[CXOTALK #871] Building an AI Startup: What's Different in 2025 (with Arvind Jain)

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In episode 871 of CXOTalk, Michael Krigsman and Arvind Jain, former Distinguished Engineer at Google, co-founder of Rubrik, and CEO of Glean, explore the dramatically transformed AI startup landscape of 2025. This conversation is essential for entrepreneurs navigating the startup ecosystem and enterprise leaders making critical decisions about AI vendors and partnerships.

For Startup Founders:

• How the AI gold rush has paradoxically made fundraising both easier and harder

• Why building on foundation models creates new types of technical and business risks

• Strategies for standing out in a market with endless AI startups

• The challenges of sustaining innovation when AI capabilities evolve weekly

For Enterprise Buyers and CXOs:

• How to evaluate AI startup vendors in an overcrowded market

• Understanding the risks when startups build on third-party AI models

• Why some well-funded AI startups may not survive despite strong technology

• Framework for assessing which AI capabilities should be built vs. bought

Drawing from his unique perspective as a former Google executive and current AI startup founder, Arvind Jain provides candid insights into what's truly different about building and buying AI technology in 2025.

This episode cuts through the hype to deliver practical guidance for both sides of the AI marketplace - those building solutions and those investing in them.

Whether you're a founder raising capital or a CXO making multi-million dollar AI investment decisions, this discussion provides a crucial perspective on navigating today's complex AI ecosystem.

During the live show, share your views and ask questions on Twitter and in the LinkedIn event chat.

Episode Participants

Arvind Jain is the Founder and CEO of Glean, the AI-powered work assistant that brings people the answers they need to be more productive and happier at work. Prior to Glean, Arvind co-founded and led R&D at Rubrik, a publicly traded leader in the data security space. Arvind also spent over a decade at Google as a distinguished engineer, leading teams in Google’s Search, Maps, and YouTube products. Before that, Arvind held a leadership position at Akamai and started his career at Microsoft.

Michael Krigsman is a globally recognized analyst, strategic advisor, and industry commentator known for his deep expertise in business transformation, innovation, and leadership. He has presented at industry events worldwide and written extensively on the reasons for IT failures. His work has been referenced in the media over 1,000 times and in more than 50 books and journal articles; his commentary on technology trends and business strategy reaches a global audience.

Feb 28: Arvind Jain, CEO, Glean

Mar 7: Phil Fersht, CEO and Chief Analyst, HFS Research

Mar 14: Ziv Attar, CEO, Glass Imaging, and Tom Bishop, CTO, Glass Imaging

Mar 28: Teresa Carlson, President, General Catalyst Institute; Dr. David Reich, Chief Clinical Officer, Mount Sinai Health System; President, The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens; Dr. David Bray, Chair of the Accelerator at the Loomis Council and Distinguished Fellow, Stimson Center

Apr 4: Lord Tim Clement-Jones and Lord Chris Holmes, Members, UK House of Lords

May 23: Jeetu Patel, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Cisco

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