Vladimir Keil

Co-founder & CEO, Lio

Search every verified Vladimir Keil interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Vladimir Keil, co-founder and CEO of Lio, appeared on the a16z podcast in September 2026 to discuss how AI-native startups can compete with incumbent enterprise software providers. He argued that the opportunity lies in automating work that occurs outside traditional systems of record, such as procurement processes that involve emails, spreadsheets, and cross-departmental decisions. Keil described Lio’s use of multi-agent systems to handle end-to-end procurement tasks, including sourcing, RFQs, and negotiation, and noted that enterprises initially require human-in-the-loop oversight before trusting AI agents with larger volumes of negotiations. Keil also emphasized the economic significance of procurement, stating that a 1% savings in procurement can equal a 10% increase in sales for a company’s P&L. He characterized procurement as a "trillion dollar business opportunity," citing examples such as building aircraft, data centers, and drones, where small supply chain frictions can cause major damage. He noted that Lio has already addressed simpler procurement categories, such as laptops and pencils, and is focused on more complex industrial sourcing.