Apps Are Obsolete: How Startups Can Leverage the New Era of AI Agents (Spotlight)
What if your next startup competitor doesn’t have a single employee?AI agents aren’t just another software trend — they’re redefining the interface between humans, data, and execution, yet many founders still confuse basic chatbots with the true potential of these agents.In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Jeremiah Owyang, General Partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and host of Silicon Valley’s top AI startup event, Llama Lounge. Together, they unpack Jeremiah’s insider thesis on the AI Agent era — and what it means for the future of software, user experience, and startups.They explore why AI agents are replacing SaaS apps, what defines a “true agent,” and how startups should position themselves in the face of big tech platform risk.In this episode, you will:Understand the difference between LLM tools and autonomous AI agentsDiscover how Crew AI scaled to 60% of the Fortune 500 using 150 agents and minimal staffLearn why traditional apps and websites may become obsolete in the agentic futureExplore new go-to-market strategies and startup models for agent-driven businessesEvaluate how agents will access private and public data — and what that means for APIsHear how to pitch agent startups to VCs looking for viral and network-effect playsWhether you’re building in the agent ecosystem or preparing for it, this conversation will reshape how you think about the future of digital interfaces and startup opportunities.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode is brought to you by Warp Development. Are you ready to build something that matters? Visit https://warpdevelopment.com and mention The Startup Podcast for a free consultation.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
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46:43
Apple WWDC Breakdown + Musk & Trump's Messy Divorce, a16z's Fresh Take on AI Startups
Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote revealed a lot – just not what you’d expect. Siri’s long-awaited AI upgrade was quietly delayed, and instead Apple rolled out a grab bag of long-overdue features, flashy design updates, and deep ChatGPT integrations. Is this a bold product reset, or proof that Apple is falling behind?Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Donald Trump butt heads, Ukraine rewrites warfare with AI-powered drones, and a16z explains how consumer AI startups can finally scale, if they get a few key things right.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein sift through this huge week of tech news, breaking down the topics that really matter for founders and early-stage operators. In this episode, you will:Understand the real implications of Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s public falloutExplore how the Musk/Trump feud could fracture the MAGA-tech alliance and reshape Silicon Valley politicsLearn why Apple is releasing papers criticizing AI reasoning—and what that means for AGI hypeAssess whether Apple’s WWDC 2025 was a quiet revolution or just a catch-up actDiscover how Ukraine’s AI-powered drone strike changes the future of war and global defense techUnpack why AI consumer startups now have better monetization paths than ever before🔗 Full a16z post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/justine-moore_a16z-ai-consumer-apps From Silicon Valley’s shifting loyalties to the limits of Apple’s AI ambitions, this episode is a masterclass in how tech power is evolving and how to position yourself for it.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
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54:12
Insiders React: Meta's Luckey Military Deal + Google's Plan to Split Itself, Europe Revives AI & Startups
Can consumer tech like Facebook and Oculus really help win wars?As governments get serious about AI and startups, Silicon Valley is being dragged—sometimes unwillingly—into the global military and geopolitical game.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack how Meta is teaming up with Anduril—the military tech startup founded by Oculus’ Palmer Luckey—to bring XR (Extended Reality) to the battlefield. They also break down how Google might preemptively split itself, how UK civil servants gained 5% productivity with AI tools, and why Europe’s startup scene may finally be waking up.In this episode, you will:Learn how Meta’s AR & VR technology is being integrated into U.S. military operationsUnderstand the strategic irony behind Palmer Luckey and Meta partnering againExplore the concept of “reverse technology transfer” from consumer tech to defenseDiscover why Google may break itself up before regulators force itSee how the UK’s use of Microsoft Copilot gave government workers a 5% productivity boostUnpack the EU’s new law that lets startups register and begin trading in under 48 hoursAssess how New York is quietly becoming Silicon Valley’s biggest challengerWhether you're a founder, operator, or just a curious mind in the startup world, this episode gives you sharp insights into how tech, defense, and regulation are reshaping the startup landscape.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
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27:20
How the PRFAQ Made Amazon Great (And Can Do The Same for You) w/ Marcelo Calbucci (Edu)
Are you building a startup strategy—or just making it look like you have one?Too many founders mistake polished slide decks for actual strategic thinking, leading to misalignment, wasted resources, and failed products.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad are joined by Marcelo Calbucci, former Amazon director and author of The PRFAQ Framework. They dive into how Amazon’s famously effective six-page PRFAQ process forces deep thinking, aligns teams, and drives billion-dollar bets—without a single slide.They explore why most startups get strategy wrong, how to apply PRFAQs to your own company, and the real difference between outputs and outcomes.In this episode, you will:Discover why PowerPoint-based strategies often lead to shallow thinking and misalignmentLearn how Amazon's six-page PRFAQ framework drives innovation and clarityUnderstand the structure of a PRFAQ—and why it starts with a future-facing press releaseExplore the critical cultural shifts needed to make frameworks like PRFAQs workCompare PRFAQs with OKRs and PRDs—and learn when to use eachUnpack the process Amazon uses to critique and improve strategy docs in real timeHear practical advice on adapting the PRFAQ process to your startup, even as a solo founderWhether you're pre-launch or scaling fast, this episode gives you a blueprint for thinking deeper and aligning your team.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
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1:00:14
Insiders React: Sam Altman's New $6B Partnership + Klarna's AI Backtrack, Bitcoin Over $111K
What does it mean when OpenAI gives away $6 billion worth of equity just to bring one man on board?In a world where design, brand, and user experience could determine AI dominance, are startups undervaluing human-centered thinking?In this episode, Chris and Yaniv unpack OpenAI’s jaw-dropping acquisition of Jony Ive's mysterious startup “io,” and what it means for the future of AI hardware. They also break down Claude 4’s strategic shift toward coding, Klarna’s AI misfire in customer service, and Bitcoin’s stunning return to all-time highs.In this episode, you will:Understand why OpenAI paid $6B for Jony Ive with no product in sightExplore how Claude 4 is positioning itself to dominate AI coding workflowsLearn what Klarna’s AI rollback says about the real limits of LLMs in customer serviceDiscover why prompting isn’t just for AIs—and how it applies to human leadershipCompare deterministic vs probabilistic software—and what that means for your startup stackExamine how students using AI tools are reshaping education (and why it’s not all good news)Evaluate Bitcoin’s recent surge and whether it’s becoming a lasting store of valueWhether you're building in AI, riding the crypto waves, or figuring out where human judgment still beats automation—this episode is packed with insight from real founders navigating the edge.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
A guide to the unique mindset and approach that drives Silicon Valley style disruption.
Build product, raise money, and scale your startup like the best. TSP hosts Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein share practical advice based on decades of experience at Google, Uber, and their own startups.
New Zealand