FYI - For Your Innovation

• Tesla Robotaxi Vs. Waymo | The Brainstorm EP 92

  In this episode, Sam Korus, Nick Grous, and Daniel Maguire discuss the future of robotaxis, focusing on Tesla's advancements in autonomous vehicle technology compared to Waymo. They explore the implications of Tesla's data advantage, production capabilities, and the regulatory landscape affecting the rollout of robotaxis. The conversation also delves into market dynamics, consumer behavior, and potential partnerships in the ride-hailing space, highlighting the challenges and opportunities ahead for Tesla and the autonomous vehicle industry.If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.Key Points From This Episode:Tesla is set to launch its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas.Tesla has a significant data advantage over Waymo, gathering nearly 10 million miles of data daily.The cost of Tesla vehicles is significantly lower than Waymo's, making them more accessible.Safety is a top priority for Tesla, influencing their cautious rollout strategy.Tesla's production capabilities allow them to scale much faster than Waymo.The regulatory environment is evolving, potentially easing the path for autonomous vehicles.Tesla's ridership model could allow for greater market penetration compared to Waymo.Consumer behavior will play a crucial role in the adoption of robotaxis.The partnership strategy of Tesla differs from Waymo's, focusing on direct consumer engagement.The conversation highlights the skepticism surrounding the rapid deployment of autonomous vehicles.For more updates on Public.com:Website: https://public.com/YouTube: @publicinvestX: https://twitter.com/public

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• Give First, Build Communities, And Rethink Mentorship: Brad Feld’s Startup Philosophy

  In this episode of FYI – For Your Innovation, ARK's Director of Research Brett Winton sits down with Brad Feld — co-founder of Foundry, Techstars, and longtime venture capitalist — to unpack his latest thinking on startup communities, mentorship, and how founders can build better networks by giving first. After taking time away from public life to reflect, Brad returns with a new book, Give First: The Power of Mentorship, and a sharpened view on the distinction between transactional ecosystems and community-led innovation. He shares lessons from nearly two decades with Techstars, thoughts on remote vs. in-person work post-COVID, and how mentorship can be redesigned for the next generation of entrepreneurs. The conversation also explores the cultural shifts introduced by AI, the hidden friction in monetizing online engagement, and why Brad believes the best way to shape a network is to invest in others before you know what you’ll get in return.Key Points From This Episode:00:00:00 Why Brad Feld “hibernated” from public life and how it changed his perspective00:04:24 From default yes to default no: Reclaiming time and creative energy00:06:28 Navigating remote work: Company culture and post-COVID office dynamics00:09:49 When revenue goes negative: COVID-era crisis stories from Rover and SeatGeek00:12:25 The Give First philosophy — and how it became Techstars’ guiding principle00:17:50 Finding mentorship as a founder: What works and what definitely doesn’t00:19:15 The power of peer mentorship and showing up without expectations00:23:16 How online culture’s transactional mindset erodes community trust00:26:00 Boulder Startup Week and the importance of local founder energy00:30:41 Brad’s Random Day tradition: 15-minute meetings, one goal per person00:35:17 Techstars vs. YC: Origins of the mentor-driven accelerator model00:40:27 Building startup communities from scratch: What actually works00:46:05 Founders must lead: Differentiating between startup communities and ecosystems00:49:00 Mentorship at scale: Applying Techstars’ playbook to community growth00:54:08 Frictionless networks: Why “Give First” accelerates stronger connections01:00:16 AI’s impact on software development, legal workflows, and personal productivity01:04:07 Coding with AI: Brad’s firsthand experience building a web app with Cursor

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• AI Meets Biotech: The Future Of Protein Therapeutics With Mike Nally And Jason Silvers

  In this episode of FYI – For Your Innovation, Brett Winton and ARK analyst Nemo Despot sit down with Generate Biomedicines CEO Mike Nally and CFO Jason Silvers to explore how generative AI is transforming the discovery and development of protein-based therapeutics. Founded in 2018 by Flagship Pioneering, Generate Biomedicines is building a “self-driving lab” that combines machine learning, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and high-throughput wet lab automation to dramatically accelerate drug development. The conversation dives into how Generate is reimagining protein therapeutics — going beyond trial-and-error methods to a data-first, design-driven model for creating novel medicines. The team discusses the company’s proprietary approach to integrating structural biology with functional data, the economic implications of reducing time-to-market from 13 years to under 9, and how their platform could unlock treatments for diseases that have been historically undruggable. They also touch on strategic partnerships, scalability, and how AI is shifting the biotech business model from artisanal science to an industrialized, data-driven enterprise.Key Points From This Episode:00:01:30 Why Generate Biomedicines is rethinking protein drug discovery from first principles00:04:40 How their structure-first approach differs from peers like AbSci and Recursion00:07:04 Using cryo-EM to build proprietary protein interaction datasets00:10:57 Traditional drug discovery is random, expensive, and inefficient — here’s how Generate is changing that00:16:58 From concept to clinic in 18–24 months: Accelerating timelines through AI00:20:47 Going beyond efficiency: Unlocking access to undruggable biology00:24:48 Turning cryo-EM into a high-throughput data engine for model training00:31:20 The long-term vision: Patient-specific protein therapeutics00:40:00 Why scalability gives Generate an edge over traditional biotech00:47:52 The future of biotech as a research & development (R&D) sharing economy00:54:19 Adapting fast: Keeping pace with generative AI advances across the stack01:00:16 The KPI (key performance indicator) for platform success: Rate of improvement

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• Anyone Can Code With AI | The Brainstorm EP 88

  In this episode, Nicholas Grous and Frank Downing explore the transformative potential of agentic coding and AI-assisted software development. They conduct a live demo showcasing how coding agents can simplify the development process, making it accessible to non-technical users. The conversation delves into the implications of these technologies on the economy, the future of knowledge workers, and the democratization of software development. The hosts emphasize the importance of experimentation with these tools and encourage listeners to engage with the technology firsthand.If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.Key Points From This Episode:Agentic coding is revolutionizing software development.AI-assisted coding tools are becoming more prevalent.Live demos help illustrate the power of coding agents.Non-technical users can now create applications easily.The potential for entrepreneurship is expanding rapidly.Coding agents can significantly reduce development time.The total addressable market for coding tools is vast.Knowledge workers can now create their own software solutions.AI tools are enabling creativity in ways previously unimaginable.Everyone with an internet connection can become a knowledge worker.For more updates on Public.com:Website: https://public.com/YouTube: @publicinvestX: https://twitter.com/public

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• Mapping The Brain: The Future Of Neuroscience With Dr. Jin Hyung Lee

  In this episode of FYI - For Your Innovation, ARK’s Chief Futurist, Brett Winton, and Research Analyst Nemo Marjanovic, sit down with Dr. Jin Hyung Lee, a leading neuroscience researcher at Stanford University. Dr. Lee and her team are pioneering breakthroughs in understanding brain function—an essential step toward diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. The conversation explores the complexities of the brain, the challenges in defining and diagnosing neurological diseases, and why current diagnostic tools are still crude. Dr. Lee discusses how her research combines optogenetics, fMRI, and AI to create functional maps of the brain, leading to potential breakthroughs in treating conditions like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. The trio also examines the broader implications of AI-powered diagnostics, how machine learning is revolutionizing precision medicine, and why we may be on the verge of a neuroscience revolution.Key Points From This Episode:Why defining brain function is crucial for diagnosing and treating disordersThe role of optogenetics and fMRI in understanding the brainHow AI and data-driven diagnostics are advancing neuroscienceThe intersection of molecular and imaging diagnostics in healthcareThe shift toward personalized and predictive medicine

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