Madrona

"OpenAI is no more a model company?than Google is a web crawler and page rank company....You have to capture the imagination, and you have to build products that are durable for consumers and for enterprises." In the fast-moving world of AI, few conversations cut to the heart of the matter quite like this one. At the IA Summit earlier this month, Brad Gerstner, Founder of Altimeter, joined Madrona’s Matt McIlwain for a discussion about how AI is reshaping everything from web search to enterprise applications — and what it takes to succeed in this new landscape. You can watch their full discussion on YouTube ( https://bit.ly/3BIQ7T1 ) or read the transcript ( https://bit.ly/4h6oEef ) — and here are three quick takeaways: Value Beyond Models: Brad emphasized that technology alone (e.g., models) does not drive value. Instead, applications like ChatGPT succeed because they offer superior user experiences and practical value. Disruption of Web Search: He pointed out that the traditional web search model (e.g., Google’s "10 Blue Links") is being massively disrupted by AI-powered applications, which offer more personalized, efficient experiences. Trust and Durability: Brad stressed that in both consumer and enterprise applications, companies must build trust and deliver magical, durable experiences to capture value and succeed long-term. You can now watch the recording on YouTube or read the transcript here.

Tomorrow is the day .... 9am PST! Tangibly's first LinkedIn Live!! We’ll cover the future of IP protection and trade secrets in our session. I’m looking forward to talking with Tangibly's own Chris Buntel and John Pryor from Exalt IP Ltd and getting their insights on how businesses can navigate a world without non-competes!! register now to join us!??https://lnkd.in/d_T8X5Zn

Hear from Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman on how personal AI will reshape our daily lives?and from Altimeter's Brad Gerstner on the role of disruptive technologies as we continue to roll out recordings from the 2024 #IASummit. Plus, Impinj Co-founder?Chris Diorio shares his decades-long?journey?of creating one of the most quietly pervasive technologies in the world, and we celebrate David Baker's remarkable achievement —?winning The Nobel Prize in chemistry for his groundbreaking work on protein design. From the portfolio:?Statsig and Esper landed on LinkedIn's 2024 list of?Top Seattle Startups,?Observe, Inc. released OpenTelemetry-Native APM, Runway made its API?open to all developers, and so much more. Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington

AI is no longer just a tool or application — it’s becoming a relationship. That's one of the takeaways from Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman's fireside chat with S. Somasegar during our 2024 #IASummit. Mustafa broke down how the future of #AI goes beyond voice, text, and language. He envisions an ever-present, fully aware companion that understands not only what you’re seeing but also how to respond in real time, creating a truly personalized and trusted relationship. Watch the full discussion: https://lnkd.in/gKGhGxdG Or read the transcript: https://lnkd.in/gFYEtKaG #AI #Innovation #Personalization #FutureOfWork #TechLeadership #agent #copilot #AppliedAI

Matt McIlwain's conversation with Brad Gerstner during the #IASummit has been one of the most requested recordings. We're excited to be able to share it with you all! You can watch the full conversation here: https://bit.ly/3BIQ7T1 The recording and transcript is here: https://bit.ly/4h6oEef

Chris Picardo is a Partner at Madrona. Chris joined Madrona in 2017. As a partner on the investment team, Chris focuses on identifying, evaluating, and leading new investment opportunities and working closely with existing companies. Chris helps lead Madrona’s investments in companies innovating around the intersection of life and computer science through combining novel wet lab science with cutting-edge machine learning. He also helps lead investing activities in consumer technology and commerce, marketplaces, and Web3, focusing on how new technological innovations can create new consumer experiences and interactions with the digital world. Topics: - Evolution of the "Intersections of Innovation" strategy - Innovation and trends in personalized medicine and healthcare - The potential impact of ML-driven approaches on the pharmaceutical industry #VentureCapital #LifeSciences #AI #BioTech #IntersectionsOfInnovation

Do you have what it takes to #startup? The rollercoaster ride of building something from scratch isn't for everyone but for those leaders who have the itch, there are endless reasons to keep coming back. Myoung Kang, Head of Operations at MotherDuck shares loads of wisdom on impact without sacrificing creativity, the right level of process through growth, and how the right people matter even more when dealing with the unknown. ?? #builderswanted #startupleaders #startupinsights Madrona

