Guillermo Rauch on Building Vercel With Purpose in an AI-First World | 2026 Upfront Summit

Guillermo Rauch, founder and CEO of Vercel, and Lean Startup author Eric Ries dig into what it means to stay incorruptible in an era of AI hype, why speed and purpose are not mutually exclusive, and how Vercel became the platform of choice for AI-native builders. Guillermo breaks down the principles that have kept Vercel focused while others chase trends, what defensible moats actually look like in the AI era, and why education is the best kind of marketing. Topics covered: Why Vercel was built on a single principle: from idea to live application should be instantaneous How staying anchored in values keeps a company incorruptible amid hype cycles Why Vercel draws a clear line against random acts of AI What brand, trust, and clarity of vision look like as defensible moats Why AI-native builders and agents gravitate toward Vercel How teaching developers creates the most durable kind of loyalty