Starting a business has never been cheaper, and AI could make it cheaper still. In 2004, Tobi Lutke tried to sell snowboards online and found the tools too clunky and expensive. He built his own instead. Shopify launched in 2006, letting founders reach a global audience for roughly $1,000 a year. Since then, Shopify has bundled payments, logistics, and capital into one platform. About 70% of Shopify's Gross Merchandise Value now runs through Shopify Payments, pooling volume to bring merchants rates once reserved for large retailers. Shopify Capital loans range from $200 to $2 million, a spread traditional banks likely cannot serve profitably. Originations more than doubled over the two years ended 2025, even as Small Business Administration (SBA) lending fell roughly 15%. ARK's research suggests AI is now compressing a third cost: labor. Shopify's Sidekick agent functions like an always-on CFO or COO. On average serial entrepreneurs already generate more than 2x the sales of first-time founders after their first sale.(ARK Invest)