Latest Interviews
Showing 1876–1890 of 2,502 transcripts.
Clear all filters- a16z27 min
How to Understand and Choose a Venture Investor
David Swenson's endowment model and subsequent regulatory shifts enabled institutional investors to allocate significant capital to venture capital as a means of generating uncorrelated, power-law distributed returns. The industry now operates on structures requiring massive "home run" exits to offset frequent failures, while firms increasingly compete by providing operational expertise rather than just financial access. Looking forward, the sector faces intensified competition and a blurring of lines between private and public markets as companies stay private longer and secondary trading expands.
- Milken Institute56 min
The City for All Ages: Harnessing the Promise of Longevity
James Anderson, Dan Buettner, Carol Coletta, Rodney Slater, Jan Vapaavuori, Jim Anderson
Leading urban experts and policymakers converge to address the unprecedented demographic shift where the global population over 65 now exceeds those under 5 by advocating for built environment interventions over individual behavioral changes. Drawing on longevity strategies from Blue Zones and Helsinki's intergenerational housing models, the panel proposes that mayors and civic leaders actively redesign cities to make healthy choices the default option through walkability, social integration, and regulatory nudge policies. These initiatives aim to transform the "silver economy" into a catalyst for civic innovation, ensuring that aging populations remain healthy, employed, and socially connected while reducing the strain on healthcare systems.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Blockchain Technology: What Is It Good for, Really?
Staci Warden, Elad Gil, Sandra Ro, Stefan Schulz, Bill Tai, Tomicah Tillemann
Milken Institute moderator Stacey Worden led a panel including Elad Gil, Sandra Rowe, and Bill Tai to define blockchain's superior utility in scenarios requiring trustlessness, open ledgers, privacy, or programmability, while arguing that centralized databases remain optimal for all other applications. The discussion highlighted transformative real-world adoptions ranging from Power Ledger's peer-to-peer energy trading and Bill Tai's $35 million real estate tokenization to Estonia's governance models and New York City's digital benefit wallets. Panelists concluded that overcoming regulatory fragmentation and data integrity risks is essential as the industry shifts from financial speculation toward building a global infrastructure for financial inclusion and automated asset management.
- a16z36 min
What's Next for Esports Startups
Bennett Carroccio, Frank Chen, Andrew Chen, D'Arcy Coolican, Darcy Kulikin
Global esports viewership has surged past 450 million, generating over $1 billion in revenue driven by sponsorships and media rights that now rival traditional North American sports leagues. The industry distinguishes itself through a younger demographic, a cultural shift that integrates celebrities with gaming, and infrastructure optimized for digital engagement rather than just gameplay. Strategic investment is increasingly focusing on the underlying "picks and shovels" infrastructure and B2D2C models to capitalize on this rapid growth while publishers continue to define league standards and capture value.
- Milken Institute57 min
Right or Left: Who's Best for Freedom?
Josh Barro, Kenneth Hersh, Rich Lowry, Gene Sperling, Felicia Wong
In a debate contrasting FDR's positive liberties with classical negative freedoms, Felicia Wong and Gene Sperling argue that true liberty requires protection from want and fear, while Rich Lowry and Kenneth Hirsch contend that freedom is strictly defined by the absence of government coercion. The panel further explores how economic policies like the Affordable Care Act and anti-discrimination laws either expand individual agency or threaten consumer choice, while noting that shifting political narratives now force conservatives to defend liberty against a backdrop of authoritarianism and rising public demand for government intervention. Ultimately, the discussion highlights a deep ideological divide over whether freedom entails securing material security and dignity through state action or preserving it through limited government and market competition.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
eSports: The Bumpy Ride to ROI
Ben White, Sam Englebardt, Peter Levin, Kristen Salvatore, Ari Segal, David Rockefeller Jr., Emily Fortuna, Amanda Han, Eric Schmidt, Ari Schwartzmann, Sam Nelsons, Chai, Peter Barron, Peter Barry Kaufmann, Kevin, Carlos, Paul
Industry leaders highlight that gaming now surpasses film and television in scale, with a user base of 2.6 billion driving a strategic shift for traditional media and sports organizations to secure the Gen Z demographic. Investment activity is surging as entities like Immortals Gaming Club adopt holding company structures to capture high valuations and leverage the mobile boom, while platforms like Twitch demonstrate superior engagement metrics that attract non-endemic advertising. Amidst these rapid expansions, the sector faces evolving structural debates regarding player welfare, the rise of influencer-driven brands over traditional franchises, and the impending need for standardized unionization and global regulatory frameworks.
- Milken Institute52 min
Inside a Blockbuster Franchise: "Avengers: Endgame"
Julia Boorstin, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, David Levinson, John McCutchan
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo leveraged a unique back-to-back production strategy and a global day-and-date release to propel *Avengers: Endgame* to a record-breaking $1.2 billion opening weekend. Their collaborative "mastermind" approach, which integrated scientific consultation and disciplined ensemble management, transformed the film into a universal cultural phenomenon while reaffirming the distinct value of the theatrical experience. Building on this success, the Russo brothers are now expanding their AGBO production company to champion artist ownership and emerging talent with projects like *Cherry*, all while maintaining a format-agnostic commitment to both streaming and cinema.
