This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

VCSS: Year in review + Valerie Shen of G2 Venture Partners | E1641 Dec 18, 2022

Show notes

Molly and Jason celebrate the last VCSS of 2022 by reflecting on what Molly has learned over this past year. (1:24) Then Valerie Shen of G2 Venture Partners joins Molly for the final TWiCS of the year. (36:38) (0:00) J+M Kick off the show

(1:23) Molly reflects on her first year as a VC

(10:58) MicroAcquire - Sell your business with no fees at https://try.microacquire.com/twist

(12:29) The founder/VC relationship

(18:30) Learning how to be a VC in a downturn

(20:13) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(28:05) The art of patience + getting to 100 meetings

(30:34) Top VCSS episodes of 2022

(36:38) Valerie Shen joins Molly for TWiCS

(40:43) The history of G2 Venture Partners and Valerie's role

(51:38) Climate Tech is becoming more popular

(1:01:28) Investable climate tech solutions

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

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Financial info to include in your pitch deck | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1640 Dec 17, 2022

Show notes

Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to explain the MOST important financial information that founders should include in their pitch deck (

(0:00) Kruze's Scott Orn joins Jason to discuss the role of financial information in your pitch deck

(11:02) Conveying your vision with numbers

Check out Kruze: https://www.kruzeconsulting.com

FOLLOW Scott: https://twitter.com/scottorn

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

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

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Interest rates, inflation and "getting fit" with Brad Gerstner | E1639 Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

Brad Gerstner of Altimeter Capital joins Molly and Jason for an epic Friday show. They chop it up about the state of the economy, what it actually means to be founder friendly and discuss which big tech companies are"fit". (1:24)

(0:00) J+M Kick off the show

(1:24) Brad Gerstner joins Molly and Jason

(10:28) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist

(11:38) Brad presents on interest rates, inflation and business multiples

(26:32) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(28:05) The Fed's core mission

(37:54) Being founder friendly

(39:42) Brad's letter to Meta

(48:33) Companies that need to get fit

(53:00) Google and Meta's fitness

(58:08) The curse of the money-printing machine

(1:00:01) Google vs ChatGPT

(1:05:05) Is Uber fit?

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

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

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Jason interviews EatKind CEO Neetha Avalakki and 'TWiST Mean Tweets' with Lon Harris | E1638 Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

First up, Jason interviews Neetha Avalakki, the founder and CEO of EatKind. EatKind is an AI-powered search engine that converts ANY food or recipe into a vegan alternative. (3:20) Then Lon Harris joins Molly and Jason for another segment of This Week in Streaming. They play a TWiST version of celebrity mean tweets and discuss Neptune Frost. (36:41)

(0:00) M+J Kick off the show

(3:20) CEO of EatKind joins Jason

(8:31) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(9:41) Training EatKind's AI + Product Market Fit

(18:29) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(19:44) Being a founder in India

(35:12) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(36:41) TWiST Mean Tweets with Lon Harris

(49:46) Reviewing Neptune Frost

(1:06:01) Directors and their breakthrough movies

(1:12:22) James Gunn's plan for the DC Universe

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

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

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Affirm addresses Molly & Jason + is TikTok getting banned, and Pearpop's CEO Cole Mason | E1637 Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

Molly and Jason react to a letter they received from Affirm after yesterday's episode. (1:59) Then, Molly and Jason discuss Marco Rubio's bipartisan legislation to ban TikTok (35:46), And finally, we cap off season 4 of The Next Unicorns with Co-Founder and CEO of Pearpop Cole Mason (59:28)

(0:00) M+J Kick off the show

(1:59) Molly and Jason respond to a letter from Affirm

(9:33) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(15:55) Comparing the pros and cons of BNPL

(27:42) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(29:06) Jason and Molly's advice on debt

