When Shopify was founded in 2006, it was just a year prior to the launch of the iPhone.

Needless to say, smartphones were a far cry from the ubiquitous accessory that now billions carry around.

And fast forward to today, nearly 20 years later, where Shopify merchants can accept cryptocurrency,

create immersive shopping experiences with augmented reality,

and even use AI to generate product descriptions.

So how does a nearly $100 billion company stay ahead of these trends

and what will shopping look like in the generations to come?

Plus, why would A16 and never have invested in Shopify in its early day and why has the CEO

of this company chosen to continue writing code? These are just some of the questions covered

in today's episode, a conversation with Shopify co-founder and CEO Tobias Luke Key and A16Z

co-founder Ben Horowitz. This episode was also originally published on our sister podcast, Web3 with A16Z.

So if you are excited about the next generation of the internet, find Web3 with A16Z wherever you get your podcasts.

All right, let's get started.

Welcome to Web3 with A16Z, a show about building the next generation of the internet from the team at A16Z crypto.

Today's episode features Tobias Lutka, CEO and co-founder of the e-commerce platform Shopify.

Speaking with A16Z co-founder, Benowitz at our second annual founder summit in November. They discuss what it takes to build a breakout startup

in a crowded category, the changing face of retail, how to affect change in the workplace,

and how to handle individual emotions and corporate culture, including dealing

with calls for activism, as well as the value of embracing negativity. They also touch on the moral

imperative behind creating quality software, the symbiosis between AI and crypto, and more.

As a reminder, none of the following should be taken as business, legal, tax, or investment advice.

Please see A16Z.com slash disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.

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