In this episode of the Venture Capital Podcast, host Peter Harris sits down with Rex Salisbury, solo GP of Cambrian and former fintech partner at Andreessen Horowitz, for an in-depth conversation about the ongoing transformation of financial services. Rex shares his unique journey from investment banking to leading one of fintech’s most dynamic pre-seed and seed funds, explaining how decades of inefficiency in banking have finally given way to a wave of disruptive innovation.

The discussion explores recent shifts in the fintech landscape, highlighting how new fintech companies, once dismissed as serving only niche or low-value customers, are now directly competing with and winning market share from the largest legacy banks. Rex points to the rise of digital-first platforms like Robinhood and Wealthfront, which started by serving overlooked users but have evolved into sophisticated competitors for the millennial and Gen Z wealth transfer.

Peter and Rex examine why B2B fintech is an especially powerful force, with vertical software companies like Toast integrating lending, payroll, and banking into a single platform that businesses can’t imagine leaving for traditional banks. Rex also tackles the myth of banks’ cost-of-capital advantage, arguing that technology and changing consumer expectations are steadily eroding long-held bank moats.

Beyond consumer trends, the episode ventures into the investment landscape, with Rex sharing lessons from recent Cambrian investments, such as companies revolutionizing transfer agents and simplifying business shutdowns. The conversation also addresses the role of crypto and stablecoins in reshaping payment and banking infrastructure, where Rex differentiates between international and U.S. use cases but remains optimistic about crypto’s role as a catalyst for industry change.

Rex closes with actionable advice for aspiring founders and operators: seek out dense talent networks, work in growth-stage companies, and always surround yourself with people who teach you. The episode captures the underlying message that, as technology, business models, and capital flows shift, fintech is only just beginning to threaten incumbents and capture its share of the financial future.

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In this thought-provoking episode of the Venture Capital Podcast, hosts Jon Bradshaw and Peter Harris explore the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its far-reaching implications for economics, labor, and opportunities. The conversation opens with Peter reflecting on his 16 years of VC experience and the unprecedented speed at which generative AI is impacting every industry, likening the current era to previous technological shifts such as the rise of the internet, mobile, and SaaS, but at a much more accelerated, all-encompassing pace.

Jon shares candid anxieties and perspectives from the founder’s side, debating whether society is overestimating the short-term disruption of AI while underestimating its long-term impact. The hosts explore parallels between AI’s rise and earlier workforce interventions, such as calculators and spreadsheets, suggesting that while some jobs will evolve or disappear, new types of roles and vast opportunities will emerge.

They debate the looming questions around AGI, the shifting utility of STEM degrees, and the growing importance of learning how to think critically and adapt. The discussion delves into:

• The shifting economics of labor versus capital as AI and robotics automate more tasks.
• The likely deflationary impact of AI, how costs may decline, and whether wages will keep pace.
• The paradox of abundance: more possibilities than ever, but also greater competition and the necessity for specialization.
• The challenge of retraining, critical thinking, and the risk of over-reliance on AI as a cognitive crutch.
• Wealth concentration, potential social upheaval, and whether universal basic income or new types of jobs will take hold.
• Unique advantages in interpersonal and relationship-driven sectors, and how VCs and founders might sustain an edge in an automated world.

The episode concludes with tangible advice for the next generation: develop deep, critical, interdisciplinary knowledge and be prepared to leverage rather than be replaced by AI. Jon and Peter encourage listeners to reflect on how they’ll stay relevant, creative, and entrepreneurial in a world where opportunity and risk are amplifying in tandem. This episode is essential listening for anyone curious about the future of work, education, and value creation in an AI-driven era.

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In this episode of the Venture Capital Podcast, hosts Jon Bradshaw and Peter Harris reflect on key lessons from recent interviews with entrepreneurs, medical innovators, and content creators, turning their focus inward for a wide-ranging discussion on the evolving role of influencers, authenticity, and attention in today’s business world.

Jon and Peter kick off by revisiting the intersection of health technology and consumer empowerment, discussing the surge in wearables, at-home diagnostics, and consumer-led health journeys. They probe why younger generations are more invested in their health, attributing this trend to social visibility, the desire for authenticity in a digital age, and the rapid acceptance of medical advances, such as GLP-1 treatments for weight loss.

The conversation shifts dynamically to the creator economy, exploring how the most effective marketing and brand-building today often comes from content creators and influencers with passionate, loyal audiences. Peter highlights the unique value these creators bring, citing the example of a tech startup that attributes much of its rapid growth to a co-founder’s expertise in cultivating online engagement, rather than traditional marketing.

Jon and Peter debate whether every CEO now needs to be a content creator and ponder the future of influencer-led businesses. They analyze the success of influencer-driven brands like Hailey Bieber’s, dissecting how authentic involvement can drive enormous margins and corporate valuation, while also questioning the long-term challenges when founders sell to larger corporations.

They conclude with practical insights for founders: thoughtfully consider influencer involvement as part of founding teams, seek authenticity over mere endorsements, and recognize that in a noisy digital world, capturing and sustaining attention may be the single most valuable asset for any business.

This episode offers a forward-looking perspective on how authenticity, strategic influencer partnerships, and the ability to cut through digital noise are reshaping not just marketing but the very foundations of building and scaling a modern brand.

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