$POLYMARKET · Polymarket's regulatory troubles hurt entire prediction market industry reputation

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Sequoia Capital

Kalshi's Tarek Mansour: Chaos by Design

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Polymarket's regulatory troubles hurt entire prediction market industry reputation

2026-07-09 · 5 company · 6 thematic

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4 bull1 bear0 neu

speakers

tarek mansour

Former trader and risk manager who grew up in Lebanon; co-founded Kalshi in 2018 to build a regulated 'everything exchange' for event contracts. Led the company through a multi-year regulatory battle including suing the CFTC and winning, achieving 95% US election market share. Mission-driven founder who views the company as a vehicle for the idea rather than an end in itself.

brian halligan

Co-founded HubSpot and served as CEO until 2021, pioneering inbound marketing; joined Sequoia as a venture partner in 2023. Hosts Sequoia's podcast interviewing founders. Draws parallels between Kalshi's journey and HubSpot's early mission-driven, patient approach to building a category-defining company.

quote

“I think it's bad for us... when you get mainstream society all of a sudden is like whoa whoa stop stop right there let's figure out what this is we don't understand it... particularly right now after all the news about poly market recently.”

—tarek mansour

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