Eric Ries created the Lean Startup methodology and authored the bestselling book of the same name, which has sold over a million copies. He's also the founder and executive chairman of the Long-Term Stock Exchange, the co-founder of Answer AI (an AI R&D lab), and the author of the upcoming book Incorruptible, releasing May 26th.

In this episode of Summation, Eric and Auren discuss:

why "bad governance" companies have outperformed "good governance" since 2008financial gravity - the invisible force that bends companies away from their missionthe foundation-controlled blueprint behind Novo Nordisk, IKEA, and Zeisswhy vibe coding is headed for its Chernobyl moment

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Eric Ries on X at @ericries

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg became Germany's youngest Minister of Defense in history, and previously served as Minister of Economics and Technology. He is the chairman and founder of Spitzberg Partners, an investment and advisory firm, a bestselling author, and co-founder of Open Minds Media, where he produces films and podcasts. He co-hosts one of Germany's most popular podcasts.

In this episode of Summation, KT and Auren discuss:

Why Germany's defense spending hovered at 1% of GDP for decades and what finally forced a changeThe nuclear exit decision that was driven by a single state election and backfired spectacularlyHow Rheinmetall surpassed Volkswagen in market cap and what it signals about Europe's industrial reorientationWhy Germany's total stock market cap is less than a single US company like Nvidia

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Linkedin. 

Pat Gelsinger is the former CEO of Intel and longtime Silicon Valley leader.  He joins Auren to unpack the forces reshaping technology, geopolitics and leadership.

After more than 30 years at Intel (including serving as its first CTO) and nearly a decade as CEO of VMware, Pat now sits at the intersection of deep tech and purpose-driven innovation as executive chair and head of technology at Gloo and general partner at Playground Global.

In this episode of Summation, Pat and Auren discuss:

Why the US now imports more from Taiwan than from China -- and what that means for national securityThe case for a U.S. sovereign wealth fund to counter China?s tech investments in semiconductors, energy, and rare earth mineralsWhat happened when Intel gave $70B back to shareholders instead of building fabs, and why tech companies need technologist CEOsAndy Grove's 35-year mentoring relationship with Pat, starting with a cold call that changed his career

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Pat Gelsinger on X at @PGelsinger

Vlad Tenev (Robinhood co-founder/CEO) and Tudor Achim (former helm.ai CTO) are the founders of Harmonic, an AI lab pioneering the path toward mathematical superintelligence. Together, they developed Aristotle, a model that eliminates hallucinations by reasoning in Lean code rather than natural language. By shifting from probabilistic guesses to formal logic, Aristotle produces 100% verified mathematical outputs. The model recently demonstrated its breakthrough capabilities by achieving gold-medal performance at the International Math Olympiad. 

In this episode of Summation, Vlad, Tudor, and Auren discuss:

Why AI models struggled at math for so long How Aristotle helped 10x the total corpus of formally verified Erdos problems in just a few months Why formal verification will make all software dramatically saferHow the first Millennium Prize problem will be solved by 2027-2028

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren, Vlad Tenev on X at @vladtenev, and Tudor Achim on X at @tachim

John Allen is a retired four-star Marine Corps general who commanded 150,000 US and NATO troops in Afghanistan and built a 65-nation coalition as Special Presidential Envoy to the Global Coalition Against ISIS. After retiring from the military, he led the Brookings Institution as its president. He co-invented the term "hyperwar," holds five AI patents, and co-authored Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. He currently serves as a strategic advisor to Microsoft.

In this episode of Summation, John and Auren discuss:

Why Ukraine's battlefield is accelerating the autonomous weapons timeline faster than any defense department predictedThe single assumption that doomed Afghanistan and why 2,500 troops could have changed everythingWhat nobody is asking about the US operation in Iran How China's one-child military could be the most underappreciated deterrent against a Taiwan invasion

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and John R. Allen on LinkedIn

Adrian Aoun helped found Torch, a health data platform that was acquired by OpenAI earlier this year. He's also the co-founder of Seneca, which raised $60 million to build autonomous drones for wildfire suppression. Adrian previously founded Forward Health. He previously led special projects for Larry Page at Google, where he founded Sidewalk Labs and helped build Google's AI division.

