This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

Elon no longer joining $TWTR board, Breslow's Instacart case-study, NYT tells reporters to reduce time on Twitter | E1432 Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

All news show. First, we discuss Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announcing that Elon has reversed his decision to join Twitter's board (04:10) and the NYT's Editor telling reporters to stop tweeting so much in an internal memo (31:29). Then, we discuss Ryan Breslow's latest series of threads, including one claiming that Instacart's CEO was shadow-fired by Sequoia (44:35).

(00:00) Jason on meeting Harrison Ford (01:42) Jason and Molly catching up (04:10) Elon reverses decision to join Twitter board, according to CEO Parag Agrawal (12:09) Microsoft for Startups Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups (13:44) Molly's take on Elon's deleted tweets and board seat story (20:30) Assure - To get 20% off your first Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) visit https://Assure.co/twist (22:04) Is Twitter dying and why? (30:08) Microacquire - Sell your business with no fees at https://try.microacquire.com/twist (31:29) NYT told its reporters to stop tweeting so much in an internal memo from executive editor Dean (44:35) Ryan Breslow posted another series of threads over the weekend, including one claiming that Instacart's CEO was shadow-fired by Sequoia

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

Investing in down rounds (VC School) + The Lightsmith Group Co-Founder Jay Koh (Climate) | E1431 Apr 10, 2022

Show notes

Another Sunday edition of This Week in Startups! In VC Sunday School, Jason answers a question about investing in down rounds (1:54)from "Noti Gang" member Bob Gee. Then, Molly has a great interview with Jay Koh (12:16), an investor at The Lightsmith Group about how he invests in the climate landscape (20:41), cautionary tales from the first climate investing wave (32:13), and more.

(0:00) Jason intros today's episode (1:54) VCSS: Has Jason Participated in a down round and what were his lessons? (11:00) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (12:16) TWiCS Intro: Molly's interview with Jay Koh (19:10) Intercom - Get advanced Intercom features and Early Stage Academy at a 95% discount https://www.intercom.com/early-stage (20:41) Overlooked areas in the climate landscape (ie. supply chain management) (30:28) Microsoft for Startups Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups (31:45) Are there areas venture should steer clear of when it comes to climate?

Check out The Lightsmith Group: https://lightsmithgp.com/

FOLLOW Jay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-koh-164130/ FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

BONUS - Jason on This Week in Startups Australia Apr 09, 2022

Show notes

Jason talks about how he sees the startup landscape developing, running remote teams and more on This Week in Startups Australia with Mark Pesce.

Check out TWISTA: https://twistartupsaus.com/

Subscribe to TWISTA on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/twista-this-week-in-startups-australia/id951368363

Macro insights with Rose Technology CEO Alex Campbell + TCG Crypto's Gaby Goldberg | E1430 Apr 08, 2022

Show notes

First, Jason chats with Alex Campbell of Rose Technology, a data analytics tool and marketplace that helps organizations more clearly understand macro trends (1:28). Alex is a former trader for Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates and shares some incredible insights on the global macro environment across Chinese real estate (10:45), investment rates, Bitcoin, Tether, historical financial crises (43:36) and more. Then, for another edition of "OK Boomer," Producer Rachel Chats with Gaby Goldberg (1:08:45) from TCG's Crypto investment arm. They talk about resources to get started in crypto (1:28:52) and why Gaby invests at the intersection of consumer and crypto.

Check out Rose: https://www.rose.ai

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

Charts referenced by Alex: https://bit.ly/twistchartsrose

FOLLOW Gaby: https://twitter.com/gaby_goldberg

Gaby's Web 3 Reading List: https://bit.ly/GabyWeb3List

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

(00:00) Jason intros the show (1:28) Interview with Alexander Campbell of Rose Technologies (9:35) First Republic Bank - Discover what a long-term financial relationship can do for you. Visit https://firstrepublic.com/startup today to learn more. (10:45) The property bubble in China (15:40) Patterns of migration and economic impact (19:49) Rocket - Go to http://getrocket.com/twist and use promo code TWIST for 20% off your first placement. (21:04) Predicting recessions (25:48) The transaction costs of different payment networks (30:55) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (32:14) Discussing the long term value of Bitcoin (36:07) Risks of holding Chinese real estate bonds (43:36) British-American economic history (54:50) The changing world order (1:05:10) How you can get in contact with Alex (1:08:45) OK Boomer with Gaby Goldberg of TCG Crypto (1:28:52) Gaby's best Web 3 resources

