Today’s episode of Request for Startups features

* Sean Linehan: CEO at Exec and Squad. @seanlinehan on X

* Erik Torenberg: Investor, Founder of Turpentine.co. @eriktorenberg on X

In this Request for Startups throwback, Sean Linehan, CEO at Exec and Squad, then-founder of Placement, joined Erik Torenberg to share insights from working at Flexport. They discuss the future of automation, the rise of corporations, leveraging technology in traditional industries, and the importance of a zero-sum approach to business and economic growth.

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:01) Sean’s journey at Flexport

(04:46) Lessons from Flexport

(06:20) Software eating the physical world

(19:30) Sponsor: Brave

(20:34) Trends on managed marketplaces

(24:55) Historical insights and modern applications

(36:38) The rise of corporations

(38:23) Legal compliance and market manipulation

(41:47) Monopolies: Past and present

(47:59) Potential impact of software and sophisticated technology

(54:44) Automation and labor market dynamics

(58:25) Personal values and professional growth

(01:03:09) Significance of age in career progression

(01:06:11) Zero-Sum thinking and wealth generation

(01:08:50) Wrap

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit requestforstartups.substack.com