More or Less

Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin

Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin have debated the future of Silicon Valley and tech as the closest of friends for the last 15 years. Now six companies, two venture funds and more than a decade at Google, Apple and Facebook later, they are opening up the debate. From The Information, Offline Ventures, and Slow Ventures. Follow the crew: http://x.com/davemorin http://x.com/brit http://x.com/lessin http:/x.com/jessicalessin Follow the pod: https://moreorlesspod.com/ http://youtube.com/moreorlesspod https://x.com/moreorlesspod

  1. -6 J

    #114 Seed Rounds at $2B? The Dangers of AI Hype in VC With Tony Conrad

    In this episode of More or Less, Brit Morin and Dave Morin sit down with legendary VC Tony Conrad (True Ventures) for a candid conversation on the state of venture capital, the real impact of AI, the death of social media, and why non-attribution and EQ matter more than ever.Chapters: 01:30 – The Power (and Rarity) of Non-Attribution in Venture 04:00 – Building Culture After the Dot-Com Crash 06:00 – Why We Don’t Do This for the Money 08:30 – EQ vs IQ: The Human Side of Venture Capital 11:00 – The Wildfire Story: When VCs Show Up as Humans 16:50 – The Best GPs & Firms: Inspiration from Legacy and Newcomers 22:30 – Space Tech Is Real Venture Capital (Not Just AI) 28:10 – Venture Is a Contact Sport: Lessons from Ron Conway 30:40 – AI Hype: Is There Any Money Left for Startups? 40:00 – Manipulation, Social Media, and the Rise of AEO 49:30 – Building Brands in the Age of AI (and Why We Paused Consumer) 55:00 – The Dangers of AI Hype and Overfunding 57:00 – Why Contrarian Investing Can Wait—Focus on AI Now 1:04:00 – Pop Culture Corner: Taylor Swift, Branding, and First Concerts We’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    1 h 10 min

  2. 22 AOÛT

    #113 GPT-5 Disappoints: The End of the AI Gold Rush?

    This week on More or Less, the crew dives into the shifting narratives around AI (Finally everyone is getting on Sam's wavelength), the reality of LLM business models, and why infrastructure may not be the gold rush everyone thinks. We debate the hype cycles, the authenticity crisis in startup pitches, and the pitfalls of meme coins in the creator economy. Plus, is Burning Man over, and what can Taylor Swift teach us about brand-building in the internet age? As always, join Jessica Lessin, Dave Morin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin for an unfiltered, insider take on what’s really happening in Silicon Valley.Chapters:0:40 – Intro and Silicon Valley Homecomings6:40 – AI, SaaS, and the Changing Narrative12:10 – The AI Moment: GPT-5 and the Plateau14:40 – AI Slop and the Devaluation of Content19:40 – OpenAI: From Hype to Sober Reality21:40 – The Problem with Narrative-Driven Startups24:40 – Marketing vs. Product: Who Really Wins?26:40 – Lying, Manifesting, and Silicon Valley Ethics30:40 – The Tower of Babel: Founders vs. VCs vs. AI36:40 – Burning Man: Has It Peaked?39:40 – Polyamory, Netflix Tropes, and the End of Media Originality43:40 – Meme Coins, Crowdfunding, and Creator Economy Pitfalls54:40 – Taylor Swift, Internet Fame, and Brand Lessons for StartupsWe’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    1 h 5 min

  3. 15 AOÛT

    #112 Swift Should Buy Chrome, Not Perplexity

    This week, the team dives into more meme capitalism, the AI hype cycle, and why San Francisco is still the epicenter of tech ambition (and some very odd real estate choices). We debate the real value behind Perplexity, the future of Chrome, and the myths founders tell themselves about trials and second chances. Plus: Taylor Swift, conspiracy AIs, and the ultimate contrarian takes for VCs and founders. Your usual well rounded and brutally honest weekly episode of More or Less. Chapters: 00:00 – Taylor Swift Should Buy Chrome?! 02:30 – SF Comeback: The AI Pied Piper Effect 06:30 – Meme Capitalism: Conference of the Future 14:00 – AI Bubble Watch: Perplexity’s Valuation 17:30 – Founder Redemption: Always Call Your VCs 20:00 – The Dirty Secret of SaaS Trials 25:00 – Chrome Antitrust Circus 29:00 – AI Hardware: Bring Back the Flashlight 35:00 – Taylor Swift: Peak Culture or Just Getting Started? 43:00 – Conspiracy AI: The Next Meme Machine? We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    48 min

