Gifted a second-hand PC by his grandfather, teenage coder Jason Citron chased a dream of making games—only to watch his ambitious mobile title flop. Out of that setback he forged a friction-free voice-and-chat app to end the pain of talking with friends while gaming, then scaled it into Discord, the community backbone for more than 200 million users. In this series we unpack the pivotal failures, bold pivots, and breakthrough technologies that turned a hobby project into a global platform.
In early 2025, Google’s multi-billion-dollar acquisition of the Israeli cloud security company Wiz captured Silicon Valley’s attention. Many had never heard of Wiz until then, but its meteoric rise was anything but accidental. Founded by four Israeli engineers who forged strong bonds and honed exceptional cybersecurity skills during their service in the elite Unit 8200 of the Israel Defense Forces, Wiz swiftly became a transformative force in cloud security. The team’s unique blend of unwavering camaraderie, hands-on intelligence expertise, and fearless innovation propelled them into a whole new frontier.
Note (https://note.com/thegap/n/nf111f8e61a41)
Dive into the captivating story of Oklo, a pioneering nuclear startup set to transform our global energy landscape. Hear how its young founders turned a passion for nuclear technology into a visionary mission for clean, stable power—whether in remote mining sites or cutting-edge data centers. We’ll explore Oklo’s groundbreaking microreactors, regulatory triumphs, and the people behind the dream of turning “nuclear waste” into sustainable fuel. If you’re curious about advanced nuclear, startup innovation, or the future of carbon-free power, this episode is your front-row seat to the next energy revolution.
In this episode, we uncover how a Polish immigrant’s son in Sweden transformed the way people shop online. Join us as we follow Klarna’s ambitious founder, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, on his journey from humble beginnings to creating a global BNPL powerhouse. Discover the struggles and breakthroughs that shaped Klarna’s revolutionary “Buy Now, Pay Later” model, learn about the company’s cutting-edge AI-driven credit checks, and see how bold vision can redefine the future of finance. Whether you’re new to fintech or a seasoned pro, this deep dive into Klarna’s story reveals how passion, resilience, and innovation can create an entirely new standard for online payments—and beyond.
In this episode, we explore the landmark collaboration between Palantir and Databricks, uncovering how their combined platforms deliver real-time AI-driven workflows at a massive scale. From Palantir’s powerful Ontology system to Databricks’ scalable lakehouse architecture, we break down the technical innovations that set them apart. We also examine the market implications—how this alliance challenges both Snowflake and major cloud providers—and discuss what the partnership means for government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and forward-thinking investors.
For listeners eager to dive deeper into the transformative impact of AI on enterprise innovation, we highly recommend checking out this insightful book on “The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West”. It offers a comprehensive look at the trends and strategies shaping the future of AI-driven decision-making.
Join us to discover the future of AI-powered operations and why this groundbreaking partnership is capturing global attention.
In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of CoreWeave—a company that began as a modest cryptocurrency mining project and pivoted into one of the world’s premier AI cloud providers. We explore how CEO Michael Intrator’s financial background and foresight led him to bet big on GPUs, forging powerful partnerships (notably with NVIDIA) and carving out a unique niche in the face of tech giants like AWS and Google. Discover how CoreWeave’s specialized approach has transformed it into a critical infrastructure partner for leading generative AI players, what challenges the team faced in its early pivot, and why the company’s rapid growth has investors paying close attention. Tune in to hear insights on CoreWeave’s bold strategies, the future of AI infrastructure, and the visionary leadership driving it all.
Join us as we delve into the extraordinary journey of Elon Musk and SpaceX in developing the world’s first fully and rapidly reusable rocket system. From the early struggles of the Falcon 1 to the groundbreaking “Chopsticks” mechanism that catches boosters mid-air, this episode explores the engineering triumphs, dramatic setbacks, and bold visions driving humanity closer to becoming a multi-planetary species. Discover how passionate teams, audacious ideas, and relentless innovation continue to shatter old paradigms of spaceflight—and reshape our future beyond Earth.
