Opto Sessions – Invest in the Next Big Idea

Eric DeMarco, CEO of Kratos Defense, leads work on low-cost autonomous drones, hypersonic systems, and satellite communications. He discusses affordability as a strategy for high-volume defense platforms. Conversations cover hypersonic flight progress, scalable drone production, software-defined space command-and-control, AI-enabled autonomy, and shifting international sales dynamics.

AI agents are targeting the biggest problem in healthcare: slow, expensive operations. In this episode, Autonomize AI founder & CEO Ganesh Padmanabhan breaks down why approvals like MRIs can take weeks and how AI agents streamline prior authorisation workflows to deliver faster decisions and lower costs in healthcare.

In this AI Christmas special of OPTO Sessions, we revisit standout moments from this year’s conversations on how AI is changing products, cost bases and competitive moats, from Better.com and Upstart in lending, to Box and Intercom in enterprise workflows and customer service, and SoundHound in voice AI. We look at near-term execution over the next year, longer-term positioning over five years, and the best criteria for spotting real AI advantage.

Leah Price, VP of the Tinman AI platform at Better.com, joins OPTO Sessions to unpack the company’s pivot to a full-stack GenAI mortgage OS and Betsy, the chat- and voice-based assistant embedded across the experience - delivering up to 75% faster cycle times, 45% lower fulfilment costs, and 10× volume, plus a first look at a pre-release avatar advisor.-----The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only. Opto Markets LLC does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. The information provided is not an endorsement of this product and is for information and/or educational purposes only.

Intercom co-founder and CSO Des Traynor joins OPTO Sessions to unpack the company’s AI-first shift and Fin, the 27-part AI customer service agent that delivers better, faster answers up to 94% of the time.-----The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only. Opto Markets LLC does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. The information provided is not an endorsement of this product and is for information and/or educational purposes only.

QuantumScape CFO Kevin Hettrich joins OPTO Sessions to unpack solid-state EV batteries, why this tech could enable faster charging, more range and improved safety for electric vehicles, and what Volkswagen’s partnership means for QS stock. -----The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only. Opto Markets LLC does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. The information provided is not an endorsement of this product and is for information and/or educational purposes only.

Paul Gu, co-founder and CTO of Upstart, discusses how AI is revolutionizing lending with 92% of loans fully automated, increasing approval rates significantly. He shares insights on fraud detection and the importance of using AI models for better borrower evaluations. Gu explores Upstart's expansion into auto and home equity products while maintaining competitive advantages in AI technology. He anticipates widespread AI underwriting adoption in the next five years and highlights the potential for improved credit access globally.

Box CEO and co-founder Aaron Levie returns to OPTO Sessions to reveal how AI agents are turning 90% of unstructured corporate data into instant answers, powering automation across roles. He maps where enterprise AI is headed, the real obstacles to adoption, and Box’s strategy for scaling AI workflows that deliver measurable business value.If you enjoyed this interview, consider subscribing to our Substack channel for more in-depth insights designed to help you invest smarter: https://optoforesight.substack.com/-----The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only. Opto Markets LLC does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. The information provided is not an endorsement of this product and is for information and/or educational purposes only.

Andy Marsh, Plug Power CEO, joins OPTO Sessions to discuss the current state and future of green hydrogen, emphasizing how hydrogen production can free up scarce grid electricity for other uses while accelerating national sustainability goals. He explains the company’s playbook to profitability - scaling electrolyzers, locking in offtake, and driving costs down - highlighting real-world deployments and growing customer momentum.If you enjoyed this interview, consider subscribing to our Substack channel for more in-depth insights designed to help you invest smarter: https://optoforesight.substack.com/Create your Own Stock Index & Invest Smarter with OPTO Folios: https://optothemes.com/en-usLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/opto-invest-in-innovation-308416193/ X: https://twitter.com/OptoThemes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opto.themes?igsh=MXhwenU4dTk4aDBqMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptoThemes-----The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only. Opto Markets LLC does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. The information provided is not an endorsement of this product and is for information and/or educational purposes only.

Charlie Youakim, CEO and Co-Founder of Sezzle, joins OPTO Sessions to discuss company’s journey from startup to a leading public company in the fintech space, the evolution of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model and record growth in the past 12 months.If you enjoyed this interview, consider subscribing to our Substack channel for more in-depth insights designed to help you invest smarter: https://optoforesight.substack.com/Create your Own Stock Index & Invest Smarter with OPTO Folios: https://optothemes.onelink.me/BZDG/ti2lb2fdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/opto-invest-in-innovation-308416193/ X: https://twitter.com/OptoThemes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opto.themes?igsh=MXhwenU4dTk4aDBqMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptoThemes-----The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only. Opto Markets LLC does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. The information provided is not an endorsement of this product and is for information and/or educational purposes only.