Summation with Auren Hoffman
Business & Finance
About
Non-obvious ideas that move the world. Auren Hoffman hosts leaders across tech, business, markets, and government. Summation is the permanent home for the relentlessly curious. Auren is CEO of NQB8, GP at Flex Capital, Chairman of Dialog; former CEO of SafeGraph and LiveRamp (NYSE: RAMP).
Episodes
- Six-time CIA Station Chief Ralph Goff on the new doctrine of war
Ralph Goff, a 35-year CIA veteran and six-time Chief of Station, joins Auren Hoffman on Summation to discuss modern warfare, intelligence, and geopolitics. They cover topics including the effectiveness of blackmail in espionage, the impact…
- Glenn Youngkin on governing like a CEO, the AI power crisis, and why every operator should run for office
Glenn Youngkin, former Governor of Virginia, discusses his experience governing Virginia, including implementing OKRs, addressing the AI power crisis, and managing the state's finances. He also touches on data centers and using AI for regu…
- Thumbtack CEO Marco Zappacosta on why trades are AI-proof, the trillion-dollar home services market, and why software stopped being a capital asset
Thumbtack CEO Marco Zappacosta joins Auren Hoffman to discuss the home services market, the impact of AI on product development, and perspectives on corporate leadership. They also explore why home services bookings have lagged online comp…
- Eric Ries on why "bad governance" outperforms, the case against shareholder primacy, and AI's Chernobyl moment
Eric Ries discusses his views on corporate governance, the impact of financial pressures on company missions, and the future of AI. He also touches on business models successfully used by organizations like Novo Nordisk and IKEA.
- Fmr. German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on NATO, nuclear energy, and how to disagree without blood
Former German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg joins Auren Hoffman to discuss German defense policy, nuclear energy decisions, and the shift in European industrial priorities. They also examine the comparative scale of German an…
- Fmr Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger on chips, China, and lessons from Andy Grove
Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger joins Auren Hoffman to discuss technology, geopolitics, and leadership. They cover topics including semiconductor national security, the role of technologist CEOs, and lessons learned from Andy Grove.
- Vlad Tenev and Tudor Achim on mathematical superintelligence, why math is harder than code for LLMs, and the end of buggy software
Vlad Tenev and Tudor Achim, founders of Harmonic, discuss their development of Aristotle, an AI model that uses formal logic and Lean code to solve mathematical problems. They explore the potential of formal verification in software and th…
- Retired 4-star General John Allen on Iran, AI hyperwar, and Taiwan’s future
Retired 4-star General John Allen joins the Summation podcast to discuss the impact of autonomous weapons in Ukraine, the conflict in Afghanistan, US operations in Iran, and potential risks regarding a Taiwan invasion.
- Adrian Aoun on healthcare as a product, Apple's AI problem, and why you should have kids now
Adrian Aoun joins Auren Hoffman to discuss the evolution of healthcare, the impact of AI, and global growth. They also cover the challenges of expert investing and the significance of GLP-1 drugs.
- Tod Sacerdoti (Flex GP and Pipedream CEO) on seed at scale and SaaS mispricing
Pipedream CEO and Flex Capital GP Tod Sacerdoti joins Summation to discuss seed investing, AI disruption, and tax benefits like QSBS. The conversation also explores startup founder dynamics and lessons from his entrepreneurial career.
- Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia on bowling alone, AI bots, and why the heartland is happier than the coasts
Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia joins host Auren Hoffman to discuss his return to the company, the challenges of innovation, the decline of physical communities, and his views on entrepreneurship. They also cover Nextdoor's stock ticker change an…
- Lt. General Mike Fenzel (Ret.) on bad data, bad experts, and why we can’t exit wars
Retired Lt. General Mike Fenzel joins the Summation podcast to discuss his military career and strategic decision-making. He examines lessons learned from the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, modern security cooperation, and challenges in…
- Martin Shkreli on prison, beating Bloomberg, and being hated
In this episode of Summation, Martin Shkreli and Auren Hoffman discuss the competitive landscape of fintech, the drug discovery process, and the rise of AI labs. They also explore Shkreli’s experiences in business and his time spent in pri…
- World of DaaS is now Summation
World of DaaS has rebranded to Summation, hosted by Auren Hoffman. The show will continue to feature conversations with founders, investors, and thinkers exploring non-obvious ideas.
- Turing CEO Jonathan Siddharth - The $30 Trillion Knowledge Work Market, Training Frontier AI Models and Building Stage Five Culture
Jonathan Siddharth, CEO of Turing, discusses his company's role in providing data for frontier AI models. He and host Auren Hoffman explore the impact of AI on the knowledge work market, the evolution of SaaS, and strategies for building o…
- Chapter CEO Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz - medicare complexity, $100B fraud and how tech can fix it
Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz, CEO of Chapter, joins Auren Hoffman to discuss the complexities of Medicare, the impact of billions in fraud, and how AI can improve plan navigation and provider network data.