  4. 8 AOÛT

    #111 Figma, OpenAI, Canva: the Rise of Meme Stock IPOs in Silicon Valley

    This week on More or Less: Jessica Lessin, Dave Morin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin dive deep into the surprisingly busy summer of venture capital, the impact of AI on startups, and the changing rules for founders and investors. From Figma’s IPO and the rise of meme-driven investing to the challenge of diligence in an AI-saturated world, we tackle the uncomfortable truths and new dynamics shaping Silicon Valley today. Chapters: 01:46 – Dude Perfect vs. The Circus: The Internet Killed Local Art 05:46 – The Creator Quality Bar Keeps Rising 07:46 – Figma IPO: Did Wall Street Fleeced Them? 10:46 – SaaS Is NOT Back & The Real IPO Signal 13:26 – OpenAI: The Ultimate Meme Stock? 15:46 – Seed Investing is Broken in the AI Era 20:46 – Valley Mood: Exuberance and Angst 22:46 – The Feudalism 2.0 Problem 39:46 – The Uncomfortable Truth About Founder Age & Life Stage 45:46 – Deep Work, Distraction, and the Future of Founders We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod YouTube: https://youtu.be/D5Y-WZqsAlE Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    53 min

  5. 1 AOÛT

    #110 Meta's Billion-Dollar Hires: Bubble or Genius?

    What happens when VCs are called the least sophisticated financiers, AI researchers get billion-dollar paydays, and outrage becomes the new marketing? This week on More or Less, the full crew breaks down the state of the AI talent wars, the power of meme-driven marketing, and whether hope (not financial literacy) still drives Silicon Valley. Chapters:01:15 Jersey Shore, Laundry, and Marital Advice 05:08 Sydney Sweeney Outrage: Meme Marketing & Stock Surges 18:32 VCs Are the Least Sophisticated Financiers 22:20 AI Billionaires: Comp Bubbles & Power Laws 27:09 Will Billion-Dollar AI Talent Stay? 32:24 Social Graph Recruiting: The New Acqui-Hire 38:52 AI Comp Bubble: Lessons from the iOS Gold Rush 44:22 The Robot That Folds Clothes (and Why It’s a Billion-Dollar Job) 50:11 Outrage Marketing: Fad or Future? We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    52 min

  6. 25 JUIL.

    #109 OpenAI vs Google: The Real Business Model War Begins

    This week on More or Less, Sam Lessin, Brit Morin, and Dave Morin dive into the startup world and how today's founders need to bring fun back into the ecosystem, why most public policy around AI is just noise, whether Apple’s best move is to simply not care about AI hype, and the business model reckoning for OpenAI. Stay till the very end for a sneaky savage moment from Brit! Chapters: 02:00 – The Real Reason Early VC Worked: Fun 03:50 – Authentic Fun vs. Fake Fun in Startups 05:40 – AI Hacks, JSON, and the Joy of Building 09:45 – AI Data, Human Correction, and Social Graphs 12:15 – Tesla’s Trillion-Dollar Marketing Stunts 16:23 – Google’s CapEx, Meta’s Moat, and AI Spending 18:15 – OpenAI’s Extension: Business Model Reckoning 27:08 – Apple’s AI Strategy: Does Not Caring Win? 36:20 – AI Companions & The Threat to Social Platforms 39:15 – Google’s Secret Weapon: Let OpenAI Take the B******t 47:15 – Founders: Build What You Love, Or Regret It 53:30 – Savage Brit & Monjaro Shots in NYC We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoreorLessPod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    57 min

  7. 18 JUIL.

