Upfront Summit 2020

Dannie Herzberg and Jess Lee of Sequoia Capital sit down with Alex Konrad of Forbes to discuss how the two partners became involved with Sequoia, what makes the firm stand out, and recent industry trends they lean into as they look ahead. 

Recorded at the Upfront Summit on March 1, 2022.

Sequoia's Dannie Herzberg and Jess Lee on Building an Enduring Firm | Upfront Summit 2022

a16z General Partner Andrew Chen speak with Bloomberg's Katie Roof about what the cold start problem is, the sectors he's most excited about as an investor, and what drew him to Substack and Clubhouse.

Andrew Chen on What Startups Need to Know About the Cold Start Problem | Upfront Summit 2022

Jeff Morris Jr. (Chapter One), Katie Stanton (Moxxie Ventures) and Peter Boyce II (Stellation Capital) sit down with Michael Kim (Cendana Capital) to talk about the evolution of seed investing - the increase in competition among VC, how sourcing deals look like today, how founders are now thinking about raising funds, and what venture will look like in ten years. 

Recorded on March 1, 2022 at the Upfront Summit.

Seed Investing in Today's World: Jeff Morris Jr., Katie Stanton, Peter Boyce II, Michael Kim

Kara Swisher sits down with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff for a 1:1 interview. They touch on Salesforce's recent earnings reporter, Marc's thoughts on employees returning to the office, and the future of generative AI. 

Recorded at the Upfront Summit on March 2, 2023.

Kara Swisher Interviews CEO of Salesforce Marc Benioff on Stage | 2023 Upfront Summit

Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers shares his thoughts on the future outlook of the economy, and the advice he would give to tech companies and founders as a result. He's interviewed by The Economist's Alexandra Suich Bass and joined by special guest Stephane Lintner, co-founder and CEO of Jiko.

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Lawrence H. Summers Gives Outlook on Inflation, Interest Rates, Employment and the Economy

Kara Swisher interviews Donna Langley & Jamie Lee Curtis about where filmed entertainment is going in the coming years. 

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Kara Swisher Interviews Donna Langley & Jamie Lee Curtis on the State of Film | Upfront Summit 2023

ALOK sits down with Jamie Lee Curtis to explore themes of gender, race, trauma, belonging and the human condition. 

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Jamie Lee Curtis Interviews ALOK on the World Beyond the Gender Binary | 2023 Upfront Summit

Tom Morello sits down with Stem CEO Milana Lewis to discuss his career trajectory as a musician and as an activist.

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Music and Mission with Tom Morello | 2023 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Kevin Zhang and Founder of Khosla Ventures Vinod Kholsa discuss the firm's themes, reinventing societal infrastructure with technology, and why Vinod has never called himself a venture capitalist. 

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Vinod Khosla on the Venture Assistance Business | 2023 Upfront Summit

Michael Johnson interviews Olympian and entrepreneur Allyson Felix on having a mindset of a competitor, her transition from being a full-time athlete to where she is today, and using her platform to fight for the causes she believes in.

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Allyson Felix & Michael Johnson: The Mind of a Competitor | 2023 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Kobie Fuller sits down with Michael D. Ratner of OBB Media and Hailey Bieber of rhode to discuss the intersection of content and commerce, as well as their differentiated approach. 

Recorded March 2, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Hailey Bieber & Michael D. Ratner on the Intersection of Content and Commerce | 2023 Upfront Summit

M13 Co-Founder Courtney Reum moderates a panel with Ciara and Christine Day of The House of LR&C to discuss the concept behind their business, the mission behind the brand, and where they are today.

Recorded March 1, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

The House of LR&C: Building A Modern Apparel Brand | 2023 Upfront Summit

Teddy Schleifer of Puck sits down with Bhu Srinivasan, author of "Americana" to talk about the history of capitalism, and how it's been perceived over time. 

Recorded March 1, 2023 at the Upfront Summit.

Author of Americana on How VC Drove the Discovery Of America & US Capitalism | 20203 Upfront Summit

Melinda French Gates sits down with CNBC's Julia Boorstin to give insights into her investments and venture firm, Pivotal Ventures. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Melinda French Gates Changing The Face Of Power In Venture Capital | 2024 Upfront Summit

Jeffrey Katzenberg of WndrCo interviews Novak Djokovic on stage about his record-breaking tennis career, personal highlights, and his entrepreneurial journey.

