Stay ConnectedJason Calacanis covers startups, tech, markets, media, and all the hottest topics in business and technology. He also interviews the world’s greatest founders, operators, investors, and innovators.
Join our community on Twitter to discuss the show: https://twitter.com/i/communities/1496977694747209728
Copyright: © Jason Calacanis
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.
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.
Nuts.com is your one stop shop for the highest quality foods for business. They offer delicious office snacks, corporate gifts, and wholesale ingredients. Nuts.com is offering new business customers a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $125 or more at Nuts.com/twist
Today’s show:
Induced AI CEO Aryan Sharma joins Jason to discuss the motivation behind Induced AI (3:20), how the product is being integrated into real-world applications (16:42), strategies for mitigating bad actors (32:16), and more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Induced AI CEO Aryan Sharma joins Jason
(3:20) The motivation behind Induced AI
(10:06) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups
(11:24) The role of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and integration of LLMs
(16:42) Aryan demos Induced AI’s WorkFlow
(28:24) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(29:31) The impact on business processing outsourcing
(32:16) Strategies for mitigating bad actors
(40:30) Nuts.com - Get a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $125 or more at http://nuts.com/twist
(44:17) Journey to Induced AI
*
Links:
https://proceedings.mlr.press/v70/shi17a/shi17a.pdfhttps://www.sap.com/products/technology-platform/process-automation/what-is-rpa.html
*
Check out: https://www.induced.ai/
*
Follow Aryan:
https://twitter.com/aryxnsharma
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryan-sharma-2628aba2/
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
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
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.
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to demo Bard’s YouTube summarizer (2:27), an iPhone app that draws apps (41:14), Stability’s Clipdrop (59:20), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(2:27) Sunny demos Bard’s YouTube summarizer
(7:00) Jason's revamping his Substack! First topic; Jason's new ADD management framework: Automate, Delegate, Depreciate
(13:58) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(14:54) Bard’s YouTube summarizer demo continued
(27:09) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(29:09) Sunny demos tlDraw and discusses the evolution of low-code environments
(40:08) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(41:14) Sunny showcases UIDraw, an app to draw and build a web app on your phone with AI
(46:57) Sunny demos Trace, a tool to design a UI via AI
(53:38) Sunny demos Runway TV
(59:20) Sunny demos Stability’s image editing tools, including Clipdrop
(1:05:18) Jason and Sunny’s AI predictions and bet
*
Links:
https://www.wired.com/story/inside-story-of-pong-excerpt/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vin_Scelsastabilityhttps://twitter.com/jsngr/status/1728848624048853442?s=42&t=79J_alIF_jrz1wn1s5pboQclipdrop
*
Check out:
https://www.trace.zip/https://www.runway.tv/https://makereal.tldraw.com/
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
Lemon.io. Get access to Lemon Hire, a platform with more than 80,000 pre-vetted engineers that you can interview within 48 hours. Get $2000 off your first hire at http://lemon.io/hire today!
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.
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason for an emergency podcast! They break down the business implications of Altman leaving OpenAI (1:23), speculation around why he was fired (10:27), ongoing developments like Greg Brockman quitting, and more! (23:24)
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra goes live with Jason for an emergency Pod!
(1:23) Sam Altman ousted from OpenAI and Greg Brockman quits!
(6:44) The board’s accusations against Sam Altman
(10:27) Speculating “no conflict, no interest”
(12:16) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist(13:22) Sam's extraordinary deal-making, lack of OpenAI shares, and the possible impact from Humane launch
(23:24) The OpenAI and Microsoft relationship
(29:40) Lemon.io - Get $2000 off your first hire at http://lemon.io/hire
(30:49) More speculation and anonymous theories
(34:29) The impact of founder-led switching to not founder-led
(37:10) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://deploy.equinix.com/startups/
(38:30) Questions from live audience
(56:12) Final thoughts
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamvictorperez
Follow Artem:
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Today’s show:
Kruze’s Scott Orn joins Jason to discuss navigating potential ERC fraud (00:45), expected year one spend for startups (11:54), importance of accounting from Day 1 (15:22), and more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Kruze’s Scott Orn joins Jason.
(0:45) Navigating Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and spotting fraud, and the importance of CPA expertise
(9:01) The difference between building software and R&D
(11:54) Expected year one spend for startups
(15:22) Importance of accounting from day 1
*
Check out Kruze: https://kruzeconsulting.com
*
Follow Scott:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottorn
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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://twitter.com/adrianaoun
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups*
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
Corient. Real wealth requires real solutions. Corient provides wealth management services centered around you. For more information, speak with an advisor today at Corient.com
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to discuss and demo xAI’s new chatbot, Grok (2:18), OpenAI’s new GPTs (31:54), and an AI designed to detect fake reviews (55:40). Then, Sunny builds a GPT live on air (36:22)
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(2:18) Sunny demos xAI’s Grok chatbot
(14:49) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(21:33) Review and feedback for Grok chatbot
(28:36) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(31:54) Sunny demos OpenAI’s Game Time and Invest America GPTs
(36:22) Sunny builds a Launch GPT live!
(37:18) Corient - Speak with one of Corient's wealth management advisors today at http://corient.com
(48:33) Unlocking the potential of GPTs
(55:40) Sunny demos Fakespot, an AI tool for spotting fake reviews
*
Check out Grok: https://grok.x.ai
Check out OpenAI’s GPTs: https://chat.openai.com/gpts/discovery
Check out Fakespot: https://www.fakespot.com/
Check out Definitive Intelligence: https://www.definitive.io/
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
* 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
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://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.
Lemon.io. Get access to Lemon Hire, a platform with more than 80,000 pre-vetted engineers that you can interview within 48 hours. Get $2000 off your first hire at http://lemon.io/hire today!
.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:
First, Jason breaks down what forced WeWork’s bankruptcy filing (2:27), and what it might look like if Adam Neumann took back the company. (5:45) Then, driverDoc's Josh Kolar joins Jason to discuss creating all-in-one digital management platform for trucking companies (25:54).
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:27) Breaking down WeWork’s bankruptcy
(5:45) Is there a case for Adam Neumann’s return to WeWork?
(12:38) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(13:46) Adam Neumann's standing in the industry
(22:40) Lemon.io - Get $2000 off your first hire at http://lemon.io/hire
(25:49) driverDOC CEO and Co-Founder Josh Kolar joins Jason
(25:10) Unveiling the entrepreneurial journey that led to the birth of driverDOC.
(29:00) How driverDOC is navigating the complex landscape of fragmented trucking industries.
(30:04) Adding value to the legacy apps and the big vision for driverDOC
(31:19) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://www.startups.tech/jason
(32:31) The introduction of AI and multi-modal helps to accelerate the innovation of driverDOC
(34:22) An analysis of the current state of bill of lading standardization in the logistics industry.
(36:31) Advancements in live package tracking for improved shipment visibility.
(38:31) Building a startup in the heartland of America
(40:13) The impact of Uber and Amazon on freight
(41:32) The case of Convoy and the brokerage model
Referenced in the podcast:
https://www.newcomer.co/p/will-adam-neumann-rescue-wework
*
Check out driverDoc: https://www.driverdoc.io
Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkolar
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Todays show:
Kruze's Scott Orn joins Jason on the latest edition of Startup Finance Basics! In this episode, they discuss the current state of the market (0:40), diversifying bank relationships (6:09), managing risk (16:25), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Kruze's Scott Orn joins Jason
(0:40) The current state of the market
(6:09) The SVB lesson: Diversify your bank relationships
(16:25) Capital preservation, liquidity, and risk management
*
Check out Kruze: https://kruzeconsulting.com
*
Follow Scott:
https://twitter.com/scottorn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottorn
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
House of Macadamias is the next big health trend! Get a free month's supply of Macadamia Milk with any order at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20!
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
*
Today’s show:
First up, Jason takes on the news solo by breaking down Uber's Q3 earnings (2:23), reflecting on SBF's guilty verdict (13:39), and giving some takes on Biden's EO on AI (15:53). Then, Motive CEO John Habeck joins to break down building "Shopify for Car Dealerships" (21:39).
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:23) Uber earnings report and Uber’s profitability
(12:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(13:39) SBF’s guilty verdict
(15:53) Takes on Biden's executive order on AI
(20:11) House of Macadamias - Get a free month's supply of Macadamia Milk with any order at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20!
(21:39) Motive CEO John Habeck discusses building a startup in a "sleeping giant" industry
(32:18) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(33:17) Understand the TAM for "Shopify for Car Dealerships”
*
Referenced in the podcast:
https://www.businessofapps.com/data/uber-statistics
https://twitter.com/EconomyApp/status/1721899291248324642
*
Check out Motive: https://www.ridemotive.com
* 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you 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.
Coda is the all-in-one doc for teams. And they introduced an AI-powered assistant to take the BUSY out of the WORK! Get started for free at http://coda.io/twist
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://intouchcx.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Sunny joins Jason to discuss OpenAI’s DevDay announcements (1:33). Then, Sunny demos an AI-driven chatbot creator (32:49), an AI email-first Chief of Staff (39:12), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason to break down OpenAI DevDay!
(1:33) OpenAI DevDay announcements: GPT-4 Turbo, expanded context windows, Custom GPTs, and more
(12:57) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(14:28) How OpenAI's "GPT Store" could change the way we consume the internet
(22:02) GPT-4 Turbo, speed, cost reduction, expanded context window issues
(26:16) Coda - Get started for free at https://coda.io/twist
(32:49) DEMO: Droxy.ai: a custom chatbot platform
(37:54) InTouchCX - Schedule a free consultation at http://intouchcx.com/twist
(39:12) DEMO: Mindy.com: an AI-powered email Chief of Staff
(45:43) DEMO: Brave Nightly's webpage summarizer
(50:24) DEMO: Zapier's AI-powered Zaps
*
Check out what happened at OpenAI DevDay: https://devday.openai.com/
Check out Droxy Ai: https://www.droxy.ai/
Check out Mindy: https://mindy.com/
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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://twitter.com/gaganbiyani
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaganbiyani * Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/applyBuy 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
The Equinix Startup program offers provides 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.
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.
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
Today’s show:
Convai CEO Purnendu Mukherjee joins Jason to discuss creating AI-powered NPCs using Convai (6:05), the birth of generative AI (22:17), open-source vs. closed AI (36:01), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Convai CEO Purnendu Mukherjee joins Jason
(3:54) The motivation behind Convai
(6:05) Purnendu breaks down creating an NPC character using Convai
(10:16) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://equinixstartups.com
(11:36) Demo of character creation using Convai's unique toolset
(17:18) Integrating AI Characters into Game Worlds with Convai
(20:50) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist
(22:17) Convai’s business model and the issue game developers have with moving from flat rate to usage-based charges
(25:00) Purnendu reflects on his time at Nvidia
(29:57) The birth of the generative AI boom
(34:30) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(36:01) Navigating the Future: AI Regulation & open-source vs. closed AI
(40:11) The countdown to self-creating AI
(43:13) Purnendu breaks down data collected for AI and the uses for an AI-enabled Amazon Mechanical Turk
Check out Convai: https://www.convai.com
Follow Purnendu:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/purn3ndu
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Lemon.io. Get access to Lemon Hire, a platform with more than 80,000 pre-vetted engineers that you can interview within 48 hours. Get $2000 off your first hire at http://lemon.io/hire today!
IntouchCX. Give your startup a boost and simplify your processes with next-level automated customer support solutions from IntouchCX. Discover your custom strategy at Intouchcx.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.
*
Today’s show:
Airtable CEO Howie Liu joins Jason to discuss his philosophy of product-led growth (1:35), the current explosion of AI (36:37), and much more!
Time stamps:
(0:00) Airtable CEO Howie Liu joins Jason
(1:35) Howie’s philosophy on product-led growth
(5:05) Bridging the gap between spreadsheets and purpose-driven apps
(7:12) Tweet storm referenced on the All-In podcast
(13:19) Lemon.io - Get $2000 off your first hire at https://lemon.io/hire
(17:13) Blitzscale hiring
(24:28) InTouchCX - Get started with a free consultation at https://intouchcx.com/twist
(26:18) Charging per-seed basis and revisiting Airtable on E814 in 2018
(30:36) Jason shares two successful use cases utilizing Airtable
(35:32) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(36:37) The AI boom and its potential dangers
*
Check out All In E146: https://youtu.be/X-Sb8sIi22g?si=fhiIi5ehFOyrMUD-&t=3673
Check out Howie in TWiST E814: https://youtu.be/55JnirJ7oHk?si=oPlNol8cotYrJTI1
*
Follow Howie: https://twitter.com/howietl
*
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Arising Ventures - Head to http://arisingventures.com/TWIST to learn more and connect with the team
Nuts.com - Get a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $125 or more at http://nuts.com/twist
Brave - Download today at https://brave.com/twist to browse faster, search privately and so much more
*
Today’s show:
Sunny joins Jason for more demos! An AI-driven ownership and equity platform for founders (14:37), an AI interviewer who conducts live interviews (27:20), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(6:08) Jason’s experience with ChatGPT multimodal
(13:31) Arising Ventures - head to http://arisingventures.com/TWIST to learn more and connect with the team
(14:37) Sunny demos Mantle, an AI-powered cap table management platform for founders
(25:49) Nuts.com - Get a free gift with purchase and free shipping on orders of $125 or more at http://nuts.com/twist
(27:20) Sunny demos Talently.ai, an AI-powered job interviewer
(39:37) Brave - Download today at https://brave.com/twist to browse faster, search privately and so much more
(40:50) Sunny demos Morise.ai, a tool that helps YouTube creators generate titles, descriptions, and tags for videos!
*
Check out Mantle: https://withmantle.com
Check out Talently AI: https://interview.talently.ai
Check out Morise AI: https://morise.ai
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
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, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
*
Follow Jason:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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/
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
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
*
Follow Jason:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Lemon.io. Get access to Lemon Hire, a platform with more than 80,000 pre-vetted engineers that you can interview within 48 hours. Get $2000 off your first hire at http://lemon.io/hire today!
