EP 113: Dara Khosrowshahi (CEO, Uber) Lays Out the Path to Autonomous Vehicles

Will Gaybrick joined Stripe as CFO after investing in the company at Thrive Capital. Over the past 9 years, now as President, he's helped grow Stripe's into one of the world's largest private startups. In this episode, we explore his impressive career journey—from Harvard Math to software engineering, Yale Law, venture capital, and now his leadership role at Stripe. Will shares key insights on capital allocation, crypto, AI, investing, leadership, and more. Some takeaways:(00:00) Intro(01:09) From Academia to Venture Capital(02:01) Joining Stripe: The Unexpected Journey(02:09) Career Philosophy and Decision Making(05:23) Building Hack Yale and Teaching(08:15) The Role of a Polymath at Stripe(09:31) Learning Techniques and AI Insights(16:15) Operational Shifts and Growth Strategies(20:36) Hiring and Leadership at Stripe(28:08) Organizational Systems and Processes(31:40) Migrating Users to New API Versions(32:07) Challenges in API Refactoring(33:57) The Rise of Stablecoins(34:07) Stripe's History with Crypto(35:51) Stablecoins: Use Cases and Adoption(41:30) AI and Machine Learning at Stripe(47:59) Risk Management and Compliance(53:21) Empowering Innovation with AI(57:14) Decision-Making Frameworks at Stripe(01:04:07) Stripe's Product Evolution(01:09:31) Exploring the Fun and Challenges of Product Space(01:10:20) Stripe's Organizational Structure and Strategy(01:12:12) The Importance of Technical Unification(01:13:13) User Demands and Capital Allocation(01:14:18) The Role of ROI in Early Projects(01:15:53) Stripe's Unique Approach to Titles and Levels(01:18:36) Insights on Organizational Design(01:21:36) Effective Leadership and Decision-Making(01:24:18) Reflections on Influential Leaders(01:33:25) The Value of Venture Capital(01:38:29) Future Prospects and Motivation at Stripe  Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Parker Conrad has spent the last 8 years building Rippling into a $13B company, marking his redemption after being ousted from Zenefits. In his second appearance on the podcast, Parker and I discussed Paul Graham's "founder mode" essay and how he operationalizes it at Rippling. He also reflected on the key lessons he's learned throughout his career, highlighting the differences in how he ran Zenefits compared to Rippling today. Additionally, Parker shared his candid views on the challenges of having investors as board members and why he believes much of VC "value add" is overrated.(00:00) Intro(01:31) Parker's Leadership Principles at Rippling(02:16) The Importance of Anecdotal Evidence(04:09) Balancing Founder Mode and Team Collaboration(05:08) The Risks of Over-Extrapolating Founder Mode(06:56) The Reality of Sales Compensation(08:15) Hiring Founders for New Products(11:10) The Pace of Execution in a Company(11:21) The 'C on a Box' Dilemma(12:07) The Speed vs. Quality Debate(13:56) The Viral Tweet Incident(16:51) Governance and Board Dynamics(20:04) Choosing the Right Investors(29:57) The Role of Career VCs as Board Members(33:43) Misaligned Incentives Between Founders and Investors(35:43) Navigating Business Challenges(36:27) Sam Altman's Crucial Support(38:45) The Role of Venture Capitalists(40:06) The Value of Y Combinator(43:16) Fundraising and Valuations(01:00:39) Lessons from Past Ventures(01:06:05) Building Compound Software(01:09:33) The Future of Compound Software Businesses(01:10:04) Microsoft's Unassailable Approach(01:10:40) Building Narrow vs. Compound Software(01:12:16) Investment Decisions in New vs. Existing Products(01:14:42) Platform Development and Resource Allocation(01:16:32) The Journey from Chem Major to Software Visionary(01:18:34) Challenges and Strategies in Multi-Product R&D(01:25:32) Improving Customer Support Metrics(01:28:50) The Role of a Founder in Product Management(01:31:23) Hiring and Cultivating Executive Talent(01:39:07) The Motivation Behind Rippling's Success(01:41:58) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Many