Join us as we dive into the compelling leadership style of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who challenges traditional business norms with his “no plans, always learning” philosophy. Discover how his hands-on approach, insistence on transparent communication, and relentless pursuit of innovation have propelled NVIDIA from a niche graphics chip maker to a global AI powerhouse. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, engineer, or business leader, you’ll gain valuable insights into building a bold corporate culture, embracing risk-taking, and empowering teams to excel in the face of constant change. For those seeking a deeper look at NVIDIA’s core principles, be sure to read The NVIDIA Way.
Dive into the remarkable journey of serial entrepreneur Brett Adcock, whose bold leadership and relentless ambition have propelled startups like Vettery and Archer Aviation to impressive heights. Now, he’s setting his sights on a new frontier: developing general-purpose humanoid robots at Figure. In this episode, we explore Adcock’s personal backstory, the motivations driving his high-stakes venture, and the breakthroughs his all-star team has achieved in AI, bipedal locomotion, and dexterous manipulation. Hear how Figure’s mission could transform manufacturing, logistics, and beyond—and why Adcock believes humanoids will be the key to unlocking a future where advanced robotics expand human capabilities across industries.
Step into the world of Elon Musk’s high-stakes leadership, where audacious visions collide with relentless work ethic and rapid-fire innovation. This podcast episode dives deep into the strategies, controversies, and transformative successes driving Musk’s multi-industry empire. Discover how his first-principles thinking, tolerance for risk, and top-down intensity enable breakthroughs at Tesla and SpaceX—yet also spark criticism and questions about sustainability. Tune in for a balanced exploration of how Musk’s ambition reshapes industries, challenges corporate norms, and inspires a new generation of boundary-pushing CEOs.
SoFi began as a student loan alternative, but has exploded into a fully chartered digital bank with a mission to “get your money right.” How did it expand from lending into credit cards, investing, checking accounts, and even a thriving B2B tech platform? In this episode, we explore the brand’s journey, its one-stop-shop strategy for younger, high-earning customers, and the cross-selling engine that’s winning over investors. Tune in for a deep dive into SoFi’s resilience in the face of economic shifts, the role of its Galileo and Technisys acquisitions, and why it might just redefine how we manage our finances—all through a single seamless app.
D id you know that a few lines of code could spark one of the world’s most influential fintech success stories? Join us for a deep dive into Stripe’s origins in rural Ireland, the “7 lines of code” philosophy that reshaped online payments, and the platform’s explosive rise to multi-billion-dollar prominence. We’ll explore why developers worldwide swear by Stripe’s frictionless APIs, how it’s aggressively expanding into AI and embedded finance, and what its eventual IPO might mean for startups, enterprises, and investors alike. If you’re curious about the future of digital commerce—and the power of simplicity in payment innovation—this episode is one you won’t want to miss.
Join us as we pull back the curtain on ServiceNow—one of the most influential (and often overlooked) success stories in enterprise software. Discover how this cloud-based workflow platform evolved from an ITSM tool into a comprehensive solution that ties together IT, HR, customer service, and beyond. We’ll explore why investors see huge potential in ServiceNow’s subscription model, how AI is fueling ambitious new products like Now Assist, and what makes the company’s “land and expand” approach so effective. Whether you’re an investor seeking the next breakout SaaS stock, or simply curious about the power of AI-driven enterprise workflows, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into ServiceNow’s past, present, and promising future.
Do AI writing tools diminish content authenticity, or can they actually enhance real-time platforms like Reddit? In this episode, we unpack a forward-looking analysis that says Reddit—far from being overshadowed—may gain even more value in an AI-saturated world. We explore how Reddit’s active, niche communities and user-generated insights could remain priceless for data licensing, targeted advertising, and organic engagement. If you’re an investor seeking the next big social platform or a fan curious about how AI might transform community dynamics, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into Reddit’s strengths, vulnerabilities, and possible future.
