E190: Klarna's IPO is big for venture; Are you ready to give all your personal data to get a proper AI assistant?

This Week in Pre-IPO Stocks

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00:25 - Klarna's IPO is Big For Venture
The team kicks off the episode with a deep dive into Klarna’s upcoming IPO, highlighting its strong financials and competitive position. Klarna reported $2.8 billion in 2024 revenue, up 23% from the previous year, with net income reaching $232 million — a 108% increase. The company also processed $105 billion in gross merchandise volume, reflecting a 98% jump. Klarna now boasts 93 million active customers and 675,000 merchants, with a major win coming from Walmart’s decision to switch from Affirm to Klarna for its payment services. Klarna’s current secondary market valuation sits at $10.5 billion, up 57% from its July 2022 round — a promising setup for the IPO. Klarna and Affirm are direct competitors, while Affirm has higher gross margins, it remains unprofitable. Klarna has maintained profitability and stronger credit loss management. Klarna’s valuation at IPO, rumored to be around $15 billion, appears reasonable given its financial strength and market position. The company’s long-term presence in the fintech space and the strategic advantage of its cost-conscious approach, which has allowed it to outperform competitors like Affirm.
11:49 - Are You Ready to Give All Your Personal Data to Get A Proper AI Assistant?
The episode wraps up with a compelling conversation about AI’s growing influence on business and investing. The panelists share how they regularly use tools like ChatGPT Pro, Grok, and Claude for research, writing, and coding — saving time and improving efficiency. AI is helping with market analysis, investment strategy development, and even Python coding for data analysis. The group agrees that AI is poised to disrupt white-collar industries and could significantly change how financial and operational decisions are made.