know Celsius as a top energy drink brand today, but few are aware of the tumultuous journey CEO John Fieldly took to get it here. In the episode, John shared how the company nearly went bankrupt multiple times, lost 50% of its revenue overnight and even got delisted from the NASDAQ.Despite these challenges, John stepped up to rebuild the brand to the nearly $10B company it is today. We discuss how he shifted focus from weight loss to broad-based energy, secured key distribution deals, landed a major partnership with Pepsi, and much more. (00:00) Intro(01:34) The Origins of Celsius(03:30) Going Public: The Early Days(06:07) Challenges and Lawsuits(09:17) Rebuilding and Rebranding(13:18) Strategic Shifts and Market Positioning(30:40) The Role of Influencers and Social Media(32:03) John Fieldly's Leadership Journey(33:34) Reflecting on the Stock Price Journey(34:12) Navigating Public Company Challenges(35:25) Distribution Deals and Market Perception(38:00) Strategic Moves and Competitive Advantage(44:08) Marketing Strategies and Consumer Engagement(52:35) Leadership and Company Culture(01:02:01) International Expansion and Future Goals(01:06:01) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Josh Wolfe, co-founder and managing partner at Lux Capital, is a master at quickly understanding complex, emerging technologies. In our conversation, Josh shared how he identifies the next big thing, his contrarian views on nuclear energy, biotech, and robotics, as well as his thoughts on the state of the venture capital market today.(00:00) Intro(01:02) Daily News Routine(05:28) Geopolitical Insights(07:03) Competitiveness and Curiosity(11:01) Investment Strategies and Risks(26:07) The Control Labs Story(33:48) The Founder’s Dilemma: Financial vs. Strategic Motivations(34:33) Geopolitical Concerns: Iran and Global Politics(36:31) Investments in Defense: Controversies and Convictions(37:36) The State of Society: Happiness and Social Dynamics(48:07) Artificial Intelligence: Trends and Predictions(01:02:22) The Future of Robotics: Beyond Humanoids(01:06:46) Ethical Implications of AI and Defense Technologies(01:11:29) Lux Capital’s Investment Strategy and LP Relations(01:12:43) ESG and Moral Impositions(01:13:30) Defense and Complex Moral Valences(01:14:19) Investment Ethics and Decision Making(01:16:46) Venture Capital Market Outlook(01:17:56) Challenges in Venture Capital(01:37:12) The Role of Storytelling in Venture Capital(01:43:20) Personal Reflections and Background(01:51:34) Partnership Dynamics and Trust(01:53:48) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Emery Wells is the co-founder and CEO of Frame.io, which he sold to Adobe in 2021 for nearly $1.3 billion. In our conversation, Emery shares his journey from NYC bartender to startup founder, including his agency work with Saturday Night Live that highlighted the pain points that led to Frame.io. We dive deep into his rejection of the lean startup concept, how he gets his team to obsess over design details, and the cultural reset at Frame.io that set the stage for its success.(00:00) Intro(01:34) Emery's Journey to Founding Frame.io(03:23) SNL Digital Shorts and Post-Production Insights(08:30) From Bartender to Entrepreneur(11:45) Building Frame.io: Challenges and Philosophy(23:14) Leadership and Decision-Making in Startups(28:40) Cultural Crisis and Turning Points(30:10) Understanding Company Culture(32:57) The Big Reset: Leadership Changes(34:16) Defining and Implementing Values(38:09) Hiring for Cultural Fit(39:18) The Importance of Design(46:06) Framework for Quality Execution(54:23) Building a B2B Brand(58:17) Effective Launch Strategies(01:05:36) Fundraising Lessons(01:08:30) The Art of Storytelling in Presentations(01:09:19) Meeting Key Industry Figures(01:10:06) The Acquisition Dance with Aaron Levy(01:16:04) Adobe's Acquisition Interest(01:18:12) Navigating the Acquisition Process(01:27:04) Lessons from Adobe's Culture(01:29:59) The Impact of