This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

Bolt layoffs, DroneUp, Lunar Outpost, $4.5B crypto fund, Ape theft + Diagram's Jordan Singer | E1471 May 27, 2022

Show notes

In today's episode, Jason and Molly cover Bolt's layoffs (12:11), Walmart's drone deliveries (17:02), Lunar Outpost's $12M seed (32:31), a16z's $4.5B crypto raise (44:07), and Seth Green's Bored Ape heist (54:40). Producer Rachel sits down with Jordan Singer, founder of Diagram, for this week's OK Boomer (1:03:54).

(00:00) Jason and Molly introduce today's topics! (2:47) Bolt is laying off an undisclosed number of employees (10:56) Gun.io - Get $250 off your first developer hire at https://Gun.io/twist (12:11) Bolt Layoffs story continued (17:02) We Live in the Future: Walmart expanding deliveries w/DroneUp (20:31) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (21:47) Walmart delivery drones story continued (31:16) BetterHelp - Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/twist (32:31) Startup of the Day: Lunar Outpost raised $12M Seed to build moon exploration and mining tech (44:07) a16z raised another $4.5B Crypto Fund to invest strictly in crypto startups and projects (54:40) Actor Seth Green's Bored Ape stolen weeks before it'd star as the main character in his show (1:02:03) Jason and Molly tee up this week's OK Boomer (1:03:54) OKB: Jordan Singer, founder of Diagram

The cost of CEOs ignoring mental health with Bonobos Founder Andy Dunn | E1470 May 27, 2022

Show notes

Today's episode is a Molly solo interview with Bonobos founder and author of "Burn Rate," Andy Dunn (2:30). We go deep on entrepreneurship and mental health, talk about how founders are up to 7x more likely to suffer from bipolar disorders than the average person, how Andy's bipolar disorder impacted building his business (22:09), and advice for founders navigating mental health struggles (34:31).

(00:00) Molly tees up today's episode with Bonobos founder Andy Dunn (2:30) Molly speaks with Andy Dunn about his book "Burn Rate" (12:30) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (13:52) Andy Dunn on mistakes he made as a leader (20:52) Wealthfront - Get your first $5,000 managed for free, for life at https://wealthfront.com/TWIST (22:09) Andy on navigating his Walmart acquisition amidst his mental health issues (33:21) ActiveCampaign - Get 10% off your ActiveCampaign subscription today at https://activecampaign.com/promo/twist (34:31) More emphasis on mental health in startups; male traits in entrepreneurship

Solving our biggest problems, Cerebral's fast & loose telehealth prescriptions, Jack leaves Twitter Board | E1469 May 26, 2022

Show notes

We discuss the tragedy at a Texas elementary school and gun violence in America (2:25). Can tech play a role in decreasing child deaths? (21:14) Then we cover mental health startup Cerebral getting probed by the DOJ (52:55). Finally, we touch on a breaking story: Jack Dorsey steps down from Twitter's board (1:13:25).

(00:00) Jason and Molly introduce today's show (2:25) Talking about the school shooting yesterday in Texas (10:49) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (12:06) What is HB8? (15:45) A school safety drone company? (20:01) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist (21:14) Discussing potential technology to save children's lives, top causes of death for children (30:05) Swag.com - Visit https://swag.com/twist and use code TWIST for 10% off your order! (31:22) Discussing potential solutions to prevent gun deaths in children (52:55) Cerebral, startup that provides telehealth subscriptions to Adderall & other stimulants, probed by DOJ overprescription methods (1:13:25) Breaking News: Jack Dorsey leaves Twitter's board of directors (1:15:45) Discussing the proper way to release the Palmer Luckey All-In talk

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Snap drops 40%, Layoffs at Gorillas & Klarna, Adam Neumann's new startup, Coinbase using Principles | E1468 May 24, 2022

Show notes

First, we break down SNAP dropping over 40% after lowering earnings estimates (4:43). Then we cover some layoffs at instant-delivery startup Gorillas AND BNPL player Klarna (29:18). Next, we talk about Adam and Rebekah Neumann co-founding a tokenized crypto carbon marketplace called Flowcarbon (1:00:02). We wrap on Coinbase's new Ray Dalio-inspired employee rating system (1:10:36).