In this episode of Summation, Adrian and Auren discuss:

Why curing all cancer adds only ~3 years of life but internet access for a billion people is massively more impactfulHow AI is turning healthcare from a service into a product -- and why the AMA is the new taxi medallion lobbyThe expert investor paradox: why deep expertise makes you a worse angel investorWhy GLP-1s are the closest thing to a miracle drug in our lifetime

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Adrian Aoun on X at @adrianaoun

Tod Sacerdoti is the CEO and co-founder of Pipedream, which recently sold to Workday. Tod is also a general partner at Flex Capital, where he's invested in over 400 companies including Chime, Vercel, Replit, CodeRabbit, Mercury, and many others. He previously founded BrightRoll, a programmatic video advertising platform that sold to Yahoo for $640 million in 2014. 

In this episode of Summation, Tod and Auren discuss:

Why seed investing has the highest annualized returns of any venture asset classFirst-gen AI companies being the most vulnerable to AI disruptionQSBS and why it's the most important tax benefit nobody talks aboutThe founder code and what happens when people break it

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Tod Sacerdoti on X at @tod

Nirav Tolia is the co-founder and CEO of Nextdoor (NYSE: NXDR), the neighborhood social network with over 105 million users across 350,000 communities worldwide. After stepping down as CEO in 2018, he returned to lead the company in 2024.

In this episode of Summation, Nirav and Auren discuss:

Why success kills innovationThe death of physical communityWhy Nextdoor had to change their stock tickerInsider vs Outsider entrepreneurs

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Nirav Tolia on X at @niravtolia.

Lieutenant General Mike Fenzel recently retired as a three-star Army General. He most recently served as the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, navigating one of the world?s most complex geopolitical landscapes. His career is defined by high-stakes leadership, ranging from the immediate aftermath of the September 11th attacks, where he was stationed in the bunker alongside Vice President Dick Cheney, to multiple deployments to Afghanistan, to commanding an airborne brigade of 5,500 paratroopers. Beyond the battlefield, Fenzel is a scholar of strategic decision-making. His book, No Miracles, analyzes the internal Soviet failures during their occupation of Afghanistan.

In this episode of Summation, Mike and Auren discuss:

Why the Soviets took four years to exit AfghanistanLessons from leading security cooperation in JerusalemIsrael's dominance in security techWhy US foreign policy experts keep failing

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Mike Fenzel on LinkedIn.

Martin Shkreli is the co-founder of DL Software, the parent company of Godel Terminal, a Bloomberg competitor for financial data. He previously founded the biotech companies Retrophin and Turing Pharmaceuticals and the hedge fund MSMB Capital Management. 

In this episode of Summation, Martin and Auren discuss:

The structural reasons fintech is less competitive than other industriesHow drug discovery actually works (and doing it from prison)Why AI labs are now out-recruiting hedge fundsWhat Martin learned from being "the most hated man in America"

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Martin Shkreli on X at @MartinShkreli

World of DaaS is now Summation with Auren Hoffman. While we?re proud of our roots in the data world, our conversations have evolved. Summation better reflects our obsession with finding the non-obvious ideas that shape our world.

What?s changing? Just the name. You?ll still get the same insights from the world?s most influential founders, investors, and thinkers. 

If you?re already a subscriber, you?re all set. If you?re new here, welcome. Hit subscribe and join us! Our first episode as Summation drops this Wednesday.

Thanks for the support, and welcome to the next chapter. 

Auren is CEO of NQB8, GP at Flex Capital, Chairman of Dialog; former CEO of SafeGraph and LiveRamp (NYSE: RAMP).

Jonathan Siddharth is the founder and CEO of Turing, a $2.2 billion AI company that provides coding and reasoning data to train frontier models for OpenAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic and more. Turing?s mission is to accelerate superintelligence to drive economic growth.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Jonathan and Auren discuss:

How Turing creates expert data for frontier modelsWhy SaaS is dying in the age of AI agentsDisrupting the $30 trillion market for digital knowledge workBuilding a stage five company culture

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Jonathan Siddharth on X at @jonsidd.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz is the co-founder and CEO of Chapter, an AI-powered Medicare navigation platform valued at $1.5 billion that helps seniors navigate coverage and enrollment.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Cobi and Auren discuss:

Why medicare fraud costs over $100 billion annuallyHow 24,000 medicare plans create impossible choices for seniorsWhy government tech keeps failing with Accenture contractsProvider network data accuracy and AI solutions

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz on X at @CobiBGantz.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Hans Swildens is a partner and Head of Industry Ventures at Goldman Sachs. Industry Ventures is one of the pioneers in the secondary market for venture capital, managing several billion in assets across LP stakes, direct secondaries, and primary fund investments. In October of 2025, Goldman Sachs announced they were acquiring Industry Ventures in a deal worth over $900 million dollars. 