- Y Combinator56 min
Analyzing Billions of Transactions to Understand Consumer Behavior - Michael Babineau and Kevin Hale
Michael Babineau, Kevin Hale, Craig Cannon, Mike
Co-founded by Mike and Lillian, the company delivers a financial analytics platform that empowers investors and corporations to analyze over 50 billion credit card transactions to solve complex business intelligence problems. With a diverse team of 60 data scientists and engineers, the firm processes unstructured data for entities ranging from startups to major retailers like Stitch Fix and Amazon, transforming raw transactional noise into actionable strategic insights. Supported by strategic funding from Goldman Sachs and Citi, the platform achieved 150 clients through organic growth by offering a customizable toolset rather than static reports, allowing users to generate their own unique information edges.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Words That Work: A Workshop With Frank Luntz
Frank Luntz, Frank Fenwick, Heather, Ken Gilroy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, James, Martin
Political consultant Frank Luntz argues that escalating polarization has transformed American discourse into aggressive monologues, prompting a strategic pivot toward specific linguistic shifts designed to rebuild trust and bridge ideological divides. He details a revised political lexicon that replaces divisive terminology like "capitalism" and "privilege" with inclusive concepts such as "economic freedom" and "responsibility," while urging leaders to abandon negative social media tactics in favor of future-oriented, collaborative messaging. The session concludes with a recognition that the next generation seeks shared prosperity over binary ideological battles, warning that failure to adopt these de-escalation strategies risks permanently delegitimizing political opposition.
- Milken Institute28 min
A Conversation with Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein, Mike Milken, Michael Milken
Calvin Klein co-founded his global fashion empire with early capital from childhood friend Barry Schwartz, eventually pioneering disruptive marketing strategies like the Brooke Shields "Nothing" campaign and unauthorized product placements to define an American, provocative brand identity. While the partnership with financier Michael Milken provided critical structural discipline during cash crunches, Klein also navigated legal controversies such as the "Kiddie Porn" investigation by prioritizing cultural conversation over traditional safety. Today, he reflects on how social media has compressed the industry timeline, distinguishing between fleeting celebrity brands and enduring legacy companies built on distinct style and consistent messaging.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Investing with Vision: A Conversation With SoftBank's Rajeev Misra
Rajeev Misra, Mike Milken, Michael Milken
SoftBank Vision Fund has deployed $80 billion across 80 portfolio companies to aggregate fragmented markets through AI-driven platforms and preferential debt financing. Led by Rajiv Mehta, the fund targets 30% long-term returns by applying a minority stake strategy to "fearless" founders while leveraging SoftBank's ecosystem for global expansion. With a second fund planned for immediate launch, the organization aims to capitalize on the transition from internet growth to an AI revolution that restructures industries like transportation and hospitality.
- Milken Institute1h 5m
Keeping the American Dream Alive
Michael Milken, Raymond Dalio, Robert Smith
A panel of economists and policy experts diagnoses the erosion of the American Dream as a result of stagnant incomes for the bottom 65%, extreme wealth concentration, and systemic underdevelopment driven by technological substitution and flawed monetary policy. To reverse these trends, the group proposes data-driven public-private partnerships that treat education and early intervention as high-yield capital investments, specifically targeting at-risk youth and underserved STEM students through targeted internships and holistic support systems. The discussion concludes that without bipartisan cooperation to redistribute opportunity and address the looming risk of social conflict, the nation faces severe systemic instability exacerbated by a rapidly shifting demographic landscape.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Food as Medicine
Ryan Shadrick Wilson, The Edge, William Li, Tim Ryan
A panel including Dr. William Lee, Bono, and Representative Tim Ryan convened to advocate for a paradigm shift from pharmaceutical-dependent treatment to preventative nutrition, citing that over 200 specific foods can activate natural defense systems to combat major chronic diseases. Despite evidence suggesting that dietary interventions could save the U.S. economy $1.7 trillion annually in healthcare costs, the current system is hindered by inadequate medical education and federal subsidies for unhealthy commodities. To address these systemic failures, the group proposed establishing a National Institute for Nutrition, mandating school-based food education, and restructuring tax policies to incentivize nutrient-dense agricultural production.
- a16z49 min
10+1 Lessons from Serial Entrepreneur Justin Kan
Fourteen-year veteran entrepreneur Justin Kahn applies his extensive experience from founding and exiting ventures like Twitch and Justin.tv to lead Atrium, a technology-enabled law firm designed to offer speed and transparency for startups. Transitioning from high-market-risk consumer apps to execution-focused B2B models, Kahn leverages a massive Series A round to signal trustworthiness while advocating for a "conscious company" culture built on empathy and radical responsibility. His approach emphasizes that sustainable success requires treating startup building as a multi-decade marathon rather than a sprint, integrating rigorous personal development with strategic business growth.
- Y Combinator49 min
Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks
Chris Best, Jonathan Gill, Craig Cannon, Jack Ryder, Debdut Mukherjee
Substack leadership and industry experts analyze a shifting podcasting landscape where direct subscription models are gaining traction against traditional advertising, leveraging strategies like micro-pricing and referral incentives to monetize niche audiences. The discussion highlights that success relies less on mass download metrics and more on consistent publishing, high-quality audio storytelling, and the ability to measure engagement through direct response data rather than obsolete download counts. Ultimately, the panel predicts a future ecosystem where creators maintain direct audience relationships through independent platforms, blending ad-supported mass content with paid subscription niches to counter the consolidation risks posed by major tech giants.