This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

Understanding Corporate VC + turning methane into bitcoin w/ Nodal's Daniel Sechrest | E1611 Nov 13, 2022

Show notes

J+M kick off the show by discussing the ins and outs of corporate VC in this edition of VC Sunday School. (2:21) Then, Nodal Power CFO Daniel Sechrest talks with Molly about their independent power plants that convert methane from landfills into bitcoin. (26:38)

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

(2:21) What is Corporate VC + the motivations of CVC and founders who accept it

(10:33) Smash Digital - Visit https://SmashDigital.com/TWIST to get a free SEO video audit for your business

(11:54) The different types of CVC firms & Climate focused CVC

(25:09) Blueground - Get up to $1000 off your booking at https://promos.theblueground.com/twist

(26:38) Nodal Power CFO Daniel Sechrest joins Molly to break down how they turn landfill-based methane into bitcoin

(36:07) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist

(39:09) Daniel breaks down the history of Nodal Power + how it makes money

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

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

FOLLOW Daniel: https://twitter.com/danielsechrest

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FTX bankruptcy, spiciest takes, future of crypto VC, new Amazon Prime drones + OK Boomer | E1610 Nov 12, 2022

Show notes

J+M put a bow on an insane week by putting a bow on the FTX saga: a bankruptcy filing (2:25), the future of crypto VC (13:13), and the spiciest takes on the matter! (24:47) Then, Producer Rachel is joined by Owen Roe to break down the gaming economy on another edition of OK Boomer! (46:38)

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

(2:25) FTX files for bankruptcy

(11:38) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(13:13) Crypto red flags, crypto VC going forward, financialization

(23:28) Assure - To get 20% off your first Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) visit https://Assure.co/twist

(24:47) Other crypto dominos to fall, spiciest takes

(38:20) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(39:50) We Live in the Future: Revamped Amazon Prime Drones!

(46:38) Owen Roe joins Producer Rachel to break down the gaming economy on another edition of OK Boomer!

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

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

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

FOLLOW Owen: https://twitter.com/Owen_Roe

Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkkhmBWfS7pILYIk0izkc3A?sub_confirmation=1

https://twitter.com/iamDCinvestor/status/1590844690089508864

https://twitter.com/gabrielhaines/status/1591090014942732289

FTX fallout: Sequoia's LP letter, SBF's crisis comms + Lon Harris on Andor, $DIS earnings | E1609 Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

J+M kick off the show by breaking down even MORE fallout from the FTX saga: SBF's Twitter thread (2:26), Sequoia's letter to LPs re: marking its FTX investment to $0 (12:02), and more! Then, Lon Harris joins to discuss Andor's brilliance (20:49), Disney's earnings (32:42), and Netflix considering live sports! (48:45)

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

(2:26) More FTX fallout: SBF's notorious Twitter thread

(10:32) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(12:02) SEC and CFTC probe FTX, Sequoia's letter to LPs

(19:19) Mayfair - Get 4% APY on your idle cash automatically at https://getmayfair.com/twist

(20:49) Lon Harris joins to break down Andor's brilliance

(31:15) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(32:42) Disney earnings: Disney+ subscriber growth, how to integrate Disney+ to its parks and merch segments, and more

(48:45) Netflix considers live sports and recommendations from Lon!

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

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

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

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Meta cuts 11K employees, Binance/FTX fallout + Homeward CEO Dr. Jenny Schneider | E1608 Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

J+M start the show by breaking down the two biggest stories in tech: Meta's 13% RIF, impacting 11K employees (1:23) and the Binance/FTX fallout (19:21). Then, Homeward CEO Jenny Schneider joins Molly Wood for another edition of The Next Unicorns! (40:35)

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

(1:23) Meta lays off 11K employees (13% of the company)

(14:20) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedIn.com/unicorn

(15:45) Alternative strategies for Meta

(19:21) Binance/FTX fallout

(28:14) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(29:40) Impact on crypto VC

(39:13) Coda - The all-in-one doc for teams, sign up for free at https://coda.io/twist

(40:35) Homeward CEO Jenny Schneider joins Molly Wood to break down why she started a company that provides healthcare services to rural areas in America

(49:15) Challenges for Homeward

(57:42) Breaking down Homeward's business model

FOLLOW Jenny: https://twitter.com/dr_jschneider

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

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

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EMERGENCY POD: FTX sells to Binance with Vinny Lingham and Sunny Madra | E1607 Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Vinny and Sunny join the show to cover all the angles of Sam Bankman-Fried selling FTX to Binance after a liquidity crunch! (0:54)

(0:00) Intro!

(0:54) Vinny Lingham and Sunny Madra join to break down SBF selling FTX to Binance after a liquidity crunch!

(13:36) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(15:04) Comparing FTX's bank run to traditional finance, understanding leverage, culture of: make money first, clean up later, Vinny's theory on Alameda's locked Solana

(23:24) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(24:35) Three areas of crypto, understanding where FTX and FTT fall in this, risks of centralized exchanges

(32:01) How this might impact broader crypto regulation, Bitcoin decoupling from the greater crypto market

(37:33) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(38:57) Understanding what happened to Binance's FTT: Who is the bag holder? How might this unravel going forward?

(42:55) FTX fundraising breakdown: could this situation break the crypto VC model?

