This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

Banking crisis impact, more Meta cuts, and GPT-4 with Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham | E1700 Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Vinny and Sunny are BACK with Jason for another roundtable! First, they cover the aftermath of the bank shutdowns (2:54) before breaking down the impact on startups and the overall economy. (14:14) They also cover Zuckerberg announcing more cuts at Meta (1:05:49) and OpenAI launching GPT-4! (1:10:55)

(0:00) Jason tees up today's topics!

(2:54) Reflecting on the aftermath of the SVB collapse

(12:50) Cast.ai - Get a free cloud cost audit with a personal consultation at https://cast.ai/twist

(14:14) Understanding the origins of the banking issues and the Fed's response

(27:10) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(28:09) Signature and Silvergate troubles, overall lessons from the past week

(39:33) Orgspace - Get $2000 in credits at http://orgspace.io/twist

(41:04) Understanding CBDC

(56:11) Things to consider going forward, payroll crisis

(1:05:49) Zuckerberg's "Year of Efficiency" and OpenAI launches GPT-4

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Andy Rachleff on SVB, how to evaluate VCs, market pull indicators, Wealthfront, and more | E1699 Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

Wealthfront Chairman and Co-Founder Andy Rachleff joins Jason for an incredible interview! They start the show by discussing the SVB situation before breaking down different tech mini-crashes throughout Silicon Valley history (2:28). Then, they break down Wealthfront's business and how to know if a business has market pull (40:49). They finish up the show by covering a range of topics, from AI to stock-based comp (1:13:45).

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(2:28) SVB situation

(9:26) The FDIC's $250K limit

(13:27) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups

(14:49) The bank run

(16:17) The SVB ecosystem

(22:20) Merge - Integrate up to 5 customers for free today at https://merge.dev/twist

(23:45) Cycle changes

(36:15) How to judge a VC

(39:27) Issuu - Get 50% off when you go to https://issuu.com/podcast and use promo code twist

(40:49) Wealthfront's operation

(48:58) Reactions to the market

(55:00) Modern analysis and stock buybacks

(1:01:24 ) Caring about profitability

(1:02:06) Attaining market pull

(1:13:45) Andy's thoughts on AI

(1:16:31) The makeup of a great entrepreneur

(1:18:50) Stock-based compensation

(1:25:06) How we avoided inflation

FOLLOW Andy: https://twitter.com/arachleff

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

How ocean farming can solve world hunger with Alora CEO Luke Young | E1698 Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Alora CEO and Co-Founder Luke Young joins Molly to discuss ocean agriculture and the ability to grow crops offshore (1:17). They discuss the progression of engineering that has propelled Alora's innovations (11:55) and the challenges of growing at sea (21:53).

(0:00) Intro!

(1:17) Alora's mission and technological advancements

(5:46) Mitigation and adaptation

(7:58) The first taste test

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

(11:55) Alora's progression and timeline

(16:26) Designing infrastructure and engineering fertilizer

(20:25) LMNT - Get a free sample pack with any purchase at http://drinklmnt.com/TWIST

(21:53) Challenges of growing on the ocean

(26:14) Alora's Business Model

(28:56) Fennel - Join the fennel waitlist now and get your first month free at http://fennel.com/twist

(30:10) Salt tolerance

(35:17) Alora's Customer and cost of development

FOLLOW Luke: https://twitter.com/lukeheatonyoung

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Silicon Valley Bank collapse recap + Wist CEO on capturing XR memories | E1697 Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

Jason kicks off Monday by recapping this weekend's chaos caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (1:45). Then, he advises founders on preventing a scare like this from happening again before interviewing Andrew R McHugh of Wist Labs, who is building a platform to capture and relive memories in AR and VR (13:40).

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(1:45) The past weekend's chaos and triaging startups

(12:18) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist

(13:40) The government's response and advice for founders

(24:12) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(25:39) Andrew R McHugh of Wist Labs

(37:28) Brilliant.org - Get 20% off an annual subscription at http://brilliant.org/twist

(38:56) Reliving past experiences and Generative AI applications

(57:00) Raising capital in the weeks to come

FOLLOW Andrew: https://twitter.com/armthethinker

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

Check out Founder University the podcast at https://www.founder.university/podcast

EMERGENCY POD: $SVIB implodes, contagion risk, advice for founders, and what's next? | E1696 Mar 11, 2023

Show notes

Jason reacts to Silicon Valley Bank being shut down by the FDIC and breaks down what this means for founders and VCs.

