This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

Apple blocks AI email app, TikTok restricts teens, Foodini's Dylan McDonnell | E1690 Mar 04, 2023

Show notes

Molly starts the show with Producer Rachel, covering Apple blocking an email app with an AI update (7:17), TikTok's latest restriction for users under 18 (14:05), and Salesforce Q4 earnings results. Then, they break down the startup immi, an instant ramen company (26:55). To end the show, Molly talks to Foodini founder and CEO Dylan McDonnell (35:10), and Rachel talks to Michael Tan, author of The Death of Uncertainty (59:49).

0:00 Molly Kicks off the show

1:55 Apple blocks app update for having generative AI capabilities

7:17 Could Apple's guard on the App Store create a headwind for the industry?

9:40 Should Apple be in charge of standard content filtering around AI on their platform

11:43 Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

12:48 How did TikTok approach being on the Apple App Store?

14:05 TikTok is setting 1-hour time limits for users under 18

16:11 If Apple doesn't impose safety limits, who will?

17:55 Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

19:01 Salesforce stock drop and Q4 earnings results

24:34 Molly's predictions for Salesforce

26:55 Startup of the day: immi, an instant ramen company, is taking over grocery stores by storm

32:15 Orgspace - Get $2000 in credits at http://orgspace.io/twist

35:10 Foodini founder and CEO Dylan McDonnell on how he plans on making eating out safer for those with diet restrictions

59:49 Okboomer with Michael Tan, author of The Death of Uncertainty FOLLOW Dylan McDonnell: https://twitter.com/dylnmcdonnell

FOLLOW Michael Tan: https://twitter.com/TheManMikeTan FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

FOLLOW Rachel: https://twitter.com/_rachelbraun

Snowflake CEO Frank Slootman on moving the needle, win-first culture & managing burnout | E1689 Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Frank Slootman joins Jason for another incredible conversation that ranges from the management shift in Silicon Valley (1:08) to how to know if you're moving the dial in your organization (9:59). Then, they discuss Frank's hiring philosophy and how to create a winning relationship between an executive and their direct reports (27:05). Finally, they discuss managing burnout and creating security for yourself (46:33).

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:08) Layoffs + the management shift in Silicon Valley

(8:29) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups

(9:59) How to know if you are moving the dial and moving at a fast pace

(18:36) Contra - Get $500 off your first hire at https://contra.com/twist

(20:09) Dealing with recessions and countering the media frenzy

(27:05) Frank's definition of culture and hiring for enthusiasm

(32:32) The relationship between an executive and their employees

(35:49) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(37:19) Assessing performance, hiring the right people, and being thoughtful

(41:56) Starting with a great product

(46:33) Managing burnout and creating security

(56:49) Consumption-based pricing + acquisitions

(1:00:30) Frank's thoughts on AI

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

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

Crypto Roundtable: Twitter payments integration and latest Yuga Labs NFT drop | E1688 Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Vinny and Sunny joined Molly on another segment of Crypto Roundtable! Highlights included how Twitter could have integrated crypto (2:02), the benefits and controversy of a national ID system (23:00), and Spotify's NFT experiment. (0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(2:02) The future of Twitter payments

(12:16) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(14:21) What does an ideal Twitter identity system look like?

(21:16) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(23:00) The benefits and controversy of a national ID system

(32:20) Predictions about the latest Yuga drop

(35:41) Contra - Get $500 off your first hire at https://contra.com/twist

(41:54) Vinny breaks down the future of Coinbase and its active users

(48:07) Molly sees the connection between K-Pop and crypto

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

FOLLOW Vinny: https://twitter.com/vinnylingham

FOLLOW Sunny: https://twitter.com/sundeep

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

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

ANGEL: Canaan's Maha Ibrahim on fund sizing, distribution strategies & early VC days | E1687 Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Maha Ibrahim of Canaan joins Molly to discuss her early days in VC (1:38), managing distributions and exiting at the right time (20:36), the clean tech bubble, being a generalist/specialist, diversity, and more (37:42).

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:38) Maha's first years in venture

(11:18) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to https://linkedIn.com/angel and post your first job for free.

(12:43) Investing in the early 2000s and Canaan's strategy

(19:12) Cast.ai - Get a free cloud cost audit with a personal consultation at https://cast.ai/twist

(20:36) Exiting at the right time and distributing earnings

(30:00) Learning from a downturn

(34:58) The mismatch between VCs to outlier startups

(36:11) Prenuvo - Get $300 off at http://prenuvo.com/twist

(37:42) The climate tech bubble

(40:14) Generalists vs. specialists

(42:16) Responding to cycles and signs of good timing

(48:53) Structuring a generational off-ramp

(51:39) All Raise

(55:30) What does the future hold?

FOLLOW Maha: https://twitter.com/mahaibrahim

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

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

Neeva CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy on AI chatbots and the search revolution | E1686 Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Neeva CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy joins Molly to talk all things search and AI chatbots, including Neeva's technology and the difficulty of building a search engine (1:41), Neeva's consumer focus and business model (20:00), and the search-to-answer revolution (41:31).