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

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

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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Meta's looming layoffs & path forward, Airbnb answers concerns & more | E1606 Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Monday! First, J+M dive deep on Meta reportedly cutting "many thousands" of jobs this week (1:56), the company's best path forward (12:14), and more. Then, J+M discuss some new Airbnb features (40:52) and Peloton's former CEO coming back with a new DTC startup! (55:39)

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

(1:46) Meta will reportedly continue the trend of tech layoffs, to cut "many thousands" of jobs this week

(10:34) Notion - Sign up for FREE at https://notion.com

(12:04) Breaking down Meta's path forward, Jason's newest Jay Trade, plan for Meta to juice its stock price over the next 5-10 years

(31:56) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(33:22) More context on Meta layoffs, severance and finding jobs post layoffs, Meta's insane pace of hiring since 2019

(40:42) Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced new features: full pricing transparency, value prioritization, restrictions on checkout requests, and more!

(55:29) Former Peloton CEO John Foley is back with a new DTC startup

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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Understanding capital calls, one-off SAFEs + Transaera CTO Ross Bonner | E1605 Nov 06, 2022

Show notes

J+M kick off the show with TWO VC Sunday School topics: understanding capital calls (2:11), and one-off SAFEs. (10:29) Then, Transaera CTO Ross Bonner joins the show to break down why he is building energy-efficient and sustainable cooling systems! (19:54)(0:00) J+M tee up today's topics! (2:11) VC Sunday School: Understanding capital calls (9:04) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (10:29) Bonus VC Sunday School: One-off SAFEs (18:32) Smash Digital - Visit https://SmashDigital.com/TWIST to get a free SEO video audit for your business (19:54) Transaera CTO Ross Bonner joins Molly Wood to break down their sustainable cooling systems. (33:21) Dell for Startups - Apply for Dell for Startups and get an additional 10% off at http://dell.com/twist (34:34) Ross explains the role of heat pump technology at Transaera Check out Transaera: https://www.transaera.com/

FOLLOW Transaera: https://twitter.com/transaera

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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Airbnb earnings breakdown + Gen Z becoming adults on the internet | E1604 Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

First up J+M deep dive on Airbnb's Q3 earnings (1:27), before Producer Rachel joins for another edition of OK Boomer! (26:57)

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

(1:27) Airbnb earnings: surviving the pandemic + most profitable quarter to date

(6:49) Comparing Airbnb/Uber market caps and the narrative around profitable companies

(12:36) Odoo - Get access to all of Odoo's apps, services, and maintenance for under $25 at https://odoo.com/twist

(13:38) Airbnb's value prop + hidden fees, service industry issues

(25:42) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in fine art using at https://Masterworks.com/twist

(26:57) Producer Rachel joins J+M to tee up this week's OK Boomer segment

(30:34) Summer Rachel Wood joins Producer Rachel to discuss having a baby and raising a child as a Gen Z influencer

(41:19) Summer talks about creating content as a new mom, how she approaches posting her child, and the lack of education around pregnancy

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

FOLLOW Summer Rachel Warren: https://www.instagram.com/summerrachelwarren

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

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

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Wave of tech layoffs, Robinhood earnings, what makes a great CEO & more | E1603 Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

First, J+M discuss the recent wave of layoffs at Stripe, Opendoor, Lyft, and others. (1:54) Then, they dive deep into Robinhood's impressive Q3 (21:51), and what other companies can learn from RH's shrinking losses. Then, Producer Rachel joins to break down monetizable mood boards! (52:36)

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

(1:54) Significant layoffs all over tech in the last few days: Stripe, Opendoor, Lyft, Dapper Labs, Chime, and more; Meta and Google's massive opportunity for profitability and share buybacks

(9:42) MicroAcquire - Sell your business with no fees at https://try.microacquire.com/twist

(11:11) Macro outlook, spending discipline in private and public sectors, Stripe vs Adyen

(20:40) Babbel - Save up to 55% off your language learning subscription at https://babbel.com/twist

(21:51) Robinhood Q3 earnings: diversifying revenue, subscription vs advertising

(36:14) Revelo - Get 20% off the first 3 months by mentioning TWIST at https://revelo.io/twist

(37:42) Key takeaway: Diversifying revenue at scale makes businesses anti-fragile; investing in battle-hardened CEOs

(41:58) Robinhood earnings: MAUs down significantly from peak, net loss shrinks 87% y/y

(52:36) Producer Rachel joins to discuss monetizable mood boards

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

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

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

Subscribe to our YouTube to watch all full episodes:

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Uber Q3 earnings, macro picture + Brinc Drones CEO Blake Resnick | E1602 Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

First up, Jason gives an update on his busy weekend. (2:32) Then, Molly joins to break down Uber's Q3 earnings report (8:50) and the macroeconomic picture. (14:31) Then, Brinc Drones CEO Blake Resnick joins for another edition of The Next Unicorns. (38:07)

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

(2:32) Jason gives a quick work update

(8:50) Uber's Q3 earnings

(12:50) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at LinkedIn.com/nextunicorn

(14:31) Fed's newest 75 basis point rate hike, comparing average Uber driver earnings to teachers

(23:58) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(25:24) Ideas on improving public education

(31:47) Jason's warning to founders on the state of the downturn

(36:40) Kalshi - Sign up to win $100K at https://kalshi.com/efc

(38:07) Brinc Drones CEO and Founder Blake Resnick breaks down why he started a first responder safety-focused drone company

(47:12) Blake walks through a demo of Brinc's technology

(54:59) The business of running a hardware startup: sales cycles with government buyers, building prototypes, customer-focused product iteration

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