This Week in Startups

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara,Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta,Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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IPO Shakeups, NVIDIA’s Big Bets & Must-Know Founder Hacks | E2085

15 februari 2025 | 80 min

Today’s show: IPO shakeups, big AI moves, and essential founder hacks—this episode covers it all. Jason breaks down Robinhood’s 6X stock surge and his strategy for $HOOD, plus the latest on tech IPOs as Turo pulls out and SailPoint surges. We dive into AI’s open-source battle, with X.ai chasing a $10B raise and DeepSeek challenging Hugging Face. And for founders, Jason shares the startup golden rule you should break for success—plus, a brand-new startup idea he’s willing to fund right now.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show.(1:51) The ‘new’ news cycle(2:17) Calming down during chaotic times(4:29) IPO updates: Turo and SailPoint, private equity, public markets, and M&A(9:37) Rental car business & sharing economy job creation

(9:53) Squarespace. Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST(12:21) Robinhood's financial performance & fintech resurgence(18:08) NVIDIA's investment in WeRide & self-driving technology(20:02) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.

(21:28) Cooking, convenience, DoorDash, Uber, CloudKitchens & startup opportunities(25:45) Smart IoT devices & revisiting the mobile convenience stores idea(29:59) Lemon.io . Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist(33:12) XAI's potential funding & AI's impact on consumer behavior(40:49) Revisiting failed startup ideas & founder hacks(47:18) Customer advisory councils: size, incentives, and roles(52:09) Humanoid robots & market competition in the next decade(58:51) OpenAI model selection & user experience(1:00:56) Founder University pitches compilation(1:13:56) Audience question: Addressing criticism on Trump and Elon Musk(1:17:26) Discussion on Palantir, bias, state of journalism, and investigative reporting

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(29:59) Lemon.io . Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara,Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta,Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Slow Ventures' Creators Fund and Helion Energy's Fusion Reactors | 2084

12 februari 2025 | 65 min

Tech's Super Bowl, Huge Earnings Week, Lon Returns and more! | E2083

11 februari 2025 | 65 min

Gas Stations in Space and Carried Interest on the Chopping Block | E2082

8 februari 2025 | 63 min

Is Palantir's Surge Just Hype | E2081

6 februari 2025 | 58 min

Lovable's Anton Osika on Revolutionizing Software Development and OpenAI Drops Deep Research | E2080

4 februari 2025 | 67 min

Is OpenAI Really Worth $300B? ElevenLabs’ Series C & YC’s Funding Focus | E2079

1 februari 2025 | 73 min

Today’s show: The AI revolution is about to hit your household—Jason and Alex break down how general-purpose robots, AI-powered chicken coops, and voice clones are redefining daily life and work. They dig into OpenAI’s sky-high valuation, the surprising rise of DeepSeek’s R1 model, and why the AI cost curve is dropping at an insane pace. Plus, the latest on AI hardware, antitrust battles, and why the “No Buy 2025” trend could change how we think about consumer tech.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show. (3:10) Episode topics overview and fan participation (5:48) Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses discussion (9:27) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period. (11:05) 11 Labs' Series C funding and voice cloning technology (18:09) Automation's impact on jobs and ethical considerations (20:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit ⁠https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.

(21:22) Market trends towards sustainability and AI in smart chicken coops (27:04) Y Combinator's AI startup focus and investment considerations (29:47) Scalable Path. Get 20% off your first month at https://www.scalablepath.com/twist (31:42) AI in compliance, auditing, and personal staff replacement (35:06) AI development tools, hardware investments, and data trust issues (39:29) AI company valuations, OpenAI's revenue, and AI commoditization (51:04) AI ethics, SoftBank's strategy, and audience questions on AI hardware (59:27) Government AI funding, DOJ suit, and tech industry commoditization (1:09:21) AI advancements, consumer electronics costs, and computing hardware trends (1:12:08) Closing thoughts on technology's impact on life and teaser for next week

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Thank you to our partners: (9:27) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period. (20:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today. (29:47) Scalable Path. Get 20% off your first month at https://www.scalablepath.com/twist *

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Boom Supersonic's Milestones, OpenAI Ethics, and Startup Tools | E2078

29 januari 2025 | 63 min

DeepSeek Rattles Markets + SailPoint's Going Public… again? | E2077

27 januari 2025 | 60 min

Today’s show: A $6M open-source AI model from China, DeepSeek, sends shockwaves through Wall Street, wiping billions off NVIDIA’s market cap and forcing a rethink on AI infrastructure spending. We explore the 25% surge in startup shutdowns, the lessons from leaner teams, and why some companies just couldn’t make the runway. Plus, SailPoint returns to the public markets saddled with $1.6B in debt—what does this say about private equity’s “buy, fix, and flip” strategy? Don’t miss this deep dive into the latest tech and startup news!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show. (1:58) DeepSeek's market impact and Project Stargate (4:18) Innovation, H100 GPUs, and open-source AI models (8:41) Jevons paradox, Pat Gelsinger's analogy, and AI efficiency

(10:03) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today. (13:25) AI's benefits for startups and privacy concerns (19:32) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (19:51) AI optimization vs. hardware consumption

(22:20) OpenAI's revenue, valuation, and NVIDIA's market value (30:13) LinkedIn Jobs. Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist (33:21) Unified AI digital assistants and DeepSeq's new model (35:01) AI's role in venture capital and team size reduction (41:04) China's influence and DeepSeek's market impact (43:22) Startup shutdowns and potential for increased M&A activity (53:02) Nvidia's historical analysis, risks of leverage, and SailPoint's IPO

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(10:03) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today. (19:32) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (30:13) LinkedIn Jobs. Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist *

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Twilio Bets Small, DeepSeek Scares & the GameOn Fraud | E2076

24 januari 2025 | 58 min

Created By Humans | Sila’s Battery Evolution | E2075

23 januari 2025 | 59 min

Trump, Memecoins, and What to Expect from the New Administration | E2074

21 januari 2025 | 72 min

Today’s show: Jason and Alex explore America's fascination with billionaires and self-made figures, touching on recent events in Washington, DC, and the tech industry's political influence. They discuss Gen X's rising political power, tech CEOs' prominence at inaugurations, and critique Democrats' tech policies. The conversation covers economic factors in elections, like inflation and abortion rights, COVID's origins, immigration policy, and foreign policy. AI regulation under Biden and Trump's economic strategies, including crypto regulations, are debated. They also discuss Trump's impact on M&A, antitrust laws, and the startup ecosystem, with insights on tech IPOs and tax policy.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show. (1:06) Diving into recent DC events and tech's political role (3:13) Gen X's rising political influence and tech CEOs' prominence at inauguration (7:00) Discussion on tech founders' importance and criticism of Democrats' tech stance (10:17) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game. (11:35) Economic factors influencing elections: Inflation and abortion rights (17:15) COVID origins investigation and executive orders affecting tech (19:58) OpenPhone. TWiST listeners can get 20% off your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(21:25) Steve Bannon, JD Vance, and immigration policy discussions (23:20) US potential territory expansion and foreign policy (30:23) LinkedIn Jobs. TWiST listeners can post their first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist (32:13) Trump's economic strategies, legacy, and US energy production (41:23) AI and drone technology: Regulation and countermeasures (51:05) Crypto's economic value, personal freedoms, and investment risks (1:01:27) Entrepreneur wellness, Trump's EV policies, and state vs. federal regulation (1:04:23) New admin’s influence on M&A, antitrust laws, and startup ecosystems (1:09:08) Upcoming tech IPOs, tax policy, and regulatory capture discussion

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(10:17) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game. (19:58) OpenPhone. TWiST listeners can get 20% off your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (30:23) LinkedIn Jobs. TWiST listeners can post their first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist *

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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TikTok Ban, Data Centers in Space… and What's a Vector? | E2073

17 januari 2025 | 63 min

What’s Going On With Google Gemini Deep Research? | E2072

16 januari 2025 | 68 min

Profound, Resistant AI & OpenAI’s Economic Pitch | E2071

14 januari 2025 | 67 min

The LA Fire's Cost and the U.S. Jobs Report | E2070

10 januari 2025 | 56 min

Meta's Moderation and Nvidia's Domination | E2069

8 januari 2025 | 68 min

Twist News: Fusion, Rural Investment, and Applied AI | E2068

6 januari 2025 | 69 min

Venture Concentration, High-Skill Immigration, And Who Should Buy Lyft? | E2067

4 januari 2025 | 68 min

2024 TWISTY Awards | E2066

31 december 2024 | 53 min

Palantir’s Valuation, VC’s Go To Washington and Much More | E2065

24 december 2024 | 76 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Todays show: Jason & Alex discuss Palantir’s valuation, possible opt-in empire building for the United States and the incoming presidents appointments pulling from tech and VC.

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show (0:22) Approaches to population growth: immigration and opt-in empire building (1:40) Live streaming and show schedule (2:09) Introduction of Alex Wilhelm and seasonal greetings (3:41) Jason's Twitter controversy regarding Palantir (7:06) Palantir's financial analysis and market comparison (10:27) Oracle.TWiST listeners can try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist⁠⁠⁠ (13:41) Deeper dive into Palantir's valuation and growth (18:18) Memestock caution and market dynamics (19:03) DevSquad. TWIST listeners can get 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist (20:21) Jeff Bezos' fake wedding and Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy (22:17) Cultural takes on weddings and Michael Saylor's media attention (22:55) Defense tech: Palantir and Anduril's consortium (27:18) The rise of entrepreneurs in defense technology (28:45) Ken Howery's ambassadorship and US geopolitical strategies (29:49) Ramp. TWiST listeners, get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist (31:13) Funding ambassadorships and their significance (34:10) "Opt-in" empire building for US growth (42:40) Government's recent strategic hires (43:45) Evaluating new government hires and their impact (50:30) AI policy advisory and Surem Krishnan's role (56:09) Investment accreditation and securities law evolution (1:02:15) Modernizing securities laws for new assets (1:03:59) Emil Michael appointed under secretary for research and engineering (1:06:45) Michael Kratzios and emerging technology assistance

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(10:27) Oracle**.** TWiST listeners can try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist⁠⁠⁠ (19:03) DevSquad. TWIST listeners can get 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist (29:49) Ramp. ****TWiST listeners, get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Codeium’s Vision for AI-Driven Development with Varun Mohan | E2064

20 december 2024 | 59 min

Databricks' Record Raise, TikTok goes to the Supreme Court, and all about the Grammarly-Coda Deal | E2063

19 december 2024 | 70 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Todays show:

Alex and Jason discuss Databricks’ record raise, TikTok’s big day at the Supreme Court, Shishir Mehrotra on the Coda-Grammarly merger, and more.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show (3:38) Insights on Databricks' private fundraise and venture capital trends (8:37) Predictions on unlimited free energy, water, and food

(9:41) Coda - Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist (14:25) The declining costs of cloud computing (17:12) Evaluating growth rate for startup valuations (19:46) Competitive landscape: Databricks vs. Snowflake

(20:48) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist 22:07 The strategic importance of selecting the right customers 26:34 Venture capital communication and the ghosting phenomenon 28:43 TikTok's ongoing legal challenges

(31:25) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist (32:33) Shashir Mehrotra on the Coda-Grammarly merger (37:16) Vision and applications of the Coda-Grammarly partnership (42:35) Future of AI agents and Grammarly's role (45:13) SaaS industry dynamics and AI's role in upselling (49:10) The impact of AI on job automation and workforce productivity (54:40) Team sizes and AI-driven productivity debate (57:18) The future interaction with AI agents (1:00:40) Efficiency gains from combining Grammarly and Coda (1:02:02) The role of ChatGPT and AI in social media (1:03:46) Tailoring AI tools for business needs (1:06:26) Lessons from mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector (1:08:08) Strategic acquisitions and their importance in the tech industry

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(20:48) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(31:25) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Sora Disappoints, ChatGPT Pro Tested, Inference Time Reasoning & More with Sunny Madra | E2062

18 december 2024 | 62 min

Silicon Valley Clones and Jersey Drones: Decoding the Signals with Nicole Wischoff | E2061

17 december 2024 | 62 min

Cyera's Hypergrowth, Cake's Cap Table Push, and ServiceTitan's Stellar IPO | E2060

13 december 2024 | 70 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm kicks off the show with Cyera’s Yotam Segev to dive into the state of enterprise data security. They discuss Cyera’s impressive feat of raising $300 million just quarters after its previous mega-round and explore the company's recent nine-figure acquisition of Trail Security. Next, Alex unpacks ServiceTitan's successful IPO and Broadcom's milestone achievement of reaching a $1 trillion market cap. To close, Cake Equity’s Kim Hansen joins the conversation to share insights into his company’s growth strategy and how it’s thriving in a highly competitive market.

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Alex kicks off the show

(2:12) Cyera’s Yotam Seveg joins the show

(10:05) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist

(11:34) Evolution from information security to cybersecurity and automated data categorization

(20:44) Cyera's acquisition strategy and impact on the company

(28:00) Washington Post - TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your first year at https://www.washingtonpost.com/twist

(29:10) AI's impact on data security and competition in the cybersecurity market

(34:19) ServiceTitan IPO, market reaction, and implications for the industry

(37:34) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

(39:05) Tech companies reaching significant market caps and IPO performances

(47:17) Texas attorney general's lawsuit against tech companies over data practices

(48:21) Cake Equity’s Kim Hansen joins the show

(49:02) Cake Equity's mission, platform, and cap table management software demo

(54:29) Cake Equity's user interface, employee engagement, and expansion plans

(58:22) Automation in onboarding and international growth challenges for Cake Equity

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Mentioned on the show:

https://www.cyera.io

https://www.cakeequity.com

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yotam-segev

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhansencake

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(37:34) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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The Top 6 Startup Finance FAQ’s | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn

12 december 2024 | 25 min

Negative Venture Returns, GM Kneecaps Cruise, and Finix joins the TWiST500 | E2059

12 december 2024 | 66 min

Drones, Deepfakes, and Disruptors with Lon Harris, Remento and Cuby | E2058

11 december 2024 | 79 min

TWiST News: Bitcoin’s Future, Reddit Answers, SEC Shifts, and more! | E2057

10 december 2024 | 88 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Ramp. The corporate card and spend management software designed to help you save time and money. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist

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*

Todays show:

Anthony Pompliano joins Jason and Alex to discuss crypto markets, Bitcoin's future, and Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy. Then, they dive into Reddit's new Q&A feature, SEC shifts, and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(7:36) Anthony Pompliano joins the show

(9:55) Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist

(11:48) Impact of new administration on Bitcoin and crypto markets

(19:58) Concerns from OG Bitcoiners and Bitcoin as a marketing tool

(20:38) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist

(22:07) Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy and historical trade comparisons

(27:17) Risks of MicroStrategy's Bitcoin holdings and price volatility

(30:15) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions.

(31:47) Bitcoin yield, new metrics, and investment advice

(39:48) Rationality and risk in Bitcoin investment and audience engagement

(47:23) SEC accreditation, private investment funds, and the Brian Thompson case

(1:01:56) Reddit's new Q&A feature, “Reddit Answers”

(1:12:05) Kids Online Safety Act and social media regulation

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Ghost Engineers, Measuring Productivity, & Memecoin Scams | E2056

7 december 2024 | 73 min

Year-End Planning for Startup Success | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn

5 december 2024 | 23 min

TWiST News: $100k Veteran Pitch Winner EMPEQ, US Unicorn Dominance, and T500 Updates | E2055

5 december 2024 | 82 min

TWiST News: Bitcoin, Saylor's Microsoft Pitch, and the Delaware-Tesla Fight | E2054

4 december 2024 | 82 min

TWiST News: Pardons, Enron, Crypto's Moment, and the Future of Chinese Venture | E2053

3 december 2024 | 83 min

The Self-Driving Unicorn You Need to Meet & MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Bet | E2052

27 november 2024 | 53 min

TWiST News: Startups & Wealth Taxes, The Bitcoin Boom, and The OpenAI Browser | E2051

26 november 2024 | 83 min

How Startups Can Crush Enterprise AI Sales | E2050

23 november 2024 | 59 min

TWiST News: Nvidia's AI Edge, Google Might Have to Sell Chrome, and Founder Fridays Updates | E2049

22 november 2024 | 78 min

TWiST News: Venture-Backed Defense Startups, Anti-Drone Guns, and Querio's AI Data Platform | E2048

21 november 2024 | 75 min

Anatomy of a Win-Win Acquisition: Synergy, Growth, AI, and the Future of SaaS | E2047

19 november 2024 | 64 min

Todays show:

Spenser Skates and James Evans join Alex to discuss Amplitude's acquisition of Command AI, shedding light on recent startup M&A trends and the strategic vision behind this move. The conversation delves into Command AI's user assistance technology and its integration into Amplitude, which aims to enhance user surveys and feedback. Spenser outlines Amplitude's product-led growth strategy and its approach to scaling through acquisitions while managing risks and ensuring cultural alignment. The discussion also covers the acquisition deal structure, regulatory concerns, and the decision-making process between raising funds and selling. Also, we hear Spenser’s unfiltered take on private equity and regulatory oversight!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Spenser Skates of Amplitude & James Evans of CommandAI join Alex.

(1:40) Startup M&A trends and Amplitude's acquisition of Command AI

(4:30) Overview of Command AI's user assistance technology

(7:05) Integration and benefits of Command AI within Amplitude

(10:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(11:45) Enhancements in user surveys and feedback with Command AI

(16:58) Amplitude's strategic vision behind acquiring Command AI

(20:22) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist

(21:28) Product-led growth and enhancing user experience at Amplitude

(26:08) Amplitude's approach to scaling through strategic acquisitions

(30:01) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

(31:30) Managing acquisition risks, integration, and cultural alignment

(35:19) Acquisition discussions and deal negotiation

(39:48) Acquisition deal structure and stakeholder conviction

(42:08) Addressing regulatory concerns and valuation mismatches in acquisitions

(44:20) Decision-making: Raising funds vs. selling a company

(46:00) Post-acquisition: Integrating Command AI's technology

(49:37) Amplitude's future growth strategy and leadership

(54:00) Transition from founder mode to distributed leadership

(56:15) Role of AI in Amplitude's product development

(59:44) AI model considerations and financial sustainability in B2B software

(1:01:34) Market position and growth of Command AI

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Mentioned on the show:

Check out Amplitude: https://amplitude.com

Check out CommandAI: https://www.command.ai

*

Follow Spenser:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spenserskates

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-evans-7086b3126/

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(30:01) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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TWiST News: Netflix Goes Live, The FCC Revamp, Free Speech, and Regulatory Shifts | E2046

19 november 2024 | 80 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss Netflix's 'fight' night, exploring content rights, media models, and the fragmentation of sports. They then covered Brendan Carr's promotion to FCC chair, a win for satellite Internet but raising concerns about business interference. The conversation shifted to global social media regulation before examining the tech community's excitement about Emil Michael potentially leading the Department of Transportation.

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(1:14) Netflix's live event issues and potential in sports streaming

(6:28) The growing intersection of professional wrestling, sports betting, and viewership

(10:03) Evolving business models in streaming: Advertising vs. subscription

(11:55) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist

(13:49) The future landscape of sports streaming rights and network deals

(17:17) Maintaining editorial independence in media companies

(20:24) Analyzing NFL viewership trends and their influence on television

(21:11) Netflix's content strategy and Amazon Prime's new ad policies

(23:10) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(24:39) AI, monetization, and the move towards ad-free experiences

(27:49) Exploring the viability of Netflix hosting pay-per-view events

(33:52) Brendan Carr's FCC chairmanship and the future of rural broadband

(38:22) The role of the free market in social media platform regulations

(32:21) Kyte - Download the Kyte app today and use code JASON to save 10% on your first rental.

(45:02) Political shifts and their impact on tech and social media

(49:50) TikTok's regulatory challenges and UK censorship laws

(1:03:11) Emil Michael's potential cabinet position and government efficiency

(1:12:26) Strategies for balancing the federal budget and reducing national debt

(1:16:19) ByteDance's valuation amidst US restrictions

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Mentioned on the show:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/18/media/brendan-carr-trump-fcc-nominee-project-2025/index.html

*

Follow Alex:

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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(11:55) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist

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(32:21) Kyte - Download the Kyte app today and use code JASON to save 10% on your first rental.

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Misaligned Incentives Between GPs and Founders with Altimeter's Jamin Ball | E2045

15 november 2024 | 62 min

TWiST News: Face Robots, Solar's Growth, The Polymarket Mess, and YC's Latest Call for Startups | E2044

15 november 2024 | 93 min

TWiST News: Underwater Drones, Robot Swarms, and Klarna's Going Public | E2043

14 november 2024 | 75 min

TWiST News: Serve Robotics, High Skill Immigration, and the Trump Trade | E2042

11 november 2024 | 83 min

TWiST News: Reddit Earnings, Apple Intelligence, and more AI money | E2041

8 november 2024 | 90 min

TWiST News: Skydio's Drones, High-Skill immigration, and M&A Unleashed | E2040

7 november 2024 | 81 min

Insane Demands of AI & Datacenters: Exowatt’s Mission for Affordable, Sustainable Power| E2039

5 november 2024 | 54 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by:

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*

Todays show:

In this episode, host Alex sits down with Exowatt’s Hannan Parvizian to explore how the company is addressing the massive energy demands of AI and datacenters. They discuss Exowatt's mission to deliver affordable, sustainable power solutions that meet the needs of a rapidly expanding tech landscape. Together, they dive into the challenges and innovations shaping the future of clean energy for data-heavy applications.

*

Timestamps: (0:00) AI search energy consumption and corporate willingness to pay for AI (1:30) Introduction to power, electricity, and Hannan Parvizian of ExoWatt (4:21) Renewable energy, fossil fuels, and data center energy consumption (7:15) AI race, energy demands, and founding of ExoWatt

(8:25) Key challenges in the renewable energy sector

(9:24) NetSuite - Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at https://www.netsuite.com/twist (12:23) Cost of electricity, energy bills, and Texas energy market

(13:40) Exowatt’s unique technology and competitive edge (17:46) Introduction to ExoWatt's P3 product

(21:34) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at https://gusto.com/twist (22:39) Energy storage technologies and comparison

(30:47) Washington Post - TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your first year at https://www.washingtonpost.com/twist (31:58) P3 modules' energy capacity and storage (34:55) Heat-to-electricity conversion mechanism (37:56) ExoWatt's company background, funding, and scaling challenges (43:14) Variable pricing, customer demand, and AI's energy consumption outlook (50:10) American manufacturing dynamism and AI's impact on the job market *

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Check out Exowatt: https://www.exowatt.com/ *

Follow Hannan:

X: https://x.com/hapi31415

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannanparvizian/

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(9:24) NetSuite - Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at https://www.netsuite.com/twist

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(30:47) Washington Post - TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your first year at https://www.washingtonpost.com/twist

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

TWiST News: AI in Gaming, Nvidia and GPU Clouds, Nuclear Energy Challenges, and Waymo Updates | E2038

5 november 2024 | 68 min

TWiST News: Grape-picking robots, startup investing for all, and the earnings numbers you need to know | E2037

2 november 2024 | 91 min

Fast growth, big capital, and how Moniepoint is building a fintech unicorn in Africa | E2036

31 oktober 2024 | 54 min

AI-Driven Auto Shops with Mastertech.ai and Data Observability with Monte Carlo | E2035

29 oktober 2024 | 56 min

TWiST News: The Startup Redefining Sonos, Influencers, Elections and Google's next AI push | E2034

29 oktober 2024 | 85 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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*

Todays show:

Sonos director Mattias Scheek joins Jason & Alex to discuss his journey in audio technology and Sonos acquisition. Then, Jason and Alex dive into election security (34:57), influencer marketing, Google’s upcoming AI release (1:10:42), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(3:18) Earnings week predictions & discussion on national debt

(9:17) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions.

(10:24) Mattias Scheek from Sonos joins the show

(11:23) Mattias Scheek's journey in audio technology and Sonos acquisition

(17:49) Challenges for hardware startups in venture capital

(20:25) Getting acquired: The process, strategy, and life after

(22:04) Cloud Devs - Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today.

(23:11) Sonos' hi-fi strategy and industry issues in audio clarity

(33:08) Kalshi - Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist today to see live election odds, place a trade, and get $20 dollars when you deposit $100. (34:57) Voting irregularities, election security, and influencer marketing

(45:14) Trump Rogan YouTube search issues and search engine comparison

(53:06) Monetization experiments on YouTube and Launch Cloud Kitchens Incubator

(1:10:42) Google's upcoming AI model for PC browsers and cybersecurity risks

(1:15:52) Apple's app permissions approach and AI

*

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Check out the Launch CloudKitchens Incubator: https://ck.launch.co

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Mentioned on the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWnUry6mCxs

*

Follow Mattias:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattias-scheek-539a0349/

*

Follow Alex:

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:17) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions.