AI on Creativity(01:34:16) Advice on Board Selection and Dynamics(01:41:40) Final Thoughts and Reflections Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Dara Khosrowshahi runs one of the most complicated businesses in the world, Uber. Since taking over in 2017 Dara has led the company to profitability against all odds. In this episode, we touch on a number of things including Uber’s position on the future of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), the challenges that were overcome in making Uber profitable, and some of the operating principles that have stuck with Dara since his days at Expedia. (00:00) Intro(01:49) Uber's Economic Resilience and Consumer Trends(04:40) The Future of Autonomous Vehicles(14:27) Strategic Decisions and the Advanced Technologies Group(31:01) Uber's Expansion and Competitive Landscape(38:01) Living in the Suburbs: Practical Insights(39:23) Cultural Reset at Uber: A Necessity(42:39) Operational Efficiency: Lessons from Uber(46:56) Global Adaptations: Uber's Local Innovations(48:58) Leadership and Mentorship: Personal Reflections(51:32) Career Path: From Finance to CEO(01:00:14) The Importance of Constructive Conflict(01:04:47) Long-term Strategy and Board Governance(01:07:07) The Impact of Uber: A Global Perspective(01:08:54) Conclusion and Farewell Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Mike Maples is an 8x Midas List investor and founding partner at Floodgate Fund. In our conversation, we dive into his latest book, "Pattern Breakers: Why Some Startups Change The Future." Mike shares his frameworks on how top startups beat incumbents by redefining categories, and he reflects on his worst and best decisions. We also discuss what the future of venture capital may look like over the next decade - here are a few favorite takeaways on what makes outstanding startups from one of the industry's most influential names.(00:00) Intro(01:12) Meet Mike Maples: Venture Capital Icon(04:20) The Genesis of Twitch and Startup Pivots(07:51) Understanding Inflections in Startups(14:38) The Role of Insights and Ideas in Startup Success(22:13) The Importance of Movements and Founder-Future Fit(26:10) Case Studies: Quibi, Tesla, and More(43:41) The Trap of Mundane Startup Ideas(45:36) The Inflection Stress Test for Startups(47:06) The Twitter Success Story(52:40) The Rise of Seed Funding(56:55) Traits of Successful Founders(59:39) The Importance of Storytelling in Startups(01:05:47) Navigating the Challenges of Disruptive Startups(01:08:31) Reflections on Early Investment Decisions(01:13:57) Entering the Venture Capital World(01:20:25) The Evolution of the Tech Industry(01:22:47) Reflecting on the Dot-Com Era(01:23:06) The Evolution of Cognition and AI(01:24:03) Investment Strategies and Market Trends(01:25:56) The AI and Dot-Com Bubble Comparison(01:33:46) The Rise of Bitcoin and Crypto(01:37:02) Navigating Venture Capital Cycles(01:49:57) Advice for Aspiring Investors(01:54:09) The Importance of Authenticity and Specialization(02:03:20) Closing Thoughts and Reflections Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Josh Reeves has built Gusto into a nearly $10B company with over $500M in ARR, serving small businesses. In our conversation, Josh delves into Gusto’s 13-year journey, sharing insights on how they achieved product-market fit by initially targeting a very narrow niche. He also highlights the tactics they’ve used to build an intentional culture of humility and helpfulness, along with lessons he’s learned in hiring executives. We also explore the future of Gusto and the opportunities that lie ahead for the business.