Get ready to dive into one of the most talked-about fintech IPOs on the horizon. In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Chime, the fast-growing digital bank that’s already captured over 38 million loyal customers—surpassing even JPMorgan Chase in primary banking relationships. We’ll dissect their unique “fee-free” model, explore how founders Chris Britt and Ryan King built a user-obsessed culture, and unpack the strategic pivots that could help Chime disrupt traditional finance.
Whether you’re eyeing a pre-IPO opportunity or just curious about the future of digital finance, this episode offers a must-hear exploration into Chime’s bold quest to reshape everyday banking—and maybe even Wall Street itself.
For years, Elon Musk has promised fully self-driving Teslas—enough for many to dub him the “boy who cried wolf.” But now, with a bold June launch of Tesla’s driverless robotaxi service in Austin, Musk insists, “This time, the wolf is real.” In this episode, we break down the new pilot program, the advanced FSD technology behind it, and the high-stakes questions surrounding safety, regulation, and profitability. Will Tesla finally silence the skeptics and reshape our cities with truly autonomous ride-hailing? Tune in to hear the latest developments—and what they mean for fans, investors, and the future of self-driving mobility.
In this episode, we dive into the shifting competitive landscape of Large Language Models (LLMs) and explore why businesses are moving from model-centric strategies to building value at the application layer. Drawing insights from the latest research and a deep-dive case study of Palantir Technologies, we’ll uncover how reduced training costs, open-source projects, and widespread APIs have turned LLMs into near-commodities. Listeners will learn how solution-driven applications, domain-specific customization, and robust integration services can propel organizations to new heights of profitability and efficiency. From banking fraud detection to manufacturing optimization and government intelligence, we’ll highlight real-world use cases that showcase the power of focusing on AI-driven applications. Join us for a conversation on harnessing LLMs to craft transformative, long-term value—well beyond just bigger models or cutting-edge tech.
What if Apple—often dismissed as “lagging” in AI—actually stands on the verge of a breakthrough? In this episode, we dissect how Apple’s low-key approach, from discreet acquisitions to privacy-centric hardware, might soon be supercharged by new open-source AI methods like DeepSeek R1. We’ll explore Apple’s potential pivot toward cutting-edge large language models, the role of the Neural Engine in on-device machine learning, and why the company’s “quiet integration” strategy could ultimately outshine high-profile cloud competitors. Tune in for a deep dive into Apple’s evolving AI path—and find out whether efficient, open-source innovations are about to elevate Siri, iOS, and the entire Apple ecosystem to new heights.
Ever wonder how an underdog AI lab in China managed to match—or even exceed—the performance of OpenAI’s flagship model? In this episode, we spotlight DeepSeek’s R1, a cutting-edge large language model that’s rattling the AI ecosystem with its open-source approach, innovative HPC design, and data-centric strategies. We’ll explore the cultural, technical, and financial maneuvers that helped DeepSeek overcome hardware restrictions, rival a global heavyweight like OpenAI, and force the industry to rethink the rules of high-stakes AI development. If you’re curious about the future of AI breakthroughs—and how unconventional thinking can drive game-changing results—this deep dive into the rise of R1 is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
In this episode, we delve into the massive $60–$80 billion AI investments announced by Meta and Microsoft for 2025—and the fierce hardware battle playing out behind the scenes. Will NVIDIA’s fortress of CUDA and cutting-edge GPU tech continue to reign supreme, or are AMD’s high-bandwidth accelerators poised to disrupt the market? We unpack Meta’s AI-first data centers, Microsoft’s Azure expansion, and the race to supply hyperscalers with next-generation chips. If you’re looking for a deep dive into how mega-spending in AI is reshaping the entire tech landscape—and who stands to gain the most from the surge—this is the conversation you won’t want to miss.