Codecademy. Build the future you want to see with Codecademy. Codecademy Pro helps you learn everything you’ll need to shape what comes next in the tech space. Try it free for 14 days. Visit Codecademy.com/TWiST
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
*
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to demo an AI-powered legal docs tool (6:46), detection tool (15:38), Google’s workspace AI (35:15), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(6:46) Sunny demos Legal Now - AI-powered legal docs tool
(10:01) Lemon.io - Get $2000 off your first hire at http://lemon.io/hire
(11:10) Sunny demos Rows - Web-based Excel
(15:38) Sunny demos Originality AI - AI detection tool (22:36) Codecademy - Try Codecademy Pro FREE for 14 days at http://codecademy.com/TWiST
(24:02) Apple testing M3 MacBook Pros with 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores
(31:32) Sunny demos Summarize.tech - Summarizes YouTube videos
(33:57) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://netsuite.com/twist
(35:15) Sunny demos Google Docs AI write
(43:49) Sunny demos Google Sheets AI
*
Check out Legal Now: https://ai.legalnow.xyz/
Check out Rows: Rows.com Check out Originality AI: https://app.originality.ai/content-scan/6910415
Check out Summarize.tech: https://www.summarize.tech/www.youtube.com/watch?v=co_MeKSnyAo
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
Check out Definitive Intelligence: https://www.definitive.io/
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 https://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 https://CLAconnect.com/tech
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
*
Today’s show:
Jason kicks the show off with a discussion on the state of venture capital in the Middle East (1:34). Then, he breaks down Q3 earnings reports for Google, Microsoft, and Snap (18:12), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:34) The state of VC in the Middle East
(10:15) The founder ecosystem and adapting to EU regulations
(13:57) Updates on "THE LINE"
(16:45) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(18:12) Google Q3 earnings
(22:48) Microsoft Q3 earnings
(28:21) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(29:57) Snap’s Q3 earnings
(38:33) InTouchCX - Get started with a free consultation at http://intouchcx.com/twist
(39:57) Snap’s Daily Active Users (DAU)
(43:15) Frameworks for investing in consumer internet companies
(44:56) Greycroft layoffs
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you 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.
Catalog. Stop wasting time and money with expensive design firms and unreliable freelancers! Get fast, 3-day turnarounds for a flat monthly fee with Catalog! Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
.Tech Domains has a new program called startups.tech, where you can get your startup featured on This Week in Startups. Go to https://startups.tech/jason to find out how!
*
Today’s show:
Mathew Russell Lee from Inner City Press joins Jason to discuss life as an independent journalist (13:47), startup fraud trends (2:27), his firsthand observations from the SBF courtroom (17:05), the state of the justice system (1:01:16), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Inner City Press’ Matthew Russell Lee joins Jason
(2:27) The failed Nikola Badger launch and trial of CEO Trevor Milton
(10:03) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(11:24) Current status of the SBF trial
(13:47) Matthew's approach to journalism
(17:05) Firsthand observations from the SBF courtroom and reflections on cooperators’ testimonies
(20:56) The dynamics among the accused and framing of their involvement
(23:54) The jury’s key point of interest
(28:38) Catalog - Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
(30:07) SBF’s family involvement and use of effective altruism
(34:58) SBF's defense strategy and alleged misuse of client funds
(40:58) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason
(43:25) SBF’s extradition and Sam Trabucco's role in the Chinese bribery scheme
(47:09) Recouping money
(50:57) Remaining aspects of the SBF trial
(53:57) SBF's character and upbringing
(56:19) Outcomes of previous fraud cases and thoughts on SBF's conviction
(1:01:16) SDNY's nature and the state of the U.S. justice system
*
Follow Matthew: https://twitter.com/innercitypress
Check out Inner City Press: https://www.innercitypress.com/
Check out Matthew's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MatthewRussellLee
*
Check out TWiST episode 1090: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH-zhlqvJWM
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for
Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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.
Codecademy. Build the future you want to see with Codecademy. Codecademy Pro helps you learn everything you’ll need to shape what comes next in the tech space. Try it free for 14 days. Visit Codecademy.com/TWiST
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.
*
Today’s show:
Lon Harris joins Jason to discuss Apple’s major push into Hollywood blockbusters (1:38), their anti-Netlix, “auteur” approach (4:27), updates on the WGA+SAG-AFTRA strikes (29:11), film recommendations (46:10), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Lon Harris joins Jason
(1:38) Apple’s major push into Hollywood blockbusters
(4:27) Apple's anti-Netflix, “auteur” approach
(6:11) Why is this timely? Approaches to film marketing and releases
(13:56) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art at https://www.masterworks.com/twist
(15:21) Breaking down the budget for Apple's Killers of the Flower Moon
(18:13) Why is Netflix taking the opposite approach
(20:12) Sequels and audience burnout
(21:25) Movie budgets: Napoleon, Barbie, Oppenheimer
(27:45) Codecademy - Try Codecademy Pro FREE for 14 days at http://codecademy.com/TWiST
(29:11) Update on the WGA strike and AI's place in film
(38:01) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(39:31) Update on SAG-AFTRA negotiations
(43:53) Understanding the "auteur" approach and the significance behind original IP
(46:10) Film and Show Recommendations: Fall of the House of Usher, The Mill, The Diplomat, Mr. Inbetween, Past Lives, The Burial, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
*
Follow Lon: https://twitter.com/Lons
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
With Mercury Raise, startup founders no longer have to navigate roadblocks alone. Visit mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice.
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.
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:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to demo an AI-enabled survey tool (1:31), ChatGPT’s multimodal UI feedback (44:58), Google generative image search (59:15), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(1:31) Sunny demos Trove’s conversational surveys
(10:43) Final thoughts and grades for Trove
(17:43) Mercury Raise - Visit http://mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice
(19:07) Sunny demos the ChatGPT's multimodal calculator builder
(22:45) Microsoft reportedly losing $20/month per GitHub Copilot user
(28:58) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(30:20) Sunny demos SuperManage
(34:46) Grades for SuperManage
(43:30) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist
(44:58) Demo of ChatGPT's Multimodal UI feedback
(49:01) OpenAI’s business model
(54:09) Grades for ChatGPT Multimodal UI feedback
(59:15) Sunny demos Google’s generative image search
(1:02:12) Grades for Google’s generative image search
*
Check out Trove: https://gettrove.co/app/dashboard
Check out SuperManage: https://supermanage.ai/
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Codecademy. Build the future you want to see with Codecademy. Codecademy Pro helps you learn everything you’ll need to shape what comes next in the tech space. Try it free for 14 days. Visit Codecademy.com/TWiST
.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!
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.
*
Today’s show:
Rewind CEO Dan Siroker joins Jason to discuss the new Rewind Pendant AI device that can record conversations (1:08), debate privacy and ethical concerns around covert recording (9:32), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:08) Dan breaks down the Rewind Pendant
(8:05) Codecademy - Try Codecademy Pro FREE for 14 days at http://codecademy.com/TWiST
(9:32) Privacy and ethical concerns around covert recording
(20:42) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason
(21:47) Comparisons to products like Google Glass and Humane
(24:15) Design considerations and the best use cases for Rewind Pendant
(30:09) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(31:32) The need for thoughtful development of personal AI and the value of open feedback
*
Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/dsiroker
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Catalog. Stop wasting time and money with expensive design firms and unreliable freelancers! Get fast, 3-day turnarounds for a flat monthly fee with Catalog! Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at https://investwithroots.com/TWIST
*
Today’s show:
Jason is back to break down the news: Bill Ackman's SPARC (1:32), Unity CEO steps down due to developer revolt over pricing changes (15:33), the AI operating cost problem (32:17), the latest on SBF's trial (45:32), and more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:32) Bill Ackman's SPARC
(14:02) Catalog - Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
(15:33) Unity CEO steps down over developer revolt, importance of getting pricing right
(24:44) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://lemon.io/twist
(26:05) Lyft looks to get rid of surge pricing
(32:17) Big tech firms are losing money on AI tools due to high operating costs
(37:10) Roots - Head to https://investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today
(38:43) Google's Project Green Light: AI is helping cities like Seattle reduce carbon emissions from cars by optimizing traffic lights
(45:32) SBF Trial Update
*
LINKS:
https://venturebeat.com/games/john-riccitiello-steps-down-as-ceo-of-unity-after-pricing-battle
https://unity.com/pricing#plans-individualsand-teams
https://www.axios.com/2023/09/13/unity-runtime-fee-policy-marc-whitten
https://twitter.com/InnerslothDevs/status/1701731398498013575
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
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
*
Today’s show:
Bill Gurley and Sunny Madra join Jason to discuss open-source AI vs. proprietary AI (1:12), friends and foes of open-source AI (5:42), and strategic choices companies make between open and closed approaches (9:48). Then, Sunny demos more AI tools (22:45), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(1:12) Bill Gurley joins to break down open-source vs. proprietary AI
(5:42) Friends and foes of open-source AI
(8:17) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(9:48) Strategic choices companies make between open and closed approaches
(21:37) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(22:45) Sunny demos LLaVA: Large Language and Vision Assistant
(29:56) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(31:00) Sunny breaks down parameter models
(38:56) Companies manufacturing their own chips
(42:26) Sunny demos Mistral AI
(46:56) Jason and Sunny demo Meta AI on WhatsApp
(50:44) FTX and the SBF trial
*
Follow Bill: https://twitter.com/bgurley
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
Check out LLaVA: https://llava-vl.github.io/
Check out Mistral: https://huggingface.co/spaces/Open-Orca/Mistral-7B-OpenOrca?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
House of Macadamias is the next big health trend! Get a free month's supply of Macadamia Milk with any order at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20!
Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at https://investwithroots.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.
*
Today’s show:
Jason breaks down the SBF trial (11:47), the peak of the crypto hype (19:15), and takes a few live questions (42:26)!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:42) Michael Lewis’ book and FTX’s downfall
(10:18) House of Macadamias - Get a free month's supply of Macadamia Milk with any order at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20!
(11:47) SBF’s trial and the prosecutor's argument
(15:42) The reasons people flipped on SBF
(19:15) Crypto hype, wash trading, and the reason for regulations
(23:31) Roots - Head to https://investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
(25:05) The defense's argument
(28:49) How investors look at SBF and the importance of governance in a startup
(33:57) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(35:12) Witnesses and Jason's verdict prediction
(42:26) Questions from live audience!
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.
With Mercury Raise, startup founders no longer have to navigate roadblocks alone. Visit mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice.
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.
*
Today’s show:
Jason breaks down Amazon’s Anthropic deal and the state of AI mega-rounds (5:29), Flexport’s growing pains through the lens of founding CEO vs. hired gun (24:58), and DoorDash’s new stealthy “Dine Out” feature (44:52).
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:42) Recap of Anthropic's big week
(5:29) Amazon’s Anthropic deal and the state of AI mega-rounds
(7:35) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(9:04) Two major details in Amazon’s Anthropic deal
(18:57) Strategic investors and Anthropic’s corporate structure
(23:32) Mercury Raise - Visit http://mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice
(24:58) Flexport’s growing pains through the lens of founding CEO vs. hired gun
(35:17) Why Dave Clark being fired “for cause” instead of being allowed to resign matters
(38:20) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://netsuite.com/twist
(39:45) Flexport's offer to Clark
(44:52) DoorDash’s new stealthy “Dine Out!” feature
*
Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-steps-up-ai-race-with-up-4-billion-deal-invest-anthropic-2023-09-25/
The Information article: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-rival-anthropic-in-talks-to-raise-2-billion-from-google-others-as-ai-arms-race-accelerates
CNBC article: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/02/the-inside-story-of-dave-clarks-tumultuous-last-days-at-flexport.html
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at https://investwithroots.com/TWIST
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.
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 https://linksquares.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Kayak CEO Steve Hafner joins Jason to discuss the current landscape of the travel industry (1:56), its economic dynamics (17:40), emerging trends in hospitality (41:08), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Kayak CEO Steve Hafner joins Jason
(1:56) The state of the travel industry today and the adoption of AI
(10:50) Roots - Head to https://investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
(12:15) Navigating shifts in UI and building bulletproof features for at-scale companies
(15:32) Kayak's response to the impact of Covid-19 on the industry
(17:40) The economics of the travel industry
(28:14) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(29:36) OpenTable, diner ratings, and the advent of QR code ordering
(34:29) The drive behind OpenTable's revenue stream and product adoption
(39:54) LinkSquares - The go-to for all your legal needs; learn more at https://linksquares.com/twist
(41:08) Hospitality trends in hotels
(50:02) The impact of AI gains on Kayak’s operations
*
Follow Steve: https://twitter.com/shafner
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 https://vanta.com/twist
LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to https://LinkedIn.com/TWIST to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.
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.](http://fitbod.me/TWIST.)
*
Today’s show:
Sunny joins Jason for more demos! Microsoft’s Windows 11 Copilot (2:42), ChatGPT’s multimodal features (28:37), and Meta’s new AI chatbots (1:04:34) are all covered!!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(2:42) Sunny demos Windows 11 Copilot preview
(9:48) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(10:55) Windows 11 Copilot to desktop interaction and areas needing improvement
(15:06) Consequences of recording desktop interactions for AI and the final grade for Windows 11 Copilot
(27:17) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(28:37) Sunny demos ChatGPT’s multimodal features
(36:32) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist
(38:01) Job destruction and AI’s effects on the workplace
(43:57) The utilization of multiple AI agents
(46:05) ChatGPT’s voice chat feature
(52:24) Personalization and the path to AGI
(1:02:09) Common Crawl and use of web crawl data
(1:04:34) Meta’s new AI chatbots
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
Check out Definitive Intelligence: https://www.definitive.io/
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
Catalog. Stop wasting time and money with expensive design firms and unreliable freelancers! Get fast, 3-day turnarounds for a flat monthly fee with Catalog! Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
Codecademy. Build the future you want to see with Codecademy. Codecademy Pro helps you learn everything you’ll need to shape what comes next in the tech space. Try it free for 14 days. Visit https://codecademy.com/TWiST
*
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
.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!
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
*
Today’s show:
Kelly Schricker joins Jason to kick off another startup pitch competition featuring four companies from Founder University Cohorts 5 and 6!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason and Kelly kick off another startup pitch competition!
(6:52) Why founding teams have an advantage over solo founders
(11:47) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(13:18) Founder University's program, and crafting the best pitch for your company
(22:24) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason
(23:38) Jason Kappes pitches Newcomer Games
(25:58) Jason’s feedback for Newcomer Games
(32:24) Mercury - Join 100K+ startups banking with Mercury at http://mercury.com
(33:36) Matthew Majcher pitches Scrumly
(35:43) Jason’s feedback for Scrumly
(40:41) Jared Rosen pitches HomeScore
(42:59) Jason’s feedback for HomeScore
(52:21) Phoenix Do pitches Fitted
(54:26) Jason’s feedback for Fitted
(1:08:49) Kelly and Jason review the four companies and their pitches
(1:16:16) Jason picks his winning startup!
*
Check out Newcomer Games: https://newcomergames.com
Check out Scrumly: https://www.scrumly.ai
Check out HomeScore: https://homescore.co
Check out Fitted: https://www.fittedcollective.com
*
Follow Kelly: https://twitter.com/KSchricks
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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 https://CLAconnect.com/tech
Codecademy. Build the future you want to see with Codecademy. Codecademy Pro helps you learn everything you’ll need to shape what comes next in the tech space. Try it free for 14 days. Visit https://Codecademy.com/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 https://linksquares.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Grammarly CEO Rahul Roy-Chowdhury joins Jason to discuss his journey to CEO (15:28), Grammarly’s product features (26:20), AI integrations (32:28), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Grammarly CEO Rahul Roy-Chowdhury joins Jason
(4:19) Rahul's start in tech and his time on the Google Chrome team.
