Sep 12, 2025 · 16 min
SW
Technology
Summation with Auren Hoffman
Auren Hoffman
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).
- 279 episodes
- Updated Today
Episodes279
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Sep 9, 2025 · 48 minGokul Rajaram of Marathon - How AI Will Reinvent Ad Platforms
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 Facebook How AI is transforming content recommendations and ads The transition from operator to venture investor Why 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)
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Sep 5, 2025 · 10 minThe LM Brief: Synthetic Data in AI
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.
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Sep 2, 2025 · 46 minPatrick Lencioni - the six types of working genius
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 strategy The six types of working genius framework How to run meetings that don't suck Building 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)
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Aug 29, 2025 · 10 minThe LM Brief: AI Meets Copyright Law
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. Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.
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Aug 26, 2025 · 35 minCMO Confidential: Auren Hoffman l Why Vendor Management Is A Skill You Need to Master Now
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
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Aug 22, 2025 · 10 minThe LM Brief: Integration gaps and budget missteps stall enterprise AI
This week’s World of DaaS LM Brief looks at new research from MIT, which finds that 95% of generative AI pilot programs inside companies are failing to deliver meaningful financial impact. The issue is not model quality but enterprise integration and a steep organizational learning gap. The report shows ROI is strongest in back-office automation even as most budgets flow to sales and marketing, and that success comes from buying specialized solutions and forming strategic partnerships rather than building in-house. Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.
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Aug 19, 2025 · 28 minZip CEO Rujul Zaparde - procurement, AI agents and YC insights
Rujul Zaparde is the co-founder and CEO of Zip, the $2.2 billion AI platform for procurement trusted by OpenAI, Anthropic, Snowflake, and hundreds of leading enterprises. He previously co-founded FlightCar, which raised over $40 million and was acquired by Mercedes-Benz. A former Airbnb product manager and Y Combinator visiting partner, Rujul has built Zip into the category-defining leader in procurement orchestration. In this episode of World of DaaS, Rujul and Auren discuss: Why everyone hates procurement departments Building 50+ AI agents for enterprise workflows The future of autonomous business processes YC's evolution and startup quality over time Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to http://worldofdaas.com/ for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X at @worldofdaas You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Rujul Zaparde on Linkedin at @rujulz Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant https://thepodcastconsultant.com
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Aug 18, 2025 · 10 minThe LM Brief: Conditional Voting Rights in VC Term Sheets
This week’s World of DaaS LM Brief looks at a recent piece by Auren Hoffman, co-authored with Sushant Bhardwaj and Lily Petherick from Flex Capital, on a little-known but impactful clause in VC term sheets that can strip founders of their voting rights when they leave their company. We cover how this “employment-tied voting rights” provision, often overlooked until it is too late, can leave founders as shareholders without a voice and why Flex Capital advocates for its removal to foster trust and protect true ownership. Listen to this short podcast summary, powered by NotebookLM.
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Aug 12, 2025 · 46 minConstruction Physics' Brian Potter - why America excels at fracking but struggles with construction
Brian Potter is a structural engineer and author of Construction Physics, a weekly Substack about the economics, technology, and productivity of building and infrastructure. He's also a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Progress. In this episode of World of DaaS, Brian and Auren discuss: Why construction productivity has flatlined for decades The failure of modular construction and automation barriers The unprecedented innovation at Bell Labs and modern research comparisons Why America dominates fracking but struggles to build Looking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to http://worldofdaas.com/ for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas. You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Brian Potter on X at @_brianpotter. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Aug 5, 2025 · 51 minAirtable CEO Howie Liu - Excel vs Access, Founder Mode, and the Future of SaaS
Howie Liu is the co-founder and CEO of Airtable, the AI-native app platform which has raised over $1.3 billion in funding and is valued at more than $11 billion. Howie sold his first startup, Etacts, to Salesforce when he was just 21 years old. In this episode of World of DaaS, Howie and Auren discuss: The evolution of the no-code/low-code movement How AI is transforming software development Pricing strategies for SaaS products The importance of founder mode and hands-on leadership The future of work in an AI-driven world 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 Howie Liu on X at @howietl. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jul 29, 2025 · 57 minDwarkesh Patel - AI Timelines, Productivity & Global Stagnation