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Novak Djokovic on Perseverance, Resilience, and Maximizing Potential | 2024 Upfront Summit

Anduril Co-Founder and Founders Fund Partner Trae Stephens discusses the state of defense tech with Upfront Partner Nick Kim. In the session, Trae delves into the importance of investing in defense tech, the opportunities Anduril is pushing for, and the company's approach to working with the government. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Defense Tech: State of the Union with Trae Stephens | 2024 Upfront Summit

Outlander Managing Partner Paige Craig interviews Founders Fund Partner Brian Singerman on how he thinks about strategy as an investor and at the firm, how he thinks about the market, his process for investing in founders. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Founders Fund - Funding the Future with Brian Singerman | 2024 Upfront Summit

Interviewed by Fortune reporter Allie Garfinkle, Superhuman Founder & CEO Rahul Vohra shares how AI is changing the way we work, the company's founding story, and his predictions for the way AI agents will play a role in people's lives. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Superhuman Founder Rahul Vohra on How AI Will Change the Way We Work | 2024 Upfront Summit

Jason Rapp of Whisper Advisors sits down with Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone to discuss his established career in media and tech, the importance of being a product-first company, and the opportunities he sees in the future of content. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Product Matters: Yahoo’s Equation for Growth from CEO Jim Lanzone | 2024 Upfront Summit

Anita Ramaswamy of Reuters sits down with Olaf Carlson-Wee, founder of Polychain Capital to discuss the bull case for crypto, including what he's most excited about, lessons from the recent crypto winter, and where he seems the opportunity as an investor. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

The Bull Case for Crypto in 2024 with Olaf Carlson-Wee of Polychain Capital | 2024 Upfront Summit

Deborah Benton of Willow Growth Partners interviews Katy Perry and De Soi CEO Scout Brisson about the founding of their sparking non-alcoholic apéritif brand, what made them want to tackle this specific beverage category, and how they've brought the brand's vision to life. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Katy Perry Redefines Beverage in the Non-Alcoholic Space with De Soi

Amanda Groves of PLUS Capital sits down with Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power to talk about the founding story of their organic wine brand, Avaline. During the interview, they discuss how they've been able to scale the business and bring transparency to the wine industry.

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Avaline: The Modern White Space in an Age-Old Industry | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Seksom Suriyapa interviews Nand Mulchandani, the CIA's CTO, to dispel common misconceptions about the agency, his career trajectory leading up to his position today, and the critical role humans play in a world of emerging technology. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Technology in An Age of Geopolitical Friction with CIA CTO Nand Mulchandani | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Kevin Zhang sits down with Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst to discuss what it takes to build an enduring firm, what approaching ecosystems in healthcare look like, and the biggest trends he's keeping an eye on. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

General Catalyst Hemant Taneja: Can VC Truly Tackle Long-Term Problems? | 2024 Upfront Summit

The Verge Deputy Editor Alex Heath interviews Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano and General Partner Nicole Quinn to talk about the use cases of AI for consumers, where they see the biggest opportunities, and what entrepreneurs should be thinking about when building. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Where Consumer Meets AI: What Lightspeed Sees for the Future | 2024 Upfront Summit

Sozo Ventures Rob Freelen sits down with Hide Kobayashi of Tokio Marine Innovation Lab and Keisuke Seki of Development Bank of Japan to share insights into raising money from Japanese LPs. They discuss common mistakes they see from GPs, the advice they'd give to those coming to Japan, and their firms' investment priorities for 2024. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

The Beginner's Guide to Raising Money from Japanese LPs | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Kobie Fuller interviews Menlo Ventures Partner Matt Murphy about the current state of venture, the firm's investment strategy in AI, and the importance of building a framework early on. 

Recorded Feb 28, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Melting the Ice: Menlo Ventures' Approach to VC Winter with Matt Murphy | 2024 Upfront Summit

Jeff Berman, CEO of WaitWhat, sits down with Affectiva founder and AI investor Rana el Kaliouby and Oracle SVP Greg Pavlik to discuss the implications of AI in schools, regulations that should be implemented, and ways to bring more transparency to the industry. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Masters of AI with Rana el Kaliouby of Affectiva and Greg Pavlik of Oracle | 2024 Upfront Summit

Upfront Partner Aditi Maliwal chats with ZMC Founder & Managing Partner and Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick to discuss his career journey, strategies for innovation in the entertainment industry, and how to find balance in one's career and life. 

Recorded Feb 29, 2024 at the Upfront Summit.