In this episode of World of DaaS, Hans and Auren discuss:

The evolution of secondaries from distressed deals to 70% of VC exits Why Goldman Sachs paid almost $1 billion to acquire Industry Ventures How Industry Ventures uses data from 700+ fund LP positions as a competitive edge The future of venture fund structures and permanent capital vehicles

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Hans Swildens on X at @hansswildens.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Glenn Hubbard is Dean Emeritus and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School. He served as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003 and was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the U.S. Treasury. He has served on the boards of BlackRock, ADP, MetLife, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Glenn and Auren discuss:

Why consumer sentiment contradicts economic indicatorsThe Fed's impossible dilemma on rate cutsSmarter tariff policy and growthWhy most MBA programs are ROI negative

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Glenn Hubbard on LinkedIn.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Omar Tawakol is the CEO and founder of Rembrand, an AI-powered virtual product placement company. He founded BlueKai, a data management platform acquired by Oracle for $400M+ in 2014, and Voicera, an AI meeting assistant acquired by Cisco in 2019. He currently serves on the board of The Trade Desk and as a General Partner at super{set}.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Omar and Auren discuss:

Why virtual billboards work better than 3D product placementHow AI eliminates two-year product placement negotiationsWhy virtual placement grew 10x faster internationally than in the USThe mistakes repeat founders make at scale

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Omar Tawakol on X at @otawakol.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This episode is a rebroadcast of Auren's appearance on the We the Builders podcast.

We The Builders: https://twitter.com/WeThe_Builders
Host Suffiyan Malik: https://twitter.com/suffiyanmalikk

Substack: https://wethebuilders.us

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This week I sat down with Auren Hoffman founder, builder, prolific investor, and one of the most connected people in Silicon Valley.

Today?s episode features Auren Hoffman founder of LiveRamp ($RAMP), Flex Capital, Dialog, Safegraph and NQB8. This is one of the most interesting conversations I have had on the show so far and probably the best.

He grew LiveRamp to a $300m exit, has invested in 180+ companies through Flex Capital, a seed stage fund, is chair of Safegraph ($370m data company backed by Sapphire Ventures, Peter Thiel, Ridge Ventures) and is host of World of DaaS, a podcast and community for data nerds.

Auren is thinking of and validating new ideas on almost a weekly cadence. He continues to start new companies through NQB8 which includes a few successful spin outs. He also has a great blog post on it if you are interested in exploring different type of spinouts and how you should think about them as a startup.

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Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and We The Builders on X at WeThe_Builders. 

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Craig Fuller is the founder and CEO of FreightWaves, a freight media company, and SONAR, a supply chain data platform. He?s also the founder of Firecrown, which owns more than 50 publications across aviation, marine, and supply chain sectors, and he recently released his first book, Moving the World: How the Supply Chain?s Evolution Affects Us All. 

In this episode of World of DaaS, Craig and Auren discuss:

How FreightWaves predicted the 2022 freight recessionWhy pricing data businesses trade at 30x EBITBuilding negative CAC through media acquisitionsThe four-year industry experience rule for freight startups

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Craig Fuller on X at @FreightAlley.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Tanay Kothari is the co-founder and CEO of Wispr Flow, a voice-first AI assistant that recently raised $56 million in Series A funding.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Tanay and Auren discuss:

Why Apple and Google's dictation tools failWhat AI-first devices will actually look likePivoting from hardware to softwareVoice replacing nearly three-quarters of keyboard usage

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Tanay Kothari on X at @tankots.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Microsoft is investing $17.5 billion to turn India into a global AI powerhouse ? from training 20 million workers to building new data infrastructure. We break down what this means for the future of AI talent, innovation, and digital sovereignty. 

