logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
1h 2m

Best of 2024 #3 – VC Pitch: PayPal for A...

Yaniv Bernstein, Chris Saad
About this episode

As we head into 2025, we're looking back on our most popular episodes of 2024. This episode was originally published on October 30, 2024.

Are you ready for a world where AI agents can autonomously make purchases and monetize their services? How will commerce and payments evolve as intelligent software agents become ubiquitous?

In this episode, Chris Saad is joined by Amir Sarhangi and Craig DeWitt, co-founders of Skyfire, to explore the cutting-edge intersection of AI, payments, and open protocols.

They discuss Skyfire's mission to become the "Visa for AI" by enabling seamless financial transactions between autonomous agents.

In this episode, you will:

  • Discover how Skyfire is building an open protocol for AI agent payments
  • Learn about the challenges of creating a new payments network for machine-to-machine transactions
  • Understand Skyfire's strategy for solving the "chicken and egg" problem of supply and demand
  • Explore potential use cases for agent-to-agent payments in areas like data access, marketing, and recruiting
  • Gain insights into Skyfire's business model and approach to monetization
  • Hear the founders' vision for how AI agents will transform internet commerce


Special Thanks to Llama Lounge - the #1 AI event - for introducing us to to these founders.


Learn more about the startup

Skyfire Website: ⁠https://skyfire.xyz/⁠ 

Follow Amir Sarhangi on Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/asarhangi/⁠ 

Follow Craig DeWitt on Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdewitt/⁠ 


The Pact

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:


Key links


Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://chrissaad.com/advisory/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Chris on Linkedin:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Credits

Editor:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Justin McArthur⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Content Strategist: Carolina Franco ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/⁠

Intro Voice:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeremiah Owyang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Up next
Nov 13
Insiders React: Reviewing Our Tech Predictions From January 2025
Were we wildly wrong, or surprisingly on the money? As 2025 wraps, Chris and Yaniv revisit the bold predictions they made at the start of the year. They reflect on their calls about AI, robotics, VC markets, crypto, and geopolitics. While some were accurate, some were also hilari ... Show More
40m 22s
Nov 6
Insiders React: Is OpenAI Evil? Reacting to Sam Altman's Latest Announcements w/ Jacob Ward
OpenAI may appear to be building the future, but are they leading the tech industry towards collapse?In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Jacob Ward (journalist, author of The Loop and NBC Technology Correspondent) to break down OpenAI’s latest livestream and what it si ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 3
Replay: Engaging Young Employees - How to Attract the Best & Brightest Minds w/ Dan Brockwell from Earlywork
What do you need to do to keep employees engaged and committed? What should your position be on remote work? Side hustles? Ping pong tables? Should you offer all employees equity?Bringing Gen Z employees to your workplace is well worth it, but it means a mental pivot from the hir ... Show More
44m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
HubSpot Co-Founder Introduces The Future Of Ai Agents | Fiverr Marketplace For Ai Agents
Ep. 257 Are you ready to unlock the secrets of AI agents and revolutionize your career? Kipp and Kieran dive into an engaging conversation with HubSpot Co-Founder Dharmesh Shah about AI agents, content creation, and career growth. Learn more on how Agent AI operates and its real- ... Show More
47m 9s
Oct 14
How to Start a $1M Business Using Only AI
Get Greg's AI Million Dollar Idea Generator prompt: https://clickhubspot.com/kgj Ep. 370 Is making a million dollars with AI really that easy? Kipp, Kieran, and Greg Isenberg, Co-founder of Ideabrowser and host of The Startup Ideas Podcast, dive into Greg’s proven frameworks and ... Show More
45m 21s
Jun 2025
12 INSANE AI Agent Use Cases in Lindy AI (Live Demo)
Episode 64: What if you could hire an AI intern to handle your meetings, emails, CRM, and even negotiate refunds over the phone? Nathan Lands (https://x.com/NathanLands) is joined by Flo Crivello (https://x.com/Altimor), founder of Lindy AI, a leading AI agent platform in Silicon ... Show More
42m 4s
Jul 2025
VC React Podcast (E42): Saudi’s New Unicorn, Startups Turn Corporations, Global Games, AI Talent War
VC React Podcast:Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. ---Hosts: Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 7
AI Tools to Replace Your $10k+ Creative Agency
Want Rory's system to turn one brief into 100+ assets with AI? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/drf Ep 368 Ever wonder how you can use AI to reduce the amount of money you’re spending on ads to acquire more customers? Kipp and Kieran dive into how to leverage AI to scale cre ... Show More
50m 53s
Mar 2025
I Run a 6-Figure Agency with ZERO Employees (AI Only) | Barbara Jovanovic
Ep. 307 Are we on the brink of a future where founders operate successful agencies with no human employees? Get Barbera's Prompts https://offers.hubspot.com/full-stack-ai-marketing Kipp and Kieran dive into the innovative world of Barbara Jovanovic (Startup Cookie) and her AI-pow ... Show More
39m 3s
Jul 2025
VC React Podcast (E44): Arabic AI Stack, Morocco’s SuperApp, Embedded Insurance, Wild AI Acquihires
VC React Podcast:Every week, we bring you insights and reactions from top VCs, LPs, & Angel Investors, reacting to the latest news on MENA startups, VCs, and investment rounds. ---Hosts: Ahmad Takatkah, VCpreneur. Sign up to VCpreneur Newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... Show More
58m 34s
Sep 10
LIVE from Rare Evo: How Citi is Bridging The Gap Between Web2 and Web3
Ryan Rugg, Global Head of Digital Assets for Citibank's Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS), discusses their approach to integrating Web 2.0 and 3.0. She shares insights on Citi Token Service, a new solution designed to provide 24/7 liquidity and borderless transactions, and expla ... Show More
18m 22s
Feb 2025
Ep 206 The Road to 2025: Smart Marketer's Lessons, Growth & What's Next
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><strong>Molly Pittman is back with an inside look at Smart Marketer's journey and the strategies shaping 2025!</strong></p> <p>After a challenging yet transformative year, Molly shares what's been happening behind the scenes, why Smart Marketer took a br ... Show More
32m 22s
Oct 14
Inside the $50M Startup Replacing Coders With Agents
Want to implement AI agents like $50M startups do? Get our ultimate guide: https://clickhubspot.com/fcv Episode 80: Are coders really being replaced by AI agents, or is this just the next tech hype cycle? Nathan Lands (https://x.com/NathanLands) is joined by repeat guest Matan Gr ... Show More
33m 28s