Tag: Marc Manara

It’s a whirlwind out there, apparently. The world of AI, as Marc Manara, OpenAI’s head of startups, described it, has moved well beyond the realm of experiments and ideas. Speaking on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, he painted a picture of a sector in hyperdrive.

Seems like just yesterday, we were all talking about AI’s potential. Now, according to Manara, AI-native companies are hitting $200 million in annual recurring revenue. That’s… a lot. And the pace? Forget two-week product cycles; we’re talking about days, even single days, to get something new out there.

Meanwhile, OpenAI is right in the thick of it. Helping, as Manara put it. But what does that really mean, on the ground? What are these startups actually *doing* with the tools they’re getting?

Earlier today, I was reading a bit about this. Russell Brandom, who was hosting the podcast, really dug into the details. The rapid shift, the shrinking timelines – it’s all kind of mind-boggling, if you stop to think about it. It’s a bit like trying to catch a speeding train.

Officials from OpenAI have been quoted, of course, but it’s the sense of speed that sticks with me. And the implications. If product cycles are truly measured in days, well, that changes everything. It changes how you build, how you test, how you even *think* about what you’re building.

“The reality has advanced far beyond ideas,” Manara said during the podcast. A simple sentence, but it carries a lot of weight, doesn’t it?

And it makes you wonder… what’s next?

It’s a whirlwind, isn’t it? The world of AI, I mean. Seems like just yesterday, we were all kicking around ideas, and now… well, now things are different. Marc Manara, OpenAI’s head of startups, was at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, and he painted a picture of just how quickly the ground is shifting.

The pace is the most striking thing. Manara mentioned that AI-native companies are already hitting $200 million in annual recurring revenue. That’s not just some distant goal; it’s happening right now. And the product cycles? They’ve shrunk to a matter of days, not weeks. It’s a sprint, constantly.

Meanwhile, Russell Brandom, as part of the TechCrunch Equity podcast, sat down with Manara to get a better sense of what’s going on. They talked about what startups actually need, what they’re looking for from OpenAI, and how the company is helping them navigate this crazy new landscape.

“The reality has advanced far beyond ideas and experiments,” Manara explained. That statement really stuck with me. It’s a good way to put it. The whole field has moved from theoretical to practical, almost overnight.

Earlier today, I was reading through some of the notes from the session. The speed of iteration, the way things are changing, it’s… a bit overwhelming, to be honest. It’s like trying to keep up with a river that’s constantly changing course.

Officials from OpenAI, as per reports, are focusing on providing the tools and support that startups need to keep up. It’s about more than just the technology; it’s about helping these companies survive and thrive in a world that’s being redefined in real-time. This is, in a way, a race.

And it seems like OpenAI is right in the thick of it, helping these startups, providing them with the resources they need to go from idea to, well, that $200 million revenue mark. Still, the pressure must be immense.