Fintech

Patrick Collison: "What If You Succeed?"

Patrick Collison: "What If You Succeed?"

Patrick Collison, co-founder of Stripe, discusses the enduring value of human cognitive abilities in the age of AI, shares his unique perspective on dropping out of college, and explains Stripe's unconventional launch strategy. He critically examines the "lean startup" methodology in an AI-driven world and highlights how Stripe's data indicates an unprecedented boom in new businesses, faster growth, and a decentralized, prosperous future, challenging common fears about AI's centralizing impact.

The ERP for the AI Revolution is here

The ERP for the AI Revolution is here

John Glasgow, founder of AI-native ERP Campfire, discusses his journey from a Google Sheets MVP to displacing NetSuite. He covers the importance of founder-led sales to $1M ARR, using a narrow feature set as a wedge into the market, and how the rise of AI flipped the script on what constitutes a "safe" enterprise software choice.

One Size Fits None: How Platform Engineering Must Evolve • William Rizzo & Colin Griffin • GOTO 2026

One Size Fits None: How Platform Engineering Must Evolve • William Rizzo & Colin Griffin • GOTO 2026

Colin Griffin and William Rizzo discuss the future of platform engineering, emphasizing the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all frameworks. They explore how different industries like fintech, telco, and automotive require tailored platforms due to unique regulatory and business challenges. The conversation highlights the growing pressure to link platform investments to clear business outcomes and details the infrastructure reckoning caused by large-scale GPU investments for AI, which brings hardware and network orchestration to the forefront.

How AI Will Reshape The Economy In 2026 (a16z Big Ideas)

How AI Will Reshape The Economy In 2026 (a16z Big Ideas)

Experts from a16z forecast three major AI-driven shifts for 2026. Ryan McEntush discusses the rise of the 'electro-industrial stack' and the need for a U.S. ecosystem to power modern industry. Angela Strange explains how financial services are at a tipping point, with AI-native platforms unifying data to unlock massive efficiency gains. Sarah Wang predicts that a 'dynamic agent layer' will overtake traditional systems of record, fundamentally changing enterprise software by directly translating user intent into action.

The History of The Fintech Industry, Explained

The History of The Fintech Industry, Explained

a16z's David Haber and Plaid CEO Zach Perret chart the dramatic seasons of fintech, from the explosive VC-fueled boom of 2020-2021 to the deep freeze of 2022 and its current resurgence. They explore the transformative forces reshaping the industry today, including AI's dual role as both a primary tool for sophisticated fraud and the ultimate defense against it. The conversation also covers the rise of embedded finance, the renewed importance of deposits, and how incumbents are finally embracing external software, with Plaid's own journey serving as a microcosm of the industry's evolution.

Rocket Companies CEO: Here’s How to Fix the Housing Crisis

Rocket Companies CEO: Here’s How to Fix the Housing Crisis

Alex Rampell (a16z) and Varun Krishna (Rocket CEO) discuss the housing affordability crisis, driven by asset inflation and supply constraints. They explore how Rocket Mortgage is evolving into a homeownership company by vertically integrating the entire housing funnel through strategic acquisitions like Redfin, aiming to turn a once-in-a-lifetime transaction into an everyday relationship.