In this episode, Sam Korus discusses stablecoins with Lorenzo Valente and Raye Hadi. They explore the definition of stablecoins, their impact on the US dollar, and the competitive dynamics between major players like Tether and Circle. The conversation delves into the role of stablecoins in emerging markets, their business models, and the potential convergence with AI transactions. They also address concerns regarding stability, privacy, and the future of stablecoins in the financial ecosystem.

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:

• Stablecoins are pegged to a dollar value to reduce volatility.
• Tether and Circle dominate the stable coin market with 85% share.
• Emerging markets are increasingly using stablecoins for transactions.
• The business model of stablecoins relies on reserve backing and transaction fees.
• Stablecoins can unlock significant amounts of dead capital in emerging markets.
• AI agents may prefer stablecoins for their programmable nature.
• Concerns about de-pegging and liquidity are prevalent in the market.
• The future of stablecoins could be expansive if regulatory frameworks support them.
• Stablecoins are currently about 1% of the US money supply.
• The potential for stablecoin supply to grow to 1.5 trillion in the next five years.

For more updates on Public.com:

Website: https://public.com/

YouTube: @publicinvest

X: https://twitter.com/public

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.

• 00:00:00 Why Brad Feld “hibernated” from public life and how it changed his perspective
• 00:04:24 From default yes to default no: Reclaiming time and creative energy
• 00:06:28 Navigating remote work: Company culture and post-COVID office dynamics
• 00:09:49 When revenue goes negative: COVID-era crisis stories from Rover and SeatGeek
• 00:12:25 The Give First philosophy — and how it became Techstars’ guiding principle
• 00:17:50 Finding mentorship as a founder: What works and what definitely doesn’t
• 00:19:15 The power of peer mentorship and showing up without expectations
• 00:23:16 How online culture’s transactional mindset erodes community trust
• 00:26:00 Boulder Startup Week and the importance of local founder energy
• 00:30:41 Brad’s Random Day tradition: 15-minute meetings, one goal per person
• 00:35:17 Techstars vs. YC: Origins of the mentor-driven accelerator model
• 00:40:27 Building startup communities from scratch: What actually works
• 00:46:05 Founders must lead: Differentiating between startup communities and ecosystems
• 00:49:00 Mentorship at scale: Applying Techstars’ playbook to community growth
• 00:54:08 Frictionless networks: Why “Give First” accelerates stronger connections
• 01:00:16 AI’s impact on software development, legal workflows, and personal productivity
• 01:04:07 Coding with AI: Brad’s firsthand experience building a web app with Cursor

In this episode, Nicholas Grous and Sam Korus are joined by ARK Chief Futurist, Brett Winton, to delve into the Mary Meeker AI Trends Report, discussing the rapid adoption of AI technologies, the evolving role of AI in trust and validation, and the changing landscape of search behavior. They explore the monetization of AI, the investment landscape, and the future of autonomous vehicles, concluding with a positive outlook on AI's trajectory.

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:

• The rapid pace of AI adoption is unprecedented.
• AI is reshaping how we validate information and trust sources.
• Search behavior is evolving with the integration of AI.
• Monetization strategies for AI are becoming clearer.
• Investment in AI infrastructure is crucial for growth.
• Autonomous vehicles are on the brink of mainstream adoption.
• AI's role in education could revolutionize assessment methods.
• The competition between the US and China in AI is intensifying.
• Consumer behavior is shifting towards AI-driven solutions.
• Optimism about AI's future is warranted despite pessimistic narratives.

For more updates on Public.com:

Website: https://public.com/

YouTube: @publicinvest

X: https://twitter.com/public