a16z podcast: Lio CEO on why AI-native startups win work outside the system of record
a16z · x · 2026-10-02
a16z's Seema Amble and Elena Burger talk with Lio co-founder and CEO Vladimir Keil about where AI-native startups hold an edge when incumbent software vendors already own the customer, the data, and the system of record.
His answer: the work that happens outside those systems. A final price in an ERP hides hundreds of emails, spreadsheets, supplier conversations, and cross-functional decisions. Lio uses multi-agent systems to take on that end-to-end work — sourcing, RFQs, negotiation, shipment tracking, and invoicing.
Other topics: how enterprises learn to trust agents with consequential decisions, why the last 20% of an internal AI build takes most of the effort, and what happens when both buyers and suppliers deploy agents.
Related event: Lio CEO on a16z Podcast: How AI Startups Beat Software Giants(2 posts)→
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