Welcome back to another thought-provoking episode of Tank Talks! In this episode, Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo cut through the noise to unpack the latest economic headlines and policy shifts reshaping North America’s business landscape. From Canada’s surprise repeal of the Digital Services Tax to Brookfield’s launch of an evergreen private equity fund, this episode dives deep into the forces driving change in trade, finance, and innovation.

Will Canada’s late-stage policy reversal strengthen its position in U.S. trade talks? Are evergreen funds the next big wave in private equity? And how will digital-only banks and stablecoins reshape the future of finance? Tune in for all that and more!

Canada’s Digital Services Tax Repealed at the 11th Hour (00:14)

Just hours before the June 30th collection date, Canada repealed its controversial 3% digital services tax to clear the runway for renewed trade negotiations with the U.S. Matt and John unpack the political optics, the timing missteps, and why this repeal might’ve come too late to score real leverage in the upcoming Carney-Trump summit.

Trade Tensions and a Pivot Away from U.S. Exports (02:50)

With U.S. tariffs still biting Canadian industries like steel, aluminum, and autos, exports to non-U.S. markets jumped 5.7% in May. John analyzes the long-term risks and what a 10% tariff “compromise” could mean for Canadian trade policy moving forward.

Brookfield’s Evergreen Fund: Liquidity vs. Strategy (06:37)

Brookfield’s launch of a new evergreen private equity fund is raising eyebrows. These liquid investment vehicles are tailored for high-net-worth investors, but could they undermine Brookfield’s traditional closed-end funds? Matt and John discuss the tradeoffs and potential disruption to institutional capital models.

Stablecoins, Erebor & The Future of Banking (10:53)

With the launch of Erebor, a new U.S. digital-only bank backed by Palmer Luckey, Peter Thiel, and Joe Lonsdale, the open banking revolution is heating up. But will Canada get left behind amid regulatory hesitations? The duo explores how stablecoins and crypto-native banks are reshaping the financial ecosystem.

The “Big Beautiful Bill”: Trillions in U.S. Spending (13:56)

At nearly 1,000 pages and $4.85 trillion, the latest U.S. tax and spending package is a behemoth. John calls out some of the more controversial provisions, like Section 899, a “revenge tax” aimed at foreign investors, and weighs in on what this means for the U.S. deficit and global investment climate.

Figma Files to Go Public: A Product-Led Rocketship with a Caveat (16:49)

Figma’s S-1 filing reveals eye-popping growth: $750M in 2024 revenue, 91% gross margins, and 90% of the Fortune 500 on board. But one number raised eyebrows, its definition of net revenue retention. Is the 132% figure misleading? Matt and John dissect the metrics and what investors need to know.

Anthropic & OpenAI’s Revenue Explosion (19:39)

AI darlings Anthropic and OpenAI are shattering expectations, with annualized revenues of $4B and $10B, respectively. What’s fueling this growth, and is it sustainable? Matt and John assess the trajectory and strategic implications for the broader AI race.

Meta’s Talent War: $300M Signing Bonuses & AI Domination (20:30)

Meta’s aggressive push into AI includes poaching top OpenAI talent with eye-watering offers reportedly reaching $300M. Is this visionary investing, or panic-mode recruiting? The conversation digs into the implications of Meta’s superintelligence ambitions and the high-stakes battle for AI supremacy.

Microsoft Layoffs: AI Efficiency or Budget Strategy? (22:52)

With Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs, questions swirl around whether AI-driven efficiencies or strategic capital reallocation are the real drivers. John shares his take on what this means for enterprise software, consulting firms, and the future of knowledge work.

As the tides of global economics, innovation, and technology continue to shift, Tank Talks is your front-row seat to the big moves shaping our world. Don’t miss this jam-packed episode!

Connect with John Ruffolo on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/joruffolo

Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1

Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com