Building, Backing & Scaling in an AI-Native World with Kenneth Auchenberg, Partner @ AlleyCorp

Riding UnicornsKenneth AuchenbergSep 10, 202546 min

Kenneth Auchenberg from AlleyCorp makes a compelling case that we're entering an 'agent-first' era of software development, where AI agents will function as autonomous economic actors requiring entirely new infrastructure layers. His perspective as both a deep-tech incubator and hands-on builder offers unique insights into how traditional software defensibility breaks down when coding becomes democratized, and why the companies building agent infrastructure today will capture the most value.

Key takeaways

  • AI agents will drive explosive infrastructure growth similar to how mobile apps transformed the tech stack, creating massive opportunities for picks-and-shovels companies.
  • Traditional software defensibility crumbles when AI democratizes coding, forcing companies to find new competitive moats beyond technical complexity.
  • Autonomous commerce will require entirely new payment systems designed for AI agents to make purchases and transactions on behalf of humans.
  • VCs are increasingly incubating deep-tech AI companies from scratch, building conviction through hands-on experimentation rather than waiting for external deal flow.
  • Human-to-human interactions may become obsolete as AI agents handle everything from job interviews to customer service, fundamentally reshaping workplace dynamics.

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