Mark Gerson co-founded Gerson Lehrman Group, the world’s largest expert network. He’s also the co-founder and Chairman of United Hatzalah and the African Mission Healthcare Foundation. In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Mark discuss: Measuring charity impact and ROI Real philanthropy vs “fake charities” Building GLG and expert networks Marriage and religion in the US Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to WorldofDaaS.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, an...
Jun 04, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Michael Batnick is a managing partner and Director of Research at Ritholtz Wealth Management. He’s also the host of the excellent investing and finance podcast network The Compound . In this episode, Auren and Michael discuss: Mega caps, crypto and retail investors Impact of index funds on the stock market Fintech vs legacy financial institutions Investing mistakes and life lessons World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital . For more episodes, visit worldofdaas.buzzsprout.c...
May 28, 2024•38 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast Anand Sanwal is the founder of CB Insights, a business analytics platform and global database of intel on technology companies. Anand was CEO of CB Insights for 14 years and recently stepped into the role of executive chairman. In this episode, Auren and Anand discuss: Tech and venture capital narratives vs data AI integration and workflows Future of data businesses CEO transitions at 1 to N companies World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital . For more episodes, visit worl...
May 21, 2024•51 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast Scott Lynn is the founder and CEO of Masterworks, the first company to securitize art. Masterworks manages $940 million in art assets and has nearly 900,000 investors on its platform. Scott is also a multitime founder– prior to Masterworks, he founded companies in online gaming, advertising and fintech including AdKnowledge, Virtumundo, V2 Ventures and Payability. In this episode, Scott and Auren discuss: Data insights on the art market Art trends and investing strategies NFTs and other collecti...
May 14, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dmitri Alperovitch is the co-founder and former CTO of Crowdstrike, and he’s currently the chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, a national security think tank. He’s also the author of the new book World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century . In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Dmitri discuss: Taiwan's strategic importance in Asia China's potential timeframe for invading Taiwan Chip dominance and global semiconductor markets Endg...
May 07, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jonathan Ross is the founder and CEO of Groq, a company that develops high performance microchips purpose built for AI and machine learning. Prior to founding Groq, Jonathan invented Google’s AI processor, the TPU. In this episode of World of DaaS, Jonathan and Auren discuss: Future of industry in the AI era Evolution of AI processing hardware Semiconductor supply chains Challenges and innovations in chip development Prompt writing tips from an AI pro World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph...
Apr 30, 2024•52 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast Greg Isenberg is the CEO and Founder of Late Checkout Studio, a holding company for online community businesses. Greg has founded three venture-backed startups and he was also an advisor to TikTok and Reddit. In this episode of World of DaaS, Greg and Auren discuss: Changes to startup + VC ecosystem Startup studio model vs. private equity ChatGPT businesses in 2024 Building without venture funding World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital . For more episodes, visit worldofd...
Apr 23, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Saagar is the co-host of the podcast and web series Breaking Points, which has over a million subscribers on Youtube. He was previously a White House correspondent for the Daily Caller. On this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Saagar discuss: Media business models and revenue streams Bias and anti-establishment media Parallels in US history to today Aliens, conspiracies and DC parties World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital . For more episodes, visit worldofdaas.buzzsp...
Apr 16, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ryan Petersen is the founder and CEO of Flexport, a unicorn international freight forwarding business. He’s also a Venture Partner at Founders Fund. In this episode of World of DaaS, Ryan and Auren discuss: Supply chain breakdowns Geopolitics of commercial shipping Scaling freight forwarding businesses 10X Deglobalization vs international trade Returning to Flexport after stepping down as CEO Why good CEOs micromanage World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital . For more epi...
Apr 09, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill Magnuson is the co-founder and CEO of Braze ($BRZE), a publicly traded customer engagement platform valued at over $5 billion. In this episode of World of DaaS: Growth of mobile technology Power of first-party relationships Modern martech mindset vs traditional advertising Tech company IPOs How SMS spam and fraud works Build vs buy martech strategies Toxic tech workplace culture and “family” World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital . For more episodes, visit worldofda...