(22:04) Cloud Devs - Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today.

(33:08) Kalshi - Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist today to see live election odds, place a trade, and get $20 dollars when you deposit $100.

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Merge's Unified API Bet in the AI Era | E2033

25 oktober 2024 | 53 min

In this episode: Alex talks with Shensi Ding from Merge, who shares her transition from finance to tech and highlights the critical role of integrations in modern businesses. They explore the challenges of building and maintaining these integrations, emphasizing the importance of standardized data models. Shensi discusses partnerships and the strategies to overcome resistance. The conversation delves into trust-building, enhancing integration observability, and expanding Merge's offerings to include AI applications. They also touch on financial efficiency, growth strategies, and Merge's evolution beyond APIs, concluding with insights into future plans and potential acquisition interest. * Timestamps: (0:00) Alex kicks off the show with guest Shensi Ding of Merge.

(5:18) Shensi's journey from finance to tech and the importance of integrations (10:20) The challenges of building and maintaining integrations

(11:19) Coda. Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist

(13:17) Identifying the market gap for Merge and the benefits of standardized data models (17:39) Partnership building, Salesforce integration, and overcoming resistance

(20:07) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(21:16) Further discussion on trust-building and integration challenges (26:04) Enhancing integration observability and customer support

(30:01) Micro1 - Visit https://www.micro1.ai/twist to get 10 free AI Interviews and 2 weeks free per hire

(31:21) Expanding Merge's integration list and its AI applications (35:27) Discussing financial efficiency, runway management, and team dynamics (43:16) Growth strategies, customer base expansion, and go-to-market experiments (47:10) Pricing strategies, customer value, and market trends (50:05) Future plans for Merge, acquisition interest, and long-term vision (52:26) Evolution of Merge beyond API focus.

*

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Check out Merge here: https://www.merge.dev/

*

Follow Shansi:

X: https://x.com/shensi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shensiding/

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Follow Alex:

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Thank you to our partners:

(11:19) Coda. Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist

(20:07) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(30:01) Micro1 - Visit https://www.micro1.ai/twist to get 10 free AI Interviews and 2 weeks free per hire

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://www.x.com/JohnnyMotion

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

AI for Investors, Publisher Rewards, Sleep Tech & More – 2024 Jam with JCal Recap | E2032

24 oktober 2024 | 78 min

TWiST News: Headphones.com, How Sound Takes Down Drones, TollBit Secures Series A | E2031

23 oktober 2024 | 75 min

Election Security, Skift's Rafat Ali, and Anthropic Unleashes PC AI | E2030

23 oktober 2024 | 85 min

TWiST News: F1 on Apple Vision Pro, Self-Driving, and Stablecoins | E2029

22 oktober 2024 | 72 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

DigitalOcean’s GPU Droplet - simple flexible, affordable, and scalable machines for your AI/ML workloads. Spin up powerful GPU virtual machines and start training models, building agents, or digging deep into huge data sets in seconds—and spin them back down just as quickly. With options ranging from single-GPU configurations to setups with 8 GPUs, you can scale computing power based on your specific needs without having to make upfront hardware investments. Get up to 100k in free Credits at https://www.do.co/twist⁠!

Oracle - Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. Save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

Kalshi—the largest regulated predictions market—now lets you trade on US elections. Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist to see live odds, trade, and get $20 when you deposit $100.

*

Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss the GPU market insights and the discovery of a new prime number. John LePore from BlackBox Infinite joins to discuss bridging science fiction with real-world tech, focusing on VisionPRO and Hollywood VFX. The discussion shifts to autonomous driving, Tesla's safety improvements, and Stripe's acquisition of Bridge.

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(5:15) Discovery of a new prime number and GPU market insights

(7:15) BlackBox Infinite's John LePore joins the show

(10:06) DigitalOcean - Approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist to get started. Terms and conditions apply

(11:54) VisionPRO app development and Hollywood VFX integration

(16:51) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

(18:35) Bridging the gap between science fiction and real-world technology

(20:36) Deep dive into the F1 experience prototype

(28:22) Kalshi - Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist today to see live election odds, place a trade, and get $20 dollars when you deposit $100.

(29:35) Inspirational media and its impact on technology

(32:10) The influence of science fiction interfaces on real-world tech

(38:59) How safe is self-driving technology today?

(1:03:11) Stripe buying Stablecoin provider Bridge *

Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

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Follow John:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnymotion

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:06) DigitalOcean - Approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist to get started. Terms and conditions apply

(16:51) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

(28:22) Kalshi - Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist today to see live election odds, place a trade, and get $20 dollars when you deposit $100.

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

The Anatomy of a Startup Acquisition with Cacheflow's Sarika Garg | E2028

18 oktober 2024 | 53 min

The Best Financial Advice VCs Give Startups | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn

17 oktober 2024 | 21 min

TWiST News: Subscription Economics, Density's Waffle, and The Cost of AV Fleets | E2027

17 oktober 2024 | 65 min

AI Demos: ChatGPT-o4 Canvas, Notebook LM & Meta's Movie Gen | E2026

16 oktober 2024 | 66 min

TWiST News: Tesla Robotaxis, Electric RVs, and How Startups are Helping Secure Elections | E2025

15 oktober 2024 | 75 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to dive into Tesla’s Robotaxi event, highlighting Tesla's bold plans for a self-driving, bus-style vehicle (4:33). Then, Lightship RV co-founders Toby Kraus and Ben Parker talk about the future of electric RVs (25:04). Finally, Voatz CEO Nimit Sawhney shares how blockchain is being used to secure elections (51:35).

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(4:33) The Tesla Robotaxi event

(6:46) The potential impact of Tesla's bus platform

(11:59) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(13:29) ChatGPT 4 with Canvas demonstration

(18:23) Predictions on the future of self-driving cars

(23:36) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

(25:04) Lightship RV co-founders Toby Kraus and Ben Parker join the show

(27:55) Description and features of Lightship RV

(33:58) Cloud Devs - Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today.

(35:05) Financing strategy and market potential for Lightship

(39:00) Impact of market trends on Lightship

(41:19) Lightship's unique selling points, competition, and market strategy

(51:35) Voatz CEO Nimit Sawhney joins the show

(54:48) Voatz's progress, voting process, and blockchain integration

(1:02:25) Election fraud concerns and attack vectors

(1:06:02) Voatz's business model and sales cycle

(1:08:11) Discussion on Dominion Voting Systems and election security

(1:10:15) The debate over voter ID requirements and voting transparency

(1:13:38) Upcoming topics: Solar energy advancements

(1:14:28) Twist 500 nominations and submission guidelines

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Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

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Check out:

https://lightshiprv.com

https://voatz.com

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Follow Toby:

X: https://x.com/kraus_toby

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobykraus

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Follow Ben:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminparker1203/

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Follow Nimit:

X: https://x.com/yenhwas

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Follow Alex:

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(11:59) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(23:36) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

(33:58) Cloud Devs - Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today.

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

TWiST500 Spotlight: The must-know startups from AI to robotics! | E2024

11 oktober 2024 | 36 min

Navigating the AI Boom | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn

10 oktober 2024 | 24 min

TWiST News: M.G. Siegler Explains the Current Venture Crisis and Google’s Antitrust Woes | E2023

9 oktober 2024 | 75 min

The Next-Generation of Single-Stage-to-Orbit Spaceplanes with Radian's Richard Humphrey | E2022

8 oktober 2024 | 56 min

Hacking Meta's AR glasses, a shakeup at Initialized, and the best startups of the decade | E2021

7 oktober 2024 | 66 min

Highlighting Data Intelligence with Databricks & Bonbon’s Reward Innovation | E2020

4 oktober 2024 | 86 min

The Automation Endgame, VCs Returning Cash, and the OpenAI Wager | E2019

3 oktober 2024 | 85 min

Monique Woodard, Fund of Funds Panel & The Pro-Rata Yacht! | E2018

2 oktober 2024 | 51 min

The AI Supercycle, California's AI Safety Bill Vetoed, and the Future of AR/VR | E2017

1 oktober 2024 | 71 min

The Future of Sound: Udio’s Vision for AI-Generated Music | E2016

27 september 2024 | 55 min

Data Centers and Energy with Phil Deutch | E2015

26 september 2024 | 37 min

OpenAI CTO Departure, DOJ AI Compliance, M&A Trends, and more! | E2014

26 september 2024 | 87 min

Amazon's RTO Impact, Lina Khan’s 60 Minutes, and Microsoft's Big Nuclear Deals | E2013

24 september 2024 | 80 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss Amazon's return to office (RTO) policy (11:27), Lina Khan’s 60 minutes (31:09), Apple's new iOS features (48:32), Microsoft's big nuclear deals (1:05:25), and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(2:14) Viral tweet from Harry Stebbings about venture capital and entrepreneurship

(4:38) Discussion on the balance between luxury and grit in entrepreneurship

(9:29) Cleaning up the excesses in the industry

(9:58) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(11:27) Amazon's return to office (RTO) policy and its implications

(20:11) Potential impact of RTO on Amazon's innovation and stock price

(20:55) Coda - Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist

(22:25) Amazon's use of Gen AI to reduce the need for developers

(24:32) Amazon's M&A strategy and competitive positioning

(29:39) Google Cloud - Accelerate your startup journey with the Google for Startups Cloud Program. Apply at https://startups.google.com/twist (31:09) Lina Khan, antitrust enforcement, and market competition

(45:49) Specific anti-competitive behaviors in tech industry and potential solutions

(48:32) Apple's new iOS features and their impact on productivity tools

(53:00) Siri's evolution and improved AI capabilities in iOS

(57:32) The concept of "getting Sherlock'd" and its impact on startups

(59:08) Apple's AI advancements and their implications for OpenAI

(1:05:05) The potential challenges of AI dominance in OS-level interfaces

(1:05:25) Microsoft's involvement in nuclear power and its significance

(1:10:30) The importance of energy independence for AI development

(1:15:43) Audience question: Return to office in tech vs. other industries

(1:18:11) Audience question: App store rules and market share

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Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

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Follow Alex:

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:58) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(20:55) Coda - Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist

(29:39) Google Cloud - Accelerate your startup journey with the Google for Startups Cloud Program. Apply at https://startups.google.com/twist

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

How Pie's 'Block Ads, Get Paid' Model Is Giving Users Control of Ads & Privacy | E2012

20 september 2024 | 53 min

Navigating Challenges in Distressed Companies with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

19 september 2024 | 21 min

No hype, Just works: How Comma reached 100M miles in autonomous driving | E2011

18 september 2024 | 46 min

Summarize Anything & Discover Connections with Recall’s Sankari Nair | E2010

18 september 2024 | 41 min

OpenAI's new models, the MrBeast leak, Waymo ♥’s Uber and more! | E2009

17 september 2024 | 73 min

Relationship Advice of the Investor Sort with Meghan Reynolds of Altimeter | E2008

13 september 2024 | 35 min

The New Power Law & How I Built a $100B Portfolio | E2007

11 september 2024 | 50 min

Boom: Supersonic speeds for everyday travel with Blake Scholl | E2006

11 september 2024 | 88 min

Scaling Childcare with Tech: Winnie.com’s Blueprint for Growing with Purpose & Profit | E2005

9 september 2024 | 63 min

The Rise of Stablecoins with Circle’s Jeremy Allaire | E2004

6 september 2024 | 68 min

Medium: Reaching Profitability while The Internet is Broken + CorePod | E2003

5 september 2024 | 79 min

Fundraising hurdles and M&A slowdown with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

5 september 2024 | 25 min

Superhuman 2.0: The AI edge, top productivity hacks, and the future of email | E2002

4 september 2024 | 74 min

AI Demos: Gemini Gmail, Search GPT, Groq with Voice & Playground | E2001

4 september 2024 | 68 min

Episode 2000! Epic guests, huge news, and how to build a media legacy in 14 short years | E2000

30 augusti 2024 | 97 min

Startup Pitch Competition: Three founders compete for $25K | E1999

29 augusti 2024 | 42 min

The charges against Pavel Durov, the future of encryption, and secondaries are heating up | E1998

26 augusti 2024 | 76 min

AI Demos: New Runway, Flux, Grok 2.0 & Jam Session with Ulama | E1997

23 augusti 2024 | 78 min

Legal must-haves before raising capital with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

22 augusti 2024 | 21 min

AI on the blockchain, Waymo's rise, and the truth about tech layoffs | E1996

22 augusti 2024 | 77 min

Venture returns, recovering startups, and VC conflicts | E1995

20 augusti 2024 | 88 min

Liquidity: Recession fears, AI market shifts, and the future of tech hubs | E1994

16 augusti 2024 | 78 min

Final Boss Sour’s James Hicks + River’s Rae Lambert | E1993

15 augusti 2024 | 66 min

WeRide IPO, Polymarket + Perplexity, the Trump Bump and more! | E1992

14 augusti 2024 | 79 min

Startup Pitch Competition: Four founders compete for $25K | E1991

9 augusti 2024 | 49 min

Navigating startup funding market trends with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

8 augusti 2024 | 26 min

Liquidity Summit Talks: Antonio Gracias and Gavin Baker | E1990

7 augusti 2024 | 75 min

TWiST 500! Huntress, TollBit & Cyera | E1989

5 augusti 2024 | 80 min

Overcoming SMB Roadblocks: Expert tips from Gusto's Josh Reeves | Episode 1988

2 augusti 2024 | 65 min

The $97 Billion VC Panel | E1987

31 juli 2024 | 68 min

The Power of WEKA with Antonio Gracias and Liran Zvibel + Jam with JCal: Uptrends AI | E1986

30 juli 2024 | 54 min

Scaling Creativity: Josh Silverman on Etsy's growth, AI integration, and market strategies | E1985

26 juli 2024 | 64 min

Wiz passes on Google, Meta pushes open-source AI ahead, Spotify’s earnings, and more! | E1984

24 juli 2024 | 73 min

Building Enduring Value and Hitting Incremental Gains with Benchmark’s Sarah Tavel | E1983

22 juli 2024 | 81 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to https://www.linkedin.com/twist to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist

*

Todays show:

Benchmark’s Sarah Tavel joins Jason to discuss strategies for competing in a changing venture landscape (9:12), the critical role of governance and accountability in startups (19:39), the relationship between hype, investment decisions, and startup promotion (55:20). and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Sarah Tavel joins Jason.

(1:38) Sarah Tavel, Benchmark Partner, on disciplined fund size and efficiency (5:06) Benchmark's commitment to founders and investment strategy (9:12) Strategies for competing in a changing venture landscape

(10:00) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (15:50) Valuations, ownership, and building deep relationships with founders

(18:30) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist (19:39) The critical role of governance and accountability in startups (28:36) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist

(30:16) The power of incremental improvements and executive limitations (34:32) Vanity metrics vs. building enduring value in startups (43:12) The consequences of choosing status over results in startup success (46:22) Building trust in leadership and the pressures of maintaining success (49:03) The importance of non-consensus bets and independent thinking (55:20) The relationship between hype, investment decisions, and startup promotion (58:19) In-person work vs. remote work: Impact on startup productivity (1:02:58) SaaS market challenges: Pricing, AI impact, and future models (1:07:33) Exciting AI investments and the transformative potential of new technologies (1:13:01) AI advancements, new use cases, and the competitive landscape (1:17:16) How incumbents and consumers are benefiting from AI advancements (1:19:15) Embracing AI in daily tasks and business operations *

Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com/

Check out the TWIST500: twist500.com

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Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out Benchmark: https://www.benchmark.com/ *

Follow Sarah:

X: https://x.com/sarahtavel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahtavel/ Sarah’s Substack: https://www.sarahtavel.com/

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:00) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (18:30) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist (28:36) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

US space innovation, defense tech challenges, and more with True Anomaly’s Even Rogers | E1982

19 juli 2024 | 67 min

Top 5 VC funds raise big $, venture capital DPI is back, and Sequoia’s offer to LP’s | E1981

17 juli 2024 | 61 min

Google weighs $23B for Wiz, startups in a second Trump admin, and Sequoia's Stripe sale | E1980

15 juli 2024 | 68 min

Five levels of AI, venture's recovery & the hottest construction startups | E1979

13 juli 2024 | 85 min

Anand Nandakumar on the future of remote driving and ride services | E1978

10 juli 2024 | 43 min

GPU clusters, venture trends, and the robotics startups we’re most excited about | E1977

10 juli 2024 | 88 min

AI Demos: Sunny’s Back with Luma Labs, Kling, Claude Sonnet & Getting AI Native | E1976

3 juli 2024 | 53 min

Logan Allin and Neil Datta on which startups AI puts at risk, tech regulation, and H-1B reform | E1975

2 juli 2024 | 65 min

The MEI vs DEI debate, tech press, Chime buys Salt Labs, and more! | E1974

2 juli 2024 | 81 min

Sequoia & the Hewlett Foundation on VCs NOT raising funds, Cisco's $1B AI fund, and more! | E1973

27 juni 2024 | 67 min

TWIST NEWS: AI Music, Circle’s IPO, TWIST500 and more! | E1972

27 juni 2024 | 66 min

Immigration, The Trump Interview, Air Taxis in the Bay Area and the Future of Remote Work | E1971

25 juni 2024 | 59 min

Start-Up Nation Deep Dive with Dan Senor | E1970

22 juni 2024 | 94 min

From the future of flight to brand building, insight from Liquidity Summit 2024 | E1969

20 juni 2024 | 45 min

Nvidia tops Microsoft, FTC sues Adobe, weight loss startups, and more! | E1968

19 juni 2024 | 86 min

Woke Google Maps, how Wells Fargo is losing money on fintech, and the global AI race | E1967

17 juni 2024 | 72 min

Lessons in Unreasonable Hospitality with Will Guidara | E1966

14 juni 2024 | 66 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Oracle - Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. Take a free test drive of OCI at https://w ww.oracle.com/twist.

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LinkedIn Ads - To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

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Todays show:

Will Guidara joins Jason to discuss the book Unreasonable Hospitality and how it relates to all businesses including startups (3:44), Will’s annual “The Welcome Conference” in NY (14:32), how the show The Bear lifted Will’s ‘NY street hotdog’ story and made it their own - which then led to his involvement with future seasons (36:19), and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Will Guidara of Unreasonable Hospitality joins Jason.

(3:44) Important premises from the book Unreasonable Hospitality and how it relates to all businesses including startups.

(6:26) Will explains how it felt to see parts from his book appear on the hit show The Bear.

(8:13) Iconic examples of hospitality and how it can turn customers into advocates for your brand.

(10:04) Oracle - Take a free test drive of OCI at https://w ww.oracle.com/twist.

(11:08) Powerful examples of going above and beyond for your customer.

(14:32) Will’s annual “The Welcome Conference” in NY.

(20:57) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://www.devsquad.com/twist

(22:13) Jason shares an anecdote of how he helps others.

(24:17) Will and Jason riff on interesting examples of unreasonable hospitality, including one that should exist for airplane passengers.

(30:44) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(32:12) A perspective shift that changes the value of call centers.

(36:03) How the show The Bear lifted Will’s ‘NY street hotdog’ story and made it their own - leading to his involvement for future seasons.

(40:21) Will feels that The Bear was able to craft and articulate his message spot on in one of their best episodes.

(42:22) How to gain from the addictive personality traits in the restaurant business.

(51:15) The “Chicken for Two” at the NoMad hotel.

(53:31) Breaking down the state of tipping culture and how its removal from Eleven Madison Park was highly successful.

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Check out Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/

Sign up for Will’s newsletter: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/newsletter

Check out “The Welcome Conference”: https://www.thewelcomeconference.com/

Check out Will’s hospitality agency “Thank You”: https://www.thankyou.nyc/

*

Follow Will:

X: https://x.com/wguidara

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willguidara/

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:04) Oracle - Take a free test drive of OCI at https://www.oracle.com/twist.

(20:57) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://www.devsquad.com/twist

(30:44) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://x.com/kirstenagreen

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Inflation cools, how Waymo handled a crash, and the next startups to go public | E1965

12 juni 2024 | 71 min

Apple’s WWDC 2024: Reactions, Highlights & Breakdowns with Jason and Alex | E1964

11 juni 2024 | 54 min

The state of seed, the first TWIST500 startups, and the impact of anonymous apps on society | E1963

11 juni 2024 | 78 min

Great Builders & Success First with Intercom’s Eoghan McCabe | E1962

8 juni 2024 | 88 min

Rising Above the Noise in Consumer VC with Kirsten Green of Forerunner | E1961

7 juni 2024 | 72 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta - Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist

Oracle - Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. Take a free test drive of OCI at https://w ww.oracle.com/twist.

Mercury - With Mercury, you can simplify your financial operations with banking and software that power your critical financial workflows, all within the one thing every business needs, a bank account. And with new bill pay and accounting integrations, you can pay bills faster and stay in control of company spend. Apply in minutes at ⁠https://www.Mercury.com

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Todays show:

Kirsten Green joins guest host Mark Suster to discuss Forerunner’s framework on making investments (8:33), how AI will change how consumer companies and applications are built (16:28), cultural shifts that are investable (33:38), and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Kirsten Green joins guest host Mark Suster.

(2:49) Kirsten’s advice to stand out in consumer venture with only seven percent of VC dollars being allocated to consumer.

(8:33) Forerunner’s framework on making investments.

(11:16) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(12:09) The value of searching for where businesses are missing the mark, and the “wow” factor of the Oura Ring.

(16:28) How AI will change how consumer companies and applications are built

(19:46) Oracle - Take a free test drive of OCI at https://w ww.oracle.com/twist.

(20:50) The current state of the consumer search experience and the power of personalization that AI can bring.

(24:16) The disruptive lesson from mobile and the next level of being context aware.

(28:24) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://www.mercury.com

(31:57) Forerunner Ventures lives within the intersection of invention and culture.

(33:38) Cultural shifts that are investable.

(36:36) The consumer shift from large to small screen.

(40:42) The importance of the mix between direct and indirect revenue.

(42:32) Discussing the relevance of “freemium”.

(55:48) What the exit environment is like going forward.

(1:02:55) What will it take to bring back the small and mid-cap market?

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out Forerunner Ventures: https://www.forerunnerventures.com/

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Follow Kirsten:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstengreen/

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Follow Mark:

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Thank you to our partners:

(11:16) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(19:46) Oracle - Take a free test drive of OCI at https://w ww.oracle.com/twist.

(28:24) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://www.mercury.com

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Texas energy grid challenges and solutions with Base Power’s Justin Lopas | E1960

6 juni 2024 | 69 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

Todays show:

Base Power’s Justin Lopas joins Jason to discuss the critical link between energy availability and GDP per capita, focusing on Texas' deregulated energy market and recent power outages (2:16). They also dive into ERCOT's role (7:40), dynamic grid pricing (20:04), batteries' potential for grid resilience (23:09), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Base Power’s Justin Lopas joins Jason

(2:16) Discussion on Texas energy grid and recent power outages

(5:34) Deregulated energy market in Texas

(7:40) How the Texas grid works and the role of ERCOT

(9:35) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(10:50) Issues with the Texas energy system, power outages, and comparison with California's energy issues

(20:04) Dynamic grid pricing in Texas

(23:08) ERCOT's procedures during overload conditions and the role of batteries in grid resilience

(25:39) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(30:40) Cost comparison with Tesla Powerwalls

(36:09) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(45:12) Current deployment status, operational challenges, and regulatory challenges in the energy market

(50:32) Proposal for trusted vendor programs and preferred vendor status

(1:03:41) Correlation between energy availability and GDP per capita

(1:04:19) Solving the energy problem to boost human prosperity

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out Base Power: https://www.basepowercompany.com

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Follow Justin:

X: https://x.com/JLopas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlopas

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:35) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(25:39) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(36:09) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

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X: https://x.com/FutureJurvetson

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Steve Jurvetson and The Metals Company on Ocean mining, EV market growth, and AI's tech impact | E1959

31 maj 2024 | 57 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Eight Sleep. Good sleep is the ultimate game changer.

The newest generation of the pod, the Pod 4 ultra has arrived.

Head to eightsleep.com/twist and use code TWIST to get $350 off the Pod 4 Ultra.

