This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

Pipe's Co-Founders step down, Apple's China-based iOS update, Black Friday's BNPL boost | E1621 Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm joins to break down the news! First up, the trio covers Pipe's Co-Founders abruptly stepping down (7:06) and the lessons learned. (26:29) Then, they discuss Apple's China-based iOS update impacting AirDrop (40:31) before Alex leaves. J+M finish the show with more thoughts on China and react to Black Friday's ATH sales volume and the BNPL boom. (1:11:01)

(0:00) J+M tee up today's topics and special news guest!

(2:21) J+M catch up on their Thanksgiving breaks with TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm!

(7:06) Intense velocity of notable tech stories, teeing up the Pipe situation

(12:05) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(13:34) Breaking down the Pipe Co-Founders abruptly stepping down

(25:02) Supergut - Get 30% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com

(26:29) Pipe's expansion into media and crypto, lessons learned from the "speculative asset bubble"

(37:21) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(38:39) Alex on running a subscription-based media business within an ad-based media business

(40:31) Protests in China, Apple's recent China-specific iOS update, which impacting AirDrop

(59:59) J+M wrap with thoughts on China after Alex departs

(1:11:01) Black Friday spending hits an all-time high, BNPL sees huge bump y/y

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How VCs size their bets + Ben Birnbaum of TeraWatt and Keyframe | E1620 Nov 27, 2022

Show notes

On VC Sunday School, Jason and Molly discuss how VCs size their investments (1:40). Then, Molly is joined by Ben Birnbaum of Keyframe and TeraWatt! (13:17)

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

(1:40) Jason breaks down how VCs think about bet sizing!

(11:43) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(13:17) Molly welcomes Ben Birnbaum of TeraWatt and Keyframe to discuss his background and why he started TeraWatt!

(27:07) Odoo - Get access to all of Odoo's apps, services, and maintenance for under $25 at https://odoo.com/twist

(28:15) Ben explains the current state of commercial EVs and TeraWatt's progress

(34:05) How TeraWatt spawned Keyframe, where Ben is an investment partner

(38:20) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(39:47) Ben explains how and why he started an investment firm to fund his own startup (and startups like it!)

Check out TeraWatt: https://terawattinfrastructure.com

Check out Keyframe: https://www.keyframecapital.com

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

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

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Zoom earnings, SaaS burnout, Amazon's $10B Alexa loss + FTX contagion with Sunny Madra | E1619 Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

First up, Jason and Molly discuss Zoom's Q3 earnings and SaaS burnout throughout the industry (1:37). Then, they break down Amazon's $10B loss tied to its Alexa smart speakers (22:13) and an Airbnb Co-Founder's new housing startup! (34:54) Sunny Madra joins in the final segment to help explain the crypto contagion caused by the FTX collapse. (45:12)

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

(1:37) J+M wind-down earnings season with Zoom's Q3 results and discuss SaaS burnout in tech

(14:40) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(15:55) How Zoom survives and thrives with insane competition

(22:13) Amazon's hardware/Prime Video division is on pace to lose ~$10B this year, mostly due to Alexa losses

(30:33) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(32:01) Solving Amazon's Alexa problem

(34:54) Startup of the Day: Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia has started a housing startup!

(43:46) Mixpanel - Apply for $50K in credits at https://mixpanel.com/startups

(45:12) Sunny Madra joins to break down the contagion throughout crypto caused by the FTX collapse

(1:08:51) More FTX craziness: SBF's hundreds of millions of secondary, FTX's real estate purchases, and more!

(1:14:14) Is Coinbase in danger as one of the last major exchanges standing? Could Bitcoin fall further? How hard will it be to raise VC in crypto going forward?

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

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

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

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EMERGENCY POD! Bob Iger returns as Disney CEO | E1618 Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

Bob Iger is BACK as Disney CEO, and Bob Chapek has left the company! First, Jason and Molly break down how we got here (11:49) before Lon Harris joins to go deeper on Chapek's missteps and join in on some speculation and predictions for Iger's second stint as CEO! (23:25)

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

(1:40) Jason and Molly catch up on some wild news from the weekend: Elizabeth Holmes's sentencing, crypto contagion, and more!

(10:21) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(11:49) Bob Iger is back as Disney CEO as Bob Chapek steps down, Molly's Chapek intuition

(21:56) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(23:25) Streaming expert Lon Harris joins to break down where Chapek went wrong as Disney CEO

(32:59) Supergut - Get 30% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com

(34:30) More Chapek missteps, how he could have handled things differently, theories/predictions on Iger's next big swing

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

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

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VC investing in a downturn & protecting founders + smart vents with Flair's Dan Meyers | E1617 Nov 20, 2022

Show notes

J+M kick off the show with another edition of VCSS: a VC's role in a down market and protecting your money and founders. (4:32) Then, Dan Meyers of Flair joins Molly for this week's edition of TWiCS.(28:27)

(0:00) J+M discuss how winners start work on Sunday

(4:32) VC Sunday School: Raising and deploying capital in a collapsing economy

(11:32) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(13:02) Pay-to-Play + fiduciary duty vs friendship

(18:10) Smash Digital - Visit https://SmashDigital.com/TWIST to get a free SEO video audit for your business