What a treat it was to sit down with my longtime friend, Brad Gerstner, Founder and CEO of Altimeter, just 30 minutes after the huge news that OpenAI had closed a massive funding round, which Altimeter participated in! It was the perfect backdrop for our fireside chat at the 2024 #IASummit, where we dove into the rapidly evolving world of #AI and what it means for the future of tech and business. Brad and I have known each other for over 20 years, from our days on the Farecast board and working with Snowflake, and I’ve always appreciated his sharp insights and relentless drive to stay ahead of the curve. This conversation was no different. We talked about everything from the implications of OpenAI’s $157 billion valuation to how the traditional search model we’ve all known for decades is being disrupted at an unprecedented pace. And it wasn’t just about models or technology for technology's sake — Brad made it clear that the real value lies in the applications that deliver magical experiences for consumers and enterprises alike. What struck me most was Brad’s emphasis on trust and durability. Whether it’s in building consumer applications like ChatGPT or enterprise solutions like Glean, the companies that will succeed in this new era are the ones that can not only innovate but also earn and sustain the trust of their users. I always enjoy these dynamic discussions with Brad, but this one was particularly special — given the timing of OpenAI’s major announcement and the exciting times we find ourselves in with AI pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. If you want to understand what’s really going on at the intersection of AI, enterprise, and innovation, I highly recommend watching the full recording or reading the transcript - which are both now available: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3BIQ7T1 Full Transcript: https://bit.ly/4h6oEef It’s an exciting time to be part of this conversation, and I can’t wait to see what’s next! #AI #Innovation #OpenAI #TechTransformation #EnterpriseAI #AppliedAI

On the latest episode of Founded & Funded, Tim Porter & Patrick J. Ennis had the pleasure of sitting down with their long-time friend and Impinj co-founder, Chris Diorio. His journey in building a category-defining company offers so many lessons for entrepreneurs — here are just five of them: 1) Patience is essential when creating something new – Building a truly transformative technology takes time, and the "fail fast" mindset doesn’t apply when you're inventing a new category. 2) Persevere through market uncertainty – Pivoting when the original plan doesn’t work and sticking to the vision can be the difference between success and failure. 3) Focus on building trust with customers – Strong relationships and understanding customer problems deeply are key to long-term success, especially when working with large enterprises. 4)Hire a great team – Surround yourself with people who are better than you and share your vision to drive the company forward. 5)Maintain balance between work and life – Loving what you do while making time for family and personal interests keeps you energized for the long term. Chris’ journey and lessons are invaluable for founders working on breakthrough technology. Check out the episode here wherever you get your podcasts for so much more: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4dHg8iS Apple: https://apple.co/4gZ6NFR Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dHg8zo Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eH68Y7 Full Transcript: https://bit.ly/3XR8WdS #entrepreneurship #startups #categorycreation #leadership #RFID #Impinj #VC

It’s hard to believe it has been over a week since the 2024 #IASummit. This year, the Madrona team brought together nearly 300 founders, builders, investors, and thought leaders across the AI community, along with over 30 speakers who dove into everything from foundational AI models to real-world applications in enterprise and productivity. A key theme this year was that models are NOT all you need to make #AI successful in real-world deployments. A major takeaway, which may come as no surprise, is that we’re moving beyond intelligent applications toward the rise of intelligent and automated #agents capable of driving efficiency and innovation autonomously. A personal highlight for me was interviewing my longtime friend, Brad Gerstner, just 30 minutes after Altimeter announced its investment in the latest OpenAI round. His insights and timely perspective brought a fresh and forward-looking lens to the event. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue the conversations sparked at this year’s summit, diving deeper into how AI can drive tangible outcomes across industries. Stay tuned for more insights, key takeaways, and upcoming events where we’ll explore the evolving AI landscape and what it means for builders and innovators alike. We're releasing all the Summit recordings on our YouTube channel over the coming weeks - be sure to subscribe:?https://lnkd.in/gKzYERBj And — mark your calendar for next year: Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 2025!!! Peter Desantis Mustafa Suleyman Arvind Jain Rama Akkiraju Eleanor Lightbody Mark Mader Ali Farhadi Oren Etzioni Asha Sharma Marco Argenti S. Somasegar Rolanda Fu Sabrina Wu Jon Turow