In this episode of the Systems & Power Podcast, host Moses Parente sits down with Bo Brainerd, CEO and founder of Ophelia, to discuss startups, AI agents, infrastructure, and the future of software.
Bo shares her journey from politics into the tech industry, explaining how grassroots political organizing and startup building have more in common than you might think. She breaks down the idea behind Ophelia, a technology layer designed to connect consumer software and AI agents with real-world services and capabilities.
The conversation explores the challenges of building infrastructure for a new category of software, the importance of open-source tools, and how startups can integrate AI agents into their products without rebuilding everything from scratch.
Bo also discusses New York City's growing startup ecosystem, how AI could reshape jobs and enterprise companies, and her long-term vision for giving software the ability to take meaningful action in the real world.
Topics include:
• Building Ophelia from the ground up
• AI agents and the future of startups
• Connecting software to real-world services
• Open-source infrastructure and developer tools
• Politics, grassroots organizing, and entrepreneurship
• New York City's startup ecosystem
• How AI could change jobs and the workforce
• The future of enterprise software
• Building infrastructure for an AI-native economy
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DISCLAIMERS
The Systems & Power Podcast does not endorse or assume responsibility for the opinions expressed by its guests.
We provide a platform for different perspectives under the premise that ideas should be heard, questioned, and put to the test.
The views expressed on this channel are my own and do not represent those of my employer.