(8:57) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(10:24) The Chrome team and Chrome OS
(15:28) Journey to Grammarly CEO
(19:29) Exploring applications and platforms for Grammarly
(25:05) LinkSquares - The go-to for all your legal needs, learn more at https://linksquares.com/twist
(26:20) The product roadmap and what draws people into Grammarly
(35:04) Grammarly's business and enterprise offerings
(37:32) Codecademy - Try Codecademy Pro FREE for 14 days at http://codecademy.com/TWiST
(38:53) Product Features: Knowledge Share and Grammarly Goals
(42:28) The addition of Grammarly Go and the LLM powering it
(47:12) Controversial product features
(54:17) When to use the native desktop application and extensions
(57:13) Future integration of AI and the path ahead
*
Follow Rahul: https://twitter.com/rahulrc
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
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.
Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at https://investwithroots.com/TWIST
*
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to discuss Google's recently launched Bard Extensions (2:27), demo AI tools (49:02), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(2:27) Demo of recently released Google Bard Extensions
(7:51) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(9:23) Demo of Google Bard Extensions continued (Google Maps)
(20:07) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(21:30) Demo of Google Bar Extensions (Gmail and YouTube)
(33:58) Roots - Head to https://investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
(35:23) Jason and Sunny grade and share opinions on Google Bard Extensions
(41:24) Microsoft Copilot
(43:01) YouTube Create, YouTube’s editing app for mobile creators
(49:02) Jason demos VENDOR
(52:21) Sunny demos SEC Insights
*
Check out Google Bard Extensions: https://www.bard.google.com
Check out yc.v.inc: https://www.yc.v.inc
Check out Microsoft Copilot: https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2023/09/21/announcing-microsoft-copilot-your-everyday-ai-companion/
Check Out YouTube Create: https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/made-on-youtube-2023/
Check out SEC Insights: https://www.secinsights.ai/
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
Check out Definitive Intelligence: https://www.definitive.io/about
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
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.
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?”
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to https://LinkedIn.com/TWIST to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.
.Tech Domains has a new program called startups.tech, where you can get your startup featured on This Week in Startups. Go to https://startups.tech/jason to find out how!
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.
*
Today’s show:
Replit CEO Amjad Masad joins Jason to discuss the latest developments in IDEs (3:04), leveraging AI for coding (11:48), Replit’s Ghostwriter (23:40), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Replit CEO Amjad Masad joins Jason
(3:04) The origin of integrated development environments (IDEs) uses and importance for developers
(6:44) IntelliSense, Replit's Ghostwriter and other debugging tools
(10:28) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(11:48) Leveraging AI in suggestion tools and coding platforms
(14:17) The role of autonomous agents in startup development
(19:20) Replit's Bounties platform and Replit's mission to build artificial developer intelligence (ADI)
(22:25) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason
(23:40) Amjad Masad demos Replit's Ghostwriter and other apps
(31:46) Getting more people to become developers and low-code platforms
(36:35) Supergut - Get 25% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com
(38:06) “Make Something Wonderful” Steve Jobs in his own words
(43:56) The human mind and the origin of Amjad's passion for computers
(48:22) Embracing AI and the resulting changes at Replit
(55:27) Paradigm shifts in Hollywood and tech
(1:03:06) thebrain.com
*
Check out Replit: https://replit.com
Follow Amjad: https://twitter.com/amasad
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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:
Oura CEO Tom Hale joins Jason to discuss his journey to becoming CEO of Oura (3:02), subscription-based business models (7:05), navigating ZIRP (39:37), the challenges of scaling a hardware business (45:00), and so much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Oura CEO Tom Hale joins Jason
(3:02) Tom's journey to becoming CEO
(7:05) The significance of subscription models for business operations & product innovation
(11:28) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(12:57) Oura's subscription-based business model
(23:04) Cultivating positive habits & Oura’s advanced tracking features
(26:26) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(27:47) Leading a company and instilling core values
(34:51) The impact of pausing marketing & harnessing the power of virality
(38:20) LinkSquares - The go-to for all your legal needs, learn more at https://linksquares.com/twist
(39:37) The ZIRP phenomenon and the challenges of scaling up
(45:00) Finding a strong product-market fit
(53:35) Merging personalization with consumer-focused approaches in healthcare
(1:03:45) Oura’s company culture
*
Check out Oura: https://ouraring.com
Follow Tom: https://twitter.com/tomeghale
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
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:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to discuss Sunny’s All-In Summit experience (1:34), OpenAI’s race to beat Google in launching the first multimodal LLM (9:07), whether generative AI needs a UI shift (33:00), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(1:34) All-In Summit 2023 recap and Sunny’s experience
(7:44) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(9:07) OpenAI’s race to beat Google in launching the first multimodal LLM
(14:42) Experiences with image-generating AI and Midjourney's interface
(19:23) The culture at Apple and where risk aversion sets them back
(22:32) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(24:03) Google’s advantages and chances against OpenAI in multimodal LLMs
(31:30) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist
(33:00) UI developments and what sets multimodal LLMs apart
(44:22) ChatGPT Enterprise
(45:37) Sunny demos Canva’s ChatGPT plugin
(55:00) Code LLaMa's potential and Falcon 180B’s unique features
(59:41) Sunny demos Headshots AI
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
Check out Headshots AI: https://headshots-starter.vercel.app/overview
Check out Falcon 180B: https://falconllm.tii.ae/
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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.
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.
Catalog. Stop wasting time and money with expensive design firms and unreliable freelancers! Get fast, 3-day turnarounds for a flat monthly fee with Catalog! Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Avnos CEO Will Kain joins Jason to discuss the importance of direct air capture technology for our planet (4:07), CO2's relationship to climate change (11:02), the path to reaching net zero (36:45), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Avnos CEO Will Kain joins Jason
(4:07) What carbon capture is and what makes it important
(6:15) The high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere
(9:46) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/unicorn
(11:02) CO2’s relationship to climate change
(19:05) Fount - Get $500 off at https://fount.bio/twist
(20:36) Direct air capture (DAC) technology developments and the cost of carbon capture
(26:17) What is takes to power a DAC system, resource efficiency, and Avnos’ unique HDAC
(32:33) Environmental conditions for DAC
(35:16) Catalog - Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
(36:45) The path to reaching net zero
(38:49) Monetization strategies
(42:46) The section 45Q tax credit legislation and the VC angle
(50:48) Avnos’ number one goal
(55:44) Mastering natural systems
(59:36) AI’s impact on DAC technology
*
Check out Avnos: https://www.avnos.com
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you 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.
Plunge. Go to https://plunge.com and use code twist150 for $150 off your cold plunge tub.
NetSuite, by Oracle. The business management software that handles every aspect of your business in an easy-to-use cloud platform. Schedule a FREE product tour and receive your FREE guide: “Seven Actions Businesses Need to Take Now” at NetSuite.com/TWIST.
*
Today’s show:
Boll & Branch CEO Scott Tannen joins Jason to discuss taking control of the supply chain (11:40), building a trusted brand through transparency (18:12), the importance of boots-on-the-ground methodology (28:02), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Boll & Branch CEO Scott Tannen joins Jason
(3:12) Boll & Branch’s position in the market
(4:53) The origin story, insights gained about supply chains, and increasing product quality
(10:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(11:40) Going deep into the supply chain dynamics and Boll & Branch’s key innovation
(16:05) The benefits of organic cotton and creating a cost of goods advantage
(18:12) How traceability sets Boll & Branch apart as a textile brand
(24:40) Plunge - Go to https://plunge.com and use code twist150 for $150 off
(26:11) Hotels and the hospitality business
(28:02) The importance of Fairtrade certification and the boots-on-the-ground methodology
(38:33) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://netsuite.com/twist
(40:04) Human rights, inclusion, and global wages
(45:10) The impact of inflation post-covid and the changes in consumer behavior
(46:48) The cost of marketing and the channels that work
*
Check out Boll & Branch: https://www.bollandbranch.com/
FOLLOW Scott: https://twitter.com/scotttannen
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at https://investwithroots.com/TWIST
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 https://Supergut.com with code TWIST.
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
*
Today’s show:
Modular CEO Chris Lattner joins Jason to discuss the process of building LLMs (8:14), what caused Nvidia to be entrenched in machine learning today (35:37), the AI wrapper debate (41:44), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Modular CEO Chris Lattner joins Jason
(2:24) Where hardware and optimization stand today
(8:14) What goes into deploying and distributing an AI model into a product
(10:32) Roots - Head to https://investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
(12:02) Why companies make their own machine-learning software
(14:32) Nvidia’s outlook on what Modular is building
(18:46) Chris’s time at Apple
(20:05) Strategies for reducing complexity
(22:53) Awareness of underlying complexities in the technology stack
(25:14) Supergut - Get 30% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com
(26:46) What it will look like in five to ten years; Increase consumption by creating new categories
(31:29) The open-source community; RISC-V and Arm
(34:15) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(35:37) How Nvidia secured its position
(38:21) The AlexNet moment
(41:44) The AI wrapper debate
(44:32) OpenAI moving from non-profit to profit and open to closed-system
(46:32) The lack of programmers and the ability to do more with less
(52:09) Modular Mojo and other developments
*
Check out Modular: https://www.modular.com/
FOLLOW Chris: https://twitter.com/clattner_llvm
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 https://vanta.com/twist
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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 htttps://CLAconnect.com/tech
*
Today’s show:
Zeke Faux, the author of “Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall,” joins Jason to discuss crypto’s crazy rise and fall (3:58), how SBF learned to play the game (16:22), red flags at Tether (26:13), and so much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Zeke Faux, the author of “Number Go Up” joins Jason
(3:58) Meeting Sam Bankman-Fried in the Bahamas and first impressions
(10:23) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(11:30) SBF, his colleagues, and a hint of substance abuse
(16:22) The group psychosis and how they learned to play the game
(24:51) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(26:13) Operations and red flags at Tether
(35:44) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(37:15) Revisiting Zeke’s investigative journalism in Cambodia
(44:16) From organized crime to legitimate business
(46:59) Terraform Labs and the collapse of Luna
(49:05) The VC perspective and regulations in place
*
Buy Number Go Up: https://www.amazon.com/Number-Go-Up-Cryptos-Staggering/dp/0593443810
FOLLOW Zeke: https://twitter.com/ZekeFaux
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 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!
Plunge. Go to https://plunge.com and use code twist150 for $150 off your cold plunge tub.
*
Today’s show:
Poshmark CEO Manish Chandra joins Jason to discuss the expansion of the “Circular Economy” (2:47), consumer-to-consumer shopping (18:30), building a community with Poshmark (32:59), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Poshmark CEO Manish Chandra joins Jason
(2:47) The expansion of the "Circular Economy" and what drives consumers towards Poshmark
(6:31) The most popular shopping categories and Poshmark’s day one vision
(11:51) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(13:20) Impact of the fast fashion movement
(20:56) Global shipping and areas for optimization
(24:38) Poshmark introducing live shows
(27:04) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason
(28:12) The social shopping space
(32:59) Important factors in building a community
(37:52) Plunge - Go to https://plunge.com and use code twist150 for $150 off
(39:20) Lessons learned from Manish’s entrepreneurial journey
*
FOLLOW Manish: https://twitter.com/marrc
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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!
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
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:
SaaSGrid Co-Founders Ethan Ruby and David Sacks join Jason to demo SaaSGrid and break down the solution it provides for founders (3:12). They also cover the software recession (26;18), AI’s impact on SaaS (36:41), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) David Sacks and Ethan Ruby join Jason
(3:12) The solution SaaSGrid provides for founders
(7:02) Ethan demos SaaSGrid
(9:25) 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
(10:45) Burn multiple and startup efficiency
(16:27) Fixed cost of a SaaS business today and major roadblocks in SaaS
(20:40) Determining target customers and when outbound makes sense
(25:10) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(26:18) Headwinds against SaaS and the software recession
(30:12) The MRR chart and analyzing contraction and churn
(35:13) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist
(36:41) AI’s impact on SaaS companies
(41:47) The ZIRP/COVID-19 bubble and founders skipping funding rounds
(44:37) The 3 MOST important things for SaaS companies to pay attention to
*
Check out SaaSGrid: https://www.saasgrid.com/
FOLLOW Ethan: https://twitter.com/ethanjruby
FOLLOW David: https://twitter.com/DavidSacks
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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 https://linksquares.com/twist
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to https://LinkedIn.com/nextunicorn
Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at https://investwithroots.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Sardine CEO and Co-Founder Soups Ranjan joins Jason to discuss the potential harms of generative AI re: fraud (9:53), the value of intrinsic AI (29:48), Sardine's fraud-prevention solution (26:02), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sardine CEO Soups Ranjan joins Jason
(6:11) What Soups learned from his time as Coinbase’s director of risk management and data science
(8:36) LinkSquares - The go-to for all your legal needs. Learn more at https://linksquares.com/twist
(9:53) Fraud in finance and spotting bad actors
(15:03) “Pig Butchering” scams and Kitboga’s crackdown
(24:35) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/nextunicorn
(26:02) Using machine learning to prevent future fraud
(29:48) Extrinsic AI vs. intrinsic AI and doomsday scenarios
(33:53) What sets Sardine apart from other companies
(35:19) Roots - Head to https://investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
(36:53) Overlap in techniques, actors, etc. in fraud protection
*
Check out Sardine: https://www.sardine.ai/
FOLLOW Soups: https://twitter.com/soupsranjan
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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
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.
*
Today’s show:
Vital Biosciences CEO Vasu Nadella joins Jason to discuss exactly how Vital’s “VitalOne” conducts 50+ blood tests with a small sample of blood (9:16), building investor trust in the wake of past industry failures (18:45), creating accessible care (40:35), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Vital Biosciences CEO and Co-Founder Vasu Nadella joins Jason
(1:18) Theranos’ background and what prompted Vasu to pursuit
(7:56) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(9:16) Vasu demos how the VitalOne works, lessons learned on Vital’s journey
(18:45) Scaling the company, raising a war chest, building trust in the product, benchmarking and governance for labs
(27:36) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(29:07) State of lab robotics, paths for incorporating AI into Vital’s technology, benefits of converging technologies
(39:16) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(40:35) Creating accessible modern lab testing
(45:38) Consumer behavior and the outcome of consumers controlling spend
*
Check out Vital Bio: https://vitalbio.com
FOLLOW Vasu: https://twitter.com/vasunadella
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
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.
Catalog. Stop wasting time and money with expensive design firms and unreliable freelancers! Get fast, 3-day turnarounds for a flat monthly fee with Catalog! Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Loyal CEO and Founder Celine Halioua joins Jason to discuss developing drugs that delay dog aging (10:19), lessons learned as a solo founder (49:34), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Loyal CEO Celine Halioua joins Jason
(1:43) The human dream of achieving life extension
(4:37) Celine’s background
(8:48) Fount - Get $500 off at https://fount.bio/twist
(10:19) Why Celine decided to start with a focus on dogs
(16:43) Wegovy, Ozempic, and the category of drugs that Loyal is developing
(20:44) Breaking down how the drugs work and the consequences of selective breeding
(24:21) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/unicorn
(25:36) Stem cell therapy and the placebo effect
(33:29) Environmental factors to consider in drug development
(37:05) The path to commercialization
(39:27) Catalog - Get $1200 off right now at https://trycatalog.com/twist
(40:56) Staying intellectually curious and the path to commercialization continued
(46:11) Hitting Series A milestones with less than $500K of the original $5M raised in seed round
(49:34) Lessons learned as a solo founder
*
Follow Celine: https://twitter.com/celinehalioua
Check out Loyal: https://loyalfordogs.com/
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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?