Mercury. With Mercury, you can simplify your financial operations with banking and software that power your critical financial workflows, all within the one thing every business needs, a bank account. And with new bill pay and accounting integrations, you can pay bills faster and stay in control of company spend. Apply in minutes at https://www.Mercury.com

Northwest Registered Agent. Start your business fast and secure with Northwest Registered Agent! In just 10 clicks and 10 minutes, set up your entire business identity - name, address, mailservice, phone, email, website, and domain. Everything You Need to Launch Your Business in Minutes! For $39 business formation visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

*

Todays show:

Steve Jurvetson and Gerard Barron join Jason to discuss the growth and challenges of the EV market (1:50). Then, they discuss TMC’s involvement in polymetallic nodules and robotic vacuuming for ocean nodules (15:34), the geopolitical aspects of deep-sea mining (40:50), and AI’s impact on technology (52:01).

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Steve Jurvetson and Gerard Barron join Jason

(1:50) EV market growth and challenges

(2:42) The mission of The Metals Company

(5:54) Gerard Barron explains polymetallic nodules

(13:59) Eight Sleep - Head to https://www.eightsleep.com/twist and use code TWIST to get $350 off the Pod 4 Ultra.

(15:34) Robotic vacuuming and ocean nodules

(19:17) Environmentalists' perspectives on ocean mining

(28:16) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://mercury.com

(29:47) Deep dive into VC with Steve Jurvetson

(36:16) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.

(40:50) Geopolitical aspects of deep-sea mining and future outlook

(52:01) The age of AI and its impact on technology

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Check out The Metals Company: https://metals.co

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Follow Gerard:

X: https://x.com/gtbgtb

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerardbarron

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Follow Steve:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejurvetson

Check out: https://future.ventures

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(13:59) Eight Sleep - Head to https://www.eightsleep.com/twist and use code TWIST to get $350 off the Pod 4 Ultra.

(28:16) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://mercury.com

(36:16) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

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Follow TWiST:

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Mastering Venture Capital and Founder Strategies with Rory O’Driscoll and Mark Suster

29 maj 2024 | 71 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Northwest Registered Agent. Start your business fast and secure with Northwest Registered Agent! In just 10 clicks and 10 minutes, set up your entire business identity—name, address, mail service, phone, email, website, and domain. Everything You Need to Launch Your Business in Minutes! For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

Wistia - The all-in-one video platform for business, with tools that help you create, manage, and measure the impact of your videos. Try Wistia for free at https://www.wistia.com/startups1

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Todays show:

Rory O’Driscoll joins guest host Mark Suster to discuss: advice for founders with traction but not yet booming (2:33), thirty years of internet cycles and their impact on venture capital (13:25), the approach to big-picture thinking vs. immediate traction and strategizing exits (36:58), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Rory O’Driscoll joins guest host Mark Suster.

(2:33) Rory’s advice for founders with traction but not yet booming.

(9:09) Aligning incentives between founders and venture; reminding CEOs to be "selfish.”

(10:23) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today. (13:25) Reflections on thirty years of internet cycles and their impact on venture capital.

(18:25) Debating AI: Does it favor the incumbents? (20:07) Wistia - Try Wistia for free at https://www.wistia.com/startups (21:35) What Rory and Scale Venture looks for when investing in AI. (26:20) How OpenAI has changed the landscape (29:18) HiddenLayer - HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://www.HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more. (30:30) Debating “faux-mentum” vs. long-term sustainability in investments. (34:34) Balancing deep passion and business savvy when evaluating founders. (36:58) Rory’s approach to big-picture thinking vs. immediate traction and strategizing exits

(44:02) The importance of picking vs. price discipline.

(1:00:58) Advice for founders dealing with “busted cap tables.”

(1:08:07) Rory’s advice for his younger self.

*

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Check out Scale Venture Partners: https://www.scalevp.com/

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Follow Rory:

X: https://x.com/rodriscoll

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roryodriscoll/

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Follow Mark:

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:23) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today. (20:07) Wistia - Try Wistia for free at https://www.wistia.com/startups (29:18) HiddenLayer - ****HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://www.HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more. *

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

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TWIST News: xAI's massive $6B raise, the startups building our drone future & TWIST500 | E1957

29 maj 2024 | 73 min

AI investments, VC ecosystem geography, and VC hypocrisy | E1956

27 maj 2024 | 68 min

Glue: The New Slack Killer with David Sacks and Evan Owen | E1955

23 maj 2024 | 44 min

$NVDA's earnings, media economics in the AI era, Farcaster's mega crypto round, and more! | E1954

23 maj 2024 | 80 min

OpenAI drama, billion-dollar exits, and founder salaries with new co-host Alex Wilhelm | E1953

21 maj 2024 | 73 min

Crypto, the Midas List, and democratizing VC with Delian Asparouhov and Mel Williams | E1952

20 maj 2024 | 68 min

Pioneering physical AI with Archetype AI’s Ivan Poupyrev | E1951

18 maj 2024 | 51 min

AI Demos: Big Drops This Week from OpenAI & Google | E1950

17 maj 2024 | 61 min

Bridging education and business with The OC’s Dr. Justin Terry | E1949

16 maj 2024 | 55 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Northwest Registered Agent. Northwest Registered Agent will form your business quickly and easily. In just 10 clicks and 10 minutes, set up your entire business identity—name, address, mail service, phone, email, website, and domain. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit ⁠northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠ today.

Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

*

Todays show:

Dr. Justin Terry joins Jason to discuss the future of work, education, and the unique impact of Opportunity Central (The OC). They explore how the school incorporates entrepreneurship (9:03), addresses community needs (22:00), and more!

*

Timestamps (0:00) The OC’s Dr. Justin Terry joins Jason

(1:38) The OC, leveling the playing field in education, and the future of job availability

(7:42) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(9:03) Exploration of the unique educational facility and its impact on local businesses

(15:15) Incorporating entrepreneurship and future ready skills in education

(20:13) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit ⁠https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠ today.

(21:32) Addressing community needs through the educational facility

(31:00) Considering expansions and potential partnerships for the facility

(37:42) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(39:03) The impact of the new educational model on students and equalizing opportunities

(51:56) The role of entrepreneurship in public education

*

Check out The OC: https://www.theoc.net

*

Follow Dr. Justin Terry:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-terry-133761aa

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(7:42) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(20:13) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.

(37:42) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://twitter.com/maxaltman

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Max Altman & Ben Braverman chart Saga VC's maiden voyage with Mark Suster | E1948

15 maj 2024 | 58 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Mercury - Mercury is the fintech startups use for banking* and all their financial workflows. Paying bills, staying in control of company spend, and closing the books doesn't need to be so complex — that's why Mercury powers it all from the one thing every business needs: the bank account. Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://mercury.com *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC.

NetSuite - The number one cloud financial system, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR, into ONE platform. Giving you ONE source of truth. By popular demand, NetSuite has extended its one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks! Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

Curotec - Are you one of those companies that knows you need to be using AI, but you're not even sure where to start? Well, then, you need Curotec. They are AI experts, and they're offering TWiST listeners an AI Strategy Roadmap tailored to your business for $5000. That's 50% off the normal cost just for telling them we sent you. Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off!

*

Today's show:

Max Altman and Ben Braverman of Saga VC join guest host Mark Suster to discuss building up Saga VC’s maiden voyage fund (2:23), the advantage of witnessing “great” at the top of the industry (21:14), praise for Saga VC’s Thomson Nguyen (52:59), and more!

*

Timestamps: (0:00) Max Altman and Ben Braverman of Saga VC join guest host Mark Suster.

(2:23) Building up Saga VC’s maiden voyage fund.

(7:48) Saga VC’s reason to live and uniqueness.

(9:48) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at https://mercury.com

(11:22) What Ben Braverman brings to Saga VC.

(13:17) Ben speaks about what he learned working with Ryan Peterson at Flexport.

(15:12) Max’s background that brought him to Saga and lessons he learned from Parker Conrad

(19:58) NetSuite. By popular demand, NetSuite has extended its one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks! Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

(21:14) The advantage of witnessing “great” at the top of the industry.

(25:54) The X-Factor in strong leaders and founders.

(29:16) Curotec - Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist

(30:27) Unique advantages Max and Ben on the foray into venture.

(44:01) What Saga VC looks for in AI companies to fund.

(52:59) Praise for Saga VC’s Thomson Nguyen in his absence.

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out Saga VC website: https://www.sagavc.com/ Check out Saga VC on X: https://twitter.com/Saga_Ventures

*

Follow Max:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxhaltman/

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Follow Ben:

X: https://twitter.com/braveben

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-braverman-a1120314/

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Follow Thomson:

X: https://twitter.com/itsthomson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randomforest/

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Follow Mark:

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:48)Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at https://mercury.com

(19:58) NetSuite. By popular demand, NetSuite has extended its one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks! Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

(29:16) Curotec - Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://twitter.com/loosararian_j

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI Robots with Purpose with Jake Loosararian of Gecko Robotics | E1947

11 maj 2024 | 74 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist

DevSquad. Most dev agencies only offer developers. Why? Because product management is hard. Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist.

Hubspot Podcast Network. Hubspot Podcast Network presents a new podcast called The Next Wave. The Next Wave is your personal Chief AI Officer, bringing fresh takes, industry insights and a trustworthy perspective on how to implement AI to grow your business. Just search for “The Next Wave” on YouTube or in your favorite podcast app. “The Large Language Model Race with Pete Huang, Founder of The Neuron” episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8elHTM9cOOA

*

Todays show:

Jake Loosararian of Gecko Robotics joins Jason to discuss the purpose-designed robots being built at Gecko (3:01), the value of “bear hugging” your key customers (23:39), the “BOM” of current and future robots (1:02:14), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jake Loosararian of Gecko Robotics joins Jason.

(3:01) The purpose-designed robots being built at Gecko.

(7:03) Origin story behind Jake’s startup.

(9:45) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(10:38) Show us the robots!

(17:43) Details on the frequency of needed infrastructure inspections. (19:24) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist (23:39) The value of “bear hugging” your key customers. (27:42) Bridging physical and digital with Gecko’s Cantilever digital twins. (29:36) Hubspot for Podcast Networks - The Next Wave: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextWavePod “The Large Language Model Race with Pete Huang, Founder of The Neuron” episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8elHTM9cOOA

(33:50) Extending the value of inspections with fixed sensors. (46:47) Opening up the conversation to the AI data collected.

(54:44) Why some robotics companies fail while others succeed.

(1:02:14) The “BOM” of current and future robots.

(1:06:29) Where humanoid robots may first be “employed”.

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Check out Gecko Robotics: https://www.geckorobotics.com/

*

Follow Jake:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-loosararian-23981350/

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(9:45) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(19:24) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist (29:36) Hubspot for Podcast Networks - The Next Wave: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextWavePod “The Large Language Model Race with Pete Huang, Founder of The Neuron” episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8elHTM9cOOA

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://twitter.com/IanCinnamon

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Today's Space Tech Boom with Apex's Ian Cinnamon and Mark Suster | E1946

9 maj 2024 | 60 min

Squarespace - Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

LinkedIn Ads - To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

Dot Tech Domains - Dot Tech domains are the go-to namespace to build anything in tech… and home to the world’s most innovative startups. Keep an eye out for our “Jam Session with JCal” contest… coming soon! Be sure to secure your .Tech domain today at https://get.tech/jason

*

Todays show:

Ian Cinnamon joins guest host Mark Suster to discuss all things space tech; including: the importance of building Apex in L.A. (4:49), the drastic change in costs for satellites (16:03), their first Aries Satellite bus on it’s maiden voyage (30:29), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Ian Cinnamon joins guest host Mark Suster.

(1:53) Why space is a hot sector right now with startups and investors.

(4:49) The importance of building Apex in L.A.

(6:44) Ian’s background and what brought him to the space industry.

(9:52) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(11:13) Origin story and perfect fit with Apex co-founder Max Benassi.

(13:25) What Apex does and why Max’s manufacturing skillset matters.

(16:03) Cost of satellites then and now.

(19:55) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(21:25) Details about the sateliilite bus at Apex.

(23:43) The differences and business implications of LEO, MEO and GEO.

(29:15) Dot Tech Domains - Be sure to secure your .Tech domain today at https://get.tech/jason

(30:29) Their first Aries Satellite bus on it’s maiden voyage and a selfie from space.

(53:30) The current scale and expected growth at Apex.

(56:19) Competitions in the “space” space.

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Check out Apex: https://www.apexspace.com

*

Follow Ian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iancinnamon/

*

Follow Mark:

*

Thank you to our partners:

(9:52) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(19:55) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(29:15) Dot Tech Domains - Be sure to secure your .Tech domain today at https://get.tech/jason

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://twitter.com/bmoesta?lang=en

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Bridging academia and job market realities with Extern’s Matt Wilkerson | E1945

9 maj 2024 | 60 min

LIQUIDITY: Major challenger to OpenAI, xAI, closing on $6B in funding | E1944

6 maj 2024 | 66 min

Decoding Customer Insights, Trust, and the Jobs-to-be-Done Framework with Bob Moesta | E1943

3 maj 2024 | 85 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Hubspot for Podcast Networks - Looking to up your marketing game? Check out the podcast: Marketing Against the Grain: https://lnk.to/h3vKHnTW. Hosted by Hubspot CMO Kipp Bodnar and Zapier CMO Kieran Flannigan. They bring you the latest in marketing trends, growth tactics and innovation. “The Best AI Tools For Marketers In 2024” episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeeVKUuEv6Y. Available on all your favorite podcast apps.

LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to LinkedIn.com/TWIST to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

Zendesk. The best customer experiences are built with Zendesk. Qualifying startups can join their Startup program and get Zendesk products free, for six months! Visit http://www.zendesk.com/twist today to get started.

*

Todays show:

Bob Moesta joins Jason to discuss important customer interview methods, such as the concept and importance of deep listening (7:21), quantitative vs. qualitative and hypothesis-building research (13:08), “The jeweller effect” and building trust (37:47), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Bob Moesta of the Re-Wired Group joins Jason.

(2:33) Jumping into Bob's origin stories and the early lessons that shaped his career.

(4:59) Unpacking the concepts of “the customer is not always right” and that they don’t actually know what they want.

(7:21) The concept and importance of deep listening.

(8:52) Bob’s use of “the death day” and learning the value of time.

(10:57) Hubspot for Podcast Networks - Marketing Against the Grain: https://lnk.to/h3vKHnTW. “The Best AI Tools For Marketers In 2024” episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeeVKUuEv6Y

(13:08) Quantitative vs qualitative and hypothesis-building research.

(16:51) Bob’s four amazing mentors and how they turned him from an illiterate eighteen-year-old into an innovation machine.

(20:16) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist

(21:40) The dangers of identifying personas and “the secret sauce”.

(26:08) Drawing importance from the “irrational decision”, as context drives the rationale.

(28:28) Bob explains his approach to interviews.

(31:00) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist

(32:32) Applying these concepts to a customer buying a diamond or health care.

(37:47) “The jeweller effect” and how do you cause trust?

(40:48) Making people problem aware.

(47:45) Applying the fact that people learn out of routine to the electric car customer.

(54:18) The concept of nostalgia.

(1:03:08) Bob’s current book he is writing about what causes someone to leave one company and go to another.

(1:15:57) At what stage is a company that hires the Re-Wired Group?

*

Check out The Re-Wired Group: https://www.anomalo.com/

Check out Bob’s website and publications: https://www.bobmoesta.com/

*

Check out Founder Fridays: https://www.founderfridays.tech/

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Follow Bob:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobmoesta/

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:57) Hubspot for Podcast Networks - Marketing Against the Grain: https://lnk.to/h3vKHnTW. “The Best AI Tools For Marketers In 2024” episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeeVKUuEv6Y

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Startup pitch competition! Jason invests $25K into one of three founders | E1942

2 maj 2024 | 60 min

AI Demos: Llama 3 Innovations, vibecheck, Globe Engineer, Wisdolia and Tesla’s FSD | E1941

30 april 2024 | 74 min

How AI and remote work is coming for your job | E1940

29 april 2024 | 77 min

PodcastAI: Edward Brawer is here to be your podcast’s arms dealer! | E1939

26 april 2024 | 51 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Coda. A new doc that brings words, tables and teams together. All your valuable data, plans, objectives, and strategies in one place. Go to https://www.coda.io/twist to get a $1,000 credit!

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NetSuite. The number one cloud financial system, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR, into ONE platform. Giving you ONE source of truth. By popular demand, NetSuite has extended its one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks! Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Edward Brawer joins Jason to dive into PodcastAI

(3:25) Introduction and origin story of Edward Brawer's entry into the podcasting AI technology

(5:42) Discussion on the features and benefits of PodcastAI, including its ability to automate podcast production processes

(9:40) Finding product-market-fit for PodcastAI

(11:38) Coda - Get started for free at https://www.coda.io/twist

(13:06) The success of their original cold calls to find those first first customers

(15:04) Main features and outline of PodcastAI version 1.0.

(20:19) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.

(21:51) Hot feature they just launched: viral moments of your pod

(29:20) NetSuite - has extended its one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks! Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

(31:33) A feature they made specifically from feedback from the All-in pod

(34:33) The hilarious origin story of Edward and Jason revolved around an AI version of Jason that, in turn, created an AI version of David Sacks

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Follow Edward:

X: https://twitter.com/edwardbrawer ⁠

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Thank you to our partners:

(11:38) Coda - Get started for free at https://www.coda.io/twist

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(29:20) NetSuite - has extended its one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks! Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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The power of super communication with Charles Duhigg | E1938

26 april 2024 | 79 min

Ask Jason LIVE!: Navigating startup growth with Real-Time Q&A | E1937

25 april 2024 | 78 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to ⁠https://www.Squarespace.com/twist⁠ for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Mercury. Mercury is the fintech startups use for banking* and all their financial workflows. Paying bills, staying in control of company spend, and closing the books doesn't need to be so complex — that's why Mercury powers it all from the one thing every business needs: the bank account. Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://mercury.com *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC.

*

Todays show:

Jason kicks off Ask Jason live! 5 live guests ask questions on key topics, including finding job opportunities (1:43), the “likely winner” and “definitive winner” framework (26:19), how a non-AI startup with traction can stand out to potential investors (1:04:05), and more!

*

Timestamps (0:00) Jason kicks off another Ask Jason with 5 live guests!

(1:43) Dustin asks about how to find job opportunities and market his generalist skills

(9:50) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(10:42) Dustin asks about how to find job opportunities and market his generalist skills

(24:57) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/twist

(26:19) Francis asks about defining the terms "likely winner" and "definitive winner" in a strategic framework using specific metrics

(39:15) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://mercury.com

(40:17) Mathew asks about choosing between mission-aligned sponsors and more lucrative, unrelated advertising opportunities for his podcast

(52:23) Jason asks whether to continue low-cost growth strategies or seek seed funding to boost growth through advertising, as their product is the advertising itself

(1:04:05) Douglas asks about how a non-AI startup with traction can stand out to potential investors

(1:15:37) Host or join Founder Fridays! Go check out https://founderfridays.tech

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:50) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(24:57) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/twist

(39:15) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at ⁠http://mercury.com⁠

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

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X: https://twitter.com/sohailprasad

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Founder University: Cohort 8 begins May 9th. Apply here: https://www.founder.university

AI Demos and News: Llama 3, Marblism, Lumona & AI Jet-Fighter Dogfights | E1936

23 april 2024 | 55 min

AI Demos: Meta AI Ups it’s Game with Llama 3 | E1935

20 april 2024 | 53 min

Redpoint Ventures and Stepstone Group on VC Deployment, M&A, and Google's AI Strategy | E1934

19 april 2024 | 72 min

Destiny (D/XYZ) and the Buzz Around Public Access to Private Companies | E1933

17 april 2024 | 44 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist

The Equinix Startup program offers a hybrid infrastructure solution for startups, including up to $100K in credits and personalized consultations and guidance from the Equinix team. Go to https://deploy.equinix.com/startups to apply today.

*

Todays show:

Sohail Prasad joins Jason to discuss Destiny Tech 100 and why it was created (3:46), comparing the market cap to the actual holdings and the pent-up demand (11:35), how Destiny acquires the shares and how they manage both positive and negative reactions (26:49), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Sohail Prasad of Destiny (D/XYZ) joins Jason.

(3:46) Breaking down Destiny Tech 100 and why it was created.

(5:20) What is a closed-end fund and how does it fit into the ecosystem?

(8:37) The DIY approach used to bring this to the market.

(9:33) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(10:54) How Destiny Tech 100 works as a direct listing.

(11:35) Comparing the market cap to the actual holdings and the pent-up demand.

(14:46) Looking at how Sohail and the company make their profits and why he does this instead of gathering higher carry.

(18:52) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(22:05) The concerns of the swinging nature of the stock price and the long-term view.

(26:49) How Destiny acquires the shares and how they manage both positive and negative reactions. (30:26) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://deploy.equinix.com/startups

(34:10) Destiny’s access to financials for companies in their portfolio. (35:51) Strategy behind exits for the fund and companies that then go public. (43:13) The size of the team needed to run Dest

*

Check out Destiny (D/XYZ): https://destiny.xyz/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohailprasad/

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:33) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(18:52) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist (30:26) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://deploy.equinix.com/startups

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Startup pitch competition! Jason invests $25K into one of three founders | E1932

17 april 2024 | 54 min

Udio AI’s Music Magic, Aqua’s Unique Dictation, Copyright Laws & the 1000x Potential of AI | E1931

14 april 2024 | 60 min

Tomasz Tunguz and David Clark on how to invest in AI and Q1 2024 startup valuations | E1930

12 april 2024 | 76 min

The Alef Model A and the future of flying cars with Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny | E1929

11 april 2024 | 48 min

Liquid AI's Ramin Hasani on liquid neural networks, AI advancement, the race to AGI & more! | E1928

9 april 2024 | 64 min

Apurva Mehta and Jack Altman on Sam Altman, CalPERS, and Liquidation Preferences | E1927

6 april 2024 | 63 min

Growth Hacks for Startups from Elliot Shmukler of InstaCart, LinkedIn and now Anomalo | E1926

5 april 2024 | 50 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

NetSuite. The number one cloud financial system, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR, into ONE platform. Giving you ONE source of truth. Now through April 15th, NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Hubspot. Join thousands of companies that are growing better with HubSpot for Startups. Learn more and get extra benefits for being a TWiST listener now at https://www.hubspot.com/startups Check out their report “How AI is Redefining Startup GTM Strategy” here: https://bit.ly/hubspot-ai-report

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Elliot Shmukler of Anomalo joins Jason to discuss growth tactics for businesses and startups.

(2:33) A primer on modern-day growth for startups from expert Elliot.

(6:20) Why referral programs are so powerful

(9:59) NetSuite. Now through April 15th, NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

(11:39) The 2nd best thing you can do for the growth of your startup!

(15:55) Exploring "Give to Get" programs with examples from Elliot’s success.

(20:36) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(22:13) A critical growth action once you have your virality base is “conversion rate optimization”.

(25:45) The most effective sign-up practived today.

(30:31) Hubspot for Startups - Learn more and get extra benefits for being a TWiST listener now at https://www.hubspot.com/startups. Check out their report “How AI is Redefining Startup GTM Strategy” here: https://bit.ly/hubspot-ai-report

(31:52) The balance of adding friction in the user sign-up process.

(33:57) Elliot dives deeper into his best growth hacks and the most frustrating moments while at InstaCart, Wealthfront, and LinkedIn.

(39:51) Elliot discusses his new company, Anomalo, and its mission to solve data quality issues.

*

Check out Anomalo: https://www.anomalo.com/

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Follow Elliott:

X: https://twitter.com/eshmu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshmu/

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(9:59) NetSuite. Now through April 15th, NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. Head to http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

(20:36) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(30:31) Hubspot for Startups - Learn more and get extra benefits for being a TWiST listener now at https://www.hubspot.com/startups. Check out their report “How AI is Redefining Startup GTM Strategy” here: https://bit.ly/hubspot-ai-report

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://twitter.com/branninmcbee

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

CoreWeave’s Brannin McBee on the future of AI infrastructure, GPU economics, & data centers | E1925

4 april 2024 | 56 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

Gusto is easy online payroll, benefits, and HR built for modern small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at Gusto.com/twist.

Northwest Registered Agent. Northwest Registered Agent will form your business quickly and easily. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠ today.

*

Todays show:

Brannin McBee joins Jason to discuss CoreWeave’s transition from cryptocurrency to AI (3:36), the energy dynamics of GPUs (14:04), innovations in data center cooling (19:28), and the future challenges and impacts of AI infrastructure on industries like search, advertising, and e-commerce (45:36).

*

Timestamps:

(00:00) CoreWeave’s Brannin McBee joins Jason

(3:36) The founding story of CoreWeave and the transition from the cryptocurrency market to AI

(12:49) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

(14:04) Energy reliance of GPUs, the future of data centers, and the cost and efficiency of GPU cloud infrastructure

(19:28) Direct-to-chip liquid cooling and other cooling solutions for GPUs

(24:52) Demand trends for GPU capacity and the growth of inference linked to user growth

(29:06) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist

(30:28) LPUs Vs. GPUs

(34:13) Dominance of Nvidia in training models, implications of open source chips and chip architecture

(39:01) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit ⁠https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠ today.