(35:46) Marcos Rubio's bipartisan legislation to ban TikTok

(46:22) The battle with social media

(59:28)The Next Unicorns: Cole Mason, CEO of Pearpop

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

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SBF gets arrested, The Block's CEO gets a bag from FTX, + Walmart launches a BNPL service | E1636 Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Molly and Jason react to the breaking news that Bahamian authorities have arrested Sam Bankman-Fried. (1:27) Then, from earlier in the day, Molly and Jason chop it up about the news of The Block's CEO Michael McCaffrey receiving $40M from Alameda Research. (27:41) We then close with a story about Walmart's new BNPL service. (45:25)

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:36) Molly and Jason react to SBF getting arrested

(14:51) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(15:55) Kevin O'Leary's FTX deal + Predicting what happens to SBF

(26:11) Nutrisense - Use code TWIST and get $30 off at nutrisense.io/twist

(27:41) Alameda gave Michael McCaffrey $40M

(45:25) Walmart launches a BNPL service FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

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

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Jason's big night, the culture war in tech + Google Search vs ChatGPT and more | E1635 Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Molly and Jason talk about their big weekends. (2:27) Then they discuss the culture war in tech right now (13:47). Followed by our new favourite game, ChatGPT or Google Search. (47:15) Then we wrap up with a breakthrough in the world of nuclear fusion. (1:17:16)

(0:00) J+M Kick off the show

(2:27) Molly and Jason Catch up after the weekend

(12:24) FanDuel Sportsbook - Sign up with promo code TWIST to place a $1000 risk-free bet at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com

(13:47) The culture war in tech

(28:00) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(29:23) Organizations getting bloated

(47:15) ChatGPT or Google Search + is Google in trouble?

(1:12:40) Check us out on Substack!

(1:17:16) WLITF: A major breakthrough in nuclear fusion

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How to calculate "Bottom-up TAM" + Hubspot Co-Founder Brian Halligan on his new climate fund | E1634 Dec 11, 2022

Show notes

J+M kick off the show discussing TAM, SAM, and SOM on this week's edition of VCSS. (2:40) Then, HubSpot Co-Founder and Partner at Propeller Brian Halligan joins Molly to discuss his $100M venture fund to invest in protecting the world's oceans. (26:00)

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

(2:40) Exceeding your TAM + overestimating your TAM

(7:39) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(9:07) Inducing a market and Bottom-up TAM

(21:15) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(22:49) Molly introduces Brian Halligan

(26:00) Why the ocean + from founder to investor

(38:00) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(39:39) Propeller's investments, their EIR program & thesis

FOLLOW Brian: https://twitter.com/bhalligan

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Business of superhero films, James Gunn's DC reboot + OK Boomer w/Alex Banks | E1633 Dec 09, 2022

Show notes

First up, Lon Harris joins to cover James Gunn's DC reboot (2:14), the business of superhero films (28:18), the top films of the year debate (37:15), and more! Then, Producer Rachel is back with another edition of OK Boomer, featuring through the Noise and Tribescaler founder Alex Banks! (1:21:27)

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

(2:14) Lon Harris joins the show to discuss DC's James Gunn-led revamp

(9:29) Odoo - Get access to all of Odoo's apps, services, and maintenance for under $25 at https://odoo.com/twist

(10:37) Lon's thoughts on James Gunn's new DC plan, and what's working in the box office right now

(26:44) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(28:18) The business of superhero films

(35:40) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(37:15) Jason reacts to AO Scott's Best Movies of 2022 list

(44:19) Lon's top movies of 2022

(58:06) Other ongoing stories at Warner Bros Discovery and HBO Max

(1:21:27) OK Boomer: Producer Rachel interviews Through the Noise and Tribescaler founder Alex Banks

FOLLOW Lon: https://twitter.com/lons

FOLLOW Alex: https://twitter.com/thealexbanks

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

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How to send effective investor updates | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1632 Dec 09, 2022

Show notes

Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to explain how founders can nail their investor updates!

(0:00) Kruze's Scott Orn joins Jason to discuss the MOST important metrics and information that founders should include in their investor updates to make them concise and effective

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