trust Your Gut, on how people can use data to best achieve their life goals, was excerpted in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and Wired.  Seth has worked as a data scientist at Google; a visiting lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; and a contributing op-ed writer for the New York Times. He received his BA in philosophy, Phi Beta Kappa, from Stanford, and his PhD in economics from Harvard.Learn more about super{set} at superset.comFind more episodes at www.theclosedsession.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Headlamp makes it easy for clinicians and their patients to access their universal medical records, while also providing advanced AI tools to support more personalized health insights and decision-making. Lean more about Headlamp Health at Headlamp.com: https://www.headlamp.com/Find Andrew Marshak on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-marshak/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marketing has always been about connection, but what happens when AI becomes the mediator? With vast strides in AI-driven campaigns, how do marketers ensure they remain true to their brand and their audience? Who ensures that campaigns are not just data-driven but also ethical and impactful? As we stand on the precipice of an AI revolution in advertising, how does one navigate the intricate balance between personalization and consumer control over their data?Rex Briggs, a luminary in marketing measurement, envisions a future where AI-driven campaigns resonate deeper and more personally with audiences. With vast industry experience, Rex sheds light on emerging trends and their implications. Joining Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya, the trio  explores the frontiers of AI in marketing, from its transformative capabilities in content creation to the nuanced ethical challenges it presents. They uncover strategies and insights essential for marketers in this AI-dominated age, emphasizing the synergy of technology and human intuition.Find Rex Briggs on his LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rex-briggs-2811b3/) and X (https://twitter.com/rexbriggs).PLUS bonus content: super{set} Spotlight on Headlamp Health co-founder Andrew Marshak and his experience so far working alongside Tom, Vivek, and the super{set} team at Headlamp Health. Hear about Andrew's maniacal commitment and find out how Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya show up as "true co-founders FOR REAL."Learn more about Headlamp Health at www.headlamp.comFind Andrew Marshak on his LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-marshak/)Read Andrew's latest blogpost on superset.com  - "Why Headlamp Health is Bringing Precision to Mental Health"Learn more about super{set} at superset.comFind more episodes at www.theclosedsession.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Checksum automatically generates and maintains end-to-end tests based on user sessions so you can move fast without breaking things. Learn more about Checksum at checksum.ai .Gal Vered's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gal-vered/www.theclosedsession.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are we walking a tightrope with AI, jeopardizing humanity's ethical core? Is AI more than just algorithms, acting as a mirror to our moral values? And when machine learning grapples with ethical dilemmas, who ultimately bears the responsibility? Harvard's Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science, James Mickens, joins Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya on "The {Closed} Session." Together, they dive deep into The Ethical Tech Project (a think-and-do tank crafting blueprints for ethical data use), Harvard's Institute for Rebooting Social Media, the art of data stewardship, privacy engineering, and the evolving landscape of AI regulation. PLUS bonus content: super{set} Spotlight on Checksum.ai co-founder Gal Vered and his experience so far working alongside Tom, Vivek, and the super{set} team at Checksum. Learn more about The Ethical Tech Project: www.ethicaltechproject.orgLearn more about The Ethical Tech Project's ThePrivacyStack: https://theprivacystack.org/Learn more about James Mickens: mickens.seas.harvard.edu Learn more about super{set}: www.superset.comLearn more about Tom Chavez: www.superset.com/team-members/tom-chavez  /  Tom's LinkedInLearn more about Vivek Vaidya: www.superset.com/team-members/vivek-vaidya / Vivek's LinkedInListen to previous episodes of The {Closed} Session: www.theclosedsession.comLearn more about Checksum:  https://checksum.ai/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is AI our salvation or is it going to kill us all? Tom and Vivek roam widely on others’ takes about artificial intelligence, adding their insight and experience to the mix. Along the way they consider Descartes, Ray Kurzweil, Salt Bae, Marc Andreessen among others. If you are looking for a down to earth conversation that tempers the extremes at either end of the debate, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.Hosts Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya delve into the multifaceted world of generative AI, examining its effects on truth, deepfakes, business integration, and the workforce. They explore provocative questions such as the potential for AI to befriend or betray humanity, touching on concepts like the singularity and reflecting on notable thinkers' warnings. The conversation also navigates the portrayal of AI in popular culture, challenging the often dystopian images and asking why AI can't be seen as a cooperative force. Tune in for a balanced discussion that embraces both the exciting possibilities and pressing concerns of artificial intelligence.www.theclosedsession.com@ClosedSeshPod@tommychavez@vsvaidyasuperset.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.