Merge Co-Founder & CEO Shensi Ding-Lopez - Why AI Agents Need Secure Integrations

Shensi Ding-Lopez, Co-Founder & CEO of Merge, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on AI agents, integrations, startup culture, and the future of enterprise software infrastructure.Merge helps B2B software companies securely integrate with third-party systems across HR, accounting, ATS, ticketing, file storage, and more through a unified API platform. In this episode, Shensi explains why integrations are becoming one of the biggest bottlenecks in AI adoption — and why secure infrastructure for AI agents may become one of the most important categories in enterprise software.The conversation also explores startup fundraising, product-market fit, technical leadership, company culture, and what it takes to build deeply technical products at scale.00:00:00 - Introduction and Background00:00:22 - Founding Merge00:00:54 - Launching the Second Product00:02:05 - AI Agents and Security00:03:36 - Fundraising Journey00:04:36 - Early Customer Validation00:05:10 - Co-Founder's Background00:06:00 - A Day in the Life of a CEO00:07:16 - Technical Contributions00:08:22 - Future of AI00:09:01 - Economic Environment and Optimism00:10:01 - Company Culture and Hiring00:11:56 - Reading Habits and Recommendations00:13:32 - The Importance of Giving Chances00:14:51 - Closing RemarksIf you’re interested in AI, APIs, enterprise software, cybersecurity, startups, or the future of agentic workflows, this conversation is packed with insights for founders, operators, and technical leaders alike.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.