(40:00) Challenges in training large language models and the use of infrastructure as a weapon by big tech

(45:36) The potential impact of AI on search engines, advertising sector, and ecommerce

(52:46) Timeline for supply-demand balance in AI infrastructure and the operational feat of running multiple data centers

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Follow Brannin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/branninmcbee

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(12:49) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

(29:06) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist

(39:01) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠⁠ today.|

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

The state of modern answer engines, AI demos, and more! | E1924

3 april 2024 | 63 min

Dave Mcclure & Jordan Stein on YC, "Spray and Pray", and Games VCs Play | E1923

30 mars 2024 | 91 min

Empathic AI and its role in understanding human emotions with Hume AI’s Alan Cowen | E1922

29 mars 2024 | 56 min

Ask Jason LIVE!: Unpacking Startup Strategies with Real-Time Q&A | E1921

27 mars 2024 | 70 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to https://www.Squarespace.com/twist for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

Eppo. Experimentation is how generation-defining companies win. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit http://www.geteppo.com/twist

*

Todays show:

Jason kicks off Ask Jason live! Six live guests ask questions on key topics, including prioritizing multiple founders (13:28), advice around moat for a startup (52:42), and whether not focusing on AI in a pitch will affect investment chances (1:02:38).

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason kicks off another Ask Jason with 6 live guests!

(1:13) Sean asks about investment firms changing how they invest early on.

(11:42) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/twist

(13:28) Pierson of jellypod asks about prioritizing multiple founders for investments or accelerators

(22:54) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

(24:47) Ann asks if they should raise venture capital to grow faster even though it means giving up some company ownership.

(32:01) Eppo. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit http://www.geteppo.com/twist

(39:56) Francis asks how to strike a balance between skepticism and enthusiasm when evaluating a company for investment, given that it's impossible to invest in every company.

(52:42) Hosum asks if explaining their startup's moat as current execution and future benefits after reaching product-market fit is enough to convince investors.

(1:02:38) Thom asks if not highlighting AI in our funding pitch will hurt our chances of getting investment.

*

Send us your questions for the next episode of Ask Jason LIVE! http://www.thisweekinstartups.com/askjason

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(11:42) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/twist

(22:54) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

(32:01) Eppo. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit http://www.geteppo.com/twist

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI Demos: Gatekeep, Deepgram, Claude 3 Haiku and more! | E1920

26 mars 2024 | 60 min

Kleiner Perkins and Penn’s Endowment on India, loss ratios, and the rise of secondaries | E1919

22 mars 2024 | 71 min

Microsoft consumes Inflection and AI Demos from Suno, Cohere, Deepseek VL and more! | E1918

21 mars 2024 | 54 min

Optimizing fund structure, GP market fit, & more with Screendoor’s Jamie Rhode | Episode 1917

21 mars 2024 | 49 min

The future of enterprise search and AI-powered work productivity with Glean’s Arvind Jain | E1916

20 mars 2024 | 52 min

Figure’s AI Robot, AI News, Cognition’s Devin, and the biggest AI bet yet! | E1915

19 mars 2024 | 54 min

2024 VC trends, portfolio construction, & more with Churchill's Raja Doddala | E1914

14 mars 2024 | 64 min

Melengo's Justin Kwong on the future of end-to-end clothing manufacturing | E1913

14 mars 2024 | 60 min

AI Demos: Claude 3's Opus, Mistral, Groq Playground, EMO by Ali Baba | E1912

12 mars 2024 | 63 min

Uber's leadership lessons, AI's disruption, and the power of solo founders with Josh Mohrer | E1911

8 mars 2024 | 55 min

Robotic kitchens, restaurant tech, and fast-casual's future with Sweetgreen's Jonathan Neman | E1910

7 mars 2024 | 67 min

Business Breakdowns: Moneyball's first-principles, paradigm shifts, and ‘burn the boats’ | E1909

5 mars 2024 | 79 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Mantle. The AI-powered equity management platform designed for modern founders and operators. Get your first 12 months free at https://withmantle.com/TWIST

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist

MEV. Tired of the dev shop rollercoaster? Mev is your reliable technical partner, offering a well-established software development process designed to consistently deliver unparalleled value to their clients. Get $30,000 off your first three months at http://mev.com/twist!

*

Todays show:

Lon Harris joins Jason Calacanis to discuss concepts in business, drawing parallels from Moneyball. The two dive into the significance of embracing paradigm shifts (15:38),first-principle thinking (27:16), Billy’s 'Adapt or Die' philosophy (48:54), and the turning point for the A's (1:11:20).

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Lon Harris joins Jason

(7:35) Mantle - Get your first 12 months free at https://withmantle.com/TWIST

(8:53) Moneyball cast breakdown

(15:38) Paradigm shifts in Moneyball: Comparing the Oakland A's situation to startups vs. incumbents

(21:19) Paradigm shifts in Moneyball: Making data-driven decisions

(26:24) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(27:16) The important concept of "First-Principle Thinking”

(35:03) MEV - Get $30,000 off your first three months at http://mev.com/twist

(36:34) Globalization's impact on startup opportunities and the importance of a unified team vision

(48:54) Billy's philosophy: Adapt or Die!

(59:20) The "burn the boats" moment and the importance of commitment in business

(1:11:20) The turning point for the A's and their historic winning streak

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Follow Lon:

X: https://twitter.com/Lons

*

Thank you to our partners:

(7:35) Mantle - Get your first 12 months free at https://withmantle.com/TWIST

(26:24) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(35:03) MEV - Get $30,000 off your first three months at http://mev.com/twist

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

X: https://twitter.com/ssankar

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Mission Over Money & The State of Defense Tech with Palantir's Shyam Sankar | E1908

4 mars 2024 | 67 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

NetSuite. Once your business gets to a certain size the cracks start to emerge. Things you used to do in a day take a week. You deserve a customized solution - and that's NetSuite. Learn more when you download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist - absolutely free, at http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit - ⁠https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠ to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.

Imagine AI LIVE is an AI conference where you'll learn how to apply AI in YOUR business directly from the people who build and use these tools. It's taking place March 27th and 28th in Las Vegas, and TWiST listeners can get 20% off tickets at http://www.imagineai.live/twist

*

Todays show:

Jason joins Palantir's Shyam Sankar to discuss how the US has avoided another terrorist attack since 9/11 (7:59), the role of AI and robotics in the battlefield (22:34), the future of defense tech (53:48), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason joins Shyam Sankar of Palantir. (3:04) - Silcon valley’s shift in perception around defense tech and Palantir. (5:09) - Palentir being born out of 9/11 and the realization of the countries vulnerabilities. (7:59) How the US has managed to avoid another terrorist attack and what role Palantir's products played. (9:33) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://www.NetSuite.com/twist (10:48) One major failure regarding 9/11 attack. (11:55) The Gotham Platform: Palantir's first product and how it borrowed from PayPal. (18:12) The most valuable role software could play in defense tech. (18:57) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at - ⁠https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠ (19:52) How defense tech data collection has changed over the years. (22:34) The role of AI and robotics play in the battlefield. (29:22) Imagine AI LIVE - Get 20% off tickets at http://www.imagineai.live/twist (30:38) The autopilot approach of LLMs at Palantir and the analogy of self-driving cars. (33:28) Palantir's huge early wins with AI integration. (38:01) The defense potential of LLMs and real time interpretation in the field. (39:51) The importance of RF in the modern battlefield. (45:32) Discussing Putin’s serious threat. (48:54) How the defense industrial base was managed and consolidated after WWII (53:48) The future of defense tech, the speed of innovation and enemy adaptation.

*

Check out Palantir Technologies: https://www.palantir.com/

*

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*

Follow Shyam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyamsankar/

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:33) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://www.NetSuite.com/twist

(18:57) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at - ⁠https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist⁠

(29:22) Imagine AI LIVE - Get 20% off tickets at http://www.imagineai.live/twist

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Sequoia & Union Square Returns, the Post-AI Labor Market, and the Return of SF? | E1907

1 mars 2024 | 56 min

Unlocking the Power of Data with VenCap’s David Clark | E1906

28 februari 2024 | 61 min

Ask Jason LIVE! Returns to TWiST! | E1905

27 februari 2024 | 61 min

Google's AI emergency, Apple's lowkey AI moves, amazing Sora demos & more with Sunny Madra | E1904

27 februari 2024 | 46 min

Reddit’s IPO, Consumer vs. Enterprise AI, and Sam Altman’s New Fund and more! | E1903

23 februari 2024 | 72 min

Startup Pitches! LAUNCH Accelerator Demo Day | E1902

22 februari 2024 | 56 min

Jordan Stein from Cresset Partners on VC dynamics, evaluating emerging managers, & more! | E1901

21 februari 2024 | 57 min

The future of public safety via rapid drone response with Aerodome's Rahul Sidhu | E1900

19 februari 2024 | 51 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist

Imagine AI LIVE is an AI conference where you'll learn how to apply AI in YOUR business directly from the people who build and use these tools. It's taking place March 27th and 28th in Las Vegas, and TWiST listeners can get 20% off tickets at http://imagineai.live/twist

*

Todays show:

Rahul Sidhu from Aerodome joins Jason to discuss how his startup is creating the future of public safety air support with an automated drone system. The two dive into privacy concerns and abuse potential for police drones (14:41), challenges of fundraising and selling to the government (34:22), the founding incident of Aerodome (38:46), and much more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Rahul Sidhu from Aerodome joins Jason

(3:44) How the Aerodome drone system works to respond to 911 calls

(13:17) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

(14:41) Privacy concerns and abuse potential with police drone usage

(19:43) FAA regulations, geofencing, and obstacle avoidance for drones

(25:16) Pricing and business model

(28:08) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(29:00) Object tracking and combining technologies

(34:22) The challenges of fundraising and selling to government as a startup, but increased venture interest in public safety tech

(37:31) Imagine AI LIVE - Get 20% off tickets at http://imagineai.live/twist

(38:46) Starting Aerodome during the pandemic and protests in 2020. Finding a moderate voice through the All-In podcast

(45:57) The importance of intellectual honesty, steel-manning arguments, and not being married to a single solution as a leader

(47:46) Potential future capabilities and focus on de-escalation

*

Check out Aerodome:

https://www.aerodome.com

*

Follow Rahul

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulsidhu

*

Follow Jason:

X: ⁠https://twitter.com/jason⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jason⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(13:17) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

(28:08) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(37:31) Imagine AI LIVE - Get 20% off tickets at http://imagineai.live/twist

*

Check out the Launch Accelerator: https://launchaccelerator.co

*

Check out Founder University: https://www.founder.university

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

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X: ⁠https://twitter.com/jason⁠

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Mark Suster and Samir Kaji on the 2024 Venture Market, IPOS, and Secondaries | E1899

17 februari 2024 | 83 min

How LPs identify top emerging fund managers with Slipstream’s Alex Edelson | E1898

15 februari 2024 | 81 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Todays show:

Alex Edelson of Slipstream Investors joins Jason to discuss fund of funds and their place in the venture ecosystem (1:28), ownership in relation to fund size (8:34), picking winners (25:08), generating liquidity for LPs (40:08), and much more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Slipstream Investor’s Alex Edelson joins Jason

(1:28) Alex explains what a fund of funds is and why people choose to invest in fund of funds rather than invest directly

(8:34) Why early stage funds overperform and ownership in relation to fund size

(11:48) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://linkedin.com/angelpod

(13:09) What Alex looks for when picking venture funds, ownership, and why people invest in fund of funds cont.

(19:49) Evaluating ability to compete for deals at seed vs pre-seed stage

(23:55) Ketone-IQ - Get 30% off your first subscription order of Ketone-IQ at http://hvmn.com/TWIST

(25:08) Picking winners: Identifying promising companies early and tracking them

(39:01) Uizard - Get 25% off Uizard Pro for an entire year at http://uizard.io/twist

(40:08) Generating liquidity for LPs and picking emerging fund managers

(56:47) Competing for deals at the seed stage, the differentiation between pre-seed and seed, and deciding when to double-down

(1:01:41) Alex turns the tables and asks Jason some questions. But, first why is optimal fund size important?

*

Follow Alex X: https://twitter.com/asedelson Check out Slipstream Investors: https://www.slipstreaminvestors.com/

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Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jason⁠

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*

Check out the Launch Accelerator: https://launchaccelerator.co

*

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*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

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*

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https://twitter.com/berkowitz_josh

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Apple’s MGIE, Google’s Gemini Advanced, Microsoft’s Copilot and more! | E1897

14 februari 2024 | 60 min

Founders Fund's Brian Singerman on building a legendary VC firm, “Adapt or Die” and "Ikigai" | E1896

12 februari 2024 | 50 min

Dry Powder in Venture Capital, VC Ratings, and more with Grady Buchanan and Victor Gutwein | E1895

9 februari 2024 | 90 min

AI Demos: AI that interprets human emotion, Hugging Face Assistants, and more! | E1894

8 februari 2024 | 67 min

Alexis Ohanian on Reddit's potential IPO & more | E1893

7 februari 2024 | 56 min

Beeper's fight to break Apple's stronghold on messaging with Eric Migicovsky | E1892

5 februari 2024 | 50 min

Late-stage VC market update + Terra Kaffe's Sahand Dilmaghani | E1891

3 februari 2024 | 55 min

Fund of funds: origins, evolution and deep dive with Michael Kim | E1890

31 januari 2024 | 62 min

Building a consumer app’s MVP and how to fundraise with Zest’s Jake Gutstein | E1889

31 januari 2024 | 56 min

We celebrate our 100th AI Demo with Sunny Madra! | E1888

30 januari 2024 | 48 min

Unicorns: now and then with Aileen Lee | E1887

27 januari 2024 | 69 min

Venture Fund Size Growth, the Rise of Unicorns, and more with Elizabeth Yin and Zach Coelius | E1886

26 januari 2024 | 80 min

Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu on launching the R1, future of AI hardware, and going viral at CES | E1885

24 januari 2024 | 90 min

AI Demos: Dinnerfy, Hour One, AI short film “Borrowing Time”, Bland AI and more! | E1884

23 januari 2024 | 56 min

Series A valuations, M&A in 2024, and M.A.N.G with Jason Shuman and Raja Doddala | E1883

20 januari 2024 | 62 min

LP investment strategies, IRR focus, and more with Berkocorp's Joshua Berkowitz | E1882

17 januari 2024 | 69 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://linkedin.com/angelpod

*

Today’s show:

Joshua Berkowitz joins Jason discuss the critical role of LPs in venture capital, his family office's diversification into the field (4:37), strategies for evaluating and selecting fund managers (14:26), and the intricacies of fund management and fundraising (30:41).

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Berkocorp’s Joshua Berkowitz joins Jason

(4:37) Why family offices diversify into venture capital - higher returns, high dispersion of returns, and the entrepreneurial aspect

(9:32) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist

(10:59) Evaluating emerging managers - looking for exceptional strategies and execution

(14:26) Decision making processes at venture firms - consensus vs individual decision-making.

(19:56) What a VC fund has to do to be successful

(25:48) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(26:41) Pros and cons of GPs being very vocal/political on social media

(30:41) Quick disqualifications when evaluating new VC funds and challenges with GP "tourism"

(34:59) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://linkedin.com/angelpod

(36:20) What kills companies - "likely winners" vs "definitive winners"

(58:42) Clarity in the process for GPs raising funds from LPs

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out: https://www.berkocorp.ca/

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Thanks to our partners:

(9:32) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist

(25:48) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(34:59) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://linkedin.com/angelpod

*

Follow at:

X:

https://twitter.com/Jason

*

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

https://twitter.com/MKRocks

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Flexport's Ryan Petersen on returning as CEO, global logistics in a time of conflict & more | E1881

16 januari 2024 | 76 min

Best of CES recap with Sunny Madra | E1880

16 januari 2024 | 54 min

Michael Kim, Jason Calacanis, and David Weisburd on VC marks, Rabois leaving FF for Khosla, and more | E1879

12 januari 2024 | 61 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.

DevSquad. Most dev agencies only offer developers. Why? Because product management is hard. Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://www.devsquad.com/twist

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

*

Today’s show:

Michael Kim joins David Weisburd and Jason Calacanis to discuss LP doubts around GPs marking startups (2:43), LP portfolio construction (13:44), secondary strategies (19:57), Keith Rabois returning to Khosla Ventures (35:15), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) David Weisburd hosts Michael Kim and Jason Calacanis to dive into the world of VCs, LPs and GPs

(2:43) Exploring the doubts LPs may have about how VCs are marking startups

(7:51) Jason's strategy as an LP in funds and the search for a universal gold standard in LP benchmarks

(10:14) Why LPs might be incentivized to allow markups from GPs

(12:49) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(13:44) LP portfolio management best practices

(19:57) Evaluating different GP strategies for secondary deals

(24:37) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://www.devsquad.com/twist

(25:44 ) Comparing "idealistic" and "pragmatic" fund manager archetypes. what the right number is for a founder to sell in secondary

(33:39) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

(35:15) Breaking down Keith Rabois leaving Founders Fund to return to Khosla Ventures

(44:52) Addressing the challenges and responsibilities of starting a new firm

(48:08) Bill Ackman’s crusades, how LPs look at backing outspoken GPs

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out:

Cendana Capital: https://www.cendanacapital.com/

10X Capital: https://www.10xcapital.com/

*

Thanks to our partners:

(12:49) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(24:37) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://www.devsquad.com/twist

(33:39) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist

*

X:

https://twitter.com/DWeisburd

https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

https://twitter.com/StephNass/status/1745132141652877788

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Dara Khosrowshahi, Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner, & Jason Calacanis on Uber's growth and future | E1878

12 januari 2024 | 75 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Gusto is easy online payroll, benefits, and HR built for modern small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://www.Gusto.com/twist

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Today’s show:

Dara Khosrowshahi joins Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner, and Jason Calacanis to discuss his initial reservations about joining Uber and how he overcame them (14:57), the early magic of Uber that captivated investors (22:36), a deep dive into Uber's future plans (45:50), and much more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Dara Khosrowshahi joins Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner, & Jason Calacanis to discuss all things Uber

(2:41) Setting the stage for Uber entering 2024

(4:52) Untold parts of Uber's story

(09:38) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://www.Gusto.com/twist

(11:38) Bill Gurley discusses Dara's selection as CEO

(14:57) Dara's initial reservations about joining Uber and how he overcame them

(20:57) Dara’s discomfort in the free-money environment of ZIRP

(21:43) Paintbrush - Visit http://www.getpaintbrush.com to see if you qualify for a $50K startup loan in less than 2 minutes

(22:36) Exploring the early magic of Uber that captivated investors

(26:27) How valuations impact founder mindset

(30:49) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/twist

(32:17) Discussing the relevance of secondaries in the near future

(35:02) Breaking down some Uber myths and Dara’s focus on drivers

(45:50) A deep dive into Uber's future plans

(51:31) Uber’s strategy with upselling as AI enters the conversation

(58:04) Bill Gurley on joining Zillow’s board and how innovation is needed in the real estate industry

(1:05:27) Brad Gerstner on markets

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out Uber: https://www.uber.com

*

LINKS:

Silicon Valley clip referenced:

*

Thanks to our partners:

(09:38) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://www.Gusto.com/twist

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(30:49) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/twist

*

X:

https://twitter.com/Jason

https://twitter.com/dkhos

https://twitter.com/altcap

https://twitter.com/bgurley

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

X: https://twitter.com/HalcyonAi

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

The Growing Ransomware Threat: Targets, Insights, and Strategies with Halcyon's Jon Miller | E1877

9 januari 2024 | 56 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Scalable Path. Want to speed up your product development without breaking the bank? Since 2010, Scalable Path has helped over 300 companies hire deeply vetted engineers in their time zone. Visit http://www.scalablepath.com/twist to get 20% off your first month.

Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist

*

Today’s show:

Jon Miller, CEO and Founder of halcyon joins Jason to discuss how ransomware attackers get away with it and stay anonymous (6:12), hacker markets, bounties, tools, and AI's role (16:20), proactive measures for startups to safeguard themselves (34:42), and more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jon from Halcyon joins host Jason.

(2:52) Delving into the renaissance of ransomware.

(6:12) How ransomware attackers get away with it and stay anonymous.

(8:27) Strategies for counteraction and policy implications.

(10:10) Scalable Path - Get 20% off your first month at http://www.scalablepath.com/twist

(11:31) 2023 ransomware attacks on MGM and Caesar's in Las Vegas.

(13:52) Halcyon's endpoint agent: a solution to thwart threats.

(16:20) Exploring hacker markets, bounties, tools, and AI's role.

(19:57) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(21:55) The effectiveness of multi-factor authentication and strong passwords.

(22:49) Comparing financial vs. espionage attacks and the Colonial Pipeline event.

(29:26) The escalating danger for companies and the Uber cyber attack.

(31:27) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(32:35) AI and quantum computing: new frontiers for hackers.

(34:42) Proactive measures for startups to safeguard themselves.

(37:08) Growing hacker sophistication in places like China, North Korea and Iran.

(41:00) How the USA ranks in the world with cybersecurity and computer hacking.

(43:41) Your privacy is an illusion and a look at the information available on TikTok.

(48:01) The biggest threat that keeps Jon up at night.

(50:36) American Power Grid Vulnerabilities and ways to be prepared.

*

Check out halcyon: https://www.halcyon.ai

*

Thanks to our partners:

(10:10) Scalable Path - Get 20% off your first month at http://www.scalablepath.com/twist

(19:57) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(31:27) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

*

Follow Jon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmillerhalcyon

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

X: https://twitter.com/DWeisburd

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI Demos: Stable Diffusion Turbo, AI Room Decorator, AI-Driven Clothing Site, and more! | E1876

9 januari 2024 | 62 min

Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner, & Jason Calacanis on the state of tech markets, hosted by David Weisburd | E1875

6 januari 2024 | 89 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Today’s show:

Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner, and Jason Calacanis join David Weisburd to discuss the market downturn's impact on startups, including shutdowns and shifting investment strategies (1:29). They also debate the AI boom (54:50), chatbots' future potential and hype (1:01:11), and which tech giants may perform best or worst in 2024 (1:20:32).

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Timestamps:

(0:00) David Weisburd hosts Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner, & Jason Calacanis to discuss the state of tech markets

(1:29) Startup shutdowns in 2023 vs dotcom crash

(3:52) Perspective on current market from Bill Gurley

(7:52) Brad's outlook on startup shutdowns continuing in 2024

(11:48) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(13:16) Different investor perspectives based on investment stage

(16:47) Altimeter's recent investing activity

(25:32) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

(26:30) Reflecting on past IPOs and paths to building businesses for growth

(36:40) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist

(38:07) State of Series B/C deals in 2023 vs 2021 peak

(42:42) Why now is a great time to start a company

(47:17) Jason's theories for success in venture

(49:42) Abundance of technical talent in Silicon Valley and impact of AI on company size and competition

(54:50) AI investments in 2024

(1:01:11) Launguage models raising large rounds quickly and the potential for LLMs to hit a ceiling soon

(1:05:18) The best case for Meta being a leader in AI and Apple's position

(1:08:55) Importance of voice recognition for AI interfaces, challenges of enabling transactions via AI, and consumers choosing services via AI

(1:20:32) Picks for best and worst performing tech giants in 2024

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LINKS:

Unicorn Investors article: https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/top-unicorn-investors-eoy-2023/

Bill Gurley's Above the Crowd article: https://abovethecrowd.com/2011/05/24/all-revenue-is-not-created-equal-the-keys-to-the-10x-revenue-club/

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David's Podcast: https://limitedpartnerpodcast.com/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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AI on Trial: Inside the NY Times vs. OpenAI Lawsuit with Cecilia Ziniti | E1874

4 januari 2024 | 76 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Today’s show:

Cecilia joins Jason for an in-depth discussion about the New York Times versus OpenAI case, delving into the intricacies of fair use and analyzing the Fair Use Test (6:07), examining the legal complexities surrounding data scraping for Large Language Models (28:21), exploring possible ramifications of this legal confrontation between these titans (40:06), and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Cecilia Joins Jason

(2:44) Cecilia’s Background in Law

(3:44) Jumping into the case of NY Times vs OpenAI.

(6:07) Exploring Fair Use legal tests

(11:57) MEV - Get $30,000 off your first three months at http://www.mev.com/twist

(13:50) The case of Roy Orbison vs Two Live Crew and the music industry’s rules on fair use.