Dwarkesh Patel is the host of the Dwarkesh Podcast, where he interviews leading scientists, founders, and economists about AI, science, and progress. In this episode of World of DaaS, Dwarkesh and Auren discuss: Why experts overestimate AI capabilities The continual learning bottleneck in current models Japan's economic crash and global productivity stagnation Spaced repetition and effective learning strategies 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 Dwarkesh Patel on X at @dwarkesh_SP. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jul 22, 2025 · 46 minMorning Consult CEO Michael Ramlet - AI, consumer sentiment and reinventing survey research
Michael Ramlet is the co-founder and CEO of Morning Consult, a global decision intelligence company with more than $100 million in annual revenue. Morning Consult conducts 30,000 daily interviews across 40+ countries and serves more than half of the Fortune 500. In this episode of World of DaaS, Michael and Auren discuss: The evolution from telephone to online polling Building representative polling samples in the modern era Real-time data collection and economic indicators AI and the democratization of survey research 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 Michael Ramlet on X at @MichaelRamlet. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jul 15, 2025 · 36 minAtlan CEO Prukalpa Sankar - AI agent workflows and hiring AI native talent
Prukalpa Sankar is the co-founder and CEO of Atlan, a data platform used by organizations like Plaid, NASDAQ and the UN to manage data collaboration at scale. Atlan has raised over $200 million and grown revenue 7x in the last two years. In this episode of World of DaaS, Prukalpa and Auren discuss: AI native company transformations Context as the foundation for enterprise AI Building remote-first cultures globally The future of metadata for enterprise 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 Prukalpa Sankar on X at @prukalpa. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jul 8, 2025 · 29 minCardlytics CEO Amit Gupta - transaction data and commerce media
Amit Gupta is the CEO of Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX), a global commerce media platform that powers rewards programs with card-linked offers and enables brands to strengthen customer loyalty. In this episode of World of DaaS, Amit and Auren discuss: How card-linked offers strengthen customer loyalty Identity resolution and retail media Cardlytics' view into $5.8 trillion of annual consumer spending The limitations of traditional loyalty programs 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 Amit Gupta on LinkedIn. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jul 1, 2025 · 52 minFabrice Grinda of FJ Labs - diversified portfolios, secondary sales and dinner parties
Fabrice Grinda is the co-founder and managing partner of FJ Labs, a venture capital firm that has invested in over 1,200 startups with more than 350 exits, including early investments in Alibaba, Flexport, and Delivery Hero. He previously built and sold three companies as CEO: Aucland (one of Europe's largest auction sites), Zingy (mobile media startup sold for $80M), and OLX (global classifieds platform operating in 90+ countries with 150M+ monthly users, acquired by Naspers). In this episode of World of DaaS, Fabrice and Auren discuss: Curiosity-driven investing and founder assessment Diversified portfolios vs concentrated strategies Secondary sales and exit strategies AI tools transforming investment research 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 Fabrice Grinda on X at @fabricegrinda. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jun 24, 2025 · 37 minRabbi David Wolpe - AI, faith, and the future of human connection
Rabbi David Wolpe is the emeritus rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, one of the largest synagogues in the United States. He is a bestselling author of eight books on faith and spirituality and has been named one of the most influential rabbis in America. In this episode of World of DaaS, David and Auren discuss: AI rabbis and digital therapy Lab grown meat and kosher laws Consciousness uploading and digital souls Fertility rates and collective meaning 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 Rabbi Wolpe on X at @RabbiWolpe. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jun 10, 2025 · 53 minSuperpower Founder Max Marchione - billionaire health protocols and the future of medicine
Max Marchione is the founder and President of Superpower, a digital healthcare platform that recently raised a $30 million Series A to make preventative and personalized medicine accessible to consumers. In this episode of World of DaaS, Max and Auren discuss: Billionaire-level health protocols and testing Why AI will replace expensive doctors Peptides, toxins, and human enhancement The future of personalized medicine 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 Max Marchione on X at @maxmarchione. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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Jun 3, 2025 · 52 minCrunchbase CEO Jager McConnell - predicting acquisitions, value of data, AI
Jager McConnell is the CEO of Crunchbase, a leading business intelligence platform for startup and investment data, serving over 80 million users. In this episode of World of DaaS, Jager and Auren discuss: The polarized venture funding landscape Why 'religion' beats 'truth' in data companies Finding defensible moats in the AI era Predicting acquisition targets 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 Jager McConnell on X at @jagermcconnell. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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May 27, 2025 · 50 minLiveKit CEO Russ d'Sa - voice AI and the future of human-machine interaction
Russ d'Sa is the founder and CEO of LiveKit, the infrastructure company powering real-time voice for OpenAI's ChatGPT, Character.ai, and numerous AI applications. In this episode of World of DaaS, Russ and Auren discuss: The evolution of voice AI Turn detection and conversational dynamics Real-time infrastructure for AI Copilots vs autopilots for the future 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 Russ d’Sa on X at @dsa. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)