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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”
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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 vanta.com/twist
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to LinkedIn.com/nextunicorn
*
Today’s show:
Covariant CEO Peter Chen joins Jason to discuss the future of AI in robotics (1:33), the key concepts of reinforcement learning (13:50), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Covariant CEO Peter Chen joins Jason
(1:33) AI’s role in robotics and its value in e-commerce warehouses
(7:38) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(8:59) Reinforcement learning today and the AlphaGo moment
(13:50) The 2 key concepts of reinforcement learning
(17:35) Approaches to accessing data for AI in robotics
(20:35) Robotics hardware
(22:50) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(23:57) Covariant's hardware and software in use
(27:32) The importance of adaptability
(32:40) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/nextunicorn
(34:08) The Tesla Optimus and humanoid robots
(39:58) Overcoming hardware constraints
(44:38) Boomerang investors and customers
*
Follow Peter: https://twitter.com/peterxichen
Check out Covariant : https://covariant.ai/
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST. MasterClass. Learn from the world’s best minds - anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. Get 15% off an annual membership to MasterClass at masterclass.com/startups Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at investwithroots.com/twist *
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to discuss Nvidia’s upcoming earnings and if the company is overvalued (1:08). Then, Sunny demos more AI tools, including an incredible AI dubbing product (16:43)!
*
Time stamps:(00:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason (1:08) Is Nvidia overvalued? (6:05) Leveraging hardware gains (9:46) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist (11:02) Nvidia’s price targets and why Jason would not Jay Trade it (16:43) Sunny demos rask.ai (18:50) AI voice dubbing (26:18) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups (27:51) Sunny demos a reconstructed Pink Floyd song from brain recordings (33:28) Sunny demos GodMode (37:43) Roots - Head to investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today! (39:20) Sunny demos Pluto.fi
(46:34) Content theft and Sunny demos PlayHT (55:47) Sunny’s X experiment
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep Check out : https://app.rask.ai/
Check out GodMode: https://github.com/smol-ai/GodMode/releases/tag/v1.0.0-beta.2 Check out the Pink Floyd brain recording: https://news.berkeley.edu/2023/08/15/releases-20230811 Check out Pluto.fi: https://www.pluto.fi/ Check out PlayHT: https://play.ht/
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
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.
*
Today’s show:
Inflection AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman joins Jason to discuss DeepMind’s influence on AI (1:17), the hardware revolution (26:27), the foundation of Inflection AI (49:45), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Inflection’s CEO Mustafa Suleyman joins Jason
(1:17) Life before DeepMind
(8:34) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(10:05) DeepMind’s origin story
(15:58) The pitch to Peter Thiel and feedback from early investors
(19:34) DeepMind’s first project
(24:59) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist
(26:27) The hardware revolution and growth in computing
(30:15) DeepMind’s acquisition by Google and strategy for building an elite team
(34:14) Major achievements at Google
(37:49) Carta - Get 10% off your first SPV at https://carta.com/twist with promo code TWIST
(39:22) Google’s cautious approach to releasing an AI product
(44:59) Regulatory issues and fair compensation
(49:45) The foundation of Inflection AI
(59:50) The downsides of AI and Mustafa’s book, The Coming Wave
(1:08:58) Complacency in tech and Mustafa’s thoughts on remote work
*
Follow Mustafa: https://twitter.com/mustafasuleyman
Check out Inflection AI: https://inflection.ai
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist.
Eight Sleep. Good sleep is the ultimate game changer. Now you can add the Pod Cover to any mattress! Go to eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Cover and get $150 off at checkout!
*
Today’s show:
First up, Sunny Madra is back to discuss the “AI wrapper” stigma, the first official demo-to-investment, and demo more useful AI products! (2:41) Then, Tonebase CEO Igor Lichtmann joins to demo his product, break down how he achieved product-market fit while maintaining capital efficiency, and more! (42:47)
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny Madra is back for more AI demos!
(2:41) The “AI wrapper" debate; VenturusAI is joining the LAUNCH Accelerator as the first full-circle demo-to-investment
(10:09) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(11:23) Klap.app turns YouTube links into multiple TikTok-style videos with captions and ranks them on "Virality Score"
(19:08) Kickresume uses generative AI tools to help users build a fully-fleshed out resumes and prepare for job interviews
(25:15) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(26:34) Browse AI helps users build AI-powered web scraping/data extraction bots with no code
(34:16) Oppwiser is an AI-powered lead gen platform for sales teams
(41:16) Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Cover and get $150 off at checkout!
(42:47) Tonebase CEO Igor Lichtmann joins to demo his music education startup, break down how he achieved product-market fit while maintaining capital efficiency, and more!
*
Check out Tonebase: https://tonebase.co
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
Check out Klap: https://klap.app
Check out Kickresume: https://www.kickresume.com
Check out: Browse AI: https://www.browse.ai
Check out Oppwiser: https://oppwiser.com
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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
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
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to LinkedIn.com/nextunicorn.
*
Today’s show:
Proprio CEO Gabriel Jones joins Jason to discuss the struggles surgeons face in the operating room today (23:05), the solutions Proprio’s Paradigm system provides (27:14), the future of surgery (37:03), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Proprio CEO Gabriel Jones joins Jason
(2:09) Proprio’s Light Field-Enabled Surgical technology
(7:03) Gabriel demos the Proprio Paradigm robotic computer vision system
(10:26) Superside - Go to https://superside.com/twist to get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package
(11:58) Generational shifts in medicine
(18:03) The ultimate impact of this technology
(21:58) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(23:05) The data Proprio operates on and the struggles surgeons face today
(27:14) Bench-top simulation
(32:05) Use of AI and robotics in surgery today
(35:36) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/nextunicorn
(37:03) The choice to utilize Proprio’s technology for spine surgery first
(39:03) Reducing the time needed to perform surgeries
(44:17) Academia vs. Venture, and the importance of “proof points” for investors
(46:44) The FDA approval process
*
Check out Proprio: https://www.propriovision.com/
Follow Gabriel: https://twitter.com/aGabrielJones
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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:
First up, Sunny Madra joins Jason to demo some new AI tools, including auto-generated articles, social clips, and ChatGPT’s newest feature. (3:50) Then, Jason sees pitches from three recent Founder University graduates and invests $25K in one of their startups! (40:33)
Time stamps:
(00:00) Sunny joins Jason
(2:20) The pace of progress in the industry and influx of AI startups
(3:50) Sunny demos byword.ai
(9:58) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(11:19) Building a company today and improving LLMs
(17:21) Sunny demos Submagic
(23:53) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(25:09) Sunny demos ChatGPT’s new Custom Instructions feature
(29:40) TWiST's "all-star" summer and brief TWiST history
(39:13) 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
(40:33) Jason and Kelly kick off another $25K startup pitch competition!
(44:13) Rami pitches Querio.ai
(49:18) Batuhan pitches BeforeSunset.ai
(59:54) Allen Pitches Semanttic
(1:07:03) Kelly and Jason share thoughts, then Jason picks a startup!
(1:11:34) Q&A with Jason
*
Check out byword_: https://byword.ai/
Check out Submagic: https://www.submagic.co
Check out Querio.AI: https://www.querio.ai
Check out BeforeSunset.AI: https://www.beforesunset.ai
Check out Semanttic: https://www.semanttic.com/
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Today’s show:
Wilson Sonsini partner Adam Shevell joins Jason to discuss gaining access to datasets (1:10), fair use in copyright cases (6:29), and more!
*
Time stamps: (00:00) Wilson Sonsini partner Adam Shevell joins Jason (1:10) Gaining access to datasets, avoiding copyright infringement, and why IP is protected (6:29) The concept of fair use and when it applies (11:26) What new founders should pay attention to (14:59) The Github case (17:42) Proper strategy for getting permission (22:56) How startups get crushed with legal bills (23:32) The Andy Warhol supreme court case * Check out Wilson Sonsini: https://www.wsgr.com *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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 with promo 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!
LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to LinkedIn.com/unicorn to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.
*
Today’s show:
Lightmatter CEO Nick Harris joins Jason to discuss how his startup is revolutionizing the future of computing with photonic chips (1:48), the challenges of building the next-generation AI hardware (18:35), and more!
*
Time stamps:
(00:00) Lightmatter CEO Nick Harris joins Jason
(1:48) Photonic computing and the optic engines involved
(5:08) Lightmatter’s background and customer base
(9:24) The impact of this technology
(11:38) Carta - Get 10% off your first SPV at https://carta.com with promo code TWIST
(13:12) Catching up to demand and the endgame for process tech in semiconductors
(15:37) Using AI tools to build AI chips and the potential of data centers in space
(18:35) Fixing issues associated with advanced chips and supercomputers
(21:58) Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Cover and get $150 off at
checkout!
(23:30) Where we are on the path to AGI
(26:17) Nick’s background in quantum computing
(29:15) The LK-99 superconductor
(33:42) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://LinkedIn.com/unicorn
(34:58) Scientists gaining recognition and the app diversion
(40:17) LinkSquares CEO Vishal Sunak on going from $1M to $10M in ARR in 2 years
*
Follow Nick: https://twitter.com/theanalognick
Check out Lightmatter: https://lightmatter.co
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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. Our 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 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 notion.com/twist. *
Today’s show:
Whoop Founder and CEO Will Ahmed joins Jason to discuss Whoop’s journey (1;50), the driving paradigm behind Whoop’s innovative product designs (31:38), the future of wearable tech (41:26), and more!
*
Time stamps: (00:00) Whoop Founder and CEO Will Ahmed joins Jason (1:50) The “Quantified Self” movement and features that set Whoop’s product apart (4:04) How the device interprets health data and obtains consistent results (7:24) Whoop’s customer base (8:52) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (9:59) The decision to pivot to a subscription business model (14:31) Amazon turning from potential investor to failed copy-cat competitor (20:09) Incorporating new strategies into the business (24:49) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech (26:21) Developments since the product’s inception (31:38) Whoop Body and the driving paradigm behind the product design (40:00) Notion - Try Notion Projects for free today at notion.com/twist (41:26) What lies ahead and the future of wearable tech (44:47) The ability to share the recorded health data (47:20) AI utilizing large health datasets and the Whoop Journal * Follow Will: https://twitter.com/willahmed
Check out Whoop: https://www.whoop.com *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code 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
Roots. Invest in the only real estate investment trust that creates wealth for you and its residents at investwithroots.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to discuss Fable Simulation's new AI showrunner (5:51), AI-powered note-takers and CRMs( 37:25), and more!
*
Time stamps:
(00:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason
(2:27) Using AI to analyze large datasets
(5:51) The WGA strike and Fable Studios’ AI-generated South Park episode
(12:29) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(13:45) AI-generated South Park continued
(16:58) What is lost with AI and the Modern Seinfeld Twitter account
(23:40) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(25:10) The pace of innovation with RunwayML
(31:06) Production studios sharing the wealth & alternative plans
(36:00) Roots - Head to investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
(37:25) Sunny showcases Folk app’s CRM
(45:29) Sunny demos Circleback
(51:32) Using Claude to break down an investor presentation and Sergey Brin back at Google
*
Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
Check out Circleback: https://circleback.ai
Check out Folk.app: https://www.folk.app
Check out RunwayML: https://runwayml.com
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Today’s show:
Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason on the latest edition of Startup Legal Basics! In this episode, they discuss the contrast between late-stage and seed-stage investing (2:52), repricing stock options (5:48), the adoption of AI in the legal industry (23:29), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason
(1:19) The increase in tech layoffs and AI startups
(2:52) Late-stage vs. early-stage investing and the seed-stage value chart
(5:48) Repricing stock options when underwater
(14:05) Disclosing revenue, burn rate, and growth rate
(18:08) RIFs and knowing your employees
(20:57) The long-term effects of remote work
(23:29) The use of AI and chatbots in law
*
Check out Wilson Sonsini: https://www.wsgr.com
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 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 LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups *
Today’s show:
Abridge CEO Shiv Rao joins Jason to discuss how his AI platform saves doctors time by automating consultation note-taking(8:29), the future of the medical field(37:23), and much more!
*
Time stamps: (00:00) Abridge CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Shiv Rao joins Jason (3:22) Abridge's journey and tailwinds in the industry (6:43) The sudden advancement in AI tech (8:29) The importance of conversation in healthcare (12:00) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist (13:29) Dr. Shiv demos Abridge (21:49) Reinforcement training and building trustworthy models (23:10) Use of this product in the field and feedback from clinics (26:53) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (28:00) Time saved using Abridge (30:30) How patients interact with Abridge and data privacy (35:56) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (37:23) The future of the medical field (49:11) The pace of healthcare today
*
Check out Abridge: https://www.abridge.com/ Follow Dr. Shiv: https://twitter.com/shivdevrao *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
Roots is a real estate investment platform for all investors. There are no entry fees, and you can start with as little as $100. Head to investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
*
Today’s show:
MongoDB CEO Dev Ittycheria joins Jason to discuss recent tech trends (10:58), the move towards remote work (17:58), his strategy for building winning teams (37:17), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(00:00) MongoDB CEO Dev Ittycheria joins Jason
(2:32) Dev’s background and how MongoDB operates
(9:28) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(10:58) The last 9 months in tech and the pace of AI
(13:57) RIFs and staffing a modern-day tech company
(17:58) Remote, Hybrid, or back to the office
(22:25) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(25:33) Hiring and inspiring the next generation
(28:47) The trust but verify operating philosophy
(31:32) Entitlement in the tech industry
(35:52) Roots - Head to investwithroots.com/TWIST to sign up and start investing today!
(37:17) Great leadership and managing a team
(41:14) Bad management and the feedback cycle
(53:30) Recruiting talent in the U.S.
*
Check out MongoDB: https://www.mongodb.com
Follow Dev: https://twitter.com/dittycheria
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
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 https://intercom.com/fin
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Todays show:
Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason on the latest edition of Startup Legal Basics! In this episode, they break down legal standards in the startup ecosystem(2:19), SAFE agreements and convertible notes(5:41), conflicts faced by founders and investors(20:58), and much more!
