Opening Bid Unfiltered

Dennis Woodside, CEO of Freshworks and former Google and Dropbox executive, shares his take on AI as a growth lever, not a threat. He discusses AI enhancing systems of record and Freshworks’ market focus. Security, trust, and AI risk management are covered. He also talks about AI’s effect on engineering, hiring, and upskilling.

Chairperson of Snap Inc., Michael Lynton, and Bloomberg Senior Advisor, Josh Steiner, unpack the high-stakes mistakes that shaped their careers. Lynton reflects on the decision to greenlight The Interview, the fallout from the Sony Pictures hack that followed, and what leaders can learn from failure. Together, they explore why confronting mistakes, rather than hiding from them, can be the key to stronger leadership and long-term success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Wang is looking to redefine investing for the next generation, one copy trade at a time. Wang, an entrepreneur and the Founder of dub, the first regulated copy-trading platform, sat down with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on Opening Bid Unfiltered to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, which began in elementary school, his decision to drop out of Harvard, and how he gained backing from several big names including former Meta top exec Sheryl Sandberg and Airbnb Founder Brian Chesky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass, built a platform that brings world-class experts to millions. He discusses recruiting top instructors, how formats and audiences shifted after the pandemic, MasterClass’s role in schools, AI-driven personalized learning, and a new AI-focused business program with partners like OpenAI and Chicago Booth.

Some on Wall Street are calling it the Trump Slump. The president’s signature tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court, dealing a fresh blow to the White House. Meanwhile, the US economy slowed markedly in the fourth quarter amid the government shutdown. The administration’s continued friendliness toward the crypto industry hasn’t been enough to spark renewed buying in bitcoin in 2026, as the crypto king faces a bear market. Skybridge Capital Founder Anthony Scaramucci joined Opening Bid Unfiltered with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to share his thoughts on the Trump Slump, crypto's pullback, and how his son AJ became the winning bidder for Logan Paul’s Pokémon card! Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before starting his brand in 2013 with his twin brother, Alex Faherty built his business expertise in private equity at powerhouse Cerberus Capital Management. His brother developed top design skills at Ralph Lauren, pursuing his longtime passion for clothing. The brothers used their expertise to start their own business, Faherty. The family-owned brand is on a mission to create clothing that blends the relaxed comfort of beach wear with elevated urban style. Faherty now reportedly generates nine-figure annual sales and boasts 80 retail stores in addition to its online business. Alex hopped on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast mic with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi to share what’s next for his company and why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with Phoebe Gates. Gates — the youngest child of Microsoft (MSFT) Co-Founder Bill Gates and Philanthropist Melinda Gates — is the Founder and Co-CEO of Phia. With Phia, Gates is trying to shake up the shopping experience in the age of AI. Phia’s AI-powered shopping assistant scours the web for deals on fashionable apparel and accessories. So far, Gates has raised more than $40 million from a series of high-profile investors, including Kleiner Perkins, Kris Jenner, and Hailey Bieber. Gates shares her vision for Phia, what she has learned as an early entrepreneur, and how she applies her parents' lessons to her everyday business life. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves, and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor, before the stock market opens. Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid Unfiltered at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/. Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Please email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered is hosted by Brian Sozzi and produced by Langston Sessoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joshua Meier, co-founder of Chai Discovery and former researcher at OpenAI and Meta, applies large-scale AI to protein and molecule design. He talks about Chai’s molecule-design platform and rapid lab success improvements. Conversations cover partnerships with big pharma, scaling compute and data, and how AI is unlocking previously undruggable biology.

Josh Luber, serial entrepreneur who co-founded StockX and now runs GhostWrite, talks collectibles and trading mechanics. He explores why nostalgia and scarcity drive demand. He dives into blind-box trends, trading-card scarcity vs mass-produced toys, gamified unboxing experiences, and how licensing and market cycles shape values.

Jamie Siminoff, inventor of the Ring doorbell who sold his company to Amazon for $1.15B and returned to lead its security products, discusses his comeback. He recounts building Ring from a garage, surviving near-bankruptcy before a dramatic 40-day deal, and using AI to expand products like 4K cameras, Search Party, Firewatch, and a Ring App Store.