(0:00) Breaking down the SVB situation

(4:28) FDIC press release

(7:41) What Jason hopes will happen

(10:16) Defcon 1

(12:39) Thoughts on emergency funding

(15:46) How does the SVB situation affect early-stage fundraising

(26:59) SVB sells their securities

(29:10) USV email to founders

(31:06) SVB CEO addresses the situation

(33:07) Bill Ackman's response

(34:31)Mark Suster's response

(35:52) Audience questions

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Stripe to raise $6B, $SIVB drops 60%, generative AI funding | E1695 Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

Eric Newcomer joins to break down all the trending tech topics, including Stripe raising $6B (16:31), major generative ai fundraises (35:55), Silicon Valley Bank dropping 60% (50:35), and more!

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(1:55) Eric's move to independent journalism

(10:07) First Republic Bank - Discover what a long-term financial relationship can do for you. Visit https://firstrepublic.com today to learn more.

(10:57) Take rates and more on Substack

(16:31) Eric's Scoop on Stripe

(20:43) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(21:46) The narrative around the tech layoffs + Generative AI

(34:24) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(35:55) The deluge of Funding into AI

(43:39) The state of VC investing

(50:35) Silicon Valley Bank drops 60%

FOLLOW Eric: https://twitter.com/EricNewcomer

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Ask an Angel! Startup funding overview, investor red flags, negotiating early-stage terms | E1694 Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

Zach Coelius is BACK with Jason to take questions from founders and investors! They cover investing on Zoom post-COVID (6:07), diligence red flags (13:13), investor red flags (27:32), building relationships prior to fundraising (48:59), and more!

(0:00) Jason Kicks off the show

(1:21) Managing time as an angel

(6:07) Moving to zoom instead of the room

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

(10:54) Servicing new deals vs. existing ones

(13:13) Red flags to look for in a syndicate startup deal

(20:18) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, sign up for free at https://coda.io/twist

(21:47) Your options when there is no path to profitability

(27:32) Red flags when courting angel investors

(41:10) Contra - Get $500 off your first hire at https://contra.com/twist

(42:35) Assumptions that have evolved

(45:23) Recent learnings in the past few years

(48:59) Building genuine relationships with investors

(53:40) Difficulties in startups

(57:37) Negotiating terms on deals

FOLLOW Zach: https://twitter.com/zachcoelius

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

ANGEL: Threshold VC's Emily Melton on market distortion, healthcare investing & culture | E1693 Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

Emily Melton joins Molly to discuss her early days in venture and what she learned while working at DFJ (1:30). Then, they talk about the barriers that healthcare imposes on entrepreneurship (17:22), building a diverse culture within venture capital (29:53), market distortions, and how to optimize for a down market (38:42).

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:30) Getting started in Venture Capital

(8:12) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to https://linkedIn.com/angel and post your first job for free

(9:38) Learnings from working at DFJ

(17:22) Healthcare being a barrier to entrepreneurship

(20:11) Prenuvo - Get $300 off at http://prenuvo.com/twist

(21:41) Threshold Ventures' fund mechanics

(26:15) Investing in Tia: Healthcare solutions for woman

(29:53) Building culture

(37:45) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist

(38:42) Optimizing for a down market

(52:13) What's next?

FOLLOW Emily: https://twitter.com/emelton

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Crypto climate bill resurfaces, BlocPower raises $155M + Arcadia CEO Kiran Bhatraju | E1692 Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Molly kicks off Climate Tuesday breaking down the news that the Crypto-Asset Environmental Transparency Act has resurfaced (1:37). Then, she discusses BlocPower's $155M raise and their collaboration with a town in New York to achieve net zero emissions (6:12). Finally, Kiran Bhatraju of Arcadia joins Molly for 2023's first official Climate interview (11:38).

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:37) The Crypto-Asset Environmental Transparency Act resurfaces

(6:12) BlocPower Raises $155M

(10:12) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(11:38) Unlocking utility data with Kiran Bhatraju of Arcadia

(21:48) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist

(23:14) Breaking down Arcadia and Arc

(26:13) Democratizing solar energy with community solar

(33:57) Fennel - Join the fennel waitlist now and get your first month free at http://fennel.com/twist!

(35:27) Arc users + carbon accounting

(43:15) Kiran's journey into climate tech

(45:59) Opportunity in the climate tech space

FOLLOW Kiran: https://twitter.com/kiranraju

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Sequoia resigns from Citizen's board, IPO window opens, chaos at Dapper Labs | E1691 Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Jason is BACK with Molly to break down the news! They cover Sequoia leaving Citizen's board after passing on a "pay to play" round (5:46), two major companies reportedly going public in 2023: Instacart and ARM (27:11), and the recent turmoil at Dapper Labs (50:44).

(0:00) J+M tee up today's news show!

(2:25) Jason's back!

(5:46) Sequoia leaves the board of Citizen

(14:21) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(15:51) How investors make the decision to pass on a "pay to play" round

(25:41) Contra - Get $500 off your first hire at https://contra.com/twist

(27:11) IPO window starts to open, Instacart prepares for IPO after big Q4

(35:42) Revelo - Get 20% off the first 3 months by mentioning TWIST at https://revelo.io/twist