    #108 Meta vs. OpenAI: Who Wins the Next Attention War?

    In this episode of More or Less, we dive into the shifting landscape of AI, attention, and business models. From the rise of ChatGPT as both productivity tool and entertainment, to the coming collision between commerce and AI-driven recommendations, the Morins and Lessins debate what’s hype, what’s real, and where the next big opportunities are for startups and VCs. Plus: the truth about local news, why coding is fun again, and a pop culture corner you won’t want to miss. Chapters: 01:30 – Wedding Stories & The Early Jackson Hole Days 03:00 – Interviewing Mark Zuckerberg Goes Wrong 09:30 – Building Audiences: Why Longer is Better (and Sponsors Are Lining Up) 14:00 – Is AI for Productivity or Personal Use? The Real Data 16:00 – Big Tech vs. Startups: Who Wins Consumer AI? 20:00 – Can AI Save Local News? The Verticalization Debate 24:00 – The Real Business of Local Data: City Councils and Real Estate 28:30 – AI Business Models: Advertising, Affiliate, or Something New? 31:00 – Is AI Stealing Attention from Instagram? The Frenetic Race 33:00 – Commerce, Discovery, and the Death of Search 37:00 – The Productivity Trap: Why Margins Go to Zero 39:00 – How Are VCs Really Using AI? The Memory Game 40:30 – AI as Entertainment: Coding vs. Netflix 43:00 – The Future of Commerce: Push vs. Pull, Meta vs. OpenAI 46:00 – Google, Gemini, and the Battle for Relevance 47:30 – Late Night Coding: Why Claude Is Addictive 53:00 – Pop Culture Corner: Lena Dunham, AI Bands, and Wimbledon We’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    1 h

  8. 11 JUIL.

    #107 Anatoly Yakovenko: Crypto Isn’t for Everyone (And That’s a Good Thing)

    We’re joined by a very special guest, Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko for a wide-ranging conversation on crypto, tech, and what’s next. He breaks down the “punks, hoodies, suits” cycle, why AI is just a product while crypto is a movement, and how stablecoins are quietly driving global USD adoption. He shares his $1T stablecoin prediction, explains the Solana phone’s goal to challenge app store monopolies, and argues that crypto’s future lies not in mass adoption, but in serving a small group of high-value users. Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Anatoly’s Backstory 03:20 Crypto’s Evolution: Punks, Hoodies, and Suits 07:00 Bitcoin, Meme Investing, and the Value of Ideas 12:00 Meme Coins: Infrastructure and Insanity 17:45 Why Build a Crypto Phone? Platform Wars Explained 24:00 Talent, Incentives, and the Crypto Dilemma 30:00 Stablecoins, Dollar Hegemony, and Global Finance 39:50 The Punks Are the Bankers Now 41:10 The Internet, Extremes, and the Death of Truth 49:00 Engagement, Incentives, and the Future of Platforms 52:20 Are the Punks Too Rich to Care? 54:30 Wrap-Up: Bold Predictions and Where Crypto Goes Next We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

    57 min
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À propos

Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin have debated the future of Silicon Valley and tech as the closest of friends for the last 15 years. Now six companies, two venture funds and more than a decade at Google, Apple and Facebook later, they are opening up the debate. From The Information, Offline Ventures, and Slow Ventures. Follow the crew: http://x.com/davemorin http://x.com/brit http://x.com/lessin http:/x.com/jessicalessin Follow the pod: https://moreorlesspod.com/ http://youtube.com/moreorlesspod https://x.com/moreorlesspod

Informations

  • Création
    Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin
  • Années d’activité
    2023 - 2025
  • Épisodes
    115
  • Classification
    Contenu explicite
  • Copyright
    © Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin
  • Site web de l’émission
    More or Less

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