Time Stamps:
(00:00) Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason
(2:19) Breaking the box or sticking to widely accepted frameworks
(3:47) General trends and the adoption of safe agreements
(5:41) Differences between SAFE agreements and convertible notes
(10:34) Companies that raised high valuations during a hot market and need to raise funds again
(15:43) The impact of down rounds and pay-to-play provisions on investors, founders, and employees
(20:58) Conflicts faced by founders, existing investors, and new investors
(27:58) Surviving down markets
*
Check Out Wilson Sonsini: https://www.wsgr.com/en/
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by… 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! 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 with promo code TWIST. LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups *
Today’s show:
PathAI CEO Andy Beck joins Jason to discuss AI in the medical field (1:58), demos his product, which uses AI to analyze millions of cells (15:37), and much more!
*
Time stamps: (00:00) PathAI CEO Andy Beck joins Jason (1:58) How AI aids with health diagnosis (5:46) Analyzing biopsy images and labs switching to digital (7:43) How images and annotations from Pathologists are used to train the AI model (9:58) Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Cover and get $150 off at checkout! (11:30) Resistance to machine learning in the medical field (15:37) Andy demos PathAI’s AIM-PD-L1 algorithm (21:01) The measure it manage it phase and the road to more effective diagnosis (26:01) Carta - Get 10% off your first SPV at https://carta.com with promo code TWIST (27:27) The past 50 years in cancer diagnosis and looking into the next 10 (33:49) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (35:05) The use and scale of datasets and creation of systems in a capitalistic society (45:40) How PathAI is able to minimize hardware constraints (48:22) Democratizing access to health expertise
*
Check out PathAI: https://www.pathai.com/ Follow Andy: https://twitter.com/andybeck *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
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
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 https://www.superside.com/twist *
Today’s show:
Tim Urban joins Jason to break down the road to AGI(15:38), people's trust in organizations(57:31), trends in tech throughout history(25:36), and so much more!
*
Time stamps: (00:00) The creator of Wait But Why, Tim Urban joins Jason (1:49) Movies and social media creating dopamine addicts (11:16) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist (12:36) Tim’s “Procrastination” Ted Talk and talks on AI (15:38) Tim’s book and his outlook on framing human history
(22:16) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups (25:36) Trends in tech history and the road to AGI (33:29) The dark paths of AI (37:31) Superside - Go to https://superside.com/twist to get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package (41:16) The exciting potential of AI (42:10) Breaking down the human operating system: What happens when there is no longer work? (46:56) The exponential growth of computing (50:26) Why it is difficult to predict the outcome of AI tech (52:35) Gains in AI and expanding our understanding of the universe (57:31) The history of trust in organizations (01:06:21) How to find the truth and how misinformation is spread
*
Check out Wait But Why: https://waitbutwhy.com/ Check out Tim’s Book: https://waitbutwhy.com/whatsourproblem Follow Tim: https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 https://startups.tech/jason to find out how!
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 notion.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
*
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to demo 6 awesome AI products and features including Copilot2Trip(4:25), Hoppy Copy(19:40), Stable Doodle(34:31), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(00:00) Sunny Madra joins Jason (4:25)Sunny demos Copilot2Trip’s AI travel assistant (6:30) OpenAI’s fine-tuning ability (11:26) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason (12:26) Comparing Copilot2Trip’s itinerary capabilities to Google Bard’s (16:51) What will become of Google Bard and ChatGPT (19:40) Sunny demos Hoppy Copy (24:41) Journalism in the digital era (28:55) Notion - Try Notion Projects for free today at notion.com/twist (31:01) The San Francisco Chronicles article and where AI struggles in journalism (34:31) Sunny demos Stable Doodle (36:32) Bringing back the voice interface (39:42) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist (43:01) Google Bard’s new Multimodal capability (50:39) Sunny demos 10Web’s AI website builder
*
Check Out Copilot2Trip: https://copilot2trip.com/ Check Out Hoppy Copy: https://www.hoppycopy.co/ Check Out Stable Doodle: https://clipdrop.co/stable-doodle Check Out 10Web: https://10web.io/ Follow Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer 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 vanta.com/twist
Superside. Design and creative are crucial for growth. Tech companies like Shopify, Amazon, and Meta have found the perfect solution: Superside. Get quality design at scale without breaking the bank for your startup at superside.com/TWIST
*
Today’s show:
VenturusAI founder Emanuel Ciciu joins Jason as he dives into the origin story of his new startup before talking about building vertical AI solutions (1:30). Then Blackbird VC's Samantha Wong gives a presentation at Angel Summit about identifying soon-to-explode startup markets (41:53).
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Emanuel joins Jason
(1:30) VenturusAI origin story
(5:20) The evolution of prompt engineering
(9:09) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(10:23) The true cost of building on top of a LLM
(12:56) Building vertical AI solutions
(18:15) VenturusAI demo
(23:36) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(24:42) VenturusAI path to 100 customers
(29:51) Next steps for VenturusAI
(35:40) Jason places a bet
(40:28) Superside - Go to https://superside.com/twist to get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package
(41:53) Blackbird VC's Samantha Wong on identifying soon-to-explode startup markets at Angel Summit
*
Check Out VenturusAI: https://venturusai.com/ Follow Samantha: https://twitter.com/holasammy *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Today’s show:
Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason to kick off another series of Startup Legal Basics! In this episode, they break down secondary market transactions, including the evolution of secondaries (00:50), trends in the industry (3:16), critical aspects of Qualified Small Business (QSBS) stock(20:06), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(00:00) Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason (00:50) The increased use of secondary markets (3:16) How companies staying private longer influenced the rise in secondaries (4:25) Determining how much founders should be allowed to sell (6:21) Spending more than a company is worth (9:26) The Pari-Passu concept explained and how it applies to early investors, founders, and employees (10:38) Who gets to sell pre-IPO (12:44) Off the cap table transactions and hypothetical scenarios (18:26) Tender offers and the NASDAQ secondary market (20:06) The critical aspects of qualified small business (QSBS) stock
*
Check Out Wilson Sonsini: https://www.wsgr.com/en/ *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
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!
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
*
Today’s show:
Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli joins Jason to discuss how his startup uses AI to generate realistic video avatars (10:16) before demoing the product. Then, the two discuss job disruption (31:43), preventing deepfake misuse (45:18), and much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli joins Jason (3:47) Achieving unicorn status after Nvidia-backed fundraise (12:25) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist (13:54) Determining pricing for the product (17:19) Victor demos Synthesia and its AI features (24:38) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist (31:43) Job Disruption: How AI will impact hiring and business functions (39:38) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (41:06) AI and dual fate technology (45:18) Preventing DeepFake misuse (52:40) OpenAI hit with a lawsuit
*
Check Out Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/ Follow Victor: https://twitter.com/vriparbelli *
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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
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:
Jason breaks down investors and companies using the GPU shortage as leverage to invest in AI startups (1:33) before discussing Microsoft’s run-in with EU regulators over bundling Teams into its Office suite (28:53). They wrap on the FTC's loss in its quest to stop Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition, and Lina Khan’s track record as FTC chair (37:58).
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Nick joins Jason
(1:33) Nvidia’s GPU leverage
(9:48) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(11:07) CoreWeave’s pivot & the pros and cons of WFH
(19:28) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(20:54) Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman’s GPU play
(27:24) Veed - Sign up and engage your audience on any platform at https://www.veed.io/avatars?utm_campaign=TWIS&utm_medium=YT&utm_source=MKT
(28:53) Microsoft’s run-in with EU regulators over bundling
(37:58) FTC loses cases against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger
(46:37) Lina Khan’s track record as the head of the FTC
*
Follow Nick: https://twitter.com/nickcalacanis
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 https://intercom.com/fin
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!
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 with promo code TWIST at http://Carta.com
*
Today’s show:
Sunny Madra joins Jason to demo VenturusAI (11:01) and other tools, before discussing Sunny’s new AutoGPT project (34:38). They wrap up talking about Meta’s launch of Threads (49:08), Google’s attempts at building a social network, and Inflection AI’s new supercomputer (1:00:13).
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Sunny joins Jason
(1:49) ChatGPT sees a decline in growth
(10:22) Fin - Try Fin, Intercom's new AI customer support chatbot, at https://intercom.com/fin
(11:01) Sunny demos VenturusAI
(24:29) Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Cover and get $150 off at checkout!
(26:01) Sunny demos Vercel
(34:38) Sunny's new AutoGPT
(41:58) Carta - Go to http://Carta.com and use code TWIST to get 10% off your first SPV
(43:29) The decision to be open-sourced or closed
(49:08) Meta’s new platform Threads
(1:00:13) Google’s attempts at a social network
(1:03:28) Inflection AI's supercomputer, roundtripping and training LLMs
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented by: .Tech Domains has a new program called startups.tech, where you can get your startup featured on This Week in Startups. Go to https://startups.tech/jason to find out how!
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
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 Issuu.com/podcast and use promo code twist.
*
Today’s show:
Sol Reader CEO Ben Chelf joins Jason to discuss Sol Reader’s design (1:24), how wearable e-readers will create more focused readers (28:06) the ways in which devices reshape the human brain (24:37), and much more!
Follow Ben: https://twitter.com/bchelf
Check Out Sol Reader: https://solreader.com/
*
Time stamps:
(00:00) Sol Reader CEO Ben Chelf joins Jason (4:00) Ben presents the prototype and demos Sol Reader (8:28) LLM and future integrations for Sol Reader (12:40) .Tech Domains - Apply to get your startup featured on This Week in Startups at https://startups.tech/jason (14:04) Overcoming the challenges of a hardware startup (17:59) Sol Reader’s business model (21:09) Audio integration and transcript features (23:22) Optimizing Sol Reader's first product launch (26:38) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at https://crowdbotics.com/twist (28:06) The origin of the wearable e-reader concept and efforts to diminish screen time (38:45) Issuu - Sign up for free or get 50% off an annual premium account by using promo code twist at https://issuu.com/podcast (40:05) Initial product testers' feedback
(44:59) Apple’s Vision Pro headset
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented 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.
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
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 https://intercom.com/fin
*
Today’s show:
Nick joins Jason, who breaks down a report that Shein has confidentially registered for a US IPO (1:24). This leads to a discussion about Shein’s alleged unethical labor practices and voting with your dollar (11:22), Shein’s influencer stunt that backfired, DWAC’s insider trading debacle (47:25), and self-driving vehicle footage being used as evidence in criminal cases (33:27).
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Nick joins Jason for a full news show
(1:24) Shein confidentially registers for a US IPO
(9:54) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(11:22) Shein’s alleged labor practices and voting with your dollar
(31:58) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(33:27) Shein’s TikTok "factory washing" campaign
(40:37) Fin - Try Fin, Intercom's new AI customer support chatbot, at https://intercom.com/fin
(41:21) Jason’s advice for Dani Carbonari
(47:25) Trump’s return to Twitter + Trump SPAC insider trading debacle
(57:03) Police forces using autonomous vehicle footage to prosecute suspects
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 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 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:
Perplexity’s Aravind Srinivas joins Jason to discuss competing with the major players in the generative search / AI chatbot market (1:25), designing an AI-powered search engine (4:49), and much more. *
Check out Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/
Follow Aravind: https://twitter.com/AravSrinivas
*
Time stamps:
(00:00) Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas joins Jason
(1:25) Competing in the generative search / AI chatbot market
(4:49) How Perplexity's AI model formulates answers
(11:18) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at https://crowdbotics.com/twist
(12:46) How Perplexity is citing sources
(20:20) Incorporating advertising into AI chatbots
(25:32) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(26:40) How Perplexity recruits talent and Aravind's time at OpenAI
(32:04) The future of AI technology and overcoming overlap
(38:26) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(39:53) Meta's LLaMa model being leaked
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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:
Zapier’s Mike Knoop joins Jason to discuss the early days of Zapier before breaking down the evolution of app integrations and API usage (1:20). They dive into reducing friction for Zapier users, regulating AI, the limitations of present-day AI architecture, and more (43:06).
*
Check out Zapier: https://zapier.com/
Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/mikeknoop
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Mike Knoop joins Jason
(1:20) Zapier’s origin story
(8:40) Zapier’s key inflection point and its profit-sharing model
(14:05) Zapier’s business model
(15:48) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(17:03) The evolution of app integrations and API usage
(23:41) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(25:00) Zapier demo + incorporating AI into your workflow
(36:43) Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Cover and get $150 off at checkout!
(38:14) Linkedin tightening the belt on its API
(41:21) Zapier’s enterprise customers
(43:06) Reducing friction for Zapier users
(51:41) Regulating AI
(55:19) The limitations of present-day AI architecture
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented by:
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 notion.com/twist.
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
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 https://intercom.com/fin
*
Today’s show:
Jason is joined by Vinny Lingham to break down IRL shutting down after faking 95% of users (1:12), ZIRP fraud (12:59), Databricks acquiring MosaicML for $1.3B, and some AI demos! (1:02:31)
*
Check out Waitroom: https://waitroom.com/
Follow Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Vinny joins Jason
(1:12) IRL's 19M fake users
(5:45) Twitter bots and the fake account problem
(11:50) Notion - Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist
(12:59) Diligence in early-stage startups
(20:59) Databricks acquires MosaicML for $1.3B
(27:02) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(33:09) Testing Google’s new generative search
(37:47) Fin - Try Fin, Intercom's new AI customer support chatbot, at https://intercom.com/fin
(38:31) Testing generative search on the most expensive steaks in Los Angeles
(41:56) Vinny's thoughts on Toxic Wealth and the Titan tragedy
(53:34) DeepMind CEO says Gemini is more capable than ChatGPT
(1:02:31) Vinny demos Colorize and Replika
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented 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.
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
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
*
Today’s show:
Jason first reflects on the Titan submersible tragedy as he discusses the concept of ‘Toxic Wealth’ (1:41). Then, he explains why Meta will remove news content from Instagram and Facebook in Canada due to Bill C-18 (14:59). Finally, Elizabeth Yin gives a presentation live from Angel Summit on her five major learnings from 700+ startup investments (22:59).
*
Follow Elizabeth: https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33
Check Out Hustle Fund: https://www.hustlefund.vc
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Elizabeth’s passion
(1:41) Jason discusses the Titan submersible tragedy and how money can lead to recklessness and toxic wealth
(13:40) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(14:59) Meta removes news content from Instagram and Facebook in Canada
(21:33) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(22:59) Elizabeth Yin of Hustle Fund at Angel Summit
(31:32) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(32:51) How to invest in startups
(50:17) Q&A with Angel Summit audience
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented by:
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!
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.
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.
*
Today’s show:
First, StoneAlgo CEO Devin Jones joins Jason for a jam session on scaling his startup, which is building “Zillow for diamonds” (4:38). Then, Mar Hershenson gives a presentation on “The Art of Picking.” (38:19)
Mar’s talk was recorded live at LAUNCH Angel Summit.
*
Follow StoneAlgo: https://twitter.com/stonealgo
Follow Mar: https://twitter.com/MarHershenson
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Cold intros DO work!