(19:04) Picking apart the defense of attribution.

(22:22) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(24:43) Fair Use Test: Factors two and three

(28:21) Legal challenges in data scraping for LLMs

(32:40) Paintbrush - Visit http://www.getpaintbrush.com to see if you qualify for a $50K startup loan in less than 2 minutes

(34:19) The fourth and final factor in the Fair Use Test.

(40:06) Potential outcomes of NY Times vs OpenAI case

(47:04) Google vs Java and legal discussions on digital platforms

(51:49) Jason shares a possible solution to this case and how the subscription wall could change things.

(57:54) Cecilia’s Grinch images on X

(1:02:22) Legal viewpoint regarding commercial vs non-commercial use.

(1:04:14) Summarizing where all this is going with the NY Times and OpenAI trial.

(1:12:18) Reviewing the market-based solution to this case.

* Check out GC AI: https://getgc.ai

Website: ceciliaziniti.com

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Check out Cecilia’s Maven Course here: https://maven.com/ceciliaz

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Thanks to our partners:

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(32:40) Paintbrush - Visit http://www.getpaintbrush.com to see if you qualify for a $50K startup loan in less than 2 minutes

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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2024 AI Predictions and Bets with Sunny Madra | E1873

3 januari 2024 | 74 min

Business Breakdowns: “The Founder” Ray Kroc and the Story of McDonalds | E1872

29 december 2023 | 84 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Curotec. Are you one of those companies that knows you need to be using AI, but you're not even sure where to start? Well then you need Curotec. They are AI experts, and they're offering TWiST listeners an AI Strategy Roadmap tailored to your business for $5000. That's 50% off the normal cost just for telling them we sent you. Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off!

Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.

Masterworks. The first company allowing investors exposure into the blue-chip artwork asset class. TWIST listeners can skip the waitlist by going to ⁠https://www.masterworks.com/twist and using promo code TWIST.

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Today’s show:

Lon Harris sits down with Jason to examine product-market fit and market-pull and their role in McDonalds' success (21:11), the importance of complementary skill sets between founders within any startup.(32:41), the path of doubt, fear and uncertainty that founders experience (45:29), and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Lon Harris joins Jason

(3:35) Lon brings us quick hits on the film The Founder.

(9:30) Lon shares his admiration for the film

(10:16) Jason discovered the film through a curious link with Mark Knopfler.

(12:02) Curotec - Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off

(16:00) Delving into the McDonalds' story

(17:47) Discussion on a common entrepreneurial revelation: efficiency and customer focus

(21:11) Examining product-market fit and market-pull in "The Founder" and its role in McDonalds' success.

(24:09) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(25:36) Building a series of innovations will create enormous value.

(27:35) Ray Kroc takeaway: the pursuit of relentless self-improvement on the way to his one big win.

(32:41) The importance of complimentary skill sets between founders within any startup.

(34:25) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art at https://www.masterworks.com/twist

(35:43) Exploring strengths and criticisms of the franchise model.

(41:36) The role of spouses in startup formation

(45:29) The path of doubt, fear and uncertainty that founders experience before any winning.

(49:54) Lessons around deal-making and negotiation.

(1:00:07) The power struggle between the McDonald brothers and Ray Kroc

(1:02:43) Discussing the significance of equity and stock ownership in business

(1:08:26) Ray Kroc’s brilliance came from his power to observe value and opportunity.

(1:16:51) Business Breakdown Awards for “The Founder”

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Thanks to our partners:

(12:02) Curotec - Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off

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(34:25) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art at https://www.masterworks.com/twist

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Follow Lon:

X: https://twitter.com/Lons

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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https://youtu.be/RxaKWmPEcrk

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Glenn Kelman on Market Trends, Home-Buying Hacks and Redfin Insights | E1871

27 december 2023 | 39 min

FCC's Brendan Carr on Starlink subsidy revocation, China's internet ambitions, and TikTok | E1870

25 december 2023 | 50 min

AI-Powered "Tools for Thought": Exploring NotebookLM with Steven Berlin Johnson | E1869

20 december 2023 | 62 min

Pioneering AI Wearables: Avi Schiffmann and Tab AI | E1868

20 december 2023 | 38 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Nuts.com is offering new customers a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $29 or more at http://www.Nuts.com/twist

Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.

Curotec. Are you one of those companies that knows you need to be using AI, but you're not even sure where to start? Well then you need Curotec. They are AI experts, and they're offering TWiST listeners an AI Strategy Roadmap tailored to your business for $5000. That's 50% off the normal cost just for telling them we sent you. Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off!

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Today’s show:

Avi Schiffman joins Jason to explore the origin story of Tab (3:05), concerns regarding wearables safety and security (13:00), Tab’s prototype and design choices (25:00), and much more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Avi Schiffmann of Tab AI joins Jason

(3:05) The origin story of Tab: building a mental model of who you are.

(6:01) Exploring what Tab can do and its hardware profile

(9:01) Avi Schiffmann's take on Apple's new wearable, Humane

(11:30) Nuts.com - Get a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $29 or more at http://www.Nuts.com/twist

(13:00) In-depth discussion on wearables: safety, security, and continuous audio recording concerns.

(18:57) A showcase of Tab's supportive role featuring AI-driven insights and affirmations

(20:02) Avi Schiffmann's insights on achieving positive change through TAB's guidance

(20:54) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(21:54) Comparing Avi's Tab with Rewind AI.

(25:00) Examining the Tab prototype and discussing the pendant design choice

(33:04) ****Curotec - Check out http://curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off

(34:29) Addressing the limitations of coaches, therapists, and the chatbot Pi, and how Tab sets itself apart

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Thanks to our partners:

(11:30) Nuts.com - Get a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $29 or more at http://www.Nuts.com/twist

(20:54) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(33:04) ****Curotec - Check out http://curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off

Links to other TWiST episodes on wearables:

Oura CEO Tom Hale | E1812

Whoop CEO Will Ahmed | E1786

https://youtu.be/L-6FJQ7AuHY

Rewind AI’s Dan Siroker | E1828

https://youtu.be/lHBBCJUoD4w

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Follow Avi:

X: https://twitter.com/avi_schiffmann

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Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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Follow TWiST:

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AI DEMOS: Turning Adele into John Mayer, animating a Jedi Bulldog, AI companions and much more! | E1867

19 december 2023 | 62 min

Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K LIVE! | E1866

15 december 2023 | 45 min

Mastering Early-Stage Board Meetings | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1865

14 december 2023 | 28 min

Jerry Colonna on 'Reunion': sustaining founder drive, enlightened leadership, and more! | E1864

13 december 2023 | 62 min

Drawing the Future with AI featuring tldraw’s Steve Ruiz | E1863

13 december 2023 | 38 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Miro. Working remotely doesn’t mean you need to feel disconnected from your team. Miro is an online whiteboard that brings teams together - anytime, anywhere. Go to https://www.miro.com/startups to sign up for a FREE account with unlimited team members.

The Equinix Startup program offers a hybrid infrastructure solution for startups, including up to $100K in credits and personalized consultations and guidance from the Equinix team. Go to https://deploy.equinix.com/startups to apply today.

NetSuite. Once your business gets to a certain size the cracks start to emerge. Things you used to do in a day take a week. You deserve a customized solution - and that's NetSuite. Learn more when you download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist - absolutely free, at http://www.netsuite.com/twist

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Today’s show:

Steve Ruiz, Founder of tldraw, joins Jason to discuss how Make Real went viral just one week after a recent funding round (5:35), diving into the debate of creating consciousness with AI (20:41), highlighting tldraw's versatility with multiple demonstrations including creating a stopwatch from simple sketches (24:21), and much more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Steve Ruiz, Founder of tldraw, joins Jason.

(2:26) The story behind tldraw and exploring its origins.

(5:35) Discussing tldraw's business and how Make Real went viral just one week after a recent venture round.

(6:46) Understanding “Open Core”

(7:59) Demos: tldraw and Make Real, including the creation of a color picker.

(12:01) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://www.miro.com/startups

(14:42) Further exploring tldraw demos using Iterations

(16:18) How multimodal AI responds to different instructions.

(20:41) Are we creating consciousness in AI or merely simulating it?

(21:25) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://www.deploy.equinix.com/startups

(24:21) More demos! Creating a stopwatch application with varied approaches.

(31:21) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://www.netsuite.com/twist

(32:42) The future of tldraw and its potential to integrate across various AI models.

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Thank you to our partners:

(12:01) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://www.miro.com/startups

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(31:21) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://www.netsuite.com/twist

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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AI DEMOS: Google’s NotebookLM, Bard’s Gemini upgrade, Magnific’s image upscaler, & more! | E1862

12 december 2023 | 87 min

Kevin O'Connor on backing visionaries, the future of VC, internet history and more | E1861

8 december 2023 | 56 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at https://www.vanta.com/twist

DevSquad. Most dev agencies only offer developers. Why? Because product management is hard. Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://www.devsquad.com/twist

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Today’s show:

ScOp’s Kevin O’Connor joins Jason (1:39), exploring the early days of the internet, its initial promise, rapid growth, and the recent pivotal changes brought on by AI (1:39). They also discuss tactics for building in a declining market, the emergence of “death-icorns” (19:30), what he looks for in founders (39:18), and much more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason welcomes Kevin O’Connor of ScOp Venture Capital.

(1:39) Exploring the early days of the internet, its initial promise, rapid growth, and the recent pivotal changes brought by AI.

(5:55) Discussing the impact and future prospects of AI as we approach 2024.

(8:41) Delving into the potential influence of AI on sectors like Hollywood and the music industry.

(10:03) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(11:11) Transitioning from founding companies to establishing a fund and supporting new startups.

(15:25) Examining the evolution of founding a company, market dynamics, and fluctuating trends since the 1990s.

(18:22) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(19:30) Tactics for building in a declining market, the emergence of “death-icorns,” and the pitfalls of debt-financed growth in unprofitable businesses.

(27:57) The pendulum swings back after “the great reshuffling of America” and the phenomenon of over-employment.

(29:53) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

(33:13) Identifying unique opportunities in AI investments.

(36:50) Recounting a near acquisition of Kevin’s company Graphiq by Apple for Siri integration.

(39:18) What Kevin currently seeks in entrepreneurs before making an investment.

(47:35) Discussing current valuation trends and the competitive nature of losing deals in venture capital.

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Thanks to our partners:

(10:03) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(18:22) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(29:53) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://www.devsquad.com/twist

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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How to pay yourself as a startup founder | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1860

7 december 2023 | 24 min

Earth Reimagined: Crafting a planet-scale digital twin with Blackshark.AI's Michael Putz | E1859

7 december 2023 | 43 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Arising Ventures is a holding company that acquires tech startups facing setbacks. Arising Ventures knows what founders care about because they aren’t bankers, they are tech founders themselves! Go to ⁠http://arisingventures.com/TWIST

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Today’s show:

Blackshark.ai CEO Michael Putz joins Jason to discuss the necessity and vision behind creating a digital twin of our planet (3:22), why In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture arm, chose to invest in Blackshark.ai (14:59), the story and inspiration behind the name of Blackshark's new product, Orca Hunter (30:25), and much more!

*

TIMESTAMPS

(0:00) Jason welcomes Michael Putz, CEO of Blackshark.ai.

(2:40) What are the lessons learned in video game creation that inform creating a startup?

(3:22) The necessity and vision behind creating a digital twin of our planet

(8:24) Unraveling Blackshark's programming methods and learning algorithms.

(11:04) Arising Ventures - head to http://www.arisingventures.com/TWIST to learn more and connect with the team

(12:01) The modern approach to data training and insights from developing Microsoft’s Flight Simulator.

(14:59) Discussing why In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture arm, chose to invest in Blackshark.ai.

(15:41) A live demonstration of Blackshark's innovative new product, Orca Huntr.

(22:16) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art at https://www.masterworks.com/twist

(27:16) Planet Labs and the amazing cadence of updated satellite imagery.

(30:25) The story and inspiration behind the name of Blackshark's new product, Orca Hunter.

(31:48) LinkedIn Marketing ****- Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(34:37) Delving into the Austrian perspective on the in-office versus remote work debate.

(36:53) Exploring how Blackshark’s team leverages AI for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

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LinkedIn: https://at.linkedin.com/in/michaelputz

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis *

Thanks to our partners: (11:04) Arising Ventures - head to http://www.arisingventures.com/TWIST to learn more and connect with the team

(22:16) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art at https://www.masterworks.com/twist

(31:48) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Genomes Unlocked: Anne Wojcicki's Vision for 23andMe and the Future of Proactive Healthcare | E1858

5 december 2023 | 76 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://www.claconnect.com/tech

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.Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://www.startups.tech/jason

Today’s show:

23andMe's Anne Wojcicki joins Jason for a deep dive on genome testing and healthcare. They cover the dramatic reduction in genome sequencing costs from billions to just $99 (3:15), the role of blood testing and sequencing in shaping 23andMe's health approach (27:02), the curious case of the venomous Gila monster (42:09), and much more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Anne Wojcicki of 23andMe joins Jason for an insightful discussion.

(1:28) Exploring the impact of 23andMe and the trend of genome sequencing for proactive health management.

(3:15) Tracing the dramatic reduction in genome sequencing costs from billions to just $99.

(10:58) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://www.claconnect.com/tech

(12:24) Discussing a pivotal moment in advancing our understanding of health and genetics.

(18:41) Strategies for integrating new health initiatives in the U.S. and international healthcare systems.

(22:26) House of Macadamias is the next big health trend! Get a free month's supply of Macadamia Milk with any order at https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20!

(23:54) Addressing the need for a paradigm shift in healthcare policies and incentive structures.

(27:02) The role of blood testing and exome sequencing in shaping 23andMe's comprehensive health approach.

(30:45) Embracing a holistic perspective in personal health and wellness.

(32:57) .Tech Domains has a new program called startups.tech, where you can get your startup featured on This Week in Startups. Go to http://www.startups.tech/jason to find out how!

(34:02) Emphasizing the significance of regular blood tests for health monitoring.

(41:55) A lesson in healthcare for everyone and the curious case of the venomous Gila monster.

(48:59) Connecting the dots between modern healthcare, science, and technology: A real-life 'choose-your-own-adventure'.

(52:39) Exploring the benefits of Lemonaid Health's acquisition by 23andMe.

(58:32) Anne Wojcicki reflects on her 17-year journey in the field and shares her vision for the future of health and genetics.

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Check out 23andMe: https://www.23andme.com

*

Follow Anne:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annewojcicki

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thanks to our partners:

(10:58) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://www.claconnect.com/tech

(22:26) House of Macadamias is the next big health trend! Get a free month's supply of Macadamia Milk with any order at https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20!

(32:57) .Tech Domains has a new program called startups.tech, where you can get your startup featured on This Week in Startups. Go to http://www.startups.tech/jason to find out how!

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-heinemeier-hansson-374b18221/

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI demos: Figma’s FigJam, AI drawing, dancing avatars, and more! | E1857

5 december 2023 | 56 min

David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH) on the ‘Post-SaaS era' | E1856

1 december 2023 | 82 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

The Equinix Startup program offers a hybrid infrastructure solution for startups, including up to $100K in credits and personalized consultations and guidance from the Equinix team. Go to https://equinixstartups.com to apply today.

Today’s show:

DHH joins Jason to discuss a post-SaaS world and Once.com (2:29), the evolving landscape of remote work (21:31), navigating internal culture struggles at Basecamp (32:53), and much more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) DHH joins Jason

(2:29) David discusses his new SaaS alternative Once.com, which charges a one-time fee rather than a recurring subscription

(10:44) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(11:50) David's philosophy on copyrighting

(20:17) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(21:31) The evolving landscape of remote work

(31:46) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://equinixstartups.com

(32:53) The state of fundraising and DHH recounts Basecamp's internal culture struggles

(49:03) Should AI progress should be accelerated or slowed down?

(1:08:08) How willful exposure to hardship can build grit and resilience.

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Check out Once: https://once.com

*

Follow David:

https://twitter.com/dhh

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Exploring AI's Pace of Evolution, AGI's Future, and Data Dominance with Adept CEO David Luan | E1855

29 november 2023 | 38 min

24/7 autonomous agents for everything with Induced AI’s Aryan Sharma | E1854

28 november 2023 | 52 min

AI demos: Bard's YouTube summarizer, Stability's image editing tools, and more with Sunny Madra | E1853

28 november 2023 | 75 min

OpenAI Chaos Continues with Sunny Madra and David Sacks | E1852

21 november 2023 | 60 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

NetSuite. Once your business gets to a certain size the cracks start to emerge. Things you used to do in a day take a week. You deserve a customized solution - and that's NetSuite. Learn more when you download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist - absolutely free, at NetSuite.com/twist

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Brave. If you’re building AI and search-based applications, train your models with the Brave Search API. Get started for free at brave.com/jason

Today’s show:

Sunny Madra and David Sacks join Jason to break down all the chaos of the past few days at OpenAI including why the situation is so unprecedented (17:46), the board’s failure (30:18), the impact on startups (43:34), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Recapping the chaotic past few days at OpenAI plus some immediate impacts from the fallout

(16:43) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://netsuite.com/twist

(17:46) David Sacks joins the show and explains why this situation is so unprecedented in Silicon Valley

(28:51) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(30:18) How the board could have handled this better, Sam Altman's misaligned incentives packages (or lack thereof)

(37:14) Silicon Valley's battle-tested standard structure, and why you shouldn't innovate on corporate structure

(42:20) Brave - Try the Brave Search API at http://brave.com/jason

(43:34) Impact on startups reliant on OpenAI's models, a brutal momentum killer for OpenAI

(50:39) Predictions: Return of the King? Mass Exodus? Something else?

*

Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep

Follow Sacks: https://twitter.com/DavidSacks

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamvictorperez

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

BREAKING: Sam Altman fired from OpenAI, chaos ensues! | E1851

18 november 2023 | 60 min

Real-time AI-powered design with Krea CEO Victor Perez | E1850

17 november 2023 | 55 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Masterworks. The first company allowing investors exposure into the blue-chip artwork asset class. TWIST listeners can skip the waitlist by going to ⁠https://masterworks.com/twist⁠ and using promo code TWIST.

Fitbod. Tired of doing the same workouts at the gym? Fitbod will build you personalized workouts that help you progress with every set. Get 25% off your subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up now at https://fitbod.me/twist.

Today’s show:

First, Jason interviews Krea CEO and Co-Founder Victor Perez, who demos Krea's creative suite, highlighting its unique blend of AI prompts and interactive design elements (2:40). Then, testRigor’s Artem Golubev breaks down how their AI-powered software helps businesses streamline QA processes (48:54).

Time stamps:

Time stamps:

(0:00) CEO and Co-Founder of Krea.ai join Jason

(2:40) Victor demos Krea’s real-time AI capabilities

(8:24) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist

(9:22) Startup culture at the Krea house, Krea’s wide range of users, and its unique approach: enabling precise control over object placement and evolving sketches into final products

(17:22) Future plans for video-to-video workflows, Victor’s background, Stable Diffusion’s capabilities, understanding the concept of 'weights' in AI

(26:03) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art at https://www.masterworks.com/twist

(27:22) Debating copyright concerns and the state of training data in Stable Diffusion

(32:20) The challenges of the startup scene in Barcelona, trying the Blueprint diet

(36:32) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(38:00) Artem Golubev, CEO and Co-Founder of testRigor joins Jason and explains testRigor's AI-powered QA solution

(41:29) testRigor's AI approach: Streamlining software QA testing

(48:54) Examining the impact of AI on dev teams, and testRigor demo

*

Check out Krea: http://www.krea.ai

Check out testRigor: http://www.testrigor.com

*

Follow Victor: https://twitter.com/viccpoes

Follow Artem:

https://twitter.com/artemtwtr

https://www.linkedin.com/in/agolubev

*

Thanks to our partners:

(8:24) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist

(17:24) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art at https://www.masterworks.com/twist

(27:22) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

https://twitter.com/adrianaoun

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Avoiding Accidental Tax Fraud | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1849

16 november 2023 | 22 min

Engineering an AI-powered doctor’s office with Forward CEO Adrian Aoun | E1848

15 november 2023 | 52 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

.Tech Domains has a new program called startups.tech, where you can get your startup featured on This Week in Startups. Go to startups.tech/jason to find out how!

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist

Arising Ventures is a holding company that acquires tech startups facing setbacks. Arising Ventures knows what founders care about because they aren’t bankers, they are tech founders themselves! Go to ⁠http://arisingventures.com/TWIST

Today’s show:

Forward CEO Adrian Aoun joins Jason to discuss how his startup creating the first AI doctor's office (13:55)! The two dive into how Forward's AI technology operates (15:55), the challenges with modern healthcare (9:52), and how Forward plans to revolutionize the healthcare service (40:36).

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Forward CEO Adrian Aoun joins Jason.

(1:46) VC in the Middle East and the lack of diligence in the last boom and bust cycle

(8:51) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason

(9:52) Challenges in healthcare and Adrian’s journey to Forward

(13:55) The Forward “Care Pod”, an AI-powered doctor's office providing scans, monitoring, blood tests and more

(15:55) Adrian demos Forward’s product

(23:44) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(24:50) Forward’s business model and target customer

(28:08) Figuring out how to make healthcare scalable

(30:29) Reactions to the Care Pod and thoughts on wearables

(34:51) The role of a doctor in Forward’s ecosystem

(37:28) Forward’s rollout strategy

(39:35) Arising Ventures - head to http://arisingventures.com/TWIST to learn more and connect with the team

(40:36) AI’s role in Forward’s technology

(43:27) The size of the company and plans for expansion

*

Check out Forward: https://goforward.com/

Follow Adrian:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianaoun/

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

PrayingForExits on the rush into defense tech, “innovator’s sprint,” & global VC markets | E1847

15 november 2023 | 45 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at http://www.Embroker.com/twist While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

CLA. Innovation takes balance. CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors can help you get from startup to where you want to end up. Get started now at http://www.CLAconnect.com/tech

IntouchCX. Want to build a loyal customer base for your startup? Unlock the power of innovative AI and automated support solutions from IntouchCX to deliver fast, personalized support and enhance your customers’ experience. Schedule your consultation today at http://www.intouchcx.com/twist

Today’s show:

The man behind the anonymous accounts “prayingforexits” on Instagram and “@mrexits” on X joins Jason for a jam-packed episode!

Topics covered: Praying For Exits raised a fund! (2:10) Drawing inspiration from Steve Jobs' iconic Think Different Campaign (8:55), defense tech going from “frowned upon” to a very hot market (17:03), and how the modern Middle East will play ball with the USA? (33:29)!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Mr. Exits joins Jason.

(2:16) Praying For Exits raised a fund!

(5:26) Subject-matter experts and the “alumni factor”

(9:01) Drawing inspiration from Steve Jobs' iconic Think Differently Campaign.

(9:23) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://www.Embroker.com/twist

(11:50) Building a startup is akin to compressing a life’s career into 5 years

(12:54)The softening of the American capitalistic machine

(14:32) The shot clock of VC

(16:57) Defense tech going from “frowned upon” to a very hot market

(19:09) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://www.claconnect.com/tech

(21:55) Globalization’s impact on nationalism

(28:20) USA's stake in the world’s top 25 market cap companies.

(29:21) InTouchCX - Schedule a free consultation at http://www.intouchcx.com/twist

(31:30) Speculating on the USA-China endgame.

(33:23) How will the modern Middle-East play ball with the USA?

(44:13) The Golden Visa of Dubai

(43:33) For those aspiring to be invested in by Mr. Exits

Our partners:

(9:23) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://www.Embroker.com/twist

(19:15) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://www.claconnect.com/tech

(29:27) InTouchCX - Schedule a free consultation at http://www.intouchcx.com/twist

*

FOLLOW PrayingForExits: ⁠ https://twitter.com/mrexits

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

* Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI Demos! xAI’s Grok chatbot, OpenAI’s GPTs, & more! | E1846

14 november 2023 | 62 min

Tech Earnings Breakdown: $UBER, $LYFT, $KIND with TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm | E1845

11 november 2023 | 79 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

NetSuite. Once your business gets to a certain size the cracks start to emerge. Things you used to do in a day take a week. You deserve a customized solution - and that's NetSuite. Learn more when you download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist - absolutely free, at NetSuite.com/twist

Miro. Working remotely doesn’t mean you need to feel disconnected from your team. Miro is an online whiteboard that brings teams together - anytime, anywhere. Go to https://miro.com/startups to sign up for a FREE account with unlimited team members.