(00:00) Jason and Molly tee-up today's news topics! (04:43) Snap down ~45% in one day, largest single day drop we can remember (11:03) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST (12:19) Efficiency, pausing hiring, and cutting new projects in the downturn (28:03) Thorne - Personalized, scientific wellness. Go to https://Thorne.com/u/TWIST (29:18) More tech layoffs at delivery service Gorillas (37:09) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (38:22) More tech layoffs at buy-now-pay-later service Klarna (55:30) David Sacks' thread about founders thinking about positioning themselves in a downturn (57:30) Amazon's share of US eCommerce Sales hit All-Time High of 56.7% in 2021 (1:00:02) Startup of the Day: Adam + Rebekah Neumann have backed a blockchain-based carbon credits company Flowcarbon (1:10:36) Coinbase is trying a new meeting feedback rating system

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

All-In Summit recap, Argo debuts AV test cars in Miami/ATX, $AMZN to sublease 10M+ square feet | E1467 May 23, 2022

Show notes

Molly and Jason are BACK from Miami to break down all the most interesting stories and content from the All-In Summit! (2:13) Then, they cover Argo AI, an AV company that just launched autonomous test cars in Miami and Austin (36:50). Finally, they close by discussing a recent Bloomberg report on how Amazon is looking to sublease 10M+ square feet of warehouse space... negative signal, or no big deal? (45:23)

(0:00) Molly and Jason intro the show!

(2:13) Recapping the All-In Summit!

(14:05) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(15:31) Reflecting on the most interesting debates and conversations at AIS

(26:12) Intercom - Get advanced Intercom features and Early Stage Academy at a 95% discount https://www.intercom.com/early-stage

(27:15) All-In Summit party recap + TWiST Live preview

(35:35) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(36:50) Argo AI launches autonomous test cars in Miami and Austin!

(45:23) Amazon is reportedly looking to sublease 10M+ square feet of warehouse space, is this a negative signal or just overblown?

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

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

Thanks to our partners:

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

Intercom - Get advanced Intercom features and Early Stage Academy at a 95% discount https://www.intercom.com/early-stage

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

Proof of Impact CEO Fleur Heyns on meaningful metrics for measuring environmental impact (This Week in Climate Startups) | E1466 May 22, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of This Week in Climate Startups, Molly sits down with Fleur Heyns of Proof of Impact about how to measure, verify, and analyze ESG & impact data. We discuss the current pain points for investors (11:20), how blockchains can interact with real-world assets (21:15), ESG regulation (34:16) and more!

(00:00) Cold open (01:57) This Week in Climate Startups: Molly sits down with Fleur Heyns of Proof of Impact (10:03) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (11:20) Labeling data for investors, the materiality, productivity (19:58) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist (21:15) The term "oracle" as it relates to the blockchain (32:58) Reforge - Apply for their next cohort at https://reforge.com/twist (34:16) How much will the future regulatory atmosphere affect or improve their business in the US? ESG strategy

Check out Proof of Impact: https://proofofimpact.com/

FOLLOW Fleur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleur-heyns-9a8a9436 FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding: cleaning up space junk with Steve Wozniak + Behind the scenes of working for Jason | E1465 May 21, 2022

Show notes

First, Jason and Molly reflect on their time in previous tech recessions (03:06). Then, Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding joins to discuss solving the space junk problem (18:02), the difficulties of mapping debris (33:25), and more. Then, Producer Rachel hosts an OK Boomer episode where she talks with the other Gen Z employees that work for Jason about how they got their jobs and what they've learned at Launch (1:00:21).

