Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago

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Can a no-code giant reinvent itself in the AI-native era?

This week on Grit, Airtable CEO Howie Liu shares what it means to “refound” a company, how speed comes from tearing up old playbooks, and why conversational AI is reshaping his product—and his company.

Guest: Howie Liu, Co-Founder & CEO of Airtable

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:04 First startup & YC
04:06 Salesforce acqui-hire
07:31 Life-changing exit at 22
11:07 Scaling too fast, layoffs
14:04 Sparks vs. coasting growth
19:33 Two years to launch
24:04 Could AI Build It Faster?
27:06 Vibe coding & AI startups
36:47 Everyone can build software
41:08 Refounding Airtable with AI
51:04 Sprint vs. marathon
58:15 Cap tables & control
01:03:29 Always be hiring
01:05:00 What grit means

Connect with Howie
X: https://x.com/howietl
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/howieliu

Connect with Airtable
Website: airtable.com
X: https://x.com/airtable
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/airtable

Connect with Joubin
X: https://x.com/Joubinmir
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854
Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com

Learn more about Kleiner Perkins: kleinerperkins.com