Arising Ventures is a holding company that acquires tech startups facing setbacks. Arising Ventures knows what founders care about because they aren’t bankers, they are tech founders themselves! Go to http://arisingventures.com/TWIST

*

Today’s show:

TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to break down the latest earnings reports from Uber (4:04), Lyft (24:28), and Nextdoor (44:15). Then, the two dive into WeWork's failed business model (1:01:44), the viability of various careers as AI advances (38:33), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Tech Crunch’s Alex Wilhelm joins Jason

(4:04) Uber’s earning report

(7:04) Pirate cut-throat mentality analogy and the money-ball system

(10:11) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://www.netsuite.com/twist

(11:12) Did the press get Uber’s Earnings report right?

(17:39) Uber and the J-Curve

(20:29) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://www.miro.com/startups

(22:17) Uber, China, and DiDi

(23:14) ZIRP environment playbook to own a market

(24:28) Lyft gets a participation trophy

(25:22) Comparing Lyft to Uber’s Revenue (Quarterly)

(27:53) Labor availability

(31:05) Arising Ventures - head to http://www.arisingventures.com/TWIST to learn more and connect with the team

(32:15) Immigration policy and a record-low unemployment

(37:37) The underground economy

(38:33) AI effects on unemployment

(39:12) Let’s build new cities!

(44:15) NextDoor earnings

(55:34) A case for hiring remotely

(59:13) Combining remote work with the power of AI

(1:01:44) Clip from TWiST E969 with Alex about WeWork

(1:04:22) Earnings “supplements”

(1:07:35) When Alex discovered business as a youth

(1:14:18) A South Park clip!

*

Check out TWiST E969: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM1DDVq3_vs

Follow Alex: https://twitter.com/alex

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

https://twitter.com/gaganbiyani

The Case for Adam Neumann + driverDoc's Josh Kolar on automation for trucking companies | E1844

10 november 2023 | 45 min

Managing your treasury in 2023 | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1843

8 november 2023 | 19 min

Uber profitable again, SBF guilty, Biden's AI EO + Motive's John Habeck | E1842

8 november 2023 | 45 min

OpenAI DevDay!: demoing GPT-4 Turbo, "GPT Store" potential, and more with Sunny Madra | E1841

7 november 2023 | 63 min

The hard lessons from building three startups with Maven’s Gagan Biyani | E1840

3 november 2023 | 59 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at www.vanta.com/twist

The Embroker Startup Program helps startups secure the most important lines of insurance, at a lower cost, and with less hassle. For guaranteed 10% off on premiums (& up to 20% depending on quote) go to www.embroker.com/twist.

Brave is an internet privacy company on a mission to protect your personal info online. Try the Brave Search API at http://www.brave.com/jason

Today’s show:

Maven Co-Founder and CEO Gagan Biyani joins Jason to break down his startup's live, cohort-based education model (2:28). Then, Gagan dives into his past journeys at Udemy, where he was eventually fired but wound up revolutionizing online learning and going public (35:08), and Sprig, a food-delivery startup that went on to raise $60M and scale to $20M in revenue, but ultimately failed (47:36).

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Gagan Biyani, CEO of Maven, joins Jason to discuss the future of online learning.

(2:24) Maven: the evolution of online learning.

(3:23) Exploring Maven's elite courses offered by a diverse pool of passionate professionals.

(6:57) Analyzing who is leveraging Maven for education and the cost dynamics of online learning.

(10:30) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(11:36) How Maven's live cohort-based learning emphasizes accountability and interactivity for higher success rates.

(13:15) Comparing the outdated cost structures of traditional education with modern alternatives.

(23:10) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://www.Embroker.com/twist

(26:31) Unveiling the potential earnings for educators in the online learning marketplace.

28:27) The online educational landscape featuring insights on Coursera, Udemy, and others.

(30:56) Brave - Try the Brave Search API at http://www.brave.com/jason

(33:40) Jason built the “pit” at TechCrunch50, where he and Gagan first met.

(35:08) How Udemy's early days were shaped by the Founder Institute and Adeo Ressi.

(41:28) Gagan shares his personal story of being fired from Udemy and his lessons learned.

(47:33) The trials, tribulations, and ultimate closure of the food delivery startup, Sprig.

(53:39) Discussing the most effective methods for scaling and growing a product.

(55:02) The world of fundraising and understanding the power law in venture capital.

Check out Maven: https://www.maven.com

Follow Gagan:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaganbiyani * Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four Apply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.com

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Giving NPCs the power of AI with Convai's Purnendu Mukherjee | E1839

2 november 2023 | 50 min

Airtable CEO Howie Liu on pivoting from blitzscaling to profits, AI applications, and more | E1838

1 november 2023 | 58 min

AI Demos! Cap table management platform, AI-powered job interviews, & more! | E1837

31 oktober 2023 | 50 min

Loop Golf's Matt Holder on auto tee times for golfers, plus: Cruise robotaxi suspension | E1836

27 oktober 2023 | 51 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Mercury. With Mercury Raise, startup founders no longer have to navigate roadblocks alone. Visit http://mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice.

Corient. Real wealth requires real solutions. Corient provides wealth management services centered around you. For more information, speak with an advisor today at http://corient.com

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at https://vanta.com/twist

*

Today’s show:

First, Loop Golf's CEO Matt Holder joins Jason for a jam session on scaling his startup, which is building an automatic tee time booking app for golfers (4:32). Then, Jason gives a recap on the news surrounding Cruise robotaxi & more! (32:43)

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Loop Golf’s Matt Holder joins Jason

(4:32) What sets Loop Golf apart from traditional golf booking apps

(8:17) Matt demos Loop Golf

(15:23) Mercury Raise - Visit http://mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice

(16:49) The sudden surge in the popularity of golf

(20:53) The current state of golfer-tracking technology

(24:27) Corient - Speak with one of Corient's wealth management advisors today at http://corient.com

(25:29) Incorporating real-time features into Loop Golf

(27:40) Thoughts on surge pricing and additional app features

(31:33) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(32:43) The suspension of Cruise’s robotaxi permit in San Francisco.

*

Check out Loop Golf: https://loopgolf.co/

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Demoing Google Suite's AI plus legal docs, detection, and more! | E1835

27 oktober 2023 | 47 min

Google, Microsoft, and Snap earnings, plus the state of VC in the Middle East | E1834

25 oktober 2023 | 58 min

The Trial of SBF: A deep dive with Inner City Press's Matthew Russell Lee | E1833

24 oktober 2023 | 68 min

Reverse-engineering autonomy in humanoid robots with Sanctuary AI CEO Geordie Rose | E1832

21 oktober 2023 | 63 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

IntouchCX. Looking for ways to make your startup more efficient? IntouchCX has a ground-breaking suite of AI-powered tools for end-to-end optimization to give your business the edge it needs to thrive. Get started with your free consultation at http://intouchcx.com/twist

Fount. Do you want access to the performance protocols that pro athletes and special ops use? With Fount, an elite military operator supercharges your focus, sleep, recovery, and longevity, all powered by your unique data. Want a true edge in work and life? Go to fount.bio/TWIST for $500 off.

.Tech Domains has a new program called startups.tech, where you can get your startup featured on This Week in Startups. Go to startups.tech/jason to find out how!

*

Today’s show:

Sanctuary AI CEO Geordie Rose joins Jason for an incredible interview on the complexities of using AI to train robots (11:09), developing large behavior models (17:53), the 'lights out' moment in manufacturing (42:52), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Sanctuary AI CEO Geordie Rose joins Jason

(3:42) Sanctuary AI's approach to robotics and motivation behind creating humanoid robots

(6:05) The human hand's integral role in AI-driven robot development: Planning, reasoning, and understanding the world

(11:09) Moravec’s paradox and the challenges of instilling perception in robots

(16:40) InTouchCX - Get started with a free consultation at http://intouchcx.com/twist

(17:53) The significance of "Micro-Policies" and developing large behavior models

(22:59) Exploring human cognition and large behavior models

(28:52) Fount - Get $500 off an executive health coach at https://fount.bio/twist

(30:23) Sanctuary AI’s Phoenix robot, robot training, and use of large language models

(37:46) Robotics in automotive manufacturing

(41:43) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason

(42:52) The"lights out' moment in manufacturing and the challenge of regulatory capture in AI

(56:01) Humans’ problem-solving nature and roots of technological fear

*

Check out Sanctuary AI: https://sanctuary.ai/

Follow Geordie: https://twitter.com/realgeordierose

*

Check out Bill Gurley’s 2,851 Miles: https://youtu.be/F9cO3-MLHOM?feature=shared

*

https://www.launch.co/four Apply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four Apply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Should Apple buy Disney? Plus: Apple's $1B blockbuster bet and more with Lon Harris | E1831

19 oktober 2023 | 59 min

Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel on travel industry trends, M&A, leadership, and more! | E1830

17 oktober 2023 | 53 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist

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DevSquad. Most dev agencies only offer developers. Why? Because product management is hard. Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist.

*

Today’s show:

Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel joins Jason to discuss trends in the travel industry (31:20), healthy M&A environments (24:24), job disruption due to AI (37:22), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel joins Jason

(2:37) Booking Holdings' companies and their operations

(5:30) Shifts in the travel industry

(10:52) A look at the ascension of Airbnb

(15:25) The impact of alternative accommodations

(17:15) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(18:21) AI's influence on user interfaces

(20:55) Uber's entry into travel and Uber’s everything app

(22:44) Competition in travel

(24:24) What makes for healthy M&A in the USA and thoughts on Lina Khan's strategy

(28:19) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(29:44) Consequences of removing M&A from the table

(31:20) Trends in travel over the past two decades

(34:14) Advocating for a 32-hour work week in China and the four-day work week debate

(37:22) Job disruption due to AI and where will people shift to next

(41:01) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

(42:19) Traits of generations X, Y, and Z in relation to entrepreneurship and capitalism

(45:34) Selecting company leaders and management techniques

(48:00) Recovering from COVID-19's impact on the travel industry

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI demos: ChatGPT’s UI punch ups, Google’s generative image search, and more with Sunny Madra | E1829

17 oktober 2023 | 71 min

Debating personal AI hardware with Rewind AI’s Dan Siroker | E1828

12 oktober 2023 | 40 min

NEWS: Ackman's SPARC, Unity CEO steps down amidst dev revolt, AI operating costs skyrocket | E1827

12 oktober 2023 | 57 min

State of early-stage VC, finding PMF, Caroline Ellison testifies & more with Zach Coelius | E1826

11 oktober 2023 | 71 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Fount. Do you want access to the performance protocols that pro athletes and special ops use? With Fount, an elite military operator supercharges your focus, sleep, recovery, and longevity, all powered by your unique data. Want a true edge in work and life? Go to fount.bio/TWIST for $500 off.

Coda. A new doc that brings words, tables and teams together. All your valuable data, plans, objectives, and strategies in one place. Go to https://coda.io/twist to get a $1,000 credit!

Miro. Working remotely doesn’t mean you need to feel disconnected from your team. Miro is an online whiteboard that brings teams together - anytime, anywhere. Go to https://miro.com/startups to sign up for a FREE account with unlimited team members.

*

Today’s show:

Zach Coelius joins Jason to discuss the phases of early-stage startups (2:01), break down the state of VC (13:17), answer live questions from the audience (22:36), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Zach Coelius joins Jason

(2:01) The three phases of early-stage startups

(10:00) Fount - Get $500 off an executive health coach at https://fount.bio/twist

(11:31) Advantages that Builder/Founder startups possess

(13:17) The state of VC: The LP and GP relationship, post-ZIRP, and startup soft landings

(21:10) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist

(22:36) Question: How do you describe PMF in the simplest terms possible

(29:20) Question: How hard is it for first-time founders to raise pre-seed?

(39:46) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups

(41:11) Question: I will be in the Bay Area for two weeks… any advice on how to efficiently meet VCs to pitch my startup?

(45:56) Question: What are attributes of companies that are getting funded today? More stable and breakeven? Different industries? What is working today?

(54:49) Breaking news: Caroline Ellison, CEO of Alameda Research testifies for first time today in SBF’s trial

(1:01:49) Cruise robotaxi fleet deployed in San Francisco

*

Follow Zach: https://twitter.com/zachcoelius

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Bill Gurley and Sunny Madra talk open-source vs. proprietary AI | E1825

10 oktober 2023 | 57 min

NEWS: Breaking down SBF's trial and the downfall of FTX | E1824

7 oktober 2023 | 49 min

NEWS: Anthropic targets $20B+ valuation, Flexport chaos & more! | E1823

6 oktober 2023 | 56 min

Kayak CEO Steve Hafner on the state of travel, AI's place, hospitality trends, and more! | E1822

3 oktober 2023 | 54 min

AI demos! Microsoft’s Windows Copilot, ChatGPT multimodal, Meta’s AI chatbots | E1821

3 oktober 2023 | 73 min

OpenAI taps Jony Ive for “iPhone for AI," FTC/Amazon + Roam Around CEO Shie Gabbai | E1820

29 september 2023 | 47 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Supergut is the only nutrition brand clinically-proven to improve digestion, balance blood sugar, sustain energy, and manage weight. Save 25% on their delicious shakes, bars, and prebiotic mix at https://Supergut.com with code TWIST.

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*

Today's show:

Jason kicks off the show by discussing the reported talks between OpenAI, Jony Ive, and Masayoshi Son to build the "iPhone of AI” (1:17), and the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon (9:45). Then, Roam Around CEO Shie Gabbai joins Jason to discuss the journey of doing a travel startup in the AI space (20:53), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(1:17) OpenAI in advanced talks with Jony Ive and Masayoshi Son, aiming to Raise $1 Billion for the "iPhone of AI”

(8:13) Supergut - Get 25% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com

(9:45) The FTC and 17 states have brought an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon and Lina Khan's agenda

(13:48) Quick recap of Lina Khan’s results so far as FTC chair and the tactics used in the Amazon lawsuit

(19:24) Catalog - Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist

(20:53) Roam Around CEO Shie Gabbai joins Jason

(23:51) Shie demos Roam Around and explains the driving idea behind the app

(27:23) The emergence of multimodal LLMs and other technological advancements

(31:46) Business model, additional product features, and the path ahead

(37:01) Codecademy - Try Codecademy Pro FREE for 14 days at http://codecademy.com/TWiST

(38:21) The B2B side of AI and the travel industry's tension with Google

*

Follow Shie: https://twitter.com/Shie_eth

Check out Roam Around: https://www.roamaround.io

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K | E1819

29 september 2023 | 81 min

The future of fintech with Plaid CEO Zach Perret | E1818

28 september 2023 | 60 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist.

The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

Fount. Do you want access to the performance protocols that pro athletes and special ops use? With Fount, an elite military operator supercharges your focus, sleep, recovery, and longevity, all powered by your unique data. Want a true edge in work and life? Go to fount.bio/twist for $500 off.

*

Today’s show:

Plaid CEO Zach Perret joins Jason to break down the behind-the-scenes details of Plaid’s canceled merger with Visa (1:21), Plaid’s origin story (16:44), tactics on growing a community within your early customer base (27:36), and more!

*

FOLLOW Zach: https://twitter.com/zachperret

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Jason welcomes Plaid CEO Zach Perret!

(1:21) Plaid's canceled Visa merger, coming out the other side of a canceled acquisition stronger

(11:30) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(12:36) Zach breaks down Plaid's product and business

(16:44) Plaid's origin story

(26:08) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://embroker.com/twist

(27:36) Tactics for growing a community within your customer base

(35:24) Competition, specifically from financial giants

(38:58) Fount - Get $500 off an executive health coach at https://fount.bio/twist

(40:28) FedNow, CBDCs, and the next evolution of payment rails

(50:13) Silicon Valley Bank implosion from Plaid's POV

(53:17) Surviving 2022, and the future of fintech in 2023 and beyond

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Grammarly CEO Rahul Roy-Chowdhury on the future of user-centric language tools | E1817

27 september 2023 | 78 min

Google Bard Extensions and AI demos with Sunny Madra | E1816

25 september 2023 | 60 min

Jason Unplugged: IPO market, WaPo tactics against Dave Portnoy + Live Q&A | E1815

23 september 2023 | 48 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

MasterClass. Learn from the world’s best minds - anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. Get 15% off an annual membership to MasterClass at https://masterclass.com/startups

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Corient - Speak with one of Corient's wealth management advisors today at http://corient.com

*

Today’s show:

Jason goes live to break down Cisco acquiring Splunk and what this means for the broader M&A market (3:56), the latest IPO trends (13:50), WaPo tactics against Dave Portnoy (16:14), and questions asked by the live audience (23:52)!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show!

(3:56) Cisco acquires Splunk for $28B

(7:07) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups

(8:36) Instacart’s IPO and why CPG is a major advertising category

(13:50) IPO trends and what that means for the startup market

(16:14) WaPo tactics against Dave Portnoy

(22:26) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art using at https://Masterworks.com/twist

(23:52) Questions from live audience: "Do VCs ever go back to previous business trends or does everyone focus exclusively on the it-thing like AI today?”

(26:05) "How do startups outside Silicon Valley access VC funding, or do you just have to make the journey there?”

(27:10) "Heard you say you believe we still have six months of this down market. What makes you arrive at this prediction...?”

(30:57) "Since you invest in so many companies each year, how do you find alpha and separate these startups from each other?”

(33:49) Corient - Speak with one of Corient's wealth management advisors today at http://corient.com

(34:49) Why is Jason doing the cloud kitchen incubator?

(38:19) "Do you believe there should be guardrails on AI or as little regulation as possible to help spur innovation?”

(40:40) " Which areas do you recommend founders to cut burn that impacts growth released?”

(42:24) "Interest is forbidden in Islam, but I really want to invest or create an investment group without interest. Is this possible?”

(44:14) "How do you advise founders to solve disagreements internally?”

(45:39) "What is a book that you've read recently that you would highly recommend?”

(45:56) "Do you think the UK is underperforming when it comes to unicorns and big impact on startups?”

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

How Replit is using AI to supercharge IDEs with Amjad Masad | E1814

22 september 2023 | 71 min

Benchmark's Sarah Tavel on the state of VC, AI's impact on startups & more! | E1813

20 september 2023 | 85 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Miro. Working remotely doesn't mean you need to feel disconnected from your team. Miro is an online whiteboard that brings teams together - anytime, anywhere. Go to https://miro.com/startups to sign up for a FREE account with unlimited team members.

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at https://vanta.com/twist

Mercury. 90% of startups fail. Just 10 out of every 100 make it. Mercury exists to close that gap — helping companies succeed with banking and credit cards engineered for the startup journey. Join over 100,000 companies banking with Mercury at http://mercury.com

Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

*

Today's show:

Benchmark's Sarah Tavel joins Jason to discuss the state of VC (1:57), her time at Benchmark (13:33), her recent Substack blogs (31:51), AI's impact on startups (44:31), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Benchmark's Sarah Tavel joins Jason

(1:57) The state of VC and the biggest things founders have had to contend with

(12:08) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups

(13:33) Benchmark's culture

(21:35) Evolving trends in VC

(24:37) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(25:45) Tradeoffs and common VC mistakes

(31:51) Sarah's Substack blogs and the inspiration behind her writing

(35:42) Mercury - Join 100K+ startups banking with Mercury at http://mercury.com

(36:54) Entrepreneurship in 2023 and the importance of a founder's long-term vision

(44:31) Technology catalysts and how AI is impacting startups

(58:36) Business models, the amount of developers needed, and navigating funding rounds

(1:04:42) The complexities of strategic partnerships and corporate VC

(1:14:54) M&A in the era of Lina Kahn and looking at the macro picture as an investor

*

Follow Sarah: https://twitter.com/sarahtavel

Check out Sarah's Substack: https://www.sarahtavel.com

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Oura CEO Tom Hale on Hardware-as-a-Service, navigating ZIRP, journey to CEO & more! | E1812

19 september 2023 | 69 min

OpenAI and Google race to launch multimodal LLM plus AI demos with Sunny Madra | E1811

19 september 2023 | 64 min

Next Unicorns: The Path to Reaching Net Zero with Avnos CEO Will Kain | E1810

15 september 2023 | 63 min

Transforming DTC via supply chain innovations with Boll & Branch CEO Scott Tannen | E1809

14 september 2023 | 56 min

Expanding AI chip capabilities beyond Nvidia with Modular CEO Chris Lattner | E1808

14 september 2023 | 64 min

Inside crypto’s wild rise and fall with “Number Go Up” author Zeke Faux | E1807

12 september 2023 | 55 min

Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora on cybersecurity in the age of AI | E1806

11 september 2023 | 69 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at openphone.com/twist.

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

LinkSquares. Life for in-house legal just got a whole lot easier. From contract creation to execution and more, LinkSquares is the go-to for all your legal needs. Learn more at linksquares.com/twist.

*

Today’s show:

Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora joins Jason to discuss his time as head of Google Europe (2:26), strategies learned from Larry Page (15:23), precision AI’s role in cybersecurity (43:14), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora joins Jason

(2:26) Becoming head of Google Europe and meeting Eric Schmidt, Larry Page and Sergey Brin

(10:15) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(11:46) Maintaining Google’s culture in Europe and the hiring process

(15:23) Applying strategies learned from Larry Page to Palo Alto Networks

(17:59) Sub-categories of EQ manifested in the workplace

(22:12) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(23:41) What led Nikesh to be CEO of one of the top Cybersecurity firms

(30:24) Cybersecurity against artificial intelligence

(35:31) The SEC’s mandate on breach reporting

(38:35) LinkSquares - The go-to for all your legal needs, learn more at https://linksquares.com/twist

(39:51) The SEC’s mandate on breach reporting continued

(45:54) Gains from AI and what it means for organizations

(43:14) Precision AI’s role in security

(53:14) The future of AI technology and the battle of the chatbots

(57:41) Nikesh’s time at SoftBank working directly with Masayoshi Son

*

FOLLOW Nikesh: https://twitter.com/nikesharora

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Building for the circular economy and the future of shopping with Poshmark’s Manish Chandra | E1805

9 september 2023 | 45 min

Sequoia’s Roelof Botha on “Crucible Moments” and the state of VC | E1804

7 september 2023 | 85 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Supergut is the easiest and tastiest way clinically-proven to regulate digestion, curb cravings, and boost energy. Get 30% off their delicious shakes, bars, and fiber mix at Supergut.com with code TWIST.

Coda. A new doc that brings words, tables and teams together. All your valuable data, plans, objectives, and strategies in one place. Go to https://coda.io/twist to get a $1,000 credit!

Mercury. 90 percent of startups fail — 90 percent. Just 10 out of every 100 make it. Mercury exists to close that gap — helping companies succeed with banking and credit cards engineered for the startup journey. Join over 100,000 companies banking with Mercury at http://mercury.com

Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

*

Today’s show: Roelof Botha joins Jason to discuss the state of VC (3:35), Sequoia’s new series “Crucible Moments” (9:31), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Sequoia Capital’s Roelof Botha joins Jason

(3:35) The state of the Silicon Valley ecosystem

(8:00) Supergut - Get 30% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com

(9:31) “Crucible Moments” and their significance

(14:31) Pre-IPO vs. Post-IPO market values

(18:10) Founder ambition and mistakes made during “Crucible Moments”

(22:25) The importance of founders starting narrow and what makes a great VC in tech

(27:20) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist

(28:49) Commonalities between the AI boom and the crypto boom

(33:31) U.S. frameworks regarding crypto

(37:10) Mercury - Join 100K+ startups banking with Mercury at http://mercury.com

(38:23) The milestone-based reward system in venture capital

(43:24) Taking over as head steward at Sequoia Capital

(56:02) “Crucible Moments” at Sequoia

(1:05:57) Maintaining consistency in life and venture

*

FOLLOW Roelof: https://twitter.com/roelofbotha

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

David Sacks and Ethan Ruby on launching SaaSGrid | E1803

6 september 2023 | 53 min

Next Unicorns: Preventing future fraud using AI with Sardine CEO Soups Ranjan | E1802

5 september 2023 | 43 min

Building a blood-testing startup in 2023 with Vital CEO Vasu Nadella | E1801

4 september 2023 | 55 min

Bootstrapping to IPO, product-led growth, & scaling SaaS with Atlassian's Scott Farquhar | E1800

1 september 2023 | 67 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Supergut is the only nutrition brand clinically-proven to improve digestion, balance blood sugar, sustain energy, and manage weight. Save 25% on their delicious shakes, bars, and prebiotic mix at Supergut.com with code TWIST.

Miro. Working remotely doesn’t mean you need to feel disconnected from your team. Miro is an online whiteboard that brings teams together - anytime, anywhere. Go to https://miro.com/startups to sign up for a FREE account with unlimited team members.

