economy

March 14, 2026

Kalshi Co-founder Luana Lopes Lara on the Biggest Prediction Market Risks She Has Ever Taken

Luana Lopes Lara, co-founder of prediction markets startup Kalshi, tells CNBC about the biggest bets she ever made on the way to billionaire status.

Kalshi Co-founder Luana Lopes Lara on the Biggest Prediction Market Risks She Has Ever Taken

TL;DR

  • Luana Lopes Lara co-founded Kalshi in 2018 with Tarek Mansour, pursuing regulatory approvals for prediction markets.
  • The company faced years of skepticism and government battles before gaining CFTC approval in 2020.
  • Lopes Lara initiated a lawsuit against the U.S. government to secure approval for election markets, a move initially opposed by the board.
  • Kalshi has seen significant growth, reaching $2 billion in weekly transactions and raising $1 billion at an $11 billion valuation.
  • The company faces controversy regarding trades tied to geopolitical events and regulation as gambling.
  • Lopes Lara emphasizes a data-driven approach to decision-making and encourages risk-taking, believing potential downsides are often overestimated.

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