This Week in Startups

Latest Episodes:

Super Pro Rata (VC Sunday School) + ClimateCheck Founder Cal Inman (Climate) | E1413 Mar 20, 2022

Show notes

Sunday Double-header! First, in VC Sunday School, Jason discusses and defends his pro rata strategy (1:26). Then, Molly interviews ClimateCheck founder Cal Inman. His company analyzes and risk-rates real estate based on expected changes to the world's climate (14:43)!

Show Notes

(00:00) Pro Rata VC Sunday School + Assessing Climate Risk (01:26) Why some investors warn against Super Pro Rata (08:02) Is there an advantage to having more investors on the cap table? (13:27) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (14:43) This Week in Climate Startups - Cal Inman of Climate Check (17:49) How ClimateCheck integrates data for predictions (23:17) How climate predictions are influencing buying decisions (24:46) Bubble. Get one month free of a no-code plan at https://bubble.io/twist (26:14) How financial partners are responding to increasing climate risks (30:45) Incorporating resilience preparedness into ClimateCheck (35:33) Rocket - Go to http://getrocket.com/twist promo code TWIST for 20% off your first placement. (37:14) Next steps for ClimateCheck (43:28) The latest from the TWIST team

Check out ClimateCheck: https://climatecheck.com

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

NEWS: $BABA & $TCEHY layoffs, Google's AR purchase, $APE coin; OK Boomer: Smirk | E1412 Mar 20, 2022

Show notes

First, Jason and Molly rip through the news (1:44). They cover looming layoffs at two Chinese tech giants (2:31), Google getting back into the AR glasses race with a new acquisition (7:27), chaos in the instant delivery space (13:15), and Yuga Labs launching $APE coin, a BAYC token. (24:58) Then, Producer Rachel interviews Smirk founder Preson Attebery on mobile gaming, the future of social gaming, and more! (33:00)

0:00 Jason and Molly tee up today's topics! 1:44 Rapid fire news! 2:31 Alibaba & Tencent brace for massive layoffs 7:27 Google re-enters the AR glasses race with its $1B acquisition of Micro LED startup Raxium 11:48 Dell For Startups - Visit http://dell.com/twist to apply for Dell for Startups and get up to 45% off select items! 13:15 Instant delivery madness: Getir raises at a $12B valuation, Russian-based Buyk declares bankruptcy due to inability to fundraise from Russian sanctions 23:20 LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedIn.com/twist 24:58 Yuga Labs launches $APE coin 31:47 Intercom - Get access to Intercom's Early Stage Academy at a 95% discount at https://www.intercom.com/early-stage 33:00 Producer Rachel joins to tee up today's OK Boomer segment 34:42 OK Boomer: Smirk Founder Preston Attebery 1:06:02 Plugs!

Check out Smirk: https://www.smirk.gg

FOLLOW Preston: https://twitter.com/prestonattebery

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

Reacting to Super Pumped (Uber) & The Dropout (Theranos) with Lon Harris +OneShop CEO Nick McHenry | E1411 Mar 18, 2022

Show notes

We chat film expert, podcaster, and Inside.com writer Lon Harris to talk about tech's latest streaming series The Dropout and Super Pumped! After that conversation, Molly sits down with LAUNCH founder Nick McHenry for a quick interview about his startup OneShop (1:08:00).

Show Notes:

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's show: Reviewing shows "The Dropout" and "Super Pumped" with Lon Harris, interview w/Nick McHenry of OneShop (02:07) Catching up w/OG TWiST cast member Lon Harris (09:31) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (10:47) Jason and Molly talk to Lon about "The Dropout" (the Theranos show) (23:16) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist (24:26) Favorite scenes and performances in "The Dropout" (39:05) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (40:30) Discussing "Super Pumped" - is it realistic? (01:08:00) Molly interviews Nick McHenry of OneShop on his LAUNCH journey and scaling E-commerce

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

FOLLOW Nick: https://twitter.com/nickmchenry

Check out one shop: https://oneshopretail.com/

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

Spotify x Barcelona, ex-Disney CEO joins Genies, AