From Slate Magazine · Nitish Pahwa · · 2m
Ramp's Broadway Musical: A Tech Company's Bold Cultural Move
Ramp's $44 billion tech firm stages a Broadway musical to showcase AI's role in finance without the cringe.
In brief
Ramp's $44 billion tech firm stages a Broadway musical to showcase AI's role in finance without the cringe. Ramp, backed by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, created a $44 billion empire-themed musical to promote Bill Pay while avoiding AI's negative stereotypes. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Bill Pay the Musical Premiere
Ramp's one-night Broadway show features Billy Porter, Billy Zane, and CEO Eric Glyman in a yellow-lanyard, sporting crowd.
“A.I. is for finance, it is not for fine art.”
Ramp's Self-Aware Pitch
Ramp spent weeks teasing Bill Pay the Musical with influencer partnerships, vertical videos, and logo saturation at the Broadhurst Theatre.
“It was going to be an impermanent, exclusive-yet-free event.”
The Musical's Concept
Bill Pay features a woman drowning in financial statements who is guided through a Wizard of Oz-style journey by a witch named Rampa.
“Lisa Blupey, portrayed by Jessica Vosk, runs a small business selling socks but is drowning in financial statements.”
Ramp's Brand Strategy
Ramp's $44 billion empire-themed musical includes references to Fortnite, Wicked, Lehman Brothers, and The Office.
“Bill Pay kicks off with a cast member commenting that Ramp is now a $44 billion empire.”
The Audience Experience
Audience members received branded Playbills, cups with free wine, cupcakes, and fruit sodas from MrBeast’s Feastables brand.
“On top of the typically free branded Playbill, there were professional photographs, branded souvenir cups with free wine.”
Ramp's Background
Ramp was co-founded seven years ago by Eric Glyman and Karim Atiyeh, backed by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund.
“Ramp was co-founded seven years ago by Eric Glyman and Karim Atiyeh, two financial tech entrepreneurs who wanted to set up corporate credit cards with more consumer-savings perks from jump.”
The Musical's Message
The musical reveals that Ramp's products can solve financial problems without the need for complex A.I. systems.
“Lisa finds out she was standing in her own way the whole time, that she could have solved her problems with Ramp’s products.”
Ramp's Marketing Impact
Ramp's musical includes references to antidepressants, The Traitors, and energy drink Celsius to appeal to millennial and zoomer audiences.
“The musical centers on millennial- and zoomer-coded jokes and references to Fortnite dances, Wicked, girlbosses, Lehman Brothers.”
The CEO's Statement
CEO Eric Glyman stated that A.I. is for finance, not fine art, after a resounding audience response.
“A.I. is for finance, it is not for fine art.”
Ramp's Cultural Shift
Ramp's musical reflects a return to industrial musicals, a style that had nearly disappeared by the early 2000s.
“Rampa concludes that the company 'put on a musical to get your attention' because 'it’s not interesting subject matter'.”
The Musical's Conclusion
The musical ends with Lisa realizing she could solve her financial problems using Ramp's products.
“Lisa finds out that she was standing in her own way the whole time, that she could have solved her problems with Ramp’s products.”
Ramp's Future Plans
Ramp plans to use Bill Pay to handle financial documents, freeing up time for entertainment like Broadway musicals.
“Ramp's CEO told the audience to use Ramp, Bill Pay, and all the accompanying special A.I. features to automatically handle all their annoying financial documents.”
The Audience Reaction
Audience members praised Ramp's musical for its blend of humor and financial messaging without AI's negative stereotypes.
“Everyone seemed to agree that A.I. is for finance, not fine art.”
Ramp's Cultural Significance
Ramp's musical represents a shift toward corporate cultural initiatives that blend inclusivity and financial tech.
“Ramp's marketers recognize the pop zeitgeist is already beginning to move past the much-ballyhooed, conservative-coded 'vibe shift' of the past few years.”
The Takeaway
Ramp's $44 billion empire-themed musical showcases AI's role in finance without the cringe of typical tech marketing.
“Ramp put on a musical to get your attention because it’s not interesting subject matter.”
What it means
Ramp, backed by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, created a $44 billion empire-themed musical to promote Bill Pay while avoiding AI's negative stereotypes.