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Vinicius Vacanti is the co-founder and CEO of YipitData, an alternative data intelligence platform that analyzes billions of consumer data points daily for institutional investors and corporations. The company reached unicorn status with a $475 million Series E from Carlyle Group in 2021.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Vin and Auren discuss:

Why hedge funds dominate data usage versus corporationsHow AI is transforming data processing costsThe durability of data businesses over 120 yearsWhy "hire great people and get out of the way" is bad advice

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Vinicius Vacanti on X at @vacanti.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief: MIT?s new research reveals how large language models can be fooled by their own grammar. By prioritizing sentence structure over sense, these systems risk producing confident but misleading outputs?and even ignoring built-in safety rules. 

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Patrick McGee is the author of Apple in China, which was named one of the most notable books of the year by the New York Times and the Washington Post. The book is a deeply reported investigation into how Apple and China built each other over 25 years?and what that means for technology, supply chains, and geopolitics. Patrick has been a reporter with the Financial Times since 2013.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Patrick and Auren discuss:

Why Foxconn bet everything on Apple when others walked awayThe organized crime networks that distributed iPhones across ChinaHow Apple's supplier policies created competitors like HuaweiApple's $275B commitment and why they can't leave China

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Patrick McGee on X at @patrickmcgee_.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Dave Morin is co-founder and managing partner of Offline Ventures, a venture fund and studio backed by Apple as anchor investor. He was an early employee at Facebook, then founded the mobile social network Path.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Dave and Auren discuss:

Why Meta's AI ads work while Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify fail at recommendationsHow Offline runs its venture fund/studio hybridParasocial relationships and the loneliness crisisDepression as the #1 disease by 2030 and breakthrough treatments

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Dave Morin on X at @davemorin.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief highlights a Forbes piece on enterprise AI infrastructure, where the author examines why data pipelines, not the models themselves, are becoming the real bottleneck. 

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Azeem Azhar is the founder of Exponential View, a newsletter and research platform on emerging technology read by over 130,000 executives and policymakers globally, and author of the bestselling book The Exponential Age.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Azeem and Auren discuss:

Diagnosing an AI bubbleData centers driving 33% of US GDP growthWhether energy will constrain AI before capital doesCircular financing in AI and funding quality risks

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Azeem Azhar on X at @azeem.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief highlights Auren Hoffman?s latest piece, where he explores how emotion?not information?drives behavior across platforms, politics, and AI systems. The piece examines why algorithms amplify strong emotional signals, how ?love? consistently outperforms ?hate? in outcomes, and what this means for builders designing the next generation of data-driven products.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Eric Simons is the CEO and co-founder of StackBlitz, the company behind Bolt.new, which reached $40 million ARR in five months after launching in October 2024. Bolt.new is an AI-powered platform that allows anyone to build, edit, and deploy full-stack web applications directly in the browser.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Eric and Auren discuss:

The explosive growth from $0 to $40M ARRPioneering usage-based pricing for AI toolsCompeting with Replit, Lovable, and VercelBuilding WebContainers technology for seven years

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Eric Simons on X at @EricSimons.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief explores our latest roundtable, where data leaders discussed the evolving challenges of retaining and expanding enterprise customers in an increasingly competitive data economy. The conversation explored how companies are mitigating churn, proving ROI, and deepening customer value in the era of AI.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Garrett Langley is the co-founder and CEO of Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based public safety technology company recently valued at $7.5 billion. Flock manufactures hardware like license plate recognition cameras, drones, and gunshot detection systems, as well as software used by thousands of communities and law enforcement agencies across the U.S.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Garrett and Auren discuss:

The broken state of law enforcement data infrastructureWhy 60% of murders go unsolved in AmericaManufacturing high tech hardware in the United StatesHow AI and drones are changing public safetyWhy Atlanta is winning at hard tech over Silicon Valley

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.  

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Garrett Langley on X at @glangley.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief explores Auren Hoffman?s latest Substack post, 46ers, 55ers, 81ers, and today - a fascinating look at how generational ambition and the rise of AI are shaping the next wave of builders. Auren draws parallels between past innovation eras and the new generation driving today?s tech transformation.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Mark Ein is the founder, chairman and CEO of Venturehouse Group and has been involved in the founding or early stages of six companies worth over $1 billion. He also served as Chairman of the President's Export Council, is Executive Chairman of Kastle Systems, owns the DC Open, and was a key partner in the $6.05 billion acquisition of the Washington Commanders.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Mark and Auren discuss:

Cross-sector investing advantages and pitfallsOffice occupancy data and return-to-work trendsThe SPAC evolution and capital market disruptionsSports betting's impact on fan engagement and sports businesses

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Mark Ein on X at @Markein.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief explores The New Stack?s article on the ethical challenges of agentic AI systems that can act autonomously. As organizations hand off more decisions to machines, questions around accountability, transparency, and data governance are becoming central to building and maintaining trust.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Richard Shotton is the founder of Astroten and author of several bestselling books on marketing, including The Choice Factory, The Illusion of Choice, and most recently Hacking the Human Mind, co-authored with MichaelAaron Flicker. He specializes in applying behavioral science to marketing and has worked with brands like Google, Meta, BrewDog, and Barclays.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Richard and Auren discuss:

Why A/B testing often steers product wrongSocial proof and scarcity in marketing strategiesCognitive biases affecting executive decision makingThe illusion of effort in B2B contexts

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Richard Shotton on X at @rshotton.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief explores Big Data Wire's article on how electricity, not data or compute, is emerging as the ultimate constraint on AI progress. As global data center demand surges, performance per watt efficiency and access to reliable power are becoming the new competitive edge. Some nations and companies are pursuing nuclear-powered computation hubs to secure a strategic energy advantage.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Varun Anand is the co-founder and Head of Operations at Clay, a GTM platform that helps over 10,000 companies with data enrichment and sales outreach. Clay recently raised a $100M Series C funding at a $3.1B valuation.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Varun and Auren discuss:

The shift from seat-based to usage-based pricingWhy LinkedIn's data remains underutilizedHow AI agents are replacing traditional SDR workBuilding contributory data networks at scale

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Varun Anand on X at @vaanand.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief covers a World Economic Forum insight that scaling AI is an organizational challenge, not a technological one, requiring data maturity, strong governance, and an integrated approach tied to core business outcomes. Culture and workforce transformation are also essential for real ROI.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Beniamin Mincu is the CEO and co-founder of MultiversX, a next-generation blockchain protocol used by governments, enterprises, and developers. He previously co-founded Metachain Capital, which was an early investor in projects like Polkadot and Binance. He?s also the host of the Full Shard Podcast and one of the most followed voices in Web3.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Beniamin and Auren discuss:

Why AI needs a blockchain trust layerAI sovereign chains and agent accountabilityThe geopolitical AI arms raceBuilding ambitious tech companies outside Silicon Valley

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Benjamin Mincu on X at @beniaminmincu.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief covers Auren Hoffman?s guide to running a job search like a full-time commitment. Instead of vague networking, he lays out a five-step process that stresses clarity, specificity, and creating value before asking for help. From defining target roles to demonstrating impact with real work, the approach reframes job hunting as a strategic, disciplined pursuit.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Zac Bookman is the co-founder and CEO of OpenGov, which provides cloud software and AI solutions to over 2,000 government agencies across the United States. In February 2024, OpenGov was acquired by Cox Enterprises for $1.8 billion.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Zac and Auren discuss:

Making public data truly accessibleGrowth vs sustainability in GovTechHow COVID transformed government digitizationAI's potential in local government operations

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Zac Bookman on X at @ZacBookman and on Linkedin. 

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief covers the lawsuit filed by Penske Media Corporation, parent of Rolling Stone, against Google over its AI Overviews feature. PMC argues that these AI-generated summaries siphon traffic and revenue from publishers by removing the need for users to click through to original articles. The case raises major questions around copyright, fair use, and the long-term sustainability of the publishing industry as Google positions itself as the primary ?answer engine.?

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Jason Kwon is the Chief Strategy Officer at OpenAI.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Jason and Auren discuss:

Compute bottlenecks and power infrastructure challengesUser expectations vs AI capabilitiesGeopolitical competition in AI developmentBringing top AI talent to the United States

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Jason Kwon on X at @jasonkwon.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief covers The Only Right Way to Ask for an Intro (Everything Else Is Wrong) by Auren Hoffman. He explains why clarity of purpose, proper framing, and respect for people?s time are essential when seeking intros for jobs, partnerships, or mentorship. Getting this right makes the difference between a strong connection and a missed opportunity.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Tyler Denk is the co-founder and CEO of beehiiv, a newsletter platform that has grown to over $20 million in annual revenue in under four years. He was the second employee at Morning Brew, where he built the growth infrastructure that helped scale the company to 3.5 million subscribers before its $75 million acquisition by Business Insider in 2020. He?s also the creator of big desk energy, a newsletter with over 100k subscribers. 