Apr 02, 2024•59 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Steve was CEO of AOL during its meteoric rise from 1991 to 2003. He’s also the chairman and CEO of Revolution, which has invested over $1 billion in startups, and the author of several books, including Rise of the Rest and The Third Wave. In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Steve discuss the early days of the internet and the challenges of getting people to embrace it. Steve highlights the importance of community in AOL's success and the launch of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Steve ...
Mar 26, 2024•47 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast Blake Hall is the co-founder and CEO of ID.me, a secure digital identity network with over 100 million members. In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Blake dive into online security, passwords, AI, and geopolitics. Blake explains the concept of identity wallets and their potential to streamline access to services and benefits. He also breaks down why identity wallets are like VISA and Mastercard, and explains where there’s untapped opportunity for a trillion-dollar company in the identity ...
Mar 19, 2024•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Daniel Diermeier is the Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. He’s a world-renowned scholar of business management and political science. Before joining Vanderbilt, he was Provost of the University of Chicago. In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Daniel engage in a thought-provoking discussion on free speech, academic freedom and the state of higher education at large. They explore the sources behind requests to curtail free speech, the principles guiding free expression at Vanderbilt, and...
Mar 12, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Daniel Lurie is currently running for mayor of San Francisco. Prior to running for mayor, he was the founder and CEO of Tipping Point Community, a charitable organization that distributed over $30 million to organizations fighting poverty throughout the Bay Area last year. In this episode of World of DaaS, Daniel discusses tackling crime, homelessness and cost of living in San Francisco. He breaks down the structural factors in the city’s governance and explains how they’re enabling corruption a...
Mar 05, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sarah Tavel is a general partner at Benchmark Capital . She serves on the board of Chainalysis, Hipcamp, Medely, Rekki, and Cambly. On this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Sarah discuss the concept of selling work in the SaaS industry and how it differs from selling traditional productivity software. Sarah explains how selling work could unlock whole new verticals for software penetration and disrupt existing SaaS giants. Auren and Sarah explore the areas where these new, leaner software com...
Feb 27, 2024•48 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast Meb Faber is the co-founder and CIO of Cambria Investment Management, which has over $2B in assets under management. He’s also the host of the excellent financial podcast the Meb Faber Show . In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Meb discuss global portfolio allocation, bitcoin ETFs, controversial investing strategies, and little-known financial industry secrets. They discuss the most common mistakes Meb sees in investment portfolios, the importance of global diversification and tax effici...
Feb 20, 2024•50 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Neil Buddy Shah is the CEO of the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the former managing director of GiveWell. In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Buddy dive into all things data, public health, and AI. Buddy discusses innovative solutions for data scarcity in low-income countries, such as using machine learning algorithms to better target social and medical aid. He also explores the potential of low-cost surveys and the role of cell phones in data collection. Buddy is a longtime m...
Feb 13, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Siroker is the co-founder and CEO of Rewind AI. He also co-founded Optimizely, and he was the Director of Analytics at Obama’s first presidential campaign. On this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Dan discuss how Rewind raised its Series A in public, and how the unconventional move benefited the company. Dan shares insights on creating a compelling pitch and the importance of practicing and honing the pitch through meetings with investors. Dan also discusses the challenges and opportuniti...
Feb 06, 2024•46 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast Emil Michael was the Chief Business Officer at $UBER during its hyperscale period from 2013 to 2017. He’s currently the CEO of DPCM Capital, and he’s also a strategic advisor to a number of amazing companies, including Codecademy, GroupMe and Taser. On this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Emil cover everything from tech IPOs and Uber's stock performance to the future of AI, the relationship between Uber and Benchmark, and more. Emil shares insights into the reasons behind the delay in t...
Jan 30, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Austen Allred is the founder and CEO of the Bloom Institute of Technology (formerly known as Lambda School), a coding bootcamp that’s helped thousands of students get a job in tech. The discussion kicks off with an exploration of Income Share Agreements (ISAs) and how BloomTech has used them as an alternative to student loans. Austen shares insights on the financial incentives and regulatory pressures that have prevented more schools from embracing ISAs, and how the current student loan regime w...