(19:32) Dollar-cost averaging into a trade and having the founder's back

(28:27) Molly kicks off TWiCS with Flair Founder - Dan Meyers

(36:41) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(38:10) Flair's business model and the smart puck and vent

(49:23) Dan's pitch to customers and Flair's competition

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

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

FOLLOW Dan: https://twitter.com/flair

Check out Flair: https://flair.co

Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:

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Managing a recession, housing market insights & more with Redfin's Glenn Kelman + OK Boomer | E1616 Nov 18, 2022

Show notes

Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman joins Jason to discuss the current downturn, operating in a recession, layoffs, the housing market and more. (1:31) Then, Producer Rachel is joined by Volv Co-Founders Shannon Almeida and Priyanka Vazirani. (33:46)

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

(1:31) Glenn Kelman joins Jason to break down the current downturn, operating in a recession, layoffs, and more

(14:30) FanDuel Sportsbook - Sign up with promo code TWIST to place a $1000 risk-free bet at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com

(16:02) State of the housing market

(29:10) Zapier - Try for free today at https://zapier.com/TWIST

(30:43) Molly and Producer Rachel tee up this week's OK Boomer!

(33:46) Volv Co-Founders Shannon Almeida and Priyanka Vazirani join Producer Rachel to discuss their nine-second articles media concept

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

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

FOLLOW Glenn: https://twitter.com/glennkelman

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

FOLLOW Priyanka: https://twitter.com/Priyanka_Vaz

FOLLOW Shannon: https://twitter.com/shannonsalmeida

Check out Volv: https://www.volvmedia.com

Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:

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Breaking down the FTX book + film rights & Michael Lewis's involvement with Lon Harris | E1615 Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

Lon Harris joins for the FULL show to break down the most recent FTX book/film news (2:26), the business of horror movies (30:42), Apple's MLS deal (46:43), and more!

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

(2:26) Lon joins to catch up on the most recent FTX book/film news

(14:16) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist

(15:24) FTX's new CEO comments, mapping out FTX content based on the coming Michael Lewis book, CAA's leaked email

(29:29) Dell for Startups - Apply for Dell for Startups and get an additional 10% off at http://dell.com/twist

(30:42) Business of horror movies: Blumhouse looking to merge with Atomic Monster

(38:39) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist

(40:08) Giving Andor its flowers

(46:43) Apple's deal for MLS streaming rights, White Lotus talk, and Lon recommendations!

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

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

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

Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1

Amazon launches "Amazon Clinic" + Calibrate CEO Isabelle Kenyon on metabolic health | E1614 Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

Molly rides solo today as she breaks down Amazon's new telehealth business, Amazon Clinic. (1:40) Then, Calibrate CEO Isabelle Kenyon joins Molly for another edition of the Next Unicorns! (9:30)

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

(1:40) Molly breaks down Amazon clinic

(8:15) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(9:30) Calibrate CEO & Founder Isabelle Kenyon joins Molly for the Next Unicorns to chat about calibrate and GLP-1s

(20:52) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at LinkedIn.com/nextunicorn

(22:30) Understanding how inflammation causes many chronic diseases + obesity epidemic

(35:51) MicroAcquire - Sell your business with no fees at https://try.microacquire.com/twist

(37:19) Calibrate's enterprise business + inequality in healthcare

Check out Calibrate: https://www.joincalibrate.com

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

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

Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:

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Wild news week, Bird overstates revenue, Chinese startups look to rebrand + WLITF | E1613 Nov 16, 2022

Show notes

J+M kick off the show with some banter about Russia, SBF, and the challenges of being a journalist. (1:51) Then, they discuss the scooter-sharing industry and Bird being under the eye of the SEC. (13:52) Molly and Jason discuss TechCrunch's article titled 'The dilemma of Chinese startups going global'. (24:45) We wrap up the show with a We Live in the Future segment featuring Simbe Robotics. (40:57)

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

(1:51) Russian missile, SBF, and the challenges of being a journalist

(12:24) Revelo - Get 20% off the first 3 months by mentioning TWIST at https://revelo.io/twist

(13:52) Scooter sharing industry + Bird in trouble for inflating revenues

(23:30) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(24:45) Molly and Jason discuss the dilemma with Chinese startups going global + Where is SBF

(39:29) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(40:57) We Live in the Future: Simbe Robotics

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

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

Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:

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Amazon to lay off 10K employees, FTX saga update, Shopify's reverse AR platform & more | E1612 Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

First up, J+M break down Amazon's reported ~10K employee RIF (4:27) and try to wrap their heads around the current recession. (15:54) Then, they give an FTX update (26:25), break down the mobile gaming industry (38:12), discuss Shopify's reverse AR platform (47:43), and more!

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

(1:58) Weekend catch-up!

(4:27) Amazon will reportedly cut 10K corporate employees this week

(14:41) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(15:54) Why this recession is so unique, advice for founders

(25:16) Policygenius - Go to https://policygenius.com to get a free life insurance quote

(26:25) FTX update: SBF's confusing tweets, FTX's interesting corporate culture

(36:54) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(38:12) Current state of the mobile gaming industry

(47:43) WLITF: Shopify's reverse AR shopping tool

(55:18) SOTD: UpKeep lets users find, book, and pay for MedSpa treatments

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