*

Today’s show:

Atlassian Co-CEO Scott Farquhar joins Jason to break down how he and his Co-Founder bootstrapped Atlassian to an IPO (1:34), his lessons from acquiring, growing and eventually selling HipChat (13:43), thoughts on product-led growth (29:27), generative AI tools for the enterprise (39:43), and more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Atlassian Co-CEO Scott Farquhar joins Jason!

(1:34) Atlassian origins, bootstrapping to IPO

(12:22) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(13:43) Lessons from HipChat: Acquiring and growing the service, selling to Slack, what Scott would do differently

(19:39) Atlassian's two playbooks: bootstrapping and aggressive growth

(27:57) Supergut - Get 25% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com

(29:27) How product-led growth leads to a sharper product team, how Atlassian is thinking about LLMs and generative AI

(38:20) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups

(39:43) Remaining flexible re: AI tools, utilizing customer data, when to expect major knowledge work breakthroughs in AI

(47:27) How Scott thinks about AI, remote work, and efficiency

(1:01:39) Staying motivated in Atlassian's third decade

*

Check out Atlassian: https://www.atlassian.com

FOLLOW Scott: https://twitter.com/scottfarkas

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Next Unicorns: Developing drugs to extend dog lifespans with Loyal CEO Celine Halioua | E1799

30 augusti 2023 | 65 min

NEWS: Instacart and Klaviyo file for IPO, State of VC distributions, AI lawsuits | E1798

29 augusti 2023 | 60 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist

Carta now lets you launch and administer SPVs for your syndicate. Share your knowledge, capital, and network to launch your syndicate SPVs through Carta. Get 10% off your first SPV at carta.com/twist with promo code TWIST.

Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at investwithroots.com/twist

*

Today’s show:

Jason breaks down the exit market for LPs (8:57), Instacart and Klaviyo’s IPOs (22:13), writers suing OpenAI and Meta (50:15), and more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Producer Nick joins Jason

(2:27) The significance of Instacart and Klaviyo’s IPO filings

(5:41) The VC exit market

(7:50) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(8:57) The exit market for LPs and over-indexing in venture

(13:57) VC bloat and current state of the market

(20:39) Carta - Get 10% off your first SPV at https://carta.com/twist with promo code TWIST

(22:13) Breaking down Instacart’s S-1

(28:56) Ad dollars moving to new platforms and the importance of being close to the sale

(33:26) Instacart GTV tail off

(36:30) Roots - Head to investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!

(38:03) Breaking down Klaviyo’s S-1

(44:09) Why it is crucial for founders to retain ownership early on

(50:15) Writers suing OpenAI; are broad-based LLMs trained on tons of data becoming a liability?

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

NEWS: Nvidia’s insane earnings beat, Arm’s IPO filing, and more! | E1797

24 augusti 2023 | 86 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at openphone.com/twist

Fitbod. Tired of doing the same workouts at the gym? Fitbod will build you personalized workouts that help you progress with every set. Get 25% off your subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up now at fitbod.me/TWIST.

*

Today’s show:

Jason breaks down Nvidia smashing its quarterly earnings (3:58), Arm filing its F-1 (26:38), how founders should vet accelerators (56:10), and more! (1:03:53)

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Producer Nick joins Jason

(3:58) Nvidia obliterating their Q2 earnings

(8:33) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(10:01) The earnings report’s effects on stock, induced traffic, and the “sell the news” strategy

(16:02) Breaking down the numbers and the market cap chart

(21:31) Overcorrection in big tech companies, the rolling recession, and Nvidia as a momentum stock

(25:07) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(26:38)Arm filing its F-1 and SoftBank’s deal with Vision Fund

(34:39) Arm’s business model and the risks of whale customers

(37:53) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(39:22) Arm China’s risk to Arm

(46:17) The role of startup accelerators

(49:36) The constant complaints about YC valuations on YC demo day

(53:40) How raising at too high a valuation can lead to getting caught in a valuation trap

(56:10) The Fulcrum venture accelerator “scam” and how founders should vet accelerators

(1:03:53) The greatest bag securer of all time!

(1:13:41) Ryan Breslow’s “corporate wrongdoing”

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Next Unicorns: Empowering robots to think for themselves via AI with Covariant’s Peter Chen | E1796

23 augusti 2023 | 49 min

Is Nvidia overpriced? Plus, price targets, GodMode demo, and more! | E1795

22 augusti 2023 | 59 min

Inflection AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman on building modern AI, DeepMind origins, and much more | E1794

18 augusti 2023 | 75 min

Next Unicorns: Manufacturing pharma drugs in space with Varda’s Delian Asparouhov | E1793

16 augusti 2023 | 91 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist

CLA. Innovation takes balance. CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors can help you get from startup to where you want to end up. Get started now at CLAconnect.com/tech

LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to http://linkedin.com/unicorn to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

*

Today’s show:

Varda’s Delian Asparouhov is back with Jason to discuss Varda (18:43), his insights on different aspects of venture capital (1:41), the shifts in silicon valley culture (11:56), and much more! Then, Jason is joined by Argyle CEO Maret Thatcher to discuss how her startup is using AR headsets to make construction PMs faster and more efficient. (58:27)

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Varda President and Co-Founder Delian Asparouhov joins Jason

(1:41) Delian’s insights on different aspects of venture capital

(8:35) Defense tech and silicon valley’s aversion to military

(10:48) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(11:56) The shift in silicon valley culture

(14:39) Culture wars and keeping everyone focused

(18:43) The inception of Varda

(23:15) Varda’s first provisions and overall mission

(27:14) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech

(28:31) The customer base and transporting cargo into space

(33:14) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/unicorn

(34:30) Proving this is a sustainable business and “induced demand” in this area

(47:21) Government engagement in the startup community

(50:53) Progress around the globe and U.S. relationship with China

(58:27) Argyle CEO Maret Thatcher joins Jason

(1:03:50) Argyle’s product and Magic Leap’s role

(1:07:42) Video examples of the product in the field

(1:09:09) The customer base and how designs are rendered

(1:22:25) Business model and live demo of Argyle's UI

*

Follow Delian: https://twitter.com/zebulgar

Check out Varda: https://www.varda.com

Follow Maret: https://twitter.com/MaretSheWrote

Check out Argyle: https://www.argyle.build

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

The “AI wrapper” debate, AI-powered lead gen, auto-clips, resumes, and more with Sunny Madra | E1792

15 augusti 2023 | 67 min

Zillow CEO Rich Barton on branding, building in provocative industries, and more! | E1791

11 augusti 2023 | 81 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at openphone.com/twist

Fitbod. Tired of doing the same workouts at the gym? Fitbod will build you personalized workouts that help you progress with every set. Get 25% off your subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up now at fitbod.me/TWIST.

*

Today’s show:

Rich Barton joins Jason to give a masterclass on his thought process behind creating evocative top-tier brands like Zillow, Expedia, and Glassdoor. (22:02) Rich also discusses the lessons he learned from Bill Gates during his time at Microsoft (49:22), how tech management has evolved (57:04), and more!

Rich's blog on branding: https://www.hopperanddropper.com/syllables-scrabble-letters-and-picking-brand-names

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Zillow CEO Rich Barton joins Jason

(1:58) The creation of Zillow’s Zestimate

(7:03) “Tension and Importance” and empowering people in the workplace

(13:24) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(14:53) Branding and creating iconic company names

(16:53) Navigating major layoffs

(22:02) Back to building top-tier brands, “What got us here, won’t get us there”

(27:54) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(29:25) Steering the complex dynamics of startup-attorney interactions

(33:22) Defying convention to create stellar products and the effects digital currency

(37:54) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(39:23) Innovating in the real estate industry

(49:22) Lessons Rich learned from Bill Gates during his time at Microsoft

(57:04) How tech management has evolved

(1:01:27) How Covid-19 and remote work changed the landscape

(1:07:02) The concept of “iBuying”

(1:10:31) Continuous high-interest rates, “zoom towns”, and the “great reshuffling”

*

Follow Rich: https://twitter.com/Rich_Barton

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Next Unicorns: Making surgeons bionic via computer vision & AI with Proprio’s Gabriel Jones | E1790

9 augusti 2023 | 54 min

AI demos + Jason invests $25K live! | E1789

8 augusti 2023 | 77 min

LK-99 breakthrough with Varda’s Delian Asparouhov & Andrew McCalip | E1788

4 augusti 2023 | 50 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at openphone.com/twist

Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

Superside. Design and creative are crucial for growth. Tech companies like Shopify, Amazon, and Meta have found the perfect solution: Superside. Get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package superside.com/TWIST

*

Today’s show:

Varda CEO Delian Asparouhov and R&D head Andrew McCalip join Jason to break down their recent experiment in replicating the LK-99 room-temp superconductor (4:19), the current state of material science (18;52), what the world would look like if this works (26:34), and more. Then, Krepling’s Liam Gerada joins Jason for an update on his business! (40:46)

*

Time stamps:

(00:00) Varda CEO Delian Asparouhov and R&D head Andrew McCalip join Jason

(1:21) The LK-99 superconductor and how Varda is involved

(4:19) Varda’s latest achievements in replicating the LK-99 superconductor

(8:05) Is this the real deal or just a strong diamagnetic effect

(11:00) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(12:30) Securing the material needed to run these experiments

(14:06) The increased interest in Varda and feedback from the community

(18:52) The culture shift in the tech industry

(25:06) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(26:34) Brute force science: How innovation emerges and receives funding

(30:17) How the venture model has continued to evolve

(34:28) Superside - Go to https://superside.com/twist to get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package

(36:00) Questions from the live audience

(40:46) Krepling’s Liam Gerada joins Jason for an update on his business!

*

Check out Varda: https://varda.com

Follow Delian: https://twitter.com/zebulgar

Follow Andrew: https://twitter.com/andrewmccalip

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

How AI startups can navigate the legal landscape with Adam Shevell | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

3 augusti 2023 | 30 min

Next Unicorns: Unlocking the power of photonic computing with Lightmatter CEO Nick Harris | E1787

2 augusti 2023 | 57 min

Whoop CEO Will Ahmed on the “Quantified Self” movement, product design & more | E1786

1 augusti 2023 | 53 min

AI-generated South Park, “Holy Grails” of AI & more with Sunny Madra | E1785

1 augusti 2023 | 59 min

Market dynamics, RIFs, and AI’s role in law with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

27 juli 2023 | 31 min

Next Unicorns: Building the future of healthcare communication with Abridge CEO Shiv Rao | E1784

26 juli 2023 | 52 min

MongoDB CEO Dev Ittycheria on great leadership, building winning teams, and more | E1783

25 juli 2023 | 59 min

Ryan Smith on buying the Utah Jazz, evolving Qualtrics, AI’s early days, and more | E1782

24 juli 2023 | 70 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

Superside. Design and creative are crucial for growth. Tech companies like Shopify, Amazon, and Meta have found the perfect solution: Superside. Get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package superside.com/TWIST.

*

Today’s show:

Ryan Smith joins Jason to discuss buying the Utah Jazz while simultaneously prepping for an IPO (3:19), Qualtrics going from IPO prep to acquired to spin out IPO to a take-private in under five years (58:56), his thoughts on AI’s impact (49:12), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(00:00) Qualtics Co-Founder Ryan Smith joins Jason

(3:19) Ryan’s decision to buy the Utah Jazz NBA team

(9:05) The Rudy Gorbet Utah Jazz deal

(12:05) Fin - Try Fin, Intercom's new AI customer support chatbot, at https://intercom.com/f

(12:46) The process of owning an NBA team while prepping for an IPO

(21:09) The impact of the midseason tournament

(23:30) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(24:50) Providing a better user experience with free-to-watch games in Utah

(26:37) Paradigm shifts in media and building an NBA media giant

(36:10) The importance of going direct in media

(39:52) Superside - Go to https://superside.com/twist to get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package

(41:24) Qualtrics’ product evolution

(49:12) Ryan’s thoughts on AI’s impact on business

(54:49) Job displacement as a result of AI

(58:56) Qualtrics going from IPO prep to acquired to spin out IPO to a take-private in under five years

(1:03:31) The change in approach to private vs public businesses

*

Check out Qualtrics: https://www.qualtrics.com/

Follow Ryan: https://twitter.com/RyanQualtrics

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

HubSpot CTO Dharmesh Shah on empowering entrepreneurs, HubSpot’s journey, and AI automation | E1781

21 juli 2023 | 63 min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist Fitbod. Tired of doing the same workouts at the gym? Fitbod will build you personalized workouts that help you progress with every set. Get 25% off your subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up now at fitbod.me/TWIST. *

Today’s show:

HubSpot CTO Dharmesh Shah joins Jason to discuss his angel investing origin and strategies (2:36), HubSpot’s journey from a startup to a public company (6:19), the potential of generative AI (42:03), and much more!

*

Time stamps: (00:00) HubSpot Co-Founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah joins Jason (2:36) Dharmesh explains what prompted his angel investing journey (6:19) HubSpots journey from startup to where it stands today (8:48) Dharmesh’s decision to focus on Small Minus Big (SMB) investing (11:12) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (12:19) SMB investing conversation continued (16:08) The difference in cycles between big and small businesses (17:45) The best reason to start a company (21:25) Ways to go about assessing ideas (23:29) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist (28:34) Breaking down the entrepreneurial work ethic (34:15) Anticapitalist sentiment in the U.S. (38:11) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist (39:40) Starting a business in a downturn (42:03) AI’s impact on business and Business Process Automation (BPA) (46:39) Dharmesh’s thoughts on the next stage of AI and the effect on jobs (54:41) How AI will lead to more efficient organizations and increase margins

*

Follow Dharmesh: https://twitter.com/dharmesh *

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Navigating SAFEs, Pay-to-Play Rounds & Risks with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

20 juli 2023 | 29 min

Next Unicorns: Bringing AI-powered solutions to medical analysis with PathAI CEO Andy Beck | E1780

19 juli 2023 | 54 min

Tim Urban on the path to AGI and trends in tech history | E1779

18 juli 2023 | 78 min

AI itineraries, newsletters, doodles, and more with Sunny Madra! | E1778

18 juli 2023 | 55 min

VenturusAI's instant MBA & Samantha Wong on identifying soon-to-explode startup markets | E1777

14 juli 2023 | 61 min

Understanding Secondary Market Transactions with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

13 juli 2023 | 25 min

Next Unicorns: Building a $1B AI Avatar Business with Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli | E1776

12 juli 2023 | 66 min

Using GPUs as leverage, MSFT beats the case, FTC fails under Khan | E1775

11 juli 2023 | 52 min

Threads, ChatGPT usage drops, and AI demos with Sunny Madra | E1774

11 juli 2023 | 79 min

Business Breakdowns: The rise and fall of “Blackberry” with Lon Harris | E1773

7 juli 2023 | 75 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

House of Macadamias is the next big health trend! Get 20% off your first purchase and a free box of Namibian Sea Salted Macadamia Nuts at houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code twist20!

*

Today’s show:

Lon joins Jason to extract the business lessons from the film Blackberry (2:19). The two discuss the company’s rise and fall, the benefits of having multiple co-founders (9:11), the psychology of framing (23:05), knowing when to "fake it 'til you make it" (56:19) and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Cold open! “What got us here won’t get us there.”

(2:19) Jason and Lon intro Business Breakdowns - a new series!

(5:51) Blackberry cast breakdown

(9:11) Lessons: Importance of having multiple, complementary co-founders and market pull

(13:25) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(14:32) Lessons: “Burn the boats,” importance of diligence, product velocity

(21:51) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(23:05) Lesson: Framing the product or pitch

(26:11) Lesson: Importance of riding and recognizing paradigm shifts

(31:04) Lessons: Marketing as a status symbol, real-world virality, being of action, “bend don’t break”

(36:50) Lesson: What got you here won’t get you there

(40:53) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off and a free box of Namibian Sea Salted Macadamia Nuts at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(42:12) Lessons: Blackberry’s downfall, importance of focus, product association

(53:13) Lesson: Knowing when to cash in your chips

(56:19) Lesson: Know when to “fake it ‘til you make it”

(59:51) Business Breakdown Awards, presented by Jason and Lon

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Reimagining reading with VR featuring Sol Reader CEO Ben Chelf | E1772

6 juli 2023 | 50 min

Shein registers for US IPO, Trump SPAC insider trading & more | E1771

1 juli 2023 | 71 min

Creating the future of search and competing vs Google with Perplexity AI’s Aravind Srinivas | E1770

28 juni 2023 | 47 min

Zapier Co-Founder Mike Knoop on category creation, API evolution & AI architecture | E1769

27 juni 2023 | 68 min

IRL to shut down after faking 19M users, ZIRP fraud, Databricks acquires MosaicML for $1.3B | E1768

27 juni 2023 | 80 min

Titan tragedy, Meta removes news in Canada + Elizabeth Yin at Angel Summit | E1767

23 juni 2023 | 59 min

StoneAlgo’s Devin Jones on “Zillow for diamonds” + Mar Hershenson on the art of picking | E1766

21 juni 2023 | 63 min

EyeRate CEO Ray Weisberg on scaling from $0 to $10M + Steve Jurvetson on disruptive tech | E1765

20 juni 2023 | 65 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups.

VEED makes it super easy for anyone (yes, you) to create great video. Filled with amazing features like templates, auto subtitles, text formatting, auto-resizing, a full suite of AI tools, and much more, VEED gives you the tools to engage your audience on any platform. Head to VEED.io to start creating incredible video content in minutes.

Fin can’t burn its mouth on hot pizza. Or wave at someone who wasn’t waving at them. Fin can resolve half of your customer support tickets instantly before they reach your team. Meet Fin. A breakthrough AI bot by Intercom – ready to join your support team today. Visit intercom.com/fin.

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Today’s show:

First, EyeRate CEO Ray Weisberg joins Jason to break down his startup’s business model (4:55), category creation and framing (13:32), how they plan on scaling from $10M to $100M (22:51), and more. Then, Steve Jurvetson gives a presentation on discovering and identifying disruptive new technologies. (36:34)

Steve’s talk was recorded live at LAUNCH Angel Summit.

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Follow EyeRate: https://twitter.com/EyeRateBusiness

Follow Steve: https://twitter.com/FutureJurvetson

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Great founders sometimes means very little contact!

(1:42) Jason explains LAUNCH’s investment strategy and ownership targets

(4:55) EyeRate CEO Ray Weisberg breaks down EyeRate’s early pivot, how they help real-world businesses increase customer engagement, and how the business is scaling

(12:10) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(13:32) Lessons learned from scaling from $0 to nearly $10M in revenue, “category creation,” and framing

(21:19) Veed - Sign up and engage your audience on any platform at https://www.veed.io

(22:51) Thoughts on scaling from $10M to $100M, understanding market pull, content marketing ideas, hiring C-suite “bar raisers,” write-first culture

(35:52) Fin - Try Fin, Intercom's new AI customer support chatbot, at https://intercom.com/fin

(36:34) Steve Jurvetson gives a talk on finding and investing in disruptive technologies

(1:00:37) Steve takes a couple of questions from Jason and the audience

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Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Gavin Baker on AI platform shift, upside vs downside, extinction risk, Nvidia outlook & more | E1764

19 juni 2023 | 65 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Hampton. Are you a startup founder or CEO seeking expert advice? Join Hampton, the private, highly vetted community for high-growth founders. Get invaluable insights, connections, and support to accelerate your business at joinhampton.com/twist today!

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to Squarespace.com/twist for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

.Tech domains are the go-to namespace to build anything in tech… and home to the world’s most innovative startups. Secure your .Tech domain today and lock down a 1-year domain for $10, or a 5-year domain for $50 at go.tech/TWIST!

*

Today’s show:

Atreides Management’s Gavin Baker joins Jason to break down the current macro picture, the AI platform shift, and the reshuffling of the entire tech deck. (1:27) They also cover the potential impact of AI recursively improving itself and extinction risks (15:06) before discussing chip demand, Nvidia’s outlook, and more! (25:13) Then, Embroker's Chief Insurance Officer David Derigiotis explains how to differentiate your business with cybersecurity! (40:24)

Gavin's fireside chat was recorded live at LAUNCH Angel Summit in Napa.

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Gavin and Jason on joining the resistance!

(1:27) Current macro picture, the AI platform shift, and how AI is reshuffling everything in tech

(13:42) Hampton - Join Hampton's community of high-growth founders today at https://joinhampton.com/twist

(15:06) Exponential compounding of generative AI, AGI chances, recursive AI improvement

(23:55) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(25:13) Chip demand, Nvidia’s outlook, which high-end fields might be most at risk, extinction risks

(39:02) .Tech Domains - get a 1-year domain for $10 or a 5-year domain for $50 at https://go.tech/TWIST

(40:24) Embroker Chief Insurance Officer David Derigiotis gives a talk on how to differentiate your business with cybersecurity

*

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

*

All opinions expressed in this episode are solely the speakers’ own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any firm affiliated with the speakers. This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Clients of the speakers’ firms may maintain positions in the securities discussed.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman on mod revolt, building a legendary community & more | E1763

17 juni 2023 | 64 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Trovata. Starting up is hard. Trovata makes managing cash easy. Start automating your cash management at Trovata.io/TWIST. Use Code TWIST for 30% off one full year of premium features like AI forecasting.

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

Eight Sleep. Good sleep is the ultimate game changer. Now you can add the Pod Pro Cover to any mattress! Go to eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Pro Cover and get $150 off at checkout!

*

Today’s show:

Reddit CEO and Co-Founder Steve Huffman joins Jason to discuss building a platform that serves Reddit's community (13:33), addresses the situation with third-party apps and moderators (35:00), and much more!

*

Time stamps:

(00:00) Reddit CEO Steve Huffman joins Jason

(2:40) The evolution of Reddit and its community

(4:10) The tailwinds powering Reddit and Steve's thoughts on speech mitigation

(12:00) Trovata - Use code TWIST at https://trovata.io/twist for 30% off one year of premium features, like AI forecasting

(13:33) The Reddit "Keep it real" ethos and the importance of allowing open debate

(17:47) Authoritarianism and challenging orthodoxies

(24:29) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at ⁠https://Embroker.com/twist

(25:44) Steve's optimism for AI and why this is only the beginning

(35:00) The response to Reddit's API use in various LLMs

(37:57) Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Pro Cover and get $150 off at checkout!

(39:29) Going in-depth on Reddit's situation and API history

(48:03) What it comes down to for third-party apps

(56:20) What changed Steve's opinion on advertising

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

How AI is making influencers bionic with Forever Voices CEO John Meyer | E1762

14 juni 2023 | 53 min

Reddit communities revolt + Brad Gerstner on state of private and public markets in 2023 | E1761

13 juni 2023 | 53 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to LinkedIn.com/TWIST to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist.

iConnections is a platform to connect and meet with elite capital allocators through their online platform and bespoke events. The first 25 VC funds to sign up for iConnections Miami 2024 event in January of next year will receive a 20% discount! Head to iConnections.io/twist to sign up today!

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Today’s show:

First up, Jason does a full breakdown of what’s going on at Reddit, and why this is happening now (1:21). Then, Brad Gerstner joins to break down the state of the markets in 2023 (18:28), his “Time to Get Fit” letter to Meta (30:06), and more!

Brad’s fireside chat was recorded live at LAUNCH Angel Summit in Napa.

Follow Brad: https://twitter.com/altcap

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Jason tees up today’s segments!

(1:21) Breaking down the Reddit situation: Why 2000’s-era web companies relied on third-party apps built on their API

(3:10) Origin and current state of the Reddit revolt, CEO Steve Huffman’s AMA and comments

(10:27) Jason’s hot takes on how to solve the third-party app API pricing issue, Reddit’s IPO price, and more

(17:00) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(18:28) Brad Gerstner joins live from Angel Summit! Importance on non-consensus conviction, first-party research, how Brad first invested in Facebook

(29:00) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(30:06) Brad breaks down the greatness in Zuckerberg and Meta’s reaction to his “Time to Get Fit” letter

(34:08) Current state of the markets

(38:05) iConnections - Get 20% off iConnections Miami 2024 event at http://iconnections.io/twist

(39:48) Predicting what the AI innovation cycle will look like when compared to past cycles: pc, internet, mobile, cloud; why now is the most important time for AI investing

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Apple Vision Pro, Meta’s MusicGen, Waitroom demo & more with Vinny Lingham and Sunny Madra | E1760

13 juni 2023 | 62 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

MasterClass. Learn from the world’s best minds - anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. Get 15% off an annual membership to MasterClass at https://masterclass.com/startups.

Merge. Let your developers get back to their core product. Merge is a single API to add hundreds of integrations to your app. Integrate up to 3 customers for free today at https://merge.dev/twist

Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

*

Todays show:

Vinny and Sunny are back! First, Vinny demos Waitroom (2:12), before the group breaks down Apple’s new Vision Pro headset (41:10), then, Sunny demos a suite of new AI tools, including Meta’s MusicGen model(19:53).

