Paul Palmieri: AI's Next Big Wave Investing in the Future | Episode 011 | 06-26-2025

What if the most valuable AI companies of the next decade haven't even been founded yet? While everyone's talking about ChatGPT and large language models, the real revolution lies ahead in the applications built on this infrastructure, just as Uber transformed transportation by building on mobile technology.Paul Palmieri, founder of Grit Capital Partners and former founder of unicorn company Millennial Media, brings a unique perspective to this pivotal moment in technological history. Having witnessed firsthand the mobile revolution while at Verizon in the early 2000s, Palmieri sees striking parallels to today's AI explosion. The infrastructure builders lay the foundation, but it's the application developers who create the solutions that transform.This conversation explores why AI represents a "once in four generations" opportunity that may be larger than the industrial revolution itself. Paul and Leo discuss how AI will reshape work and productivity, why today's fear of job displacement misses the point, and how Grit Capital identifies entrepreneurs with the vision and resilience to build market-leading AI applications in fintech, commerce, marketing, and media.The true villain in this AI story isn't the technology itself but our failure to engage with it. As Palmieri notes, "Young people will be AI natives just like they were mobile natives," and those who don't spend time learning these tools risk being left behind. Companies are already seeing dramatic shifts, with Pinterest reporting that 25% of their current code was written by AI, while Microsoft puts their number at 30-40%.For entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals, this conversation offers a glimpse into understanding where AI is headed beyond today's headlines. The revolution is just beginning, and the most exciting opportunities lie in applying this technology to solve specific industry problems in innovative ways. This episode offers a forecast of what's coming in the next wave of technological disruption.https://youtu.be/ZyWfxKVyhrgDisclaimer: material was prepared by Verdence Capital Advisors, LLC (“VCA”). VCA believes the information and data in this document were obtained from sources considered reliable and correct and cannot guarantee either their accuracy or completeness. VCA has not independently verified third-party sourced information and data. Any projections, outlooks or assumptions should not be construed to be indicative of the actual events which will occur. These projections, market outlooks or estimates are subject to change without notice. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, investment, accounting, legal, or tax advice. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product or anynon-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in these materials will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. You should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this report serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from VCA. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the co...