Jan 23, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Oren Cass is the founder and executive director of the think tank American Compass , and the author of the book The Once and Future Worker: A Vision for the Renewal of Work in America . He was also the Domestic Policy Director for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign. In this episode, Oren discusses the limitations of common economic statistics, emphasizing their narrow scope in capturing the overall economic landscape. He challenges prevailing notions about the cost of thriving in the middle class, shed...
Jan 16, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is a rebroadcast of Auren's appearance on Media Empires with Erik Torenberg. Go check out Media Empires for more from the best YouTube creators, podcasters, newsletter writers, and media entrepreneurs. In this episode, Erik and Auren discuss all things data business, including data on windfalls and net worth, reputational databases, and the failures and successes of LinkedIn. World of DaaS is brought to you by SafeGraph & Flex Capital . For more episodes, visit safegraph.co...
Jan 09, 2024•58 min•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast Greg Lukianoff is the President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). He’s also a bestselling author of several books, including The Coddling of the American Mind and most recently The Canceling of the American Mind . On this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Greg delve into the current state of cancel culture. Greg reveals surprising stats on which schools are the best and worst for free speech in 2024 and breaks down the escalating levels of shoutdowns and vi...
Jan 02, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mary Kay Henry is the president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents 2 million people in unions across the US and Canada. In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Mary Kay discuss the current surge in the labor movement and what it means for American companies and workers. Mary Kay breaks down some recent developments, including Microsoft's agreement with the Communications Workers of America around unions for game developers. The conversation also delves into p...
Dec 26, 2023•43 min•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Lonsdale is a co-founder of a number of amazing companies, including Palantir, Addepar and OpenGov, and he’s a cofounder of the University of Austin. He’s also the founder and managing partner of the venture firm 8VC, and he’s invested in some incredible companies, including Oculus, Anduril, Wish and Flexport. In this episode of World of DaaS, Auren and Joe engage in a thought-provoking discussion on optimism and pessimism, technological progress, and reforming society at the most basic leve...
Dec 19, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sam Lessin is a GP at Slow Ventures, a former Facebook product manager, and the founder of Drop.io and Fin. He’s also the co-host of an excellent podcast on tech called More or Less . On this episode of World of DaaS, Sam gives a comprehensive breakdown of the state of venture capital. Auren and Sam discuss the “unicorn factory” for building public companies, the influence of megafunds like Tiger Global and Softbank, and the fundamental changes that VC went through in 2018-2022. Sam also shares ...
Dec 12, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brian Halligan is the co-founder, longtime CEO and now executive chair of Hubspot, a full service platform for marketing, sales and customer service. Hubspot was founded in 2006 and has a market cap of $23B today. Brian coined the term “inbound marketing” and helped give rise to one of the biggest shifts in marketing of the last 20 years. In this episode of World of DaaS, Brian offers a deep dive into the intricacies of boardroom politics, effective leadership transitions, and the ever-evolving ...
Dec 05, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is a rebroadcast of Auren’s appearance on the MapScaping Podcast . In this episode, Auren and MapScaping host Daniel O’Donohue go deep on geospatial data. They start by discussing Placekey – an open entity resolution service for places and addresses. Auren gives a breakdown of the complexities involved with address matching, and what that has to do with the dollar, Unix time, and innovation. Auren and Daniel also delve into a broader conversation about join keys, data integration an...
Nov 28, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sam Corcos is the CEO of Levels , an a16z-backed health tech startup. While Levels’ mission is amazing, what really sets the company apart is how Sam runs it: Levels is highly transparent, asynchronous first, and serious about leveraging delegation for maximum productivity. In this episode of World of DaaS, Sam gives a master class on the art of virtual assistance and delegation. Levels uses VAS to allow team members much greater leverage over their work. Sam himself has four EAs that allow him ...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff Lawson is the cofounder and CEO of Twilio, a $10 billion public software communications company. Jeff has an incredible founder story. Prior to Twilio, he co-founded Versity, which he sold for $30 million when he was just 23 years old. He was also the founding CTO of Stubhub and one of the first product managers at AWS. He founded Twilio in 2008. In this episode, Jeff shares his insights into the API economy, scaling successful businesses, and the future of the SaaS business model. Jeff and...
Nov 14, 2023•56 min•Ep 119•Transcript available on Metacast 