(00:00) Intro(00:36) Early Days and Product Market Fit(01:02) Building a Scalable Business(01:41) Gusto's Core Offerings and Customer Focus(02:51) Challenges and Strategies in Payroll(05:40) Expanding Gusto's Reach(10:11) Customer Feedback and Product Development(23:03) Hiring and Company Culture(29:23) Values and Leadership at Gusto(37:14) Sustaining Passion and Long-Term Vision(43:27) Balancing Growth and Sustainability(46:29) Balancing Competition and Kindness in Startups(46:38) The Importance of Team Collaboration(47:47) Navigating Feedback: Kindness vs. Niceness(48:25) Hiring for Ambition and Humility(49:57) Aligning Company Values with Success(53:11) Work-Life Integration at Gusto(56:11) Building a Long-Term Oriented Business(57:15) Mentorship and Learning from Other Founders(01:00:09) Structuring and Scaling Product Teams(01:06:16) Organizational Design and Leadership(01:08:31) Hiring Executives and Internal Growth(01:13:13) The Journey of Rebranding to Gusto(01:21:05) The Role of a CEO in a Growing Company(01:28:39) Fundraising and Investor Relations(01:33:14) Future Goals and Impact of Gusto(01:35:48) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Eric Glyman (CEO, Ramp) shared his operating playbook for leading one of the fastest-growing startups on his second appearance on the podcast. We also explored the unique ways Ramp leverages AI internally, strategies for startups to build moats in AI, and the concept of self-driving money. We concluded with one of the most profound and thoughtful discussions about hiring, motivations, and success I've ever had on the podcast. It was truly enjoyable to sit down with a seasoned portfolio founder.(00:00) Introduction and Episode Overview(01:03) Market Reflections and Ramp's Growth(04:01) Artificial Intelligence in Business(10:09) Ramp's AI Implementation: Toby the Slack Bot(16:49) AI's Impact on Business Models and Hiring(31:15) The Future of Organizational Structure(31:36) The Evolution of Bookkeeping(33:49) The Impact of Automation on Bookkeeping Jobs(35:31) Streamlining Expense Management with Ramp(37:00) The Concept of Self-Driving Money(38:09) AI Integration in Ramp's Services(39:38) Zero Touch AI and Customer Experience(40:54) Agentic AI and Practical Applications(49:15) Balancing Autonomy and Centralization in Organizations(56:09) Developing New Products at Ramp(01:04:01) Resource Allocation in Organizations(01:05:00) Creating Conditions for Success(01:08:37) Balancing Existing and New Products(01:11:02) Hiring for Curiosity(01:16:09) The Pursuit of Perfection(01:21:21) The Joy of the Process(01:24:37) Building a Timeless Product(01:33:15) Conclusion and Reflections   Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski led the rise from a profitable business to their peak $50 billion valuation, in which they were burning $150 million a month. In my latest episode, Sebastian shares how he turned Klarna back to profitability and discusses Klarna’s ongoing pursuit of creating a digital financial assistant. He also reflects on their recent boardroom drama with Sequoia and outlines the operating principles and the repaired mistakes that have made Klarna the company it is today.(00:00) Intro(01:45) Personal Reflections on Alcohol and Family(03:03) The Journey to Sobriety(05:57) Milestones and Achievements(07:59) Understanding Company Success(10:54) Challenges and Pivots in Business(16:50) Building and Maintaining Company Culture(26:16) Leadership and Motivation(32:42) What Klarna Does(41:33) Reflecting on Leadership and Self-Development(41:48) Promoting Young Talent and Internal Growth(44:52) Balancing Autonomy and Standardization(46:29) Adopting Agile and Toyota's Influence(55:05) Navigating Regulatory Challenges(01:00:11) Klarna's Financial Journey and Market Expansion(01:10:38) Handling Valuation Resets and Layoffs(01:23:57) Evaluating Individuals in Business Relationships(01:24:22) Stability of Institutions and Individuals(01:25:40) Perverse Incentives in VC Firms(01:26:50) Hands-On Leadership in VC Firms(01:28:54) The Impact of Michael Moritz(01:34:52) Leadership Evolution and Self-Reflection(01:39:11) Facing Challenges and Finding Solitude(01:42:19) AI Integration at Klarna(01:52:03) Balancing Capitalism and Societal Impact(02:00:53) Creativity and Constraints in Problem Solving(02:05:41) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.