RRE POV

On this episode of RRE POV, Raju Rishi sits down with Máuhan Zonoozy, founder and CEO of A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya, to explore the evolution of music at the intersection of technology, culture, and creativity.From vinyl and streaming to gaming and AI, they unpack how new technologies have continually reshaped how music is created, distributed, and experienced. At the center of the conversation is Máuhan’s belief that music is a verb, something people should be able to actively participate in, not just consume.  A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya is exploring that next frontier by building interactive digital “instruments” experiences that let people manipulate, remix, play with, and experience music. The guys dig into why gaming may offer the best blueprint for music’s next evolution, how interactive experiences could create new forms of creativity and monetization for artists and labels, and why AI doesn’t have to shrink the existing music ecosystem, it could expand it. Plus, plenty of music nostalgia, favorite artists, festivals, and nightlife stories along the way. Highlights: (00:00) Meet Mauhan Zonoozy(03:02) Music Roots and Instruments(05:11) First Concerts and Posters(08:05) From Blogs to Music Production(10:17) Formats Sampling and Bubble(20:56) Instagram Video Clipping MVP(22:00) Gaming as Music Culture(23:18) Self Expression Spectrum(25:52) AI Music and Shibuya Thesis(40:41) Rapid Fire Favorites WrapLinks Mentioned:Explore A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya: shibuyaaa.comFollow A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya: @vinylbarshibuya

Is SaaS really dying, or is AI simply forcing the software industry into its next era?In this episode of RRE POV, Raju Rishi and Will Porteous take on the “SaaSpocalypse” and separate the structural shifts from the market panic. They examine how AI agents are challenging some of SaaS’s most fundamental assumptions—from seat-based pricing and long-term contracts to the traditional build-versus-buy equation, while also making the case that the strongest software companies may be more resilient than headlines suggest. Proprietary data, security, governance, regulatory expertise, customer trust, and deep domain knowledge could prove to be enduring advantages.But the bigger story may be what comes next.  They look ahead to what could be an even bigger shift: moving away from subscriptions toward consumption- and output-based pricing, the rise of tech-enabled services, and a new generation of AI-native business models.The SaaS model may be under pressure, but software isn’t disappearing. It’s becoming more dynamic, more fluid, and potentially far more valuable in ways the industry is only beginning to understand.Highlights: (00:00) Welcome and Setup(00:17 )Defining SaaSpocalypse(01:47) Is SaaS Really Dead(04:11) Threat One Seat Pricing(07:23) Threat Two Wrapper Apps(10:18) Threat Three Build vs Buy(15:47) Why Vertical SaaS Survives(21:06) Regulation and Governance Moats(29:17) New Reality Pricing Models(39:34) What SaaS Companies Should Do

In this episode, Will and Raju answer a question they keep hearing from limited partners: How should we actually use AI?  The guys break down what AI does well today, where it still falls short, and how LPs and corporate leaders can begin putting it to work. They also highlight AI tools from within the RRE portfolio, discuss the metrics every AI dashboard should track, and share practical ways to move beyond experimentation.  The takeaway: AI may not be ready to make your most important decisions, but it is already capable of helping teams move faster, work more efficiently and reclaim valuable time.Highlights(01:10) Raju Sings REM(03:38) What AI Is Actually Good at Today(06:44) The Overhyped Side of AI(13:56) How Originalis Helps Investors Decide(23:00) Farsight Turns Weeks of M&A Work Into Minutes(27:55) The AI Playbook for Corporates(29:14) Six Metrics for Your AI Dashboard(35:32) Avina, the AI Sales Tool That Times Your Pitch(39:31) Unlocking Old Company Knowledge With AI

In this episode of RRE POV, Raju Rishi and Will Porteous unpack two major forces shaping the future of AI: model distillation and the debate between open-source and proprietary models. They break down what distillation means, why it matters for model defensibility, and how open systems have historically reshaped major technology markets. From Linux and Android to the open internet, the conversation explores what past platform shifts can teach us about where AI is headed, and why founders and enterprises should focus less on model lock-in and more on durable workflows, data, and customer value.Highlights:(02:04) Explaining AI Distillation (03:10) How Distillation Copies AI Models(06:47) LLMs Trained on Everyone Else's Data First(08:26) The Sunk Cost Problem in AI(14:30) 85% of AI Queries Are Repeats(19:47) Open vs. Proprietary Models Explained(21:28) What Windows vs. Linux Teaches Us About AI(26:33) AOL's Walled Garden Warning(34:34) Lock-In on Apps, Not AI Models

AI is transforming industries at an extraordinary pace, but the path to real-world adoption is proving more complex than the headlines suggest. In this episode of RRE POV, Raju and Will unpack the biggest growing pains facing AI today — from hallucinations and infrastructure costs to GPU shortages, talent bottlenecks, legal uncertainty, data governance, and the realities of enterprise adoption. Drawing on lessons from previous technology cycles and insights from across the RRE portfolio, they explore where the hype is getting ahead of itself, which companies are helping solve critical constraints, and why the next phase of AI may be driven less by broad platforms and more by focused, vertical applications. Whether you’re building with AI, investing in it, or trying to understand where the market is headed, this conversation offers a candid and practical look at what comes next.Highlights: (00:35) Five AI Growing Pains(02:34) Hallucinations and Trust(06:17) Fixing Hallucinations(08:58) Prime Intellect and RL(10:27) Farsight and Source Links(14:27) AI Cost and GPU Crunch(19:57) Cooling and Space Data Centers(24:18) Efficiency Wins Lovelace(28:22) Talent Legal and Adoption Wrap