Portfolio construction, Sequoia's transition & Fast with Acquired.FM + The Dropout: This Week in Streaming with Lon Harris | E1429 Apr 08, 2022

Show notes

First, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal from Acquired join Jason to talk portfolio construction (13:41), Roelof Botha succeeding Doug Leone at Sequoia (30:58), and to debate the takeaway from Fast's demise (52:22). Then Lon Harris from Inside Streaming joins to discuss the final two episodes of The Dropout (1:24:16)!

(00:00) Jason intros today's show (1:31) Catching up w/ the http://acquired.fm guys: David Rosenthal and Ben Gilbert (12:25) Fiverr - Sign up for https://Fiverr.com/Business free for the first year and save 10% on your purchase with promo code JASON (13:41) Ben on investing in tech (21:39) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist (22:46) How David thinks about his capital allocation (29:41) Notion - Get started for free at https://notion.com/thisweekinstartups (30:58) Talking about Doug Leone's retirement (52:22) Talking about the elephant in the room: Fast.co shutdown (1:24:16) Talking with Lon Harris about the finale of "The Dropout"

Check out Acquired: https://www.acquired.fm

FOLLOW Acquired: https://twitter.com/gilbert https://twitter.com/djrosent https://twitter.com/AcquiredFM

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

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

Uber travel, OpenAI illustrator, Edit button, CNN+ review + Dune Analytics CEO Fredrik Haga | E1428 Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

We kick off our crypto series with Dune Analytics CEO and Founder Frederik Haga about crypto on-chain analytics (37:23). But first, Jason covers Uber's piloting long-distance travel bookings in the UK, Twitter's edit button announcement, Open AI's new Dall-E 2 product, and does a quick CNN Plus review!

(00:00) Jason intros the show (01:44) Uber testing long distance travel (07:34) Twitter adding edit button (14:30) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist (15:34) WLiTF: OpenAI releases DALL-E (22:31) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (23:47) Starups creating swag before product market fit / Gary Darna of Fast looking for work (26:30) CNN plus review (35:00) Rocket - Go to http://getrocket.com/twist and use promo code TWIST for 20% off your first placement. (36:14) Toss to Jason and Molly's interview with Fredrik Haga (37:23) Interview with Dune Analytics CEO Fredrik Haga

Check out Dune: https://www.dune.xyz

FOLLOW Fredrik: https://twitter.com/hagaetc

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

FB vs. Apple on AR and Ads, Twitter's Future, Conflict, Crypto Regulation with Antonio Garcia Martinez & Zach Coelius | E1427 Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

Antonio Garcia Martinez (Chaos Monkeys, The Pull Request) and Zach Coelius (Investor, Coelius Capital) join to discuss a wide range of news topics including Antonio's trip to Ukraine, the one-click company Fast closing down, Elon Musk joining Twitter's board, Apple taking on Facebook in ads (and how it will impact the battle for Ar/VR), crypto regulation and more!

(00:00) Intro (01:08) Jason catches up with AGM & Zach Coelius (11:03) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (12:18) AGM on going to Ukraine (23:10) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST (24:37) Zach and AGM on if the US would go to war (30:43) Microsoft for Startups Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups (32:00) More on Ukraine and America's feelings towards Putin and Russia (48:38) Fast (one-click checkout startup) closes down (52:24) Thoughts on Elon Musk joining Twitter board (1:02:50) Talking about FB hurt by Apple App tracking transparency update

FOLLOW Zach: https://twitter.com/zachcoelius

FOLLOW Antonio: https://twitter.com/antoniogm

Read the Pull Request: https://thepullrequest.com

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

Elon buys ~9% stake in Twitter + Freestyle Capital's Dave Samuel | E1426 Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

First, Jason and Molly discuss Elon buying a 9.2% stake in Twitter (01:50). Then, Dave Samuel of Freestyle VC joins (23:18) for a discussion on early stage investing. Freestyle invested early in startups including Airtable, Patreon and Intercom. We talk about how fund size dictates strategy, how to give feedback to founders (especially when it's a no) and more.