(1:30) Jason explains what LAUNCH looks for in startup investments
(4:38) Jason intros StoneAlgo CEO Devin Jones, who breaks down his startup: “Zillow for Diamonds”
(14:27) iConnections - Get 20% off iConnections Miami 2024 event at http://iconnections.io/twist
(15:58) Bootstrapping StoneAlgo as a side project, never underestimating categories, understanding the diamond market
(26:10) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist
(27:37) Capital efficiency, frugality, how Devin scored an investment off of a cold email
(37:13) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(38:19) Pear VC’s Mar Hershenson gives a talk on “The Art of Picking” live from LAUNCH Angel Summit
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
*
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.
*
Follow EyeRate: https://twitter.com/EyeRateBusiness
Follow Steve: https://twitter.com/FutureJurvetson
*
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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.
*
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
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.
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented by:
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.
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
Today’s show:
Forever Voices CEO John Meyer joins Jason to discuss becoming a Thiel fellow (2:48), how his AI technology can make influencers and celebrities bionic (15:26), how it enables universal interaction (23:37), and more!
Follow John: https://twitter.com/BEASTMODE
Time stamps:
(0:00) Forever Voices CEO John Meyer joins Jason
(2:48) John discusses becoming a Thiel fellow
(9:25) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups
(10:58) John explains what led to his decision to start Forever Voices
(15:26) How this technology will evolve over time
(18:05) The use of AI in grief counseling
(22:28) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at https://crowdbotics.com/twist
(23:37) Thoughts on expanding past celebrities and influencers
(24:38) What CarynAI is and its impact on society
(37:21) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(38:50) Developing these AI models and preventing addiction on this platform (45:46) Will the AI variants be developed by others (48:25) Jason’s advice for founders on raising capital
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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!
*
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
*
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
*
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 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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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 Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to [linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups](http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups.)
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.
*
Today’s show:
The contents of this episode were recorded live at LAUNCH Angel Summit in Napa.
DoorDash Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder Stanley Tang joined Jason live on stage at Angel Summit to discuss DoorDash’s founding story, avoiding ZIRP distractions, and the cloud kitchen movement (1:23).
Then, Jason sits down with Kelli Fontaine of Cendana Capital, Sophia Amoruso of Trust Fund, and Paige Doherty of Behind Genius Ventures to chat about becoming and investing in first-time fund managers (36:49).
Follow Stanley: https://twitter.com/stanleytang
Check Out DoorDash: https://www.doordash.com/
Follow Kelli: https://twitter.com/kells_bells
Check Out Cendana Capital: https://www.cendanacapital.com/
Follow Paige: https://twitter.com/paigefinnn
Check Out Behind Genius Ventures: https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/
Follow Sophia: https://twitter.com/sophiaamoruso
Check Out Trust Fund: https://www.trustfund.vc/
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Nick kicks off the show
(1:23) DoorDash’s founding story with Stanley Tang
(11:06) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(12:20) The Palo Alto delivery experiemnt
(16:07) DoorDash’s first delivery
(18:21) The era of excess
(23:00) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(24:23) Avoiding ZIRP distractions
(26:44) Navigating through the pandemic
(30:59) The Cloud Kitchen movement
(35:31) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(36:49) Defining a fund of funds and selecting managers with Kelli Fontaine of Cendana Capital
(44:00) Raising a private fund with Paige Doherty of Behind Genius Ventures
(48:14) The origin story of Trust Fund with Sophia Amoruso
(53:42) The prevalence of startup funds
(59:35) Advice for first-time fund managers and having the ability to say no
(1:04:36) Running a small fund in a sustainable matter
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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!
*
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/
*
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented by:
LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
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
*
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
*
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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!
*
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)!
*
Follow Brad: https://twitter.com/altcap
Follow Ibrahim: https://twitter.com/IbrahimAjami
*
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
This Week in Startups is presented by:
LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups.
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.
Lemon.io. Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
*
Today’s show:
Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring two startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university
Check out NeighborBrite: https://neighborbrite.com/
Check out Coffee Clozers: https://www.coffeeclozers.com/
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:22) Jason and Kelly introduce the pitch competition
(4:25) Luis pitches NeighborBrite
(12:19) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(13:32) Liam pitches Coffee Clozers
(21:24) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(22:42) The value of Founder University
(25:46) Jason awards the $25K investment
(31:09) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(32:28) Q&A with Jason
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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!
*
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
*
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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!
*
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
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding
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:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Rachel joins Jason to discuss Caryn AI and its rapid rise in popularity before explaining Gen Z everyday uses for AI (1:11). They wrap up by breaking down the Senate hearing regarding AI regulation (49:56).
(0:00) Rachel joins Jason
(1:11) Rachel breaks down CarynAI
(10:33) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(11:59) The ethics of Forever Voices and creating digital AI clones
(21:25) Notion - Apply for Notion for Startups at https://notion.com/jason
(22:40) How Gen Z is using AI, AI-powered filters, and Milli Vanilli
(32:01) Hampton - Join Hampton's community of high-growth founders today at https://joinhampton.com/twist
(33:20) Jason gives a history lesson, Rupert Murdoch's infamous trial and Snapchat's AI chatbot
(49:56) AI Senate hearings
FOLLOW Rachel: https://twitter.com/_rachelbraun
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Sunny and Vinny are back to demo some new AI tools (14:08), discuss open-source vs. "ClosedAI" (38:45), and more!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:31) Jason's trip to the UAE and Abu Dhabi's 30-year investment horizon
(12:39) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups
(14:08) Sunny demos ChatPDF and LLMs' future in the workforce
(24:23) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(25:41) Google's new universal translator
(30:11) What is Hugging Face?
(37:26) iConnections - Get 20% off iConnections Miami 2024 event at http://iconnections.io/twist
(38:45) Open-source vs. "ClosedAI" and the race to build AI hardware
(48:28) Comparing Google Bard to ChatGPT
(1:01:13) Google's vision for Gmail and AWS's partnership with Hugging Face
FOLLOW Vinny: https://twitter.com/VinnyLingham
FOLLOW Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Links:
https://www.semianalysis.com/p/google-we-have-no-moat-and-neither
https://www.chatpdf.com
https://huggingface.co/espnet/kan-bayashi_ljspeech_vits
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Emmanuel de Maistre joins Jason to demo Scenario’s AI-powered game asset generator (3:54) before breaking down future applications of Scenario’s technology. Then, Presh gives a presentation on how to build no-code apps (26:41).
(0:00) Emmanuel de Maistre joins Jason
(1:29) The cost of developing video games
(3:54) Emmanuel demos Scenario
(11:29) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(12:45) Emmanuel demos Scenario continued, and the cost and use cases for this technology
(22:49) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off and a free bottle of cold-pressed macadamia oil at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20
(24:20) Addressing artist’s concerns
(26:41) Other applications for Scenario’s technology
(29:08) Emmanuel’s prior ventures
(31:23) Regulating AI
(36:50) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist
(37:59) How to build No-Code apps
FOLLOW Emmanuel: https://twitter.com/emmanuel_2m
FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Dee Murthy joins Jason to discuss the origin of the Group Chat podcast before talking about his new startup, Ghost (1:44). They then delve into fostering a community, staying true to your brand, and more! (30:12)
(0:00) Dee Murthy joins Jason
(1:44) The Origin of Group Chat podcast
(11:32) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(13:06) The impact of the Group Chat podcast
(18:49) The premise of Ghost
(22:57) QuickNode - Get one month free by using code TWIST at https://go.quicknode.com/twist
(24:15) Focusing on your customers and raising capital
(30:12) Fostering a community
(37:26) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist
(39:00) Understanding your brand’s voice
(46:09) Effective influencer marketing
(52:01) More on Ghost
FOLLOW Dee: https://twitter.com/deemurthy
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Reid Hoffman joins Jason to discuss AI's current "crescendo moment," and its ability to amplify human capabilities (1:50). Then, they discuss AI regulation, real-world use cases, and much more! (25:55)
(0:00) Reid Hoffman joins Jason
(1:50) AI’s “crescendo moment,”
(12:48) Release - Get your first month free at https://release.com/twist
(14:20) AI's ability to amplify human capability
(24:21) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups
(25:55) Regulating AI
(35:35) 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!
(36:45) The future of AI startups and Inflection AI's mission
(44:01) AI's real-world applications
(48:20) Compensating creators and real-world uses for AI
(57:27) Google's ability to compete in the AI race
FOLLOW Reid: https://twitter.com/reidhoffman
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Aaron Levie joins Jason to discuss the launch of Box AI (19:13), AI as a platform shift, its potential effects on employment dynamics (25:53), and much more!
(00:00) Aaron Levie joins Jason
(4:12) Thoughts on the impact and pace of AI
(6:54) Aaron's "Aha!" moment
(10:02) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(11:33) Getting consent to use data from customers
(13:50) Creating an AI model for early adopters
(19:13) Aaron demos Box AI
(24:33) MasterClass - Get up to 35% off for Mother’s Day at https://masterclass.com/startups
(25:53) AI making the workforce more efficient
(33:29) How AI technology affects morale
(36:45) The non-obvious uses of AI
(38:24) Hampton - Join the Hampton community today at http://joinhampton.com/twist
(39:44) The Writers Guild strike in Hollywood
(46:57) Copyright and citations
(53:49) The challenges with Crypto
FOLLOW Aaron: https://twitter.co/levie
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Vinny and Sunny join Jason for another AI roundtable to demo ChatGPT’s web browsing capabilities (1:44), discuss AI’s effect on productivity and the workforce (13:53), demo Opus Clip and ChatGPT’s Zillow plugin (33:44), and more!
(0:00) Vinny and Sunny join Jason
(1:44) GPT-4 web browsing demo
(9:10) Inside.com’s AI strategy
(12:22) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(13:53) AI’s effect on productivity and the workforce
(23:36) Hyperice - Get $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at http://hyperice.com/
(25:04) Personal use cases for ChatGPT
(30:56) Market Pull
(33:44) Opus Clip demo
(39:55) Trovata - Use code TWIST at https://trovata.io/twist for 30% off one year of premium features, like AI forecasting
(41:08) Synthesia
(43:11) Zillow plugin demo
(49:51) The future of ChatGPT Plugins
FOLLOW Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
FOLLOW Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
AstroForge CEO Matthew Gialich joins Jason to discuss his startup’s lofty goal of mining Platinum Group Metals from asteroids (1:11). They discuss the recent launch of their Brokkr-1 space vehicle, the company’s road map to gather PGMs successfully from space, and SpaceX’s impact on the space industry (5:42). Then, Founder University’s Kelly Schricker gives a presentation on how to set up a fundraising process for your startup (31:51).
(0:00) AstroForge’s Matthew Gialich joins Jason
(1:11) The purpose of mining asteroids
(5:42) Brokkr-1 mission
(10:38) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(12:09) AstroForge’s roadmap
(16:07) Unit economics of hardware-based businesses
(17:38) Scaling Virgin Orbit and Virgin Galactic
(20:51) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist
(22:20) The evolution of the space economy
(30:43) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist
(31:51) How to set up a fundraising process
FOLLOW Matt: https://twitter.com/MattGialich
FOLLOW Kelly: https://twitter.com/KSchricks
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Airbnb CEO and Co-Founder Brian Chesky joins Jason to tell the story of Airbnb’s early startup struggles (1:29) and discuss how the company has restructured operations to heighten focus on the product and its customers (16:05). They dive into addressing customer complaints, hyper-focused marketing, the AI opportunity for Airbnb, and much more (40:26).
(0:00) Airbnb’s Brain Chesky joins Jason
(1:29) Brian’s experience with early rejection
(14:48) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(16:05) Airbnb’s company structure and focusing on product first
(25:26) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups
(26:42) Staying focused, getting permission from your customers, and Airbnb’s new updates
(38:53) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(40:26) Addressing customer complaints and Brian’s philosophy on remote work
(49:23) AI’s future in hospitality and Brian’s personal experience with ChatGPT
FOLLOW Brian: https://twitter.com/bchesky
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
First up, Jason breaks down Uber’s huge Q1 results! (1:21) Then, Unlearn.AI CEO Charles Fisher joins to discuss the advancements his company is making in fast-tracking clinical trials (9:49), how machine learning is used in drug development (16:24), Unlearn’s business model (35:24), and more!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:21) Uber’s Q1 earnings
(8:31) QuickNode - Get one month free by using code TWIST at https://go.quicknode.com/twist
(9:49) The foundation of Unlearn.AI
(12:42) Unlearn.AI’s impact on the clinical trial process
(14:24) Criticisms of the current clinical trial model
(16:24) ML’s Impact on drug discovery
(24:16) CacheFly - Get 10 terabytes free by signing up at https://twist.cachefly.com
(25:42) The data used in the medical system today
(34:05) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups
(35:24) Unlearn.AI’s business model
(40:22) Building a foundational model for health
(44:06) The pace of AI today vs. the previous decade
(46:35) More on Unlearn.AI’s business model
(48:15) Creating foundational datasets in health
FOLLOW Charles: https://twitter.com/charleskfisher
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason is joined by Semafor Co-Founder and EIC Ben Smith to dive into his new book and explore the current state of media. They break down BuzzFeed vs Gawker, why media unions might not work (29:35), the future of journalism (36:54), and much more!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:55) Semafor's Ben Smith joins Jason
(4:27) Ben's career in media
(6:19) The previous era of publishing
(9:13) The significance of BuzzFeed and Gawker
(13:49) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(14:53) Gawker's ethos
(19:31) The bet on companies like Facebook for media
(23:25) BuzzFeed's future
(24:51) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(26:07) Vice and Vox
(29:35) Unions in media
(35:34) iConnections - Get 20% off iConnections Miami 2024 event at https://iConnections.io/twist
(36:54) The clash between journalism and business
(45:34) Broadcast TV and going direct
(46:19) What is happening with Fox and CNN
(52:48) SBF and Semafor
FOLLOW Ben: https://twitter.com/semaforben
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Sunny and Vinny are back to break down ChatGPT's latest innovation: the Code Interpreter. They demonstrate its capabilities with two separate datasets on EVs in America and US Bank Failures (10:58) before discussing how platforms like ChatGPT will revolutionize organizational efficiency (31:19).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:06) ChatGPT's new code interpreter
(9:24) OpenPhone - Start your free trial and get 20% off at https://openphone.com/twist
(10:58) ChatGPT's Code Interpreter example with EV data
(23:50) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist
(25:13) The global GPU shortage
(28:10) ChatGPT's Code Interpreter example with US Bank Failures
(31:19) How ChatGPT will change the modern-day organization
(38:55) Release - Get your first month free at https://release.com/twist
(40:27) Getting more efficient with ChatGPTs new updates
(47:53) Web browsing with ChatGPT
(56:11) How this technology will enable people
(1:04:15) How this has impacted Sunny
FOLLOW Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
FOLLOW Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
OTHER LINKS:
https://twitter.com/jbrowder1/status/1652387444904583169?s=20
TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to break down the big tech's Q1 earning reports (0:53). They discuss Google's culture of entitlement, Microsoft's AI momentum, Meta's year of efficiency, how Amazon may be in for a few quarters of pain, and Snap's double-digit drop (21:11).
