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Garry Tan of Y Combinator: How Innovation Is Changing
Y Combinator has long been - and continues to be - the tip of the innovation spear. That's why I was especially excited to sit down with Garry Tan, President & CEO of Y Combinator, for a conversation that gets right to the core of what’s changing across the startup landscape.
At Interplay, I've spent years working alongside entrepreneurs who are laser-focused on building, scaling, and making a lasting impact. Over that time, I've seen countless trends come and go - but when a true seismic shift hits, like the one we’re seeing with AI today, it’s critical to step back and understand the bigger picture.
Garry and I dove deep into why vertical SaaS and AI-native startups are poised to drive the next wave of innovation, how lean, AI-augmented teams are rewriting the rules of company building, and why real traction still comes down to solving tangible user problems. We also explored the geographic shifts reshaping where startups thrive, the current realities of AI adoption, and what it truly takes to build a product the world actually wants. It’s a great, timely conversation.
A special thanks to Garry for joining me and sharing his insights.
00:00 – Introduction: Why Garry Tan and Y Combinator Matter
00:48 – Garry Tan Joins the Conversation
02:00 – Trends at the Top of the Startup Funnel
02:45 – The Rise of AI and Vertical SaaS Opportunities
04:00 – Leaner Startups: Building Companies with Smaller Teams
05:00 – How AI is Reshaping Company Growth and Scaling
06:00 – Internal Use of AI: Operational Efficiency Across Startups
07:30 – Early Innings: The Long-Term Impact of AI
09:00 – Mainstream AI Adoption: How Far We Have to Go
10:00 – Geography Trends: Where Startup Hubs Are Emerging
11:00 – Why San Francisco Still Matters for Founders
12:30 – The Golden Age of Startups: What's Next
13:30 – Critical Skills for Founders in the AI Era
14:00 – The #1 Reason Startups Fail: Solving Real User Problems
14:30 – Closing Thoughts: Building the Future of Innovation
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