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's show (01:50) Elon takes 9.2% stake in Twitter, TWTR stock up ~28% today (11:09) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in art using promo code TWIST at https://Masterworks.io/twist (12:250 Do we want more people to take stakes like this? (20:58) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist (23:18) Interview with Dave Samuel of Freestyle VC (30:13) iTrust Capital - Visit https://itrust.capital/twist to create your Crypto IRA today (31:27) Dave's lessons for other capital allocators and founders

FOLLOW Dave: https://twitter.com/dsamuel

Check out Freestyle: https://freestyle.vc

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

Inbound vs. outbound deal flow (VC School) + Jason Jacobs of My Climate Journey | E1425 Apr 03, 2022

Show notes

Sunday double-header! In the opening VC Sunday School segment, Jason discusses deal flow (1:43), you will learn:

1. Inbound vs. outbound deal flow

2. Tactics VCs use to streamline their deal flow

3. Jason's philosophy on responding to founders - Your process is my opportunity

Then, Molly chats with Jason Jacobs of My Climate Journey about scaling climate tech investing, inspiring people to solve climate problems and the tangible value of community (21:27).

(00:00) Jason and Molly introduce the show (01:43) VCSS: Inbound/outbound deal flow in VC (11:30) Rocket - Go to http://getrocket.com/twist and use promo code TWIST for 20% off your first placement. (12:42) Introductions and double opt-in tactics (19:16) Introducing the This Week in Climate Startups segment (20:10) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (21:27) TWiCS w/Jason Jacobs of My Climate Journey (30:19) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (32:32) "Climate touches everything" (39:13) When did the community and content become capital? (49:48) How Jason Jacobs invests (57:14) The Climate Startup Jason wished existed

Check out My Climate Journey: https://www.mcjcollective.com/ FOLLOW Jason Jacobs: https://twitter.com/jjacobs22

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

GoPuff & Fast trimming staff + Bradley Tusk on tech regulation + Glimpse Co-founder Akash Raju | E1424 Apr 01, 2022

Show notes

First Jason and Molly discuss instant delivery company GoPuff and 1-click checkout company Fast making layoffs (2:22). Then, Bradley Tusk of Tusk Ventures joins to discuss Uber's Taxi strategy in NYC, sports betting and tech regulation (40:06). Then in our Ok Boomer segment Rachel talks to Akash Raju, co-founder of Glimpse, brands pay Glimpse a subscription fee for the products to be featured in short-term rentals (1:36:47).

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro the show (02:22) GoPuff to layoff ~3% of its workforce to cut $40M in costs ahead of IPO (11:43) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist (12:56) Red flags with GoPuff story (26:22) Boast - Get your R&D tax credits without the hassle at https://boast.ai/twist (27:42) Fast considering layoffs, trying to find buyer, fail to raise at two different valuations over past few months (38:02) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (39:18) Introducing the Bradley Tusk interview (40:06) Bradley Tusk of Tusk Ventures joins to talk about Uber and regulation (57:05) The future of gambling (1:26:00) Psychedelics (1:36:46) OK Boomer intro - Akash Raju from Glimpse (1:37:47) OK with Producer Rachel and Akash Raju, CEO + Co-founder of Glimpse

FOLLOW Bradley: https://twitter.com/bradleytusk

Check out Bradley's companies: https://www.bradleytusk.com

FOLLOW Akash: https://twitter.com/akashraju4

Check out Glimpse: https://www.tryglimpse.com

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

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