Category: BigIdeas

Fresh off the launch of Opus 5, Claude Code creator Boris Cherny joins Diana Hu at Startup School 2026 to talk about what the newest models can do, how Claude Code came to be, and what it means to build products when the The central thesis is that current AI models possess significant unrealized capabilities due to restrictive product design and overly specific instructions. The clusters detail how Opus 5’s advancements in prompt injection resistance enable safer agent design.

Recorded live at the New Media Summit, Erik Torenberg sits down with Replit founder and CEO Amjad Masad to discuss founder-led storytelling, building in public, and the role of media in company building. The conversation with Replit CEO Amjad Masad highlights the critical role of storytelling and media engagement for founders. By crafting a compelling narrative, founders can attract talent, capital, and early believers, which are essential for a startup’s survival. Authenticity in communication is increasingly valued, and founders should adapt their strategies to engage effectively with their audience.

In this conversation from Startup School Paris, Supabase CEO Paul Copplestone explains how a frustrating firebase migration led to an open-source side project that became one of the fastest-growing dev tool companies in Supabase’s success story highlights the importance of strategic positioning, community engagement, and operational excellence in the growth of developer tool companies. By positioning itself as an open-source alternative to Firebase and leveraging the strengths of Postgres, Supabase has been able to rapidly grow and gain traction.

Travis Kalanick, Ben Horowitz, and Erik Torenberg reunite to reflect on Uber’s early days, the investment that almost happened, and why Kalanick believes the next great technology opportunity lies beyond software. Travis Kalanick discusses the evolution from Uber’s early days to his current focus on integrating technology with physical industries. He emphasizes the importance of stealth mode in development, the transition from startup to corporate mentality, and the role of exceptional individuals in entrepreneurship.

In this discussion from Startup School Paris, PostHog CEO James Hawkins reflects on a number of startup topics including going from one product to twenty, why European founders need to stop focusing on negative The discussion highlights the advantages of ambitious startup ideas, emphasizing their ability to attract investors and talent by focusing on potential success rather than risks. It contrasts American and European approaches to ambition, suggesting that bold visions are more appealing. The role of AI in product management is also explored, indicating a shift towards AI-driven insights.

Peter Thiel emphasizes the importance of building creative monopolies by focusing on unique, innovative business ideas that provide significant value and are driven by a founder’s vision and long-term planning. He argues that successful entrepreneurs think from first principles, prioritize long-term

The Proven. Better. New framework explained.

AI can make one task faster while making the system worse.

The discussion highlights the importance of AI tokenomics and efficiency, emphasizing that not all AI models are equally cost-effective. Frontier models are noted for their superior token efficiency compared to open weight models, challenging common assumptions about cost. Companies are advised to f