Strauss Zelnick on Embracing Change Through Innovation and Creativity | 2024 Upfront Summit

Jackie Reses (Head of Square Capital) speaks with Upfront Ventures partner Greg Bettinelli about how Square has grown to be one of the biggest small business lenders in the country; diversity in lending; managing people and stoking creativity in companies; fragmented workforces; and the rules of engagement for operating globally.

Jackie Reses Interview with Greg Bettinelli | Upfront Summit 2019

Keith Rabois of Founders Fund sits down with Dan Primack of Axios to discuss making big bets in venture, how Founders Fund operates as a partnership with unique perspectives, and his views on the upcoming election cycle.

Keith Rabois Interviewed by Dan Primack | Upfront Summit 2020

Chairman of the LA Clippers and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sits down with Upfront Ventures partner Greg Bettinelli to discuss:
- How he got into basketball ownership and how a basketball team is like a tech company
- Why philanthropy matters and how to measure government impact
- Operating as a non-founder business lead and why he encourages everyone to drop out
- His favorite search engine

Steve Ballmer Interviewed by Greg Bettinelli | Upfront Summit 2020

Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Harden discuss creating their media company Hello Sunshine and developing projects that put marginalized creative voices and storytelling at the forefront - how it was started, the untraditional power structure at the head of the company, and how they're architecting the business for the next 20 years. 

They also discuss how much they love data and books, about the journey of Reese's Book Club, and what it takes to change and diversify the media landscape.

Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Harden Interviewed by Mark Suster | Upfront Summit 2020

Ice Cube sits down with Hamêt Watt (Share Ventures) to discuss his entrepreneurial journey in founding BIG3 - where his drive and work ethic come from, why the league is on track for profitability and longevity, the importance of authenticity and really listening to the customer, and how he remembers and honors Kobe Bryant's legacy.

Ice Cube Interviewed by Hamêt Watt | Upfront Summit 2020

John Legend and his mentor James Lowry talk with Upfront Ventures partner Kobie Fuller about the importance of mentorship and the mutual benefit in a mentor-mentee relationship; John Legend's work in criminal justice reform and local political reform; James Lowry's roadmap for building black economic power and a more positive future for everyone; and John's experience as a BCG consultant building PowerPoint slides by day and creating music by night.

John Legend and James Lowry Interviewed by Kobie Fuller | Upfront Summit 2020

Bad Robot Co-CEOs JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath talk to Upfront Ventures partner Kara Nortman about scaling and productizing creativity; building an equitable partnership and a company that looks like its audience; what it was like to helm a franchise like Star Wars; the importance of creative guardrails and feedback; and the simple way to fix diversity in an organization.

JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath Interviewed by Kara Nortman | Upfront Summit 2020

Ted Sarandos (Chief Content Officer, Netflix) talks with REDEF's Jason Hirschhorn about the business of global storytelling; the changing nature of the content medium; Netflix's strategy of original content and animation; the consumer lifespan strategy for Netflix; and the prognosis of growth moving forward.

Ted Sarandos Interviewed by Jason Hirschhorn | Upfront Summit 2020

a16z Managing Partner Jeff Jordan speaks with Upfront partner Kara Nortman multi-stage investing at the firm; trends in VC; how and in what sectors he makes investment decisions including Airbnb and Overtime; how his experience as an operator informs his role as a board member; and the benefit of sports experience as a VC.

Jeff Jordan Interviewed by Kara Nortman | Upfront Summit 2020

Geopolitical strategist and author Peter Zeihan explains how we got to the current state of geopolitics and the changing demographics across the global superpowers that will impact our coming economy.

Peter Zeihan Presents Disunited Nations: The Trade Breakdown | Upfront Summit 2020

Marc Merrill (Co-founder of Riot Games) talks with Upfront partner Kevin Zhang about the founding of Riot Games and development of League of Legends in 2006; what the company's acquisition by Tencent has meant to the company; his perspective on e-sports ecosystem development and fan engagement; and his predictions for cloud and mobile gaming.

For a recap of the 2019 LoL Championships: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PswnONyX23I

Marc Merrill Interviewed by Kevin Zhang | Upfront Summit 2020

David Lawee and Jason Lemkin Interviewed by Teddy Schleifer | Upfront Summit 2020

The Upfront podcast features a variety of guests to discuss startups, venture capital, and current events - providing an insider's view into entrepreneurship and technology.

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