Follow Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham

Checkout Waitroom: https://waitroom.com/

Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep

Checkout Definitive: https://definitive.io/

*

Time stamps:

(00:00) Vinny and Sunny join Jason (2:12) Waitroom's features (5:38) Waitroom's design for VC's and Sunny's thoughts (9:42) Features to add to next (13:43) Masterclass - Get 15% off an annual membership to MasterClass at ⁠https://masterclass.com/startups.⁠ (19:53) Meta's MusicGen (24:26) Creating music with AI (29:03) Merge - Integrate up to 3 customers for free today at ⁠https://merge.dev/twist (30:35) Exploring authenticity as AI becomes more prevalent (32:27) Sunny demos LumaLabs (36:55) Jason AI interviews Steve Jobs (39:45) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist (41:10) Apple's Vision Pro headset (42:32) The key differences between Oculus Meta Quest and Apple's Vision Pro (49:49) The effects of headsets in the workplace (52:53) Using ControlNet to create artwork for QR codes (56:39) Developing code using Replit

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

DoorDash Co-Founder Stanley Tang on founding story, lessons + First-time fund manager panel | E1759

9 juni 2023 | 69 min

How AI companions can help solve loneliness with Replika’s Eugenia Kuyda | E1758

7 juni 2023 | 67 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

The Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub helps all founders build a better startup, at a lower cost, from day one. Startups get up to $150K in Azure credits, access to free OpenAI credits, free dev tools like GitHub, technical advisory, access to mentors and experts, and so much more. There is no funding requirement, and it only takes minutes to join. Sign up today at aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at openphone.com/twist

*

Today’s show:

Replika Co-Founder and CEO Eugenia Kuyda breaks down her startup’s origin story and purpose (1:43), the relationships users have with its AI chatbot (10:21), the potential of AI therapists, Replika’s new chatbot Blush, and more! (35:10)

Follow Eugenia: https://twitter.com/ekuyda

Check Out Replika: https://replika.ai/

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Eugenia joins Jason

(1:43) Replika’s origin story

(8:54) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(10:21) Replika’s purpose and their current user base

(16:21) Relationships within the app

(20:25) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(21:58) Creating happiness with AI

(26:26) Avoiding addiction

(29:25) Demographics within the AI field

(33:42) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(35:10) Crafting LLMs to envoke thought-provoking questions and AI therapy

(49:53) Replika's new AI chatbot, Blush

(1:01:05) The loneliness crisis and specific cases for using these AIs

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Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Using AI to diagnose Dementia with Vistim Labs James Hamet + Jason LIVE at iConnections | E1757

6 juni 2023 | 69 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Coda. A new doc that brings words, tables and teams together. All your valuable data, plans, objectives, and strategies in one place. Go to https://coda.io/twist to get a $1,000 credit!

Miro. Working remotely doesn’t mean you need to feel disconnected from your team. Miro is an online whiteboard that brings teams together - anytime, anywhere. Go to https://miro.com/startups to sign up for a FREE account with unlimited team members.

VEED makes it super easy for anyone (yes, you) to create great video. Filled with amazing features like templates, auto subtitles, text formatting, auto-resizing, a full suite of AI tools, and much more, VEED gives you the tools to engage your audience on any platform. Head to VEED.io to start creating incredible video content in minutes.

*

Today’s show:

CEO and Founder of Vistim Labs James Hamet joins Jason, as they discuss the current roadblocks with diagnosing dementia (1:18), before James breaks down how they use AI to detect signs of neurological disease (23:29). Then, Jason sits down with Kaitlin Malin at SALT iConnections New York, to discuss the keys to angel investing and AI (40:52).

Follow James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchamet/

Check Out Vistim Labs: https://vistimlabs.com/

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) James joins Jason

(1:18) The faults with how we diagnose Dementia today

(6:46) Visitim Labs’ product

(9:25) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist

(10:46) Test trials and patient demographics

(12:53) Vistim’s go-to-market strategy

(18:24) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups

(20:32) James shares a video demoing Vistim Labs’ capabilities

(23:29) James’ previous startup, Neurable

(27:02) Catching Alzhimers’ early, habits that prevent neurological disease and the four horseman

(39:23) Veed - Sign up and engage your audience on any platform at https://www.veed.io

(40:52) Jason’s sits down with Kaitlin Malin at SALT iConnections New York

(46:03) Raising a 506-C fund’

(52:13) Jason’s keys to becoming a successful angel

(58:27) Jason’s thoughts on AI

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Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Rory's brain vs ChatGPT, outrageous marketing, work trends and MUCH more w/ Rory Sutherland | E1756

5 juni 2023 | 110 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to https://Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Release. Large enterprises pose unique challenges for SaaS startups. Unlock customers with unique needs for private and single-tenant hosting without the toil of DIY with Release Delivery. Get your first month free at https://release.com/twist .

Notion just launched Notion Projects, which includes new, powerful ways to manage projects and leverage the power of their built-in AI features too. Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist.

*

Todays show:

Rory Sutherland joins Jason to cover an almost unbelievable range of topics. The limits of this conversation know no bounds! Don't miss this one.

Follow Rory: https://twitter.com/rorysutherland

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Time stamps:

(00:00) Rory Sutherland joins Jason

(2:28) Broad adoption of video conferencing

(7:26) Unpacking simple social norms

(11:46) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(13:05) The importance of framing and the role of reliability

(15:04) The pandemic's influence on video conferencing trends

(18:46) A.I.'s role in a post-pandemic world

(21:53) Application of A.I.

(22:45) Brainstorming and how the human brain functions

(23:44) Rory Vs. ChatGPT brainstorming unique soda flavors

(28:43) Release - Get your first month free at ⁠https://release.com/twist

(30:12) ChatGPT's response

(34:55) The behavioral science behind AI suggestions to humans

(36:34) Tolerating eccentricity within the ad industry

(38:42) The disproportionate faith in AI vs Humans

(41:04) Notion - Try it for free today at notion.com/twist

(42:30) AI and the dormant fallacy (55:57) What is driving the next generation

(57:59) Modern work trends: Vacation time, the four-day weekend, and flexible work

(01:07:26) The Jevons paradox in Economics and the WGA strike

(01:16:19) Technology that doesn't quite think like a human

(01:22:30) The Elgin Marbles controversy

(01:25:16) Reevaluating the concept of retirement age

(01:28:24) The startup surge in UAE

(01:32:53) Promoting social freedom, betting on startups, and marketing outrageous products

(01:44:25) Discussing historical houses and the Ennis house

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Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

RunwayML, AI Steve Jobs, & more with Sunny Madra & Vinny Lingham | E1755

3 juni 2023 | 64 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist.

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

.Tech domains are the go-to namespace to build anything in tech… and home to the world’s most innovative startups. Secure your .Tech domain today and lock down a 1-year domain for $10, or a 5-year domain for $50 at https://go.tech/TWIST today!

*

Today's show:

Sunny and Vinny are back to break down what's next after AI layoffs(30:10), discuss RunwayML's massive valuation(52:09), and more!

Follow Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham

Check Out Waitroom: https://waitroom.com/

Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep

Check Out Definitive: https://definitive.io/prompts/new

*

Time stamps:

(00:00) Sunny and Vinny join Jason

(1:39) Sunny demos Runway

(9:16) Jason AI interviews AI Steve Jobs

(12:37) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(13:44) Jason AI interviews AI Steve Jobs continued

(18:27) The potential for genealogist AI startup

(22:26) Converting thoughts into text with Audio Pen AI tool

(24:40) Microsoft charging 40% more for AI-enhanced services

(28:55) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at ⁠https://Embroker.com/twist

(30:10) Comparing hiring with improving employee efficiency

(33:46) The ChatGPT share feature

(37:47) Meta's Image Bing AI tool

(40:33) .Tech - Lock down a 1-year domain for $10, or a 5-year domain for $50 at https://go.tech/TWIST

(42:01) Microsoft integrating AI into windows

(49:29) The Sales Recording Law

(52:09) Big funding rounds and why investors must get in early

(55:30) Japan going all in on copyright

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

How open-source & distributed models can win AI with MosaicML’s Naveen Rao | E1754

1 juni 2023 | 61 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com/twist.

Trovata. Starting up is hard. Trovata makes managing cash easy. Start automating your cash management at Trovata.io/TWIST. Use Code TWIST for 30% off one full year of premium features like AI forecasting.

The Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub helps all founders build a better startup, at a lower cost, from day one. Startups get up to $150K in Azure credits, access to free OpenAI credits, free dev tools like GitHub, technical advisory, access to mentors and experts, and so much more. There is no funding requirement, and it only takes minutes to join. Sign up today at aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

*

Todays show:

MosaicML Co-Founder and CEO Naveen Rao joins Jason to discuss the open-source vs closed AI debate, the profound impact of AI on society (41:06) AI’s rapid pace of change, and its implications for the future of employment and education (40:42). They wrap the show by breaking down the potential problems with centralized regulation (54:37).

Follow Naveen: https://twitter.com/NaveenGRao

Check Out MosaicML: https://mosaicml.com

*

Time stamps:

(00:00) Naveen Rao joins Jason

(2:54) MosaicML and its purpose

(5:10) Obtaining datasets and incentivizing creators

(8:30) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(9:37) The process of using your data with MosaicML

(11:55) Defining tokens and prompts

(16:53) Fine-tuning the AI model and reinforcement learning

(19:27) The competition with open-source models

(24:26) The cost of running AI models

(26:08) Trovata - Use code TWIST at https://trovata.io/twist for 30% off one year of premium features, like AI forecasting

(27:35) How the GPU crunch has affected cloud models

(32:13) Why demand will not cease

(34:21) Specialized models vs. general models (39:12) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(40:42) The impact AI will have on employment

(48:49) The impact AI will have on education

(54:37) Thoughts on OpenAI becoming ClosedAI

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

How generative AI is enabling hologram assistants with Looking Glass CEO Shawn Frayne | E1753

31 maj 2023 | 43 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

House of Macadamias is the next big health trend! Get 20% off your first purchase and a free bottle of cold-pressed macadamia oil at houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code twist20!

Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

Meowtel. Traveling soon? Book a local and insured sitter on Meowtel, the #1 cat sitting app. Save $25 on your first booking with code TWIST25 at https://meowtel.com!

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Today’s show:

Looking Glass Co-Founder and CEO Shawn Frayne joins Jason to demo their new hologram assistant (1:03) before breaking down the unique use cases for Looking Glass’s technology and Shawn’s perspective on the pace of AI (10:24).

Follow Shawn: https://twitter.com/shawninvents

Check Out Looking Glass: https://lookingglassfactory.com/

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Shawn joins Jason

(1:03) Shawn demos Looking Glass’ hologram assistant + Looking Glass’ business model

(8:53) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off and a free bottle of cold-pressed macadamia oil at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(10:24) AI’s impact on product design and how users interact with Looking Glass’ platform

(17:57) Investing in hardware startups

(20:43) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist

(22:10) Looking Glass’ customer base

(31:23) Meowtel - Get $25 off your first booking with code TWIST25 at https://meowtel.com

(32:42) Shawn’s perspective on AI

(37:18) Shawn and Jason’s first picks for holographic assistants

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Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Breaking down Bard with Google’s Jack Krawczyk | E1752

30 maj 2023 | 73 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

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Hampton Join Hampton's community of high-growth founders today at https://joinhampton.com/twist

Meowtel - Get $25 off your first booking with code TWIST25 at https://meowtel.com

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Today's Show:

Jack Krawczyk, the head Google’s Bard team, chats with Jason about Bard’s capabilities and Google’s plan for monetization. Following a few demonstrations of the AI chatbot (43:32), Jason wraps the episode with some thoughts on the series finale of HBO’s Succession (01:01:45)

Follow Jack: https://twitter.com/JackK

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Time stamps:

(00:00) Jack Krawczyk joins Jason

(4:58) Discussing the responsible release of products

(7:43) The delicate balance of choosing to release or hold

(10:24) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(11:57) Addressing concerns about the usage of creators' content

(13:42) Unpacking the process of vetting new features and the purpose of Google's Red Team

(18:39) Integrating tools and features into the framework of Bard

(20:51) Upholding core values in the incorporation of tools

(23:58) Hampton - Join Hampton's community of high-growth founders today at https://joinhampton.com/twist

(25:23) The impact of Bard's coding capabilities on developers

(29:36) Gauging the distance from non-developers writing meaningful code

(31:11) The business model behind Google Bard

(34:18) Meowtel - Get $25 off your first booking with code TWIST25 at https://meowtel.com

(36:44) The potential paths ahead

(39:30) Google's vision for plugins and opportunities for startups

(43:32) Jack demos Google Bard

(55:52) Reflecting on the pace of AI

(01:01:45) Breaking down HBO's Succession and why it's a must-watch

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

Follow TWiST:

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Understanding the UAE startup opportunity with Brad Gerstner and Ibrahim Ajami | E1751

26 maj 2023 | 78 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

VEED makes it super easy for anyone (yes, you) to create great video. Filled with amazing features like templates, auto subtitles, text formatting, auto-resizing, a full suite of AI tools, and much more, VEED gives you the tools to engage your audience on any platform. Head to VEED.io to start creating incredible video content in minutes.

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at openphone.com/twist

iConnections is a platform to connect and meet with elite capital allocators through their online platform and bespoke events. The first 25 VC funds to sign up for iConnections Miami 2024 event in January of next year will receive a 20% discount! Head to iConnections.io/twist to sign up today!

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Today’s show:

Altimeter’s Brad Gerstner and Mubadala's Ibrahim Ajami join Jason to discuss their first UAE impressions (1:33), how the country is attracting startup talent, unclogging the capital allocator log jam, and more (19:43)!

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Follow Brad: https://twitter.com/altcap

Follow Ibrahim: https://twitter.com/IbrahimAjami

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Brad and Ibrahim join Jason

(1:33) First impressions of the UAE

(10:25) Veed - Head to https://www.veed.io/pricing?utm_campaign=TWIS&utm_medium=Marketing&utm_source=YouTube and start creating professional-quality videos in minutes!

(11:55) The story of Mubadala

(19:43) Attracting talent to the UAE

(26:53) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(28:21) The shifting perspective of the UAE and the opportunity it presents

(35:07) The level of curiosity in Abu Dhabi

(37:02) iConnections - Get 20% off iConnections Miami 2024 event at http://iconnections.io/twist

(38:21) Adjusting to the changing market

(41:58) Mubadala’s portfolio and investing in SoftBank’s Vision Fund

(49:40) Getting fit

(56:27) Unclogging the manager log jam and the denominator problem

(1:04:59) Investing in relationships

(1:11:38) The progression of the UAE

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Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Follow TWiST:

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

ChatGPT vs Hollywood writers and the WGA strike with Lon Harris | E1750

25 maj 2023 | 77 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at http://embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

Hyperice. Warm up and recover faster with the Hypervolt 2 massage gun and Normatec compression therapy boots. Save $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at checkout on http://hyperice.com/.

Release. Large enterprises pose unique challenges for SaaS startups. Unlock customers with unique needs for private and single-tenant hosting without the toil of DIY with Release Delivery. Get your first month free at https://release.com/twist .

*

Today’s show:

Lon Harris is BACK to discuss the WGA strike and how ChatGPT can (and will) impact Hollywood writers (6:18). They also break down how streaming services can appeal to show writers, Spotify’s planned AI-for-ads, and more! (19:56)

Follow Lon: https://twitter.com/Lons

Check Out Binge Boys: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/binge-boys/id1535514923

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Lon joins Jason

(1:44) Jason discusses his new reality TV show

(6:18) The WGA Strike and the misconceptions of Hollywood

(13:29) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(14:33) Employing writers and the lack of transparency in the film industry

(19:56) Breaking rank as a streaming service

(24:21) Hyperice - Get $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at http://hyperice.com/

(25:30) Hollywood writers’ thoughts on ChatGPT

(37:14) Release - Get your first month free at https://release.com/twist

(38:41) Creating Adam Sandler movies with ChatGPT

(42:15) Jason and Lon breakdown if Succession will go down as a top HBO show

(48:51) Jason’s advice to the writers union and streaming services

(53:06) HBO debuts Max

(1:00:13) Spotify’s new use for AI

(1:06:09) Highly anticipated releases, plus Jason and Lon’s thoughts on how TikTok is affecting society

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Text-to-UI demo with Galileo AI Co-founder Arnaud Benard + How to design loved products | E1749

24 maj 2023 | 52 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist

Hampton. Are you a startup founder or CEO seeking expert advice? Join Hampton, the private, highly vetted community for high-growth founders. Get invaluable insights, connections, and support to accelerate your business at http://joinhampton.com/twist today!

The Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub helps all founders build a better startup, at a lower cost, from day one. Startups get up to $150K in Azure credits, access to free OpenAI credits, free dev tools like GitHub, technical advisory, access to mentors and experts, and so much more. There is no funding requirement, and it only takes minutes to join. Sign up today at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

*

Today’s show:

Galileo AI’s Arnaud Benard joins Jason to demo their text-to-UI platform before discussing the AI startup scene in Silicon Valley (3:47). Then Lunour’s Scott Bair gives a presentation on how to design loved products from rough wireframes to a polished design (34:17).

Follow Arnaud: https://twitter.com/arnaudai

Check Out Galileo AI: https://www.usegalileo.ai/

Follow Scott: https://twitter.com/scott_bair

Check Out Lunour : https://www.lunour.com/

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Arnaud joins Jason

(1:29) Discovering Galileo AI

(3:47) Arnaud demos Galileo

(9:28) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist

(10:36) Galileo’s inception, its business metrics and its AI models

(17:28) Hampton - Join Hampton's community of high-growth founders today at https://joinhampton.com/twist

(18:52) Building an AI startup today

(24:43) Arnaud’s position on AutoGPTs

(28:02) San Francisco’s startup and food scene

(32:43) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(34:17) How to design loved products with Scott Bair

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Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K | E1748

23 maj 2023 | 44 min

Demoing Google’s MusicLM, AssemblyAI, and other AI tools with Sunny Madra | E1747

23 maj 2023 | 59 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Issuu is the all-in-one platform for creating and distributing beautiful digital content. Get started with Issuu today for free or sign up for an annual premium account and get 50% off when you go to http://issuu.com/podcast and use promo code twist.

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://vanta.com/twist

.Tech domains are the go-to namespace to build anything in tech… and home to the world’s most innovative startups. Secure your .Tech domain today and lock down a 1-year domain for $10, or a 5-year domain for $50 at http://go.tech/TWIST today!

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Today’s show:

Sunny joins Jason to discuss the latest in AI. They chat about the launch of ChatGPT’s new iOS app and demo Google’s MusicLM (1:24). Then, Sunny tests AssemblyAI’s LeMUR and Wondercraft AI before wrapping with a look at Stable Diffusion’s deep fake capabilities (29:38).

Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Sunny joins Jason

(1:24) ChatGPT launches its IOS app

(4:59) Sunny demos Google’s MusicLM

(8:14) Issuu - Sign up for free or get 50% off an annual premium account by using promo code twist at https://issuu.com/podcast

(9:33) Having taste, and how did Google train MusicLM

(21:02) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(22:09) The legal issues with training MusicLM

(29:38) Sunny demos AssemblyAI’s LeMur

(38:34) .Tech domains - lock down a 1-year domain for $10, or a 5-year domain for $50 at http://go.tech/TWIST

(39:58) Sunny demos Wondercraft AI

(47:18) Stable Diffusion’s deep fake technology

(51:36) Creating more content with AI

*

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Fireside chat with Jason Calacanis & Brad Gerstner hosted by Mubadala’s Ibrahim Ajami | E1746

19 maj 2023 | 101 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Trovata. Starting up is hard. Trovata makes managing cash easy. Start automating your cash management at http://trovata.io/TWIST.Use Code TWIST for 30% off one full year of premium features like AI forecasting.

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at http://openphone.com/twist

Today’s show:

Jason and Brad speak with Mubadala Capital’s Head of Ventures, Ibrahim Ajami, at Hub71 in the UAE. The three discuss how startups can survive and thrive in an economic downturn (1:02) before diving into the sacrifices that founders must make to create an incredible product. (14:16) They also explain how the AI revolution will affect software, startups, capital allocators, and more! (40:36)

Follow Mubadala: https://twitter.com/MubadalaCapital

Follow Ibrahim: https://twitter.com/IbrahimAjami

Follow Hub71: https://twitter.com/hub71ad

Follow Brad: https://twitter.com/altcap

Time stamps:

(0:00) Nick kicks off the show

(1:02) Surviving the downturn

(12:46) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(14:16) Sacrificing to build a great product

(26:34)Trovata - Use code TWIST at https://trovata.io/twist for 30% off one year of premium features, like AI forecasting

(27:47) Brad’s letter to Mark Zuckerberg and AI creating ultra-efficient startups

(39:02) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(40:36) The AI revolution

(50:48) The implications of AI on the software industry

(55:50) Creating the Silicon Valley culture

(59:32) Reflecting on the success of the Launch Accelerator

(1:06:23) Building culture within your firm and dealing with failure

(1:19:03) Opinions on WFH

(1:25:05) Recognizing product velocity

(1:29:11) Advice for young founders

(1:34:47) Advice for founders in emerging markets

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

Follow TWiST:

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Viral fundraising tactics with Rewind AI’s Dan Siroker + How to build a strong brand | E1745

18 maj 2023 | 48 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Merge. Let your developers get back to their core product. Merge is a single API to add hundreds of integrations to your app. Integrate up to 3 customers for free today at http://merge.dev/twist.

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at http://embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

Hyperice. Warm up and recover faster with the Hypervolt 2 massage gun and Normatec compression therapy boots. Save $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at checkout on http://hyperice.com

Today’s show:

Rewind AI CEO and Co-Founder Dan Siroker joins Jason to break down his viral fundraising strategy before diving into a demo of Rewind’s AI software (1:27). Then, Scott Bair of Lunour gives a talk on how to build a strong brand, where he dives into topics like branding, creating a logo and more! (34:49)

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/dsiroker

Check out Rewind: https://www.rewind.ai

Time stamps:

(0:00) Dan Siroker joins Jason

(1:27) Dan discusses his method of raising capital publicly and the valuation they settled on

(9:08) Merge - Integrate up to 3 customers for free today at ⁠https://merge.dev/twist

(10:38) Advice for founders taking a high valuation, choosing the right firm, and differentiating Rewind AI from file search

(19:03) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at ⁠https://Embroker.com/twist

(20:35) Dan demos Rewind AI

(25:04) Privacy concerns, dealing with legal issues, and Rewind’s enterprise use cases

(33:21) Hyperice - Get $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at ⁠http://hyperice.com/

(34:49) How to build a strong brand with Scott Bair

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

Follow TWiST:

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Magic.dev CEO Eric Steinberger on making developers bionic | E1744

17 maj 2023 | 57 min

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist.

The Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub helps all founders build a better startup, at a lower cost, from day one. Startups get up to $150K in Azure credits, access to free OpenAI credits, free dev tools like GitHub, technical advisory, access to mentors and experts, and so much more. There is no funding requirement, and it only takes minutes to join. Sign up today at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups.

Release. Large enterprises pose unique challenges for SaaS startups. Unlock customers with unique needs for private and single-tenant hosting without the toil of DIY with Release Delivery. Get your first month free at https://release.com/twist.

*

Today’s show:

Jason is joined by Magic.dev CEO and Co-Founder Eric Steinberger to discuss how his startup makes developers more efficient with AI by auto-generating code. The first portion of the interview features Eric demoing his software. Then, Jason and Eric dive into the impact that these rapid AI advancements will have on society (31:28), how their tools have the potential to significantly minimize coding time and what that means for entrepreneurship (13:55), and much more!

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Time stamps:

(00:00) Eric Steinberger joins Jason

(1:44) Eric and Jason explain what Magi.dev is

(3:43) Eric Demos Magic.dev

(9:13) What makes this AI model unique

(11:02) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at ⁠http://crowdbotics.com/twist⁠

(12:11) Magic.dev's motivation behind building their own language model

(13:55) The efficiency gains achieved with Magic.dev

(17:32) Exploring reinforcement learning and grounding the AI model

(19:45) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(21:19) The two parallel paths unfolding

(23:57) How close we are to developing more capable AI systems

(31:28) The impact of Moore's Law on technology and society

(37:34) Release - Get your first month free at ⁠https://release.com/twist

(39:03) Alternative perspectives on the pace of AI advancement

(43:14) The origins of Eric's positive outlook on AI

(47:49) Thought's on AI regulation and choke points

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Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Follow TWiST: