Upstart’s Founder Steps Down: What the CEO Transition Means for AI Lending (Ft. Dave Girouard)

Episode 177: Today, a rare conversation with a founder-CEO at a turning point. Ann is joined by Dave Girouard, Co-Founder of Upstart, as he steps down as CEO after scaling the AI-driven credit platform to nearly a $3 billion market cap. They break down how Upstart hit record revenue and profitability in 2025, why it’s setting aggressive growth targets, and what’s driving its push for a national bank charter. Plus, why investors are watching closely as the company drops quarterly guidance, navigates a leadership transition, and leans into a more AI-native future – and how Dave plans to stay involved in this next chapter.