Insiders React: OpenAI Bets Big on Vibe Coding + Epic Games' Victory Over Apple, Silicon Valley's Talent Crisis
OpenAI just dropped $3B on vibe coding—should software engineers be worried?
And what happens now that Apple’s 30% App Store tax just took a major legal hit?
In this episode of The Startup Podcast, hosts Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by seasoned founder and investor Hooman Radfar (CEO at Collective, ex-VC at Expa) to unpack three seismic shifts shaping the future of tech startups today.
They dive deep into OpenAI’s $3B move into vibe coding, the ripple effects of Apple’s court-ordered App Store concession, and a sobering update on Silicon Valley's AI talent trends.
Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/chA3rYD75uI
In this episode, you will:
• Learn why OpenAI is acquiring AI coding startups—and what that means for developers everywhere
• Understand how tools like Windsurf and Cursor are changing expectations for startup speed and headcount
• Discover why SaaS margins and investor sentiment are shifting under the weight of AI-native startups
• Explore how Apple’s legal defeat is reshaping the app ecosystem for founders and product builders
• Hear first-hand stories about the limits of current LLM coding assistants—and why user trust may be short-lived
• Unpack the growing platform risk as hyperscalers begin to own entire labor categories, not just infrastructure
• Debate whether the “two-speed” startup economy (AI-native vs everyone else) is sustainable—or a bubble waiting to pop
Whether you’re an early-stage founder, startup operator, or just trying to make sense of the shifting AI landscape, this episode is packed with hard-earned insights and startup war stories from the frontlines.
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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/
Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur
Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