(0:00) Nick kicks off the show
(0:53) TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm joins Jason
(1:23) Reflecting on SVB contagion
(3:48) First Republic Bank and BuzzFeed's stock
(6:16) Uber's profits
(8:23) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(9:56) The SF boom/bust
(14:52) More on BuzzFeed
(19:41) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups
(21:11) Google's earnings
(25:28) Google's culture of entitlement
(31:40) Integrating ChatGPT into your workflow
(35:47) AI innovation in hospitality
(38:12) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist
(39:23) Microsoft's earnings
(43:19) Meta earnings
(54:29) Amazon's earnings
(1:04:08) Snap's earnings
(1:11:34) Thoughts on TikTok
FOLLOW Alex: https://twitter.com/alex
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Billy McFarland joins Jason to discuss the lessons he has learned from his Fyre Fest fraud, before discussing the festival’s origin story and what led him to winding up in jail (1:36). This leads to an all-encompassing conversation about Billy’s early days as an entrepreneur, his experience in prison, and if he is a changed man (13:46).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:36) Reflecting on Fyre Festival
(6:57) The origin of Billy’s charisma & communication
(11:31) Billy’s first experience with computers
(12:29) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(13:46) Spling
(14:40) Billy’s experience in solitary confinement
(17:52) The origins of Fyre Festival
(25:34) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist
(27:06) Billy’s behavioral changes
(29:02) Fyre Festival ticket sales
(30:41) Fyre’s board of directors
(36:22) DIY Syndrom
(39:28) Hyperice - Get $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at http://hyperice.com/
(40:57) Billy’s early release from prison
(43:37) Billy’s prison experience
(46:22) The final moments before Fyre Festival
(50:44) Can we trust Billy Macfarland 2.0?
FOLLOW Billy: https://twitter.com/pyrtbilly
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Vinny and Sunny join Jason to discuss the three phases of AI adoption and the emergence of new business models (1:55), which leads to a conversation about Grimes open-sourcing her AI-generated vocals before debating whether the government should regulate AI (24:57). They wrap with a conversation about AI’s technical constraints, OpenAI’s transparency issues, and the future of startups (39:31).
(0:00) Show start
(1:04) Vinny and Sunny join Jason
(1:55) The three phases of AI adoption
(11:15) CacheFly - Get 10 terabytes free by signing up at https://twist.cachefly.com
(12:41) Building AI applications
(18:27) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off your first purchase and a free bottle of cold-pressed macadamia oil at http://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code twist20
(19:59) Emerging business models
(24:57) Grimes’ approach to AI-generated music
(28:31) Notion - Take the first step toward an organized, happier team. Apply for Notion for Startups at https://notion.com/jason.
(30:04) Regulating AI
(39:31) The technical constraints of AI
(45:33) Becoming more efficient with AI
(51:16) OpenAI’s lack of transparency
(1:01:44) Lessons from Mahalo
(1:05:55) The future of startups
(1:08:36) Reflecting on the Starship launch
FOLLOW Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
FOLLOW Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason starts the show by breaking down Spotify’s latest earnings report before discussing pop star Grimes taking to Twitter to announce a new business model for her AI-generated music (1:44). Then, Cafe X CEO Henry Hu joins Jason to discuss their latest equity crowdfund and being resilient, surviving a downturn, and more (18:22).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:44) Spotify Earnings
(8:25) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(9:56) Grimes takes an AI-based music approach
(16:57) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(18:22) What is Cafe X?
(26:20) Advantages of a robot arm
(31:10) Brilliant.org - Get 20% off an annual subscription at http://brilliant.org/twist
(32:40) Cafe X’s pivot
(38:07) Pricing of the Cafe X system
(40:54) Cafe X’s OS
(42:42) Raising equity crowdfunding
(43:11) Navigating edge issues
(45:22) Finding success and Cafe X’s current focus
(50:38) Inventing menu items and other use cases
FOLLOW Henry: https://twitter.com/supergeek18
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Tome CEO Keith Peiris joins Jason to demo Tome’s AI-powered text-to-presentation platform (10:25). They discuss concerns about the pace of AI and the prevalence of 10x engineers (35:55), before Velocity Growth’s Jen Bryan breaks down how to get started with paid ads (47:19).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:013) Tome CEO Keith Peiris joins Jason
(5:27) Creating a pitch deck with Tome
(8:48) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups
(10:25) Tome Demo
(23:10) Clumio - Start a free backup, or sign up for a demo at https://clumio.com/twist
(24:28) Datasets and What the future holds
(28:18) Integrating AI elements into Tome's platform
(29:51) Deploying capital responsibly
(31:53) Acquiring talent
(34:36) Mercury - Apply in minutes and get up to $5M in FDIC insurance at https://mercury.com
(35:55) Concerns about the pace of AI
(44:12) The prevalence of the 10x engineer
(47:19) Velocity Growth's Jen Bryan on getting started with paid advertising
(48:29) What is advertising?
(50:15) Problem / Solution fit
(53:12) See competitor ads
(54:44) Building custom audiences
FOLLOW Keith: https://twitter.com/keithpeiris
FOLLOW Jen: https://twitter.com/JenBryan_
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason recaps SpaceX's Starship rocket launch (2:06) and discusses BuzzFeed's 15% RIF and Fox News settling its Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit (9:11). He also covers Reddit's announcement to charge large AI companies for data and Tiger Global's $12.7B fund markdown (19:40). The show ends with another edition of Ask Jason (34:41).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:06) Recapping Jason's experience at Space X's Starship launch
(7:52) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist
(9:11) BuzzFeed's 15% RIF
(14:07) Fox News settled with Dominion Voting Systems
(18:20) Issuu - Sign up for free or get 50% off an annual premium account by using promo code twist at https://issuu.com/podcast
(19:40) Reddit to charge AI companies for its data
(27:50) Tiger Global's 20% markdown
(33:13) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for a $500 credit and up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist
(34:41) Ask Jason!
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring two startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(3:35) Jason and Presh describe who Founder University is for
(8:35) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(9:52) Alexandra Bellensweig pitches HumHum
(22:15) Presh's thoughts on HumHum
(26:47) CacheFly - Get 10 terabytes free by signing up at https://twist.cachefly.com
(28:13) Russell Palmer pitches Cyberfilm
(37:41) QuickNode - Get one month free by using code TWIST at https://go.quicknode.com/twist
(38:56) Creating fantastic branding
(47:41) Deliberations
(59:43) Jason picks a company
(50:43) Q&A with Jason and Presh
FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela joins Jason to discuss their suite of generative AI video editing tools (3:03), Runway's AI Film Festival and the rapid evolution of filmmaking (22:21), Runway's ability to lower the barrier to entry for aspiring filmmakers (36:05), and more!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(3:03) What is Runway?
(6:39) Runway's text-to-video demo
(11:08) Clumio - Start a free backup, or sign up for a demo at https://clumio.com/twist
(12:08) Latent Diffusion paper
(16:30) The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
(20:51) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(22:21) Runway's AI Film Festival
(29:08) The rapid evolution of filmmaking
(31:59) Favorite directors and films
(36:05) Lowering the barrier of entry to filmmaking
(41:20) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups
(42:51) Driving costs of filmmaking to zero
(44:57) Training Runway's data set & Fan Fiction
(52:07) Runway's generative capabilities
(54:30) Safety concerns
(58:20) The challenges of operating Runway
FOLLOW Cristóbal: https://twitter.com/c_valenzuelab
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Rachel is back to help Jason break down the news! First, they cover Google reportedly “panicking” over Samsung potentially switching to Bing as its device-default search engine, how Google can beat OpenAI/Microsoft,” and Project Magi” (1:43). Then, they discuss some recent AI-generated viral hits and what it means for the future of the music industry (21:48) before wrapping up on the possibility that Brian Armstrong may relocate Coinbase outside of the US (49:25).
(0:00) Jason and Rachel tee up today’s topics
(1:43) Samsung’s possible switch to Bing
(10:08) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(11:30) Google’s effort to catch OpenAI
(13:24) Google’s Project Magi
(20:20) Merge - Integrate up to 3 customers for free today at https://merge.dev/twist
(21:48) AI-generated hits: Heart on My Sleeve
(33:16) Mercury - Apply in minutes and get up to $5M in FDIC insurance at https://mercury.com
(34:45) Real Kanye or Fake Kanye
(40:41) AI Jason and a special guest
(49:25) Coinbase considers leaving the US market
FOLLOW Rachel: https://twitter.com/_rachelbraun
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Uizard CEO Tony Beltramelli joins Jason to demo Uizard’s AI-powered UI designer (6:01) and discusses how he iterated on Uizard’s product-market fit and the competition it faces (21:20). Then, Kelly Schricker from Founder University breaks down how to choose a CRM and how to build one yourself in Notion (42:54)!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:21) CEO of Uizard, Tony Beltramelli, joins Jason
(6:01) Tony demos Uizard’s text-to-UI platform
(13:52) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(15:09) Uizard’s target market
(21:20) Attaining product market fit
(29:25) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(30:56z) Uizard’s competition
(35:03) GPT4’s impact
(37:52) First impressions of Google’s Bard
(40:32) Trovata - Go to https://trovata.io/TWIST/ and use code TWIST for 30% off premium features for one year
(42:54) Choosing a CRM
(48:18) Understanding how to set up a CRM
(54:18) Demo of a CRM in Notion
(58:48) CRM management
(1:00:35) Top 4 failures when implementing a CRM
FOLLOW Tony: https://twitter.com/tbeltramelli
FOLLOW Kelly: https://twitter.com/kschricks
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Hyfe CEO Joe Brew joins Jason to discuss quantifying cough to prevent the spread of disease. They break down how Hyfe’s technology works (2:48), how his company diagnoses diseases via audio and qualifying health data (14:47), before Presh joins to demonstrate how to easily create business content for your startup with ChatGPT (40:16).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:48) How does Hyfe work?
(9:03) Notion - Sign up for FREE at https://notion.com/jason
(10:32) Acoustic AI and its potential
(14:57) What is a cough, and why do they happen?
(17:17) Chronic Cough
(21:06) Hyperice - Get $50 off your order of $150 or more with code TWIST50 at https://hyperice.com/
(22:34) Managing a cough
(25:18) Diagnosing other diseases through audio
(31:56) Licensing the technology and pandemic prevention
(38:47) Mayfair - Get 4.35% APY on your cash and increase your FDIC insurance coverage at https://getmayfair.com/twist
(40:16) Quantifying health data
(43:45) Generating ideas from existing content using ChatGPT
(49:45) Using Chat-GPT for your product or service from scratch
(53:51) Creating micro-content with Chat-GPT
FOLLOW Joe: https://twitter.com/joethebrew
FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to Founder University
https://www.founder.university/podcast
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8bLXgWx7dTGcA9kssYDjdw?sub_confirmation=1
https://open.spotify.com/show/1p39ZzpP0ZcUCcEX293y3j
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
Vinny and Sunny join Jason to discuss AI’s blistering pace and compare its development to other product launches (2:47). They also break down the anxiety artists and developers feel from AI automation (14:47), the rise of AutoGPTs, Twitter’s reported LLM project, and more (37:01).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:47) The blistering pace of AI
(9:44) Developer builds Flappy Bird in 1-hour
(11:24) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(12:53) Developers leveraging gains in AI
(14:47) Ai anxiety
(23:55) Instacart’s ChatGPT plugin
(26:06) Preserving your advantage against AI
(29:10) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(30:14) AI artists
(35:54) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist
(37:01) Automating with AutoGPT
(47:09) LLMs vs. Knowledge retrieval systems
(57:06) Is Google’s Bard behind?
(1:02:42) Twitter’s alleged generative AI project
(1:08:30) Ethereum and Bitcoin updates
FOLLOW Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep
FOLLOW Vinny: https://twitter.com/VinnyLingham
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Copy.ai Founder Paul Yacoubian joins Jason to break down the evolution and progress that OpenAI has made with its GPT LLMs (2:38) before discussing the radical shifts that AI will cause across most industries (20:46). They end the show with a demo of Copy.ai and the legal issues surrounding training datasets (48:54).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:38) The evolution of GPT-2 to GPT-3
(8:16) Mercury - Apply in minutes and get up to $5M in FDIC insurance at https://mercury.com
(9:45) How GPT summarizes work
(13:39) Working with GPT-4
(19:14) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups
(20:46) Radical shifts in AI
(29:59) Accepting AI
(36:59) Mayfair - Get 4.35% APY on your cash and increase your FDIC insurance coverage at https://getmayfair.com/twist
(38:29) Working systems with ChatGPT
(45:20) Who wins between Google and OpenAI
(48:54) Copy.ai demo
(52:38) Licensing of the underlying data
(57:10) The demand for hardware when developing AI
(59:53) More on Copy.ai
FOLLOW Paul: https://twitter.com/paulyacoubian
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason breaks down an AI experiment conducted by Google and Stanford researchers, where they created a simulated Sims-like video game with characters driven by AI (2:27). Then, he discusses Bloomberg announcing its own financially-focused LLM and what it means for analysts (21:58). He wraps with two quick hits about San Francisco’s dire commercial real estate situation and the collapse of an instant delivery startup (37:51).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:27) Stanford and Google paper "Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior"
(10:10) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(11:38) Prompting the agents and programming AI
(20:28) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist
(21:58) Bloomberg releases BloombergGPT
(32:35) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20
(34:03) The future for financial analysts
(37:51) San Francisco's commercial real estate debacle
(47:03) MilkRun shuts down
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
The man behind the anonymous accounts “prayingforexits” on Instagram and “@mrexits” on Twitter joins Jason for a jam-packed episode.
Topics covered: what founders can learn from Logan Roy (2:29), what recent ZIRP fraudsters have in common (21:39), where GPT-4 ranks in terms of revolutionary product launches (31:28), AI’s impact moving forward, the state of VC (1:02:29), and so much more!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:29) Succession, Logan Roy’s mentality & winning
(9:22) Purpose-driven CEOS
(20:07) Orgspace - Get $2000 in credits at http://orgspace.io/twist
(21:39) ZIRP fraudsters
(29:56) Issuu - Sign up for free or get 50% off an annual premium account by using promo code twist at https://issuu.com/podcast
(31:28) Revolutionary product launches
(42:24) Brilliant.org - Get 20% off an annual subscription at http://brilliant.org/twist
(43:52) AI’s impact moving forward
(1:02:29) The state of VC
(1:18:51) Mayor Jason
FOLLOW PrayingForExits: https://twitter.com/mrexits
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason breaks down the valuation tension surrounding YC demo days (2:36), how to get better prices on YC-equivalent startups (8:59), Garry Tan's response to complaints (15:18), and more! Then, Jason reacts to a law firm's leaked expectations list that went viral (29:29) before wrapping with some thoughts about Substack (41:59).
(0:00) Jason tees up Friday's topics!