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:41) Neeva's Purpose

(5:06) The technological underpinning of Neeva

(8:00) The hurdles building Neeva

(10:26) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(11:53) The problems search aims to solve

(18:31) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(20:00) Why choose Neeva

(24:01) Neeva's business model

(29:18) Moving from search to answers + citing sources

(35:53) The ad supported publishing ecosystem

(37:58) Pilot - Get 20% off the first 6 months at https://pilot.com/twist

(39:13) Leaving Google

(41:31) The search to answers revolution

(44:34) Compensating publishers and dealing with content moderation

(48:51) Open loop vs. Closed loop

(54:29) Neeva copycats

FOLLOW Sridhar: https://twitter.com/ramaswmysridhar

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

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

WallStreetBets founder on why he's suing Reddit; Andrew Hart of Hyper; and Ok Boomer | E1685 Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

The Friday variety show is back! Jason kicks it off by interviewing WallStreetBets founder Jaime Rogozinski, who's currently suing Reddit (2:08). Then, Molly is joined by Hyper CEO Andrew Hart to discuss the augmented reality market and Hyper's store-mapping technology (30:16). Producer Rachel wraps the show with content creator Humphrey Yang breaking down his creative process, what he considers valuable metrics, and so much more (53:40). (0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(2:08) WSB milestones and arbitrage

(12:07) Contra - Get $500 off your first hire at https://contra.com/twist

(13:36) How Reddit works + the WSB controversy

(23:42) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(24:45) Jaime's ideal solution

(30:16) Andrew Hart of Hyper

(33:57) Creating the ultimate user experience

(39:19) Retreat - head to http://planretreat.com/twistto help you plan the offsite your team deserves!

(40:43) Mapping store and onboarding customers

(45:55) Hyper's development and future opportunities

(53:40) Ok Boomer with Humphrey Yang FOLLOW Jaime: https://twitter.com/wallstreetbets

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

FOLLOW Humphrey: https://twitter.com/Humphreytalks

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

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

Sophia Amoruso on branding, raising a fund, portfolio construction & more | E1684 Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

Sophia Amoruso, Founder and GP at Trust Fund, joins Jason to discuss her angel investments (1:23), raising a fund publicly (5:54), and the creative process (12:14). Then, they discuss portfolio construction and putting past identities to bed (27:04).

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:23) Previous angel investing experience

(5:54) Why Sophia is raising a public fund

(10:45) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist

(12:14) Branding and the creative process

(20:55) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(22:25) What stage of investing is Sophia going after

(27:04) Portfolio construction

(37:16) Brilliant.org - Go to http://brilliant.org/twist to start your 30-day free trial today and get 20% off your annual premium plan

(38:44) Pro rata rights

(46:56) Putting past identities to bed

(1:01:18) Fund cycles

(1:05:17) Investing in founders or investing in ideas & more

FOLLOW Sophia: https://twitter.com/sophiaamoruso

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

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

ANGEL: Upfront's Mark Suster on the power of alignment, setting reality, and raising capital | E1683 Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Jason is joined by Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures to cover raising capital in the early 2000s (1:22), aligning board members (21:19), the three variables VCs need to bet on (40:51), and so much more!

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:22) A recap of the previous 3 market cycles

(5:23) The hurdles founders will face starting a company in 2023

(6:55) Raising capital in the early 2000s

(9:15) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to https://linkedIn.com/angel and post your first job for free.

(10:37) Upfront's strategy and changes to the market

(15:35) Misalignment of investors

(19:48) Prenuvo - Get $300 off a full-body MRI scan at https://prenuvo.com/twist

(21:19) Aligning of board members

(29:13) Setting reality as an investor/board member

(33:40) Cutting Burn & Mark's decision framework

(39:23) Orgspace - Get $2000 of credits on pro plans with a 30-day free trial at https://orgspace.io/twist

(40:51) The 3 variables VCs need to bet on

(48:28) The power law and mission-aligned founders

(52:13) Feed the family money

(58:33) Company killers + Investing in lines not dots

FOLLOW Mark: https://twitter.com/msuster

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

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

Brain-computer interfaces and the future of neural engineering with Dr. Benjamin Rapoport | E1682 Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

Precision Neuroscience's Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer joins Molly to discuss how the brain communicates with the body (7:08) and the breakthroughs that allowed companies like Precision to exist. (12:52) Then, they discuss Precision's founding principles, the process of getting FDA approval for its neural interface, and much more. (28:55)

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:27) Dr. Rapoport's origin story

(7:08) How the brain communicates with the body

(11:22) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(12:52) Breakthroughs in neuroscience

(22:37) Contra - a commission-free marketplace for freelancers and independent creators. Get $500 off your first hire at https://contra.com/twist

(24:06) The tension between public and private institutions

(28:55) The founding principles of Precision Neuroscience

(33:21) The Layer 7 interface and preparing for FDA approval

(40:39) LMNT - Get a free sample pack with any purchase at https://DrinkLMNT.com/TWIST

(42:07) Minimizing risk

(45:25) Interfacing with different areas of the brain

(47:06) Medical infrastructure and the business model of med-tech

CHECK OUT Precision Neuroscience: https://precisionneuro.io

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

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

Meta's paid tier, Bing's chatbot gone wild, Stripe's $4B bill | E1681 Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

First up, J+M break down Meta taking a note from Twitter with a $12 paid tier and how it can have a material impact on revenue. (12:05) Then, they cover the problems with Bing's new chatbot (32:13) before wrapping on Stripe potentially missing its window (46:14) and Meta copying a Telegram feature! (1:00:30)

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

(2:22) Proper PTO operating standards, what's in store for the next few weeks on TWiST!

(10:31) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups

(12:05) Zuck announces Meta Verified, a $12/month paid service for Facebook/Instagram and WhatsApp

(18:56) How Meta's new product can have a material impact on revenue

(21:49) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(22:47) What enticing features major social platforms can add to get more paid users

(30:42) Contra - Get $500 off your first hire at https://contra.com/twist

(32:13) Bing's new chatbot has already been toned down by Microsoft for responding with a style the company did not intend

(46:14) Stripe's $4B tax bill and further valuation cuts: did the highest-flying startup fumble the bag?

(1:00:30) Meta also copied Telegram's broadcast channels feature, which Zuck used to announce Meta's new paid tier!

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