- Industry Ventures Founder Hans Swildens - how secondaries became the dominant path for VC exits
Hans Swildens, Head of Industry Ventures at Goldman Sachs, discusses the growth of the secondary market in venture capital. He and host Auren Hoffman explore the firm's acquisition by Goldman Sachs, the use of data in VC, and the future of…
- Economist Glenn Hubbard - The Fed’s dilemma, AI productivity, and why experts lost trust
Dean Emeritus Glenn Hubbard discusses economic indicators, the Federal Reserve's rate cut challenges, tariff policy, and the return on investment of MBA programs in this episode of World of DaaS.
- Rembrand CEO Omar Tawakol - why product placement works better than traditional ads
Omar Tawakol, CEO of Rembrand, joins Auren Hoffman to discuss the efficiency of AI-powered virtual product placement. They also explore the common mistakes made by repeat founders and the growth of virtual advertising.
- We the Builders Podcast l From LiveRamp ($RAMP) to NQB8: Auren Hoffman’s Founder Journey
Auren Hoffman joins the We the Builders podcast to discuss his journey as a founder and investor. He shares insights on building companies like LiveRamp and Safegraph, his investment strategy at Flex Capital, and his current work at NQB8.
- FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller - why pricing data businesses trade at 30x EBIT despite 4% growth
FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller joins Auren Hoffman on World of DaaS to discuss supply chain data, freight market trends, and business growth strategies. They explore how FreightWaves predicted the 2022 freight recession and the valuation of…
- Wispr Flow CEO Tanay Kothari - voice AI deep dive
Tanay Kothari, CEO of Wispr Flow, discusses the future of voice-first AI assistants and the company's recent funding. Topics include the limitations of existing dictation tools, the transition from hardware to software, and the potential f…
- The LM Brief: India as the Next Epicenter of AI?
This episode analyzes Microsoft's $17.5 billion investment in India's AI infrastructure, including worker training and data development. It explores the potential impact on global AI talent, innovation, and digital sovereignty.
- YipitData CEO Vin Vacanti - why hedge funds dominate data usage (and corporations don't)
YipitData CEO Vinicius Vacanti joins Auren Hoffman to discuss the adoption of alternative data by hedge funds versus corporations, the impact of AI on data processing, and his perspective on company leadership.
- The LM Brief: The Syntax Illusion
This episode of Summation with Auren Hoffman discusses MIT research on how large language models can prioritize sentence structure over factual accuracy. This preference for grammar can lead models to produce misleading content or bypass s…
- Patrick McGee - author of Apple in China – how Apple and China built each other
Journalist Patrick McGee discusses his book "Apple in China," exploring the 25-year relationship between Apple and China, supply chain dynamics, and the geopolitical implications of their partnership. He and host Auren Hoffman analyze Appl…
- Dave Morin, Offline Ventures - how venture studios work
Dave Morin, co-founder of Offline Ventures, joins Auren Hoffman on World of DaaS. They discuss venture studio models, Meta’s AI advertising, parasocial relationships, and mental health advancements.
- The LM Brief: Why Many AI Projects Fail
This episode of Summation with Auren Hoffman discusses why data pipelines, rather than the AI models themselves, are often the primary bottleneck for enterprise AI infrastructure projects. The discussion is based on a Forbes article highli…
- Azeem Azhar of Exponential View - AI, hyperscalers, reshaping US GDP
Azeem Azhar, founder of Exponential View, joins Auren Hoffman on World of DaaS to discuss AI, the impact of hyperscalers on US GDP, and potential constraints facing the industry. They examine the possibility of an AI bubble, energy challen…
- The LM Brief: Love Beats Hate
Auren Hoffman discusses how strong emotional signals, rather than raw information, shape behavior in platforms, politics, and AI. This episode explores why love outperforms hate in algorithmic outcomes and the implications for product desi…
- Bolt.new CEO Eric Simons — one of the fastest growing AI companies in the world
Eric Simons, CEO and co-founder of StackBlitz, discusses the development of Bolt.new, an AI-powered web development platform that reached $40 million ARR in five months. He and host Auren Hoffman explore the company's growth, pricing model…
- The LM Brief: The DaaS Renewal Landscape
In this episode of Summation with Auren Hoffman, data leaders discuss challenges in retaining and expanding enterprise customers. The conversation focuses on strategies for mitigating churn, proving ROI, and increasing customer value withi…
- Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley - Law Enforcement's Data Problem: Why 50% of Murders Go Unsolved
Garrett Langley, CEO of Flock Safety, shares insights on the challenges within law enforcement's data infrastructure and the high rate of unsolved murders. The discussion covers how technology like AI and drones is impacting public safety…
- The LM Brief: 46ers, 55ers, 81ers, and today
This episode of The LM Brief summarizes Auren Hoffman's Substack post, '46ers, 55ers, 81ers, and today.' It examines how generational ambition and AI are influencing the next generation of innovators, drawing parallels between past and pre…
- Venturehouse Group CEO Mark Ein - moneyball for CEOs, real estate data & buying sports teams
Mark Ein, founder of Venturehouse Group, shares insights on cross-sector investing, office occupancy trends, and the impact of sports betting. He also discusses his involvement in sports team acquisitions and early-stage company founding.
