Howard is back with a jam-packed episode of Trends With Friends featuring the first guest of summer, longtime friend and inception-stage VC killer, Ed Sim of Boldstart Ventures. From the death of moats to the rise of AI-native founders, Ed breaks down the absurd speed of today’s startup landscape and why VCs must now be part therapist, part operator, and part AI-optimist. The trio (Howard, Michael Parekh, and Ed) cover why founders are ditching the old playbooks, how big tech is strip-mining startups for talent, and why infrastructure is the name of the game. Plus, deep dives into BYD vs Tesla, the “Autonomous Enterprise,” vibe coding, degenerate economies, and how Alpaca is building the brokerage rails for the rest of the world. If you care about the future of capital markets, startups, and where the next great returns will come from, don’t miss this one.Where to find our guests: Howard Lindzon - https://stocktwits.com/howardlindzonMichael Parekh - https://stocktwits.com/MParekhEd Sim - https://x.com/edsimJoin Our Community! https://stocktwits.com/Sign up for our daily FREE newsletter to keep in touch with the market: https://thedailyrip.stocktwits.com/Disclaimer:All opinions expressed on this show are solely the opinions of the hosts’ and guests’ and do not reflect the opinions of Stocktwits, Inc. or its affiliates. The hosts are not SEC or FINRA registered advisors or professionals. The content of this show is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Read the full terms & conditions here: https://stocktwits.com/about/legal/terms/

In this candid interview, Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, sits down with Howard Lindzon to reflect on the remarkable journey from a startup idea to a $40 billion company reshaping investing. Vlad recounts Robinhood’s early days—pivoting from high-frequency trading software to mobile-first commission-free investing—and the challenges of fundraising and navigating regulation when no one wanted to back a brokerage startup.The conversation dives into pivotal moments: the explosive growth after Robinhood’s waitlist launch, the GameStop crisis, and steering the company through intense public scrutiny during the COVID era. Vlad opens up about the evolution of his role as CEO, from scrappy founder to leading a 3,000-person company, and shares why his passion remains rooted in building new products—from prediction markets to digital banking.With reflections on competition, leadership, and the future of fintech, this discussion offers a rare inside look at the highs and lows of building one of the most influential platforms in modern finance.#Robinhood #VladTenev #StartupJourney #Fintech #Investing #Leadership #GameStop

📉 China Trade Collapse, Market Confusion, and the Degenerate Economy on Full DisplayJoin Howard Lindzon, Phil Pearlman, Tom Bruni, and Michael Parekh for a live episode from New York as the Trends With Friends crew breaks down an insane week in the markets, rising global tariffs, and why uncertainty is the only certainty. From container ships stopping cold to Canada’s political shock, Amazon pushing back on tariffs, and traders stuck between delusion and reality, it’s a masterclass in behavioral finance, policy risk, and staying sane through the chaos. Plus: Apple earnings, the most interesting chart in the world, and the rise of the degenerate economy.📍 Recorded live from New York City at Witz podcast studios in affiliation with The Stand🎙️ Hosted by the Trends With Friends crew🔑 Presented by StocktwitsKey Topics Covered:🚢 China Trade Crash – Container departures to the U.S. plunge as tariffs bite📉 The New Smoot-Hawley? – How Trump’s global 10% tariff threat is freezing trade🇨🇦 Canada’s Surprise Election – Why markets are ignoring a political shift at our border📊 Delusion vs. Reality – Behavioral breakdowns as markets bounce hard off the VIX 60 lows📈 Zweig Breadth Thrust vs. Financial Crisis Echoes – Which side wins?🛒 Amazon Adds Tariff Warnings – Retailers brace for the supply chain backlash🏦 Small Cap Struggle – Why the real damage might be happening in companies no one sees🥇 The Degenerate Economy Kit – From LA Golf to Manscape giveaways at the Cash Tag Awards💬 Why Being Honest Isn’t Partisan – A riff on politics, finance, and staying realSlides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSpwlTNeQ0Gh8N4XZaXn9PRMl8gLn27H9K_1pM1PE4ZSqDrmjTfin08eeSqm0Pg45VCSEVK5IdAXADM/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage10:25 Market Trends and Economic Indicators19:13 Investor Behavior and Market Psychology27:12 Earnings Reports and Corporate Responses35:42 The Impact of Tariffs on Retailers38:14 Earnings Season Insights42:37 Market Reactions and Analyst Expectations46:39 The State of American Brands50:51 Apple's Supply Chain Challenges59:29 Antitrust Issues in Tech01:06:29 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionWhere To Find Howard and Friends:• Howard - https://stocktwits.com/howardlindzon• Phil - https://stocktwits.com/ppearlman• Michael Parekh - https://stocktwits.com/MParekh• Tom Bruni - https://stocktwits.com/BruniChartingDisclaimer: All opinions expressed on this show are solely the opinions of the hosts’ and guests’ and do not reflect the opinions of Stocktwits, Inc. or its affiliates. The hosts are not SEC or FINRA registered advisors or professionals. The content of this show is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Read the full terms & conditions here: https://stocktwits.com/about/legal/terms/