Strategic & Scalable Solutions for Rising Healthcare Costs [Partner]

Healthcare costs are soaring. PwC forecasts an 8.5% increase in 2026, the highest in over a decade. Startups now face tough benefits decisions.

One way to manage volatility is the PEO “pooled model” from Sequoia One. By joining a larger risk pool, early-stage companies can access enterprise-level benefits and pricing while keeping the employee experience strong.

Want to learn more? Contact Sequoia's expert, Carl Eppers, at [email protected].

Highlights from “How Non-Tech Companies Are Winning with AI and Automation”

We recently gathered a panel of experts to discuss how businesses are adopting technology to enhance productivity, increase revenue, and stay competitive.

Nathan Blew, VP of Product and Engineering at Pliancy, shared his experience with a reluctant developer. After weeks of hesitation, the breakthrough came during a screen share session where Nathan demonstrated how an AI tool could significantly reduce the developer's workload.

Dave Wieseneck, Expert in Residence at Ramp, emphasized the importance of implementing tools to meet your objectives, and not the other way around, and working gradually to foster acceptance.

Alison Cuzzolino, CFO at Marian Goodman Gallery, applies this approach in her role by introducing one tool at a time with thorough discussions about expectations, concerns, and success.

Jaime Schwarz, Founder of Brand Therapy, offered another insight: “We are still in the grace period for most companies where getting your culture aligned to just use genAI is the top task. It's a daunting one that many have stumbled their way through or even given up. This grace period will be over soon, so take advantage of this time to do the most valuable learning mode we all operate best with - play!” 

The event was sponsored by Ramp, the ultimate platform for modern finance teams, and Pliancy, which offers IT solutions to bold, emerging companies.

AI and Jobs

Here’s a surprise: In the 1970s, experts warned that ATMs would wipe out up to 75% of bank teller jobs. Yet the opposite happened. Tellers grew from about 300,000 in 1972 to 527,000 by 2002, even after 350,000 ATMs had been installed in the U.S. (There are still over 364,000 tellers as of 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

What happened? ATMs made operations more cost-effective, allowing banks to open more branches. This increase in branches offset the reduction in tellers per location.

Today, headlines warn that AI will destroy entry-level jobs. But sometimes, what looks like a threat reveals new, unexpected opportunities, even technology creating more jobs.