8 Companies Started in 2017
Learn from founders and CEOs who launched their businesses in 2017

Chris Best
Co-founder & CEO
In this interview, Substack co-founder and CEO Chris Best discusses the challenge of AI slop, the premium on human attention, and Substack's new transparency tooling. Best shares insights on the rise of generated long-form content, the integration of Pangram text detection, and the dynamics of co-writing with large language models. He critiques platforms that automate authorship, applying economic models like Baumol's cost disease to predict how value shifts when content production becomes free.

Palmer Luckey
Founder
In this interview, Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey discusses the company's culture and its rapid deployment of autonomous defense products like the Fury fighter jet. He outlines his perspective on U.S. defense procurement, subterranean warfare, and ethical boundaries in building advanced weapons. Luckey also details the geopolitical dynamics of the Iran conflict, the U.S.-China artificial intelligence race, and the importance of federal preemption in regulating AI for military use.

Nicholas Harris
Co-founder & CEO
In this interview, Lightmatter co-founder and CEO Nicholas Harris explains how the company evolved from photonic computing to silicon photonics for AI networking. He discusses why data movement has become the primary bottleneck in modern AI infrastructure, how Lightmatter is scaling production with hyperscalers and chip companies, and why photonic interconnects will become the foundation of next-generation AI data centers powered by light rather than copper.

Srinath Ravichandran
Co-Founder & CEO
In this interview, Agnikul Cosmos co-founder and CEO Srinath Ravichandran explains rocket science in simple terms while sharing his journey from Wall Street to building one of India's leading private space companies. He discusses entrepreneurship, risk-taking, space technology, innovation, and how affordable launch vehicles can help create a thriving commercial space economy.

Warwick Smith
CEO
Warwick Smith is the CEO of American Pacific Mining, a U.S.-focused copper and gold exploration company. With over 25 years in the mining industry, he is known for strategic transactions, disciplined capital management, and building shareholder value through high-potential resource projects.

David Lee
Co-founder & CEO, Nex
In this interview, David Lee discusses how Nex is reimagining family entertainment through active, camera-based gaming and subscription-driven experiences. He shares lessons learned from his time at Apple, the challenges of building sustainable consumer hardware, and the importance of creating products that deliver lasting value. Lee also explains how thoughtful leadership, adaptability, and customer-focused innovation help navigate uncertainty while building products families genuinely enjoy.

Brian Schimpf
Co-founder and CEO, Anduril Industries
In this interview, Brian Schimpf discusses how Anduril Industries is transforming defense through autonomy, software, and rapid innovation. He shares lessons from scaling the company to thousands of employees while maintaining accountability, talent density, and execution speed. Schimpf explains why modern defense requires faster development cycles, resilient production systems, and leaders who can build organizations capable of adapting to the evolving demands of future warfare.

Karan Virwani
MD & CEO, WeWork India
In this interview, Karan Virwani discusses how WeWork India became the country’s largest premium flexible workspace operator by combining institutional discipline with entrepreneurial agility. He explains why demand from multinational corporations, global capability centers, and fast-growing Indian businesses continues to drive growth. Virwani also shares lessons on unit economics, culture, market selection, and building a resilient business by focusing on long-term customer needs rather than short-term trends.