- The LM Brief: The Ethics of Agentic AI - Balancing Autonomy and Trust
This LM Brief discusses the ethical considerations of autonomous agentic AI, focusing on accountability, transparency, and data governance as crucial elements for building trust when organizations delegate decisions to machines. The summar…
- Astroten Founder Richard Shotton - why your A/B tests fail and how behavioral science can fix them
Astroten founder Richard Shotton joins Auren Hoffman on World of DaaS to discuss behavioral science in marketing. The conversation covers why A/B tests often fail, common cognitive biases, and how social proof and scarcity influence decisi…
- The LM Brief: The Energy Bottleneck Behind AI’s Growth
The LM Brief discusses how electricity is the primary bottleneck for AI growth, surpassing data and compute limitations. Global demand for data centers highlights the importance of energy efficiency and reliable power sources, leading some…
- Clay COO Varun Anand - why cutting-edge GTM teams are moving away from traditional CRMs
Varun Anand, COO of Clay, discusses the evolving Go-To-Market (GTM) landscape with Auren Hoffman. Topics include the move from seat-based to usage-based pricing, the potential of LinkedIn data, and the impact of AI agents on traditional sa…
- The LM Brief: How Leaders Can Close the AI Intelligence Gap
This LM Brief covers the World Economic Forum's insight that scaling AI is an organizational, not technological, challenge. It requires data maturity, governance, and integration with business outcomes, alongside cultural and workforce tra…
- Beniamin Mincu CEO, MultiversX - building the trust layer for AI
Beniamin Mincu, CEO of MultiversX, explains why AI requires a blockchain trust layer, touching on AI sovereign chains, agent accountability, and the geopolitical AI arms race. The discussion also covers building ambitious tech companies ou…
- The LM Brief: How to Actually Look for a Job (Without Wasting Everyone’s Time)
This LM Brief summarizes Auren Hoffman's five-step guide to job searching, which focuses on clarity, specificity, and demonstrating value. The approach treats job hunting as a disciplined and strategic process.
- OpenGov CEO Zac Bookman - GovTech, data access, and AI transformation
OpenGov CEO Zac Bookman joins host Auren Hoffman to discuss the impact of cloud software and AI on government operations, data accessibility, and the company's acquisition by Cox Enterprises. They also cover industry trends in GovTech and…
- The LM Brief: AI Overviews and the Future of Publishing
This episode of the World of DaaS LM Brief examines the lawsuit filed by Penske Media Corporation against Google concerning the AI Overviews feature. It explores how AI-generated summaries may impact publisher traffic, revenue, copyright,…
- OpenAI CSO Jason Kwon - power, policy and the race to scale
OpenAI Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon joins host Auren Hoffman to discuss the challenges of AI development, including compute infrastructure, user expectations, and global competition. They also examine the importance of attracting top…
- The LM Brief: The Only Right Way to Ask for an Intro (Everything Else Is Wrong)
In this LM Brief, Auren Hoffman outlines effective strategies for requesting professional introductions. The episode explores the importance of clarity, framing, and respecting time when seeking connections for jobs, partnerships, or mento…
- beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk - why email beats social media
Tyler Denk, CEO of beehiiv and former Morning Brew employee, discusses the importance of email platforms over social media algorithms. He also covers building advertising networks, the distinction between audiences and communities, and tec…
- The LM Brief: Navigating GDPR Compliance Outside the EU and UK
This episode of Summation with Auren Hoffman examines GDPR and UK GDPR compliance requirements for companies operating outside of the EU and UK. It highlights the necessity of appointing local representatives to act as contacts for regulat…
- Gokul Rajaram of Marathon - How AI Will Reinvent Ad Platforms
Gokul Rajaram, partner at Marathon Management Partners, joins Auren Hoffman to discuss his experience building advertising platforms at Google and Facebook. They also cover the impact of AI on advertising and the evolution of leadership in…
- The LM Brief: Synthetic Data in AI
This episode of Summation with Auren Hoffman examines the role of synthetic data in AI. The discussion covers the benefits of using synthetic datasets, such as privacy, cost reduction, and faster training, alongside ongoing challenges like…