(2:36) Understanding the valuation tension of YC's demo day; why some investors resent YC
(8:59) Jason's three ways to avoid overpaying for YC startups
(13:56) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(15:18) Garry Tan's response to demo day valuation complaints; Harry Stebbings and Garry Tan's back and forth on valuations/expectations
(24:07) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for a $500 credit and up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist
(25:34) How startups that got accepted into YC can cold email top VCs to raise pre-demo day
(29:29) Jason reacts to a law firm's leaked expectations list that went viral
(36:13) QuickNode - Get one month free by using code TWIST at https://go.quicknode.com/twist
(37:25) Reactions to the viral expectations list
(41:59) Substack publishes 2021 gross revenue, net loss, and cash on hand and Jason breaks down the company's position
Email your pitch deck to yc@launch.co if you were rejected by YC and want to meet with the LAUNCH team!
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
Satya Patel joins Jason to discuss the economics of being a self-funded GP and the structure of their fund (6:51). Then, they have an all-encompassing discussion about the challenges of running Google today, the state of VC, and much more (15:44). Before wrapping, they discuss their investing frameworks and when and when they will not break them (43:29).
(0:00) Nick kicks off the show
(1:21) Satya's early days a Google
(6:51) The economics of being a solo GP
(9:29) Mercury - Apply in minutes and get up to $5M in FDIC insurance at https://mercury.com
(10:58) The structure of a fund
(15:44) The challenges of running Google today
(17:51) The evolution of chat-based search
(22:55) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(24:25) The balkanization of AI data
(29:55) The pace of AI and the harsh reality of the private sector
(38:11) Clumio - Start a free backup, or sign up for a demo at https://clumio.com/twist
(39:28) Saying "no" to external funds
(43:29) Flexible Frameworks
(58:05) Founder Archetypes
(1:01:38) Being "founder friendly" and the importance of board meetings
(1:14:09) Screendoor
(1:22:25) Satya's thoughts on SVB
FOLLOW Satya: https://twitter.com/satyap
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring three startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university
(0:00) Nick kicks off the show
(1:07) Introducing Founder University
(7:14) Pitch 01: Xinyue Ma of Sticker
(11:56) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(13:00) Jason’s feedback for Sticker
(15:07) Pitch 02: Joseph Homsy of Outmost
(17:11) Jason’s feedback for Outmost
(23:14) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(24:40) Pitch 03: Cam Richardson of PaySquad
(26:55) Jason’s feedback for PaySquad
(29:45) Ranking the pitches
(35:20) Mayfair - Get 4% APY on your idle cash automatically at https://getmayfair.com/twist
(36:50) The importance of product velocity
(39:41) Final thoughts on Sticker
(42:23) Final thoughts on Outmost
(44:26) Final thoughts on PaySquad
(46:04) Jason invests $25k in…
(47:39) Q&A with Jason
FOLLOW Kelly: https://twitter.com/KSchricks
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
First up, Jason touches on Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund disclosing which VC firms it has made LP investments in (2:48), which leads to him pondering the human rights issues and if founders care where their money comes from (18:52). Jason caps off the show by breaking down the SEC’s charges against Frank founder Charlie Javice for allegedly closing a $175M acquisition based on over 4M fake user accounts (30:18).
(0:00) Jason kicks off today’s show
(2:48) Saudi Arabia discloses LP positions
(8:24) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups
(9:52) Why is Saudi Arabia diversifying?
(17:21) Miro - Sign up for a free account at https://miro.com/startups
(18:52) Founders’ thoughts on where their funding comes from
(21:26) Jason’s passion for human rights
(29:01) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(30:18) Frank founder charged with fraud
(33:03) Be clear about your customers
(34:35) Allegations against Charlie Javice
(47:00) Lessons for founders
(44:56) Ivy League convicts
LINKS:
Sanabil Investments LP Disclosure document
https://www.sanabil.com/en/our-partners/
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason kicks off the show by breaking down clips from a recent conversation between Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, and Adam Neumann about Saudi Arabia’s promising startup scene (2:44). This leads to Jason diving into new city concepts and Trump’s presidential campaign (13:01). Then, BioFluff CEO Martin Stübler joins the show to discuss his sustainable fashion alternative (30:44).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:44) Saudi Arabia’s promising startup scene
(11:31) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, sign up for free at https://coda.io/twist
(13:01) Creating cities and societies
(18:21) Trump-topia
(23:33) Mercury - Apply in minutes and get up to $5M in FDIC insurance at https://mercury.com
(25:02) Trump’s presidential campaign
(29:16) Revelo - Get 20% off the first 3 months by mentioning TWIST at https://revelo.io/twist
(30:44) BioFluff CEO Martin Stübler on developing plant-based fur
FOLLOW Martin: https://twitter.com/MartinStubler
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Stephen Wolfram of Wolfram Research joins Jason for an all-encompassing conversation about AI, from the history of neural nets (7:53) to how modern ai emulates the human brain (19:33). This leads to an in-depth discussion about the pace at which AI is evolving (43:46), The “Post-Knowledge Work” era (58:45), the unintended consequences of AI (1:03:52), and so much more.
(0:00) Nick kicks off the show
(1:24) Under the hood of ChatGPT
(7:53) What is a neural net?
(10:05) Cast.ai - Get a free cloud cost audit with a personal consultation at https://cast.ai/twist
(11:33) Determining values and weights in a neural net
(18:28) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(19:33) Emulating the human brain
(23:26) Defining computational irreducibility
(26:14) Emergent behavior and the rules of language
(31:49) Discovering logic + creating a computational language
(38:10) Clumio - Start a free backup, or sign up for a demo at https://clumio.com/twist
(39:38) Wolfram’s ChatGPT plugin
(43:46) The rapid pace of AI
(58:45) The “Post-Knowledge Work” era
(1:03:52) The unintended consequences of AI
(1:11:45) Rewarding innovation
(1:16:12) The possibility of AGI
(1:20:07) Creating a general-purpose robotic system
FOLLOW Stephen: https://twitter.com/stephen_wolfram
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Vinny Lingham joins Jason to break down the state of crypto’s de-platforming by the US government. They discuss recent happenings with Coinbase (2:13), Balaji’s Bitcoin bet (20:00), Binance (38:23), SBF (44:07), and more! Then, they wrap with a discussion about the coming balkanization of AI (52:54).
(0:00) Jason tees up today’s topics
(2:13) Coinbase’s Wells notice & the state of crypto
(8:08) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist
(9:36) Clarity within the crypto industry
(15:06) The future of Bitcoin in the US
(18:29) Orgspace - Get $2000 in credits at http://orgspace.io/twist
(20:00) Balaji’s bet and hyperinflation
(25:50) A debate on whether to short Coinbase
(36:52) Issuu - Sign up for free or get 50% off an annual premium account by using promo code twist at https://issuu.com/podcast
(38:23) CFTC sues Binance
(44:07) SBF’s indictment
(49:00) Why is the government clamping down on crypto?
(52:54) The balkanization of AI
FOLLOW Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring three startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:58) Kelly and Presh discuss reactions from the Founder University community
(6:47) Presentation 1: Kevin O'Connell, Founder and CEO of Kapsule
(12:08) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(13:38) Presentation 2: Julien Hoachuck, Founder of ArkiTask
(19:48) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(21:10) Presentation 3: David Axelrod, Founder of Open Insure
(32:07) CacheFly - Get 10 terabytes free by signing up at https://twist.cachefly.com
(33:28) Deliberations
(37:36) Jason's thoughts on the three companies
(41:13) Key takeaways from Founder University
(46:22) How to learn more about Founder University
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar
FOLLOW Kelly: https://twitter.com/KSchricks
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Producer Rachel joins Jason to break down the latest tech news. They cover AOC's arguments against banning TikTok (2:29), Alibaba's six-way split (18:43), Disney's metaverse cuts (28:17), Substack's equity crowdfunding (39:16), Lyft's precarious position, and more! (55:09) Then, Jason breaks down the case for shorting Coinbase. (1:12:14)
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:29) Reacting to AOC's arguments to not ban TikTok
(13:39) LMNT - Get a free sample pack with any purchase at http://drinklmnt.com/TWIST
(15:09) The CCP’s interest in TikTok
(18:43) Alibaba's six-way split
(26:49) Mercury - Banking built for startups. See more at https://mercury.com/twist
(28:17) Disney sunsetting its Metaverse division
(38:09) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at http://crowdbotics.com/twist
(39:16) Substack's equity crowdfunding
(55:09) Lyft's precarious position
(1:04:18) Twitter shutters legacy verification badges
(1:12:14) Laying out the Coinbase short argument
FOLLOW Rachel: https://twitter.com/_rachelbraun
FOLLOW Nick: https://twitter.com/nickcalacanis
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason starts the show by discussing First Citizens acquiring SVB’s assets (2:03) before diving into a Reddit post detailing how generative AI changed a 3D artist’s job overnight (9:09). Jason wraps by interviewing Sarika Bajaj, the CEO, and Co-founder of Refiberd, as she dives into the reality of the recycling process, how they are using spectroscopy to recycle textiles, and more (20:28)!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:03) A breakdown of First Citizens’ purchase of SVB
(8:05) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(9:09) Reddit Post: A radical change for 3D artists
(18:59) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(20:28) Sarika Bajaj, CEO of Refiberd joins Jason
(21:00) What happens to our textiles?
(25:20) Refiberd’s solution
(30:31) Solving for inefficiencies in the recycling process
(38:05) Brilliant.org - Get 20% off an annual subscription at http://brilliant.org/twist
(39:33) The state of recycling today
(49:23) Raising capital in today’s market
(54:25) Navigating gate SVB collapse
FOLLOW Sarika: https://refiberd.com/
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Acquired co-hosts Ben and David are BACK to discuss the state of the VC market and YC shutting down its Continuity Fund (6:20) before diving into industries that benefitted from ZIRP (26:35). They also break down which social apps they want to own and why (45:29). Then, Ben and Jason wrap up the show by discussing the future of Amazon and Starfish Space, a new space startup (1:11:48)
(0:00) Nick tees up today’s topics
(1:36) David’s time at Stanford
(6:20) Ben’s private market snapshot
(8:49) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups
(10:19) David’s private market snapshot
(16:19) Reacting to YC closing down its Continuity Fund
(25:35) QuickNode - Go to http://quicknode.com/ and use the code TWIST for a free month on their feature-packed Build Plan
(26:35) Industries that benefitted from ZIRP
(35:08) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20
(36:36) How compelling is AI?
(45:29) Owning either Instagram, Linked In, or YouTube
(48:15) Rational and Wildcard: Who is likely to acquire TikTok?
(53:44) Twitter product development
(1:00:51) Reclaiming lost time
(1:11:48) The future of Amazon
(1:19:57) Apple to spend $1B on producing theatrical releases + Project Titan
(1:25:21) SOTD: Keeping satellites on course with Starfish Space
FOLLOW Ben: https://twitter.com/gilbert
FOLLOW David: https://twitter.com/djrosent
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jason kicks off today's episode by reacting to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony in front of Congress (1:41) before delving into the news that Coinbase was served a Wells notice by the SEC (22:57). Then, he discusses the reports that Do Kwon has been arrested in Montenegro (32:35) before wrapping up with more information on China and TikTok (35:44).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:41) Jason reacts to Shou Zi Chew's testimony in front of Congress
(6:14) China's use of private companies to manipulate its population
(11:02) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist
(12:29) TikTok's ability to influence our youth
(16:48) Chinese espionage
(21:27) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(22:57) SEC serves Coinbase a Wells Notice
(31:19) Clumio - Visit https://clumio.com/twist to start a free backup or sign up for a demo
(32:35) Do Kwon arrested in Montenegro
(35:44) More information on China and TikTok
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Jenny Lefcourt of Freestyle VC joins Jason for an insightful conversation. They delve into the mission of All Raise and the importance of diversity in venture capital (2:04). Jenny shares her thoughts on embracing non-consensus bets and her experiences investing in Narvar and Discord (20:04). Additionally, they discuss the value of strategy meetings in comparison to traditional board meetings (59:10).
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(2:04) Co-Founding All Raise: Promoting Diversity in Venture Capital
(9:53) Prenuvo - Save $300 on Full Body Scans at http://prenuvo.com/twist
(11:23) Biases Towards Certain Business Models
(15:05) Identifying and Avoiding Unsuccessful Business Models
(18:54) LinkedIn Jobs - Post Your First Job for Free at https://linkedIn.com/angel
(20:04) Embracing Non-Consensus Bets
(22:53) Jenny’s Investment in Narvar
(28:16) Understanding the Economics of a Seed Fund
(35:14) Comparing Hype: Generative AI versus Web 3.0
(40:47) Miro - Collaborate with Unlimited Team Members for Free at https://miro.com/startups/
(42:28) Insights from Jenny's Investment in Discord
(47:05) Attaining Product-Market Fit and Making a Significant Impact
(56:56) Exiting Deals: When to Move On
(59:10) Strategy Meetings Compared to Board Meetings
(1:04:04) Jenny's Ideal Timeline for Committing to Investments
FOLLOW Jenny: https://twitter.com/jennylefcourt
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Today on the podcast, we have a new format for you! Jason will hear four pitches from Founder University participants and choose ONE startup to invest $25K in! (1:45)
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show and explains the pitch format!
(1:45) Jason brings on Presh and Kelly to explain the fundamentals of Founder University and introduces today's pitches!
(13:44) Squarespace - Use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(16:18) George Lam pitches Fantastic Funding
(21:18) Naman Dwivedi pitches Promptify
(25:59) Pilot - Go to https://pilot.com/twist for 20% off your first 6 months
(27:30) Phil Boucher pitches OpenSpot
(34:00) Matt Edminster pitches Renegade Labs
(39:22) Fennel - Join the waitlist and get your first month free at http://fennel.com/twist
(40:35) Kelly and Presh's pick for best return for LPs
(45:33) The live audience votes!
(50:22) What Founder University meant to these Founders
(53:39) Jason makes his decision on who will receive $25K
Check out the startups!:
https://fantasticfunding.com
https://www.promptify.ai
https://www.findopenspot.com
https://www.renegadelabs.io
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar
FOLLOW Kelly: https://twitter.com/KSchricks
Rachel Reporting joins Jason to read the news! First, they give an update on the banking crisis and how it’s impacting startups (1:34). Then, they cover Balaji’s huge Bitcoin bet and his predictions for the future (14:17) before breaking down OpenAI’s launch of GPT-4 (35:07). Finally, Jason wraps up with some Jay Trading updates (57:28)!
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:34) Banking crisis update & how it affects startups
(10:11) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(11:14) Best practices for banking
(14:17) Balaji’s huge Bitcoin bet
(22:18) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(23:42) Balaji’s predictions for the future
(32:41) Ray Dalio’s The Changing World Order
(33:46) CacheFly - Get 10 Terabyte free forever if you signup at http://twist.cachefly.com
(35:07) A breakdown of OpenAI’s launch of GPT-4
(57:28) Jay Trade update
FOLLOW Rachel: https://twitter.com/_rachelbraun
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1
FOUNDERS! Subscribe to the Founder University podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founder-university/id1648407190
Our TOPPODCAST Picks