Latest Interviews
Showing 16–30 of 31 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Sequoia Capital37 min
Making AI accessible with Andrej Karpathy and Stephanie Zhan
Andrej Karpathy, Stephanie Zhan, Brian Halligan, Alex, Sam, Peter, Michael
Andrej Karpathy outlines a future where the Large Language Model serves as a central CPU for a new "LLM OS," treating text, images, and audio as interchangeable peripherals within a decentralized startup ecosystem. He emphasizes that while massive scale drives current capabilities, the industry must overcome significant engineering and energy inefficiency barriers by adopting new hardware architectures and shifting from imitation learning toward self-correcting reinforcement loops. Drawing on lessons from Elon Musk’s management style, Karpathy advises founders to prioritize high-performance products, maintain technical rigor against organizational bloat, and foster a "coral reef" of vertical-specific applications rather than relying on monolithic corporate dominance.
- Goldman Sachs35 min
Paula Kerger, President & CEO of PBS
PBS CEO Paula Kerger oversees the decentralized network's 16-year evolution from a command-and-control model to a trust-based system that balances federal infrastructure support with local fundraising. The organization differentiates its portfolio by prioritizing high-investment educational documentaries and investigative journalism like *Frontline* while transitioning to digital platforms to ensure equitable access in underserved communities. Looking ahead, Kerger aims to expand funding for national arts and science programming while reinforcing the network's role as a non-partisan counterweight to media consolidation and algorithmic polarization.
- Goldman Sachs23 min
The Power of Advocacy: US Mayors
Eric Johnson, Nan Whaley, LaToya Cantrell
Mayors Eric Johnson of Dallas, Andrew Whitaker of Dayton, and LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans collectively addressed the compounding crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest while outlining strategies to support small businesses and protect vulnerable populations. These leaders detailed significant public-private financial partnerships, such as Dallas's $10 million recovery fund and New Orleans' $50 million commitment with Goldman Sachs, to mitigate job losses and address systemic inequities. Furthermore, the mayors emphasized an urgent need for federal assistance and collaborative governance to accelerate economic recovery and build more resilient, equitable urban environments.
- a16z21 min
a16z Podcast | The Blockchain, in Congress
Jared Polis, David Schweikert, Mike Lempres, Matthew Colford
The Congressional Blockchain Caucus, supported by industry leaders like Mike Lamprecht and Congressman David Schweikert, serves as a formal educational forum to bridge the gap between technical innovation and policy implementation for lawmakers often unfamiliar with the technology. While state laboratories like Arizona pilot practical applications such as smart contract recognition and digital vehicle titling, the industry advocates for a clear federal regulatory framework to prevent legacy incumbents from stifling disruption in areas ranging from medical records to personal data sovereignty. Speakers project that technological advancement will continue to outpace government regulation over the next decade, necessitating a legal ecosystem that enables secure financial transfers for the unbanked without hampering the rapid pace of development.
- a16z22 min
a16z Podcast | The Storage Renaissance
Peter Levine, Haoyuan Li, Mike Matchett, Sonal, HY
Industry leaders Peter Levine and HY predict a transformative shift toward unified memory-centric architectures driven by the convergence of falling storage costs and autonomous sensor data generation. This evolution necessitates the replacement of traditional disk and tape systems with fast, cheap memory tiers to support real-time machine learning and edge processing for massive datasets. To overcome current infrastructure silos and anticipated supply shortages, enterprises must adopt a unified abstraction layer while transitioning IT roles from reactive management to proactive data governance.
- a16z34 min
a16z Podcast | What's Next for Technology and National Security?
Marc Andreessen, Michèle Flournoy, Matt Spence
Mark Andreessen and former Undersecretary of Defense Michelle Flournoy, moderated by Matt Spence, convene with experts Richard Fontaine and Ted Ulliot to analyze the accelerating volatility of global security. Flournoy argues that U.S. strategic disadvantages stem from rigid procurement systems and internal regulatory hesitancy rather than China's industrial policy, urging a shift toward agile, bottom-up experimentation and stable multi-year budgeting. The panelists further advocate for deeper personnel exchange between Silicon Valley and the government to harmonize technological innovation with mission-driven national defense and Middle East strategy.
- a16z26 min
a16z Podcast | Hall of Fame Football Meets Venture Capital
Joe Montana, Jeff Jordan, Ben Horowitz, Michael Copeland
The discussion analyzes how digital transformation disrupts traditional sectors like sports media while establishing rigorous venture capital criteria that prioritize founder character, courage, and product-market fit over technical depth. It highlights the high failure rate inherent in early-stage investing, necessitating diversification and emphasizing that successful outcomes often stem from founders who create new markets rather than reacting to existing demand. Additionally, the session outlines how athletes can leverage their influence in the venture space but must mitigate risks by assembling diverse advisory teams and maintaining strict filtering processes to distinguish viable opportunities from capital requests.
- a16z43 min
a16z Podcast | AMPLab, the Power of Open Source, and the Future of Systems Software
Michael Franklin, Peter Levine, Haoyuan Li, Michael Copeland
Founded by Michael Franklin and Stoica, Amplab operates a unique open-source model that merges academic research with industry feedback to foster rapid innovation in big data and distributed systems. This approach has generated landmark technologies like Apache Spark and Mesos, with venture capital firm A16Z investing specifically in original inventors who transition from individual coders to business leaders. The lab now drives the next wave of infrastructure by shifting focus toward real-time analytics and edge computing, while addressing the critical challenges of commercializing open-source software.
- a16z25 min
a16z Podcast | When Fantasy Football and Crowdfunding Collide
Michael Copeland, James Beshara, Ryan Spoon
ESPN and Tilt formalized a strategic partnership to integrate a co-branded crowdfunding solution, ESPN.tilt.com, that enables 15 million fantasy football users to fund leagues and events directly within the platform. Launched in July to coincide with the pre-season draft calendar, this collaboration replaced internal development risks with Tilt's PCI Level 1 compliant infrastructure, resulting in one of the highest adoption upticks in the company's history. The integration exemplifies a broader shift toward a logged-in, mobile-first model where personalized, data-driven content drives engagement while maintaining strict boundaries on user data sharing.
- a16z29 min
a16z Podcast | Beyond Bitcoin -- The Blockchain
Michael Copeland, Ed Felten, Dan, Matt, Chris Dixon
Panelists Ed Felten, Matthew Green, and Chris Dixon analyze the structural evolution of Bitcoin, debating the legal implications of decentralized "Distributed Autonomous Companies" and the scalability challenges posed by fixed transaction confirmation times. The discussion highlights the growing tension between New York's proposed BitLicense regulations and the industry's drive toward international remittance adoption, while noting how intermediaries like Coinbase are mitigating volatility through fiat conversion services. Ultimately, the group forecasts that future growth will depend on resolving network inefficiencies and navigating a complex regulatory landscape that may increasingly favor corporate intermediaries over pure open-source protocols.
- a16z39 min
Debating Crypto: Katie Haun vs. Paul Krugman
Katie Haun, Paul Krugman, Rodrigo Pacheco
This event analyzes the tension between government-issued cryptocurrencies like Venezuela's Petro and private digital assets, highlighting how varying global regulatory approaches from restrictive bans to blockchain-friendly frameworks shape the market. While adoption remains limited compared to traditional finance, specific use cases such as Mexico's unbanked youth utilizing mobile phones illustrate a leapfrogging effect, even as experts warn that the current surge in fraudulent ICOs and speculative valuations mirrors the dot-com bubble. Ultimately, the discussion forecasts a market consolidation around a few dominant players through technological shifts like Proof of Stake, alongside evolving security measures and balanced legal frameworks designed to distinguish legitimate innovation from scams.
- Milken Institute31 min
MIc'd Up | Part 1: Jeb Bush in Conversation with Terry Duffy
Jeb Bush and Derek Jeter announced their joint acquisition of the Miami Marlins, a venture designed to leverage data analytics and market growth while avoiding the financial pitfalls of high-salary player acquisition. The former Florida governor simultaneously urged for comprehensive federal reforms to resolve bureaucratic gridlock, advocating for tax code simplification, term limits, and a shift toward an economy-driven immigration system. While expressing cautious support for the current administration's foreign policy coherence, Bush emphasized the urgent need to address workforce displacement caused by automation through 21st-century educational overhauls.
- Y Combinator28 min
Q&A with YC Partners at Startup School SV 2016
Kat, Adora, Tim, Jaredy, Michael, Dalton, Kirsty
This event delivers a comprehensive strategic guide for startup founders, covering critical phases from immediate idea validation and co-founder selection to operational tooling and the YC application process. Key insights emphasize prioritizing genuine passion over impressiveness, balancing product perfection with growth based on specific retention thresholds, and leveraging community support rather than isolating oneself. The session concludes with logistical details for a reception in the sunken garden, offering a direct forum for continued dialogue with the YC partners and staff.
- Milken Institute42 min
A Fireside Chat with Serge Pun Building Myanmar
Serge Pun, Staci Warden, Mike Milken, Mahendra Lama, Minseok Lee, Dickey Yuhuiko, Brad Gordon
Expanding from a private interview to a public forum, the Milken Institute session featured Serge Poon and Mike Milken discussing Myanmar's shifting economic landscape following the removal of US sanctions. Poon detailed his forty-year journey from displacement to rebuilding a private banking empire through strict anti-corruption practices, while outlining a strategy prioritizing long-term infrastructure investment over short-term gains. The dialogue concluded with an optimistic five-year forecast for nation-building, emphasizing regional connectivity and the need for investors to support foundational "trunk" projects despite lingering political risks.
- Goldman Sachs29 min
Goldman Sachs Economists on EU Capital Markets Union: Talks at GS Session Highlights
Huw Pill, Jim Esposito, Philippe Ithurbide, William Wright
As European economies transition from crisis management to long-term structural growth, a strategic push is underway to establish a Capital Markets Union that diversifies funding beyond the banking sector. This initiative targets critical barriers such as fragmented exchange infrastructure, inconsistent insolvency laws, and information asymmetries that currently hinder SME access to public markets. Panelists recommend immediate regulatory harmonization and technology-driven standardization to unlock deep pools of long-term capital, ensuring that medium-sized enterprises and infrastructure projects can secure sustainable financing.