Walker: AI expectations downgrade traditional T2D3 startup growth from great to good
Peter Walker · The New Economics of Startups in the AI Era with Peter Walker of Carta · Jan 20, 2026 · at 6:58
Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, explains how unprecedented AI startup growth rates have reset venture capital return and growth expectations.
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“We might do the old T two D three triple twice, and then double, double, double over a period of five years in terms of revenue. That's a great revenue path, correct? And you kind of got to tell them, look, that used to be great. Now it's just good because great got redefined. And when the whole top, the whole ceiling of the market gets blown off, what used to be an incredibly attractive opportunity is now just a good opportunity, not a bad company by any means, but if they're not feeling the love from investors, it's because what used to be fantastic is now just pretty good.”
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