Business
$12 billion AI startup founder says future tech giants could operate with under 100 employees
Good morning. Could the next generation of tech giants fit in a single office?
In the coming years, some of the most valuable companies in the world will have “sub-100 employees,” Daniel Nadler, the founder and CEO of OpenEvidence, predicted during a panel session at Nvidia’s GTC 2026 summit on Monday. “I think the world’s not prepared for that,” Nadler said.
OpenEvidence is an AI‑powered medical information and clinical decision support company used by physicians. In January, the startup closed a $250 million Series D funding round, co‑led by Thrive Capital and DST Global, which doubled its valuation to approximately $12 billion.
“Take OpenEvidence, we have sub-100 employees, yet 300 million Americans will be treated this year by a doctor who used OpenEvidence in the loop,” Nadler said. Each employee in his company is indirectly supporting millions of patients, he said.
“The scale is unfathomable, and that’s directly a result of what Jensen and Nvidia, and these tools and the people who develop on top of that technology have enabled as the new starting point,” he said, adding, “I think the world economy—and certainly the tech economy—is going to look unrecognizable.”
Leaders across tech are beginning to echo the idea that companies could be built and run by smaller teams. For example, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has emphasized that AI acts as a collaborator that lets individuals and small teams achieve results that once required much larger organizations, amplifying productivity and creativity. Block recently announced it would cut 40% of the fintech company’s headcount because of gains in AI. The decision was part of a longer transformation, Block CFO and COO Amrita Ahuja recently told me. “This is a two-year journey for us,” she said. “This was not an overnight decision.”
The rise of ultra-efficient, AI-driven teams could require a fundamental restructuring of the workforce, according to new research from McKinsey. To capture the full value of AI, organizations need to go beyond “a piecemeal approach, and push for a double transformation—both technical and organizational—that includes reimagining how work gets done across functions and workflows,” according to the report. It will likely take a lot of work and preparation, along with training and upskilling for employees whose roles may be redefined.
While AI can dramatically increase productivity, fully realizing its potential is a complex and demanding challenge for companies of all sizes.
Sheryl Estrada
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com
Leaderboard
Fortune 500 Power Moves:
Joel Grade, EVP and CFO of Baxter International Inc. (No. 288), a global medtech, is leaving the company to prioritize family matters but will continue in an advisory capacity until April 30.
Anita Zielinski was named interim CFO, effective immediately, while the company conducts its search to fill the role. Zielinski joined Baxter in 2025 as SVP and chief accounting officer and controller, and will continue with these responsibilities in addition to serving as interim CFO. She joined Baxter from Sysco Corporation, where she most recently served as SVP and CFO, U.S. Foodservice Operations
Every Friday morning, the weekly Fortune 500 Power Moves column tracks Fortune 500 company C-suite shifts—see the most recent edition.
More notable moves:
Jim Peters was named EVP and CFO of Brown‑Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA, BFB), effective March 31. Peters joins Brown‑Forman following a career at Whirlpool Corporation, where he most recently led enterprise transformation initiatives as executive vice president. He succeeds Leanne Cunningham, who will retire effective May 1. Prior to his most recent role, Peters served as Whirlpool’s EVP and chief financial and administrative officer. He originally assumed the CFO role at Whirlpool in 2016. His tenure at Whirlpool also included serving as VP, corporate controller, and chief accounting officer beginning in 2015.
Rohini Jain, CFO of BILL Holdings, Inc., (NYSE: BILL), was appointed to additionally serve as the company’s principal accounting officer, according to an SEC filing. Jain joined BILL as CFO in June 2025. She has over 20 years of experience. Prior to BILL, Jain worked at PayPal, where she most recently served as CFO and SVP of PayPal’s Large Enterprise and Merchant platforms. She also held roles at eBay, Walmart, and General Electric.
Big Deal
Corporate and investment banks (CIBs) are facing intense competition from non‑bank financial institutions, according to Capgemini’s inaugural World Corporate and Investment Banking Report 2026. The data is based on insights from 750 senior executives at firms with $1 billion or more in annual revenue.
A key finding is that 85% of corporate banking clients plan to engage with a non‑bank financial institution within the next 12 months. CIB clients say they expect real‑time responsiveness, personalized engagement, and innovative solutions, yet only 23% of respondents say CIBs currently meet those needs, according to the report.
A Capgemini analysis of CIBs forecasts a 5.4% compound annual growth rate over the next five years, down from 6.5% between 2022 and 2024. The report recommends that CIBs focus on four central priorities, including adopting a flexible, connected business model.
Going deeper
In this morning’s Fortune Tech newsletter, Alexei Oreskovic writes about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s 2.5-hour keynote during the company’s GTC 2026 summit on Monday.
Overheard
“The leaders who thrive in the AI era will not simply be those who understand technology best. They will be the ones who can see clearly amid overwhelming information — who know when to move fast and when to pause, when to optimize and when to protect something more human.”
—Jeff Burningham, a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, writes in a Fortune opinion piece. Burningham is the author of “The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI.” He is the founder of Peak Ventures and Peak Capital Partners.