Tomorrow Talk: NEXTGEN Startups - Building Companies in the Age of AI
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
Tue, June 30, 6:30pm
Tom Tom Foundation, 100 W. South St
As artificial intelligence transforms how we work, create, and solve problems, the barriers between ideas and execution are disappearing. Tasks that once required large teams, specialized expertise, or significant capital can now be accomplished by individuals and small teams with unprecedented speed and reach. The result is a profound shift in how companies are built, how products are developed, and who gets to participate in innovation.
In this Tomorrow Talk, Marty Weiner, founding engineer at Pinterest, former CTO of Reddit, and co-founder of VerifyYou, will explore what it means to build and scale companies in the age of AI. Drawing on decades of experience helping some of the internet's most influential platforms grow from startup to global scale, Marty will share his perspective on how AI is changing entrepreneurship, where the most promising opportunities are emerging, and what founders, investors, and leaders should be paying attention to as technology continues to evolve.
As part of Tom Tom's NEXTGEN theme, this conversation will examine not only the next generation of technology, but the next generation of builders. Who will create the companies, products, and institutions of the future?
Registration is required. General Admission: $25. Tomorrow Society Members: $20
FACILITATORS
Marty Weiner was a founding engineer at Pinterest and spent 4.5 exciting years building Pinterest from tiny to big. In 2015 he joined Reddit as its first CTO tasked with helping bring the company into working order. Much gray hair was created, but now Reddit has even IPO’d and is on the next leg of its story.
Marty retired in 2019 and de-retired (detired?) recently to start a new startup, VerifyYou, seeking to solve identity and accountability online. He also spends time advising companies on how to grow from tiny to IPO, while chasing kids around the house and building full size droids.
Marty also sits on the board of the Tom Tom Foundation.
VerifyYou
VerifyYou is building a more trustworthy internet by proving every user is a real, unique human — anonymously and in just 15 seconds. Its flagship product, HumanCheck, is a privacy-first verification API that is dramatically more affordable than traditional KYC solutions and designed for platforms where trust matters, including AI data labeling, gaming, ticketing, dating, market research, and social platforms. By creating a reusable proof of humanness across participating networks, VerifyYou helps businesses reduce bots, fraud, and duplicate accounts while protecting user privacy.
Paul Beyer is the founder of the Tom Tom Foundation and Tom Tom Festival, and in his role as executive director, is responsible for its strategic vision and community partnerships. Beyond Tom Tom, Paul works on a variety of gatherings and events ranging from festivals, dance parties, dinner series, meditations, men's groups, conferences, seminars, and concerts.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Tomorrow Talks are a year-long series that picks up critical themes from our April Festival and continues the conversations to create impact in Charlottesville. Each session is facilitated with an emphasis on participation, connection, and new collaborations. Tomorrow Talks begin with a connection exercise or meditation, and proceed into a presentation and breakout activities. They aim to impart knowledge that is practical and relevant to people's lived experience; combining academic or theoretical insights, alongside pragmatic tools, and experiential and somatic learnings.