In this episode of World of DaaS, Tyler and Auren discuss:

Why email still beats algorithmic platformsBuilding the next major advertising networkThe difference between audiences and communitiesTech nostalgia and 90s internet culture

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Tyler Denk on X at @denk_tweets.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief looks at GDPR compliance for non-EU and non-UK companies. Firms handling resident data in these regions are required to appoint local representatives who serve as points of contact for regulators and individuals exercising their data rights. This step is critical for ensuring compliance with both GDPR and UK GDPR.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Gokul Rajaram is a founding partner at Marathon Management Partners and former product leader who helped build Google AdSense and Facebook's advertising platform. He serves on the boards of Pinterest, Coinbase, and The Trade Desk, and previously led product teams at Square and DoorDash.

In this episode of World of DaaS, Gokul and Auren discuss:

Building massive advertising platforms at Google and FacebookHow AI is transforming content recommendations and adsThe transition from operator to venture investorWhy founder mode debates miss the nuance of leadership

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Gokul Rajaram on X at @gokulr.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief explores the evolving role of synthetic data in AI. Synthetic datasets are increasingly used to safeguard privacy, cut costs, and speed up model training, particularly in testing rare scenarios. But challenges remain, including risks of carrying over biases from real-world data and the need for careful validation to ensure reliable outcomes.

Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.

Patrick Lencioni is one of the founders of The Table Group and is the pioneer of the organizational health movement. He is the author of 13 books, which have sold over 9 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages.

As President of the Table Group, Pat spends his time speaking and writing about leadership, teamwork, and organizational health and consulting with executives and their teams.  After more than twenty years in print, his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, remains a fixture on national best-seller lists.  His most recent book, The Six Types of Working Genius, was released in September 2022, and he is also the host of the popular business podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni.  

In this episode of World of DaaS, Patrick and Auren discuss:

Why smart companies fail despite having great strategyThe six types of working genius frameworkHow to run meetings that don't suckBuilding organizational health through productive conflict

Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.

You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Patrick Lencioni on X at @patricklencioni, on Linkedin and on YouTube.

Take the Working Genius Assessment here: https://workinggenius.me/show

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This week?s World of DaaS LM Brief covers Anthropic?s settlement with a group of authors over copyright claims. The case centered on the use of copyrighted works in training AI systems and reflects the mounting legal and IP challenges shaping generative AI.

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This episode is a rebroadcast of host Auren Hoffman's appearance on the CMO Confidential Podcast.

Auren shares why he believes vendor management is the #1 skill for future executives?and why most companies should rent world-class capabilities rather than hire executives they can?t fully utilize. From ?scaffolding? young talent to his provocative views on procurement?s negative value, Booz Allen, MBAs, and the transformation of private equity, this episode is packed with contrarian insights for CMOs, CEOs, and founders alike.

? Don?t miss Auren?s candid takes on why many traditional business functions are stuck in the past?and what leaders should do instead.

? Subscribe for more insider lessons on what it really takes to thrive in the C-suite.

?? Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: Auren Hoffman?s Background & Career Path

01:45 - The Most Important Executive Skill: Vendor Management

05:22 - Why Renting Talent Beats Hiring for Most Companies

08:40 - Scaffolding: A Framework for Developing Talent

12:10 - The Case Against Procurement: ?A Negative Value Function?

16:03 - Why He Would Short Booz Allen

18:35 - Private Equity?s Shift from Builders to Financial Engineers

23:14 - The Problem with MBAs and Why ROI is Often Negative

26:40 - How Executives Should Rethink Internal Capabilities

29:08 - Final Thoughts & Rapid-Fire Takes

Auren Hoffman, SafeGraph, LiveRamp, CMO Confidential, Mike Linton, vendor management, procurement, scaffolding talent, executive hiring strategy, Booz Allen, private equity critique, MBA ROI, modern leadership skills, B2B marketing, executive leadership, future of work, marketing strategy, marketing podcast, business podcast, CEO advice, CMO podcast, talent development, rent vs hire, startup strategy, enterprise strategy, marketing leadership, SafeGraph CEO, Auren Hoffman interview