(00:00) Jason and Molly tee up today's episode (03:06) Ask JaMo: What do you remember about the tech industry during the dotcom era and recession? (12:45) Where was Molly in 2008 and how did her career change? (11:31) BetterHelp - Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/twist (12:45) Where was Molly in 2008 and how did her career change? (18:02) Jason and Molly speak with Alex Fielding, CEO and Co-Founder of Privateer Space (21:04) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (22:20) More on the dangers of space junk (32:12) AdQuick - Visit https://adquick.com/twist and mention TWIST to get $1000 off your first campaign. (33:25) Is it humanly possible to clean space trash with so many variables? (1:00:21) Producer Rachel tees up this week's special OK Boomer segment (1:10:31) OK Boomer: Rachel speaks with LAUNCH's other Gen Z employees

Check out Privateer: http://www.privateer.com/

FOLLOW Alex: https://twitter.com/2345678

FOLLOW Nick: https://twitter.com/nickcalacanis FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar FOLLOW Justin: https://twitter.com/Justinpfortier

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Fixing a broken system - Mahmee CEO Melissa Hanna on patient-centric maternal care | E1464 May 19, 2022

Show notes

Molly Wood sits down with Melissa Hanna, CEO and Co-Founder of Mahmee, a care network for parents (01:44), they discuss the impetus for Melissa launching the company (12:34), the challenges of bringing the product to market (22:08), how she built the network and more (37:29)!

(00:00) Molly tees up today's episode (01:44) Molly Wood sits down with Melissa Hanna, CEO and CoFounder of Mahmee, a care network for parents (11:19) Thorne - Personalized, scientific wellness. Go to https://Thorne.com/u/TWIST (12:34) Melissa on how the pandemic helped expose the need for a care service like Mahmee (20:54) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (22:08) The bittersweetness of it taking so long for this product to happen (36:12) Reforge - Apply for their next cohort at https://reforge.com/twist (37:29) How Mahmee built its network

Check out Mahmee: https://www.mahmee.com

FOLLOW Melissa: https://twitter.com/melissachanna FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Accelerating leadership - Chief Co-Founder & CEO Carolyn Childers on raising $100M Series B, building a women's executive network and more | E1463 May 18, 2022

Show notes

Molly speaks with Carolyn Childers, CEO of Chief, a women's professional network (01:26) about how their community stretches across digital and physical spaces, accelerating women's executive careers, growing with word-of-mouth as marketing (30:08), their $100M raise (33:22), augmenting Linkedin (39:18) and more.

(00:00) Cold open (01:26) Molly speaks with Carolyn Childers, CEO of Chief (a women's professional network) (11:09) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (12:24) The SoHo club factor of Chief: how its spaces work (15:05) What does Chief's roadmap look like? (20:52) Dell For Startups - Apply and get up to 45% off at http://dell.com/twist (22:05) Carolyn talks about some of Chief's early investors (30:08) Word-of-mouth as marketing, reducing churn with an expensive ask (32:17) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist (33:22) How will Chief deploy their $100M raise? (36:20) What happens on the app? (38:35) Can you switch core groups in Chief? (39:18) Engagement: does Chief replace LinkedIn?

Check out Chief: https://chief.com

FOLLOW Carolyn https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-childers-55b2642/ FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

Bitcoin payments on the Lightning Network with Strike's Jack Mallers | E1462 May 17, 2022

Show notes

First, we cover the news of Ex-Meta crypto chief David Marcus launching a Bitcoin payments startup backed by a16z & Paradigm (02:05). Then, Jack Mallers, the CEO of Strike joins (8:13) to discuss the lightning network & the history of payment networks (12:10), why companies use the Strike API (24:42), why he thinks Visa and Mastercard can't compete (31:24), Strike unlocking Bitcoin's potential (34:40) and more!

(00:00) Jason and Molly tee up today's show (02:05) Ex-Meta crypto chief David Marcus launches Bitcoin payments startup backed by a16z & Paradigm (08:13) Molly interviews Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike (10:57) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (12:10) The lightning network & the history of payment networks, how Strike disrupts them (23:26) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (24:42) Use cases for Strike's API (30:070 Reforge - Apply for their next cohort at https://reforge.com/twist (31:24) How do Strike fees compare to merchant fees from Visa, Mastercard, etc? (34:40) Has Strike unlocked Bitcoin's potential? (41:12) What dominoes will fall before people get off dollars?

Check out Strike: https://www.strike.me FOLLOW Jack: https://twitter.com/jackmallers FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

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