Union Square Ventures, Managing Partner, Rebecca Kaden

The current entrepreneurial landscape is undergoing a massive technology shift driven by AI, which has transitioned from a vertical niche to a horizontal foundation for all modern businesses. Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures, observes that this era is defined by a dramatic reduction in barriers to entry, allowing non-technical founders to build sophisticated software solutions with minimal capital. Large enterprises are increasingly willing to abandon legacy tools for new solutions, while consumers show a heightened appetite for novel experiences. A significant structural change is emerging where multi-billion dollar companies can be built by small teams, fundamentally lowering cost structures and accelerating the path to profitability for application-layer startups. While foundational infrastructure models still require massive capital investment, the broader market presents a unique window where imagination, rather than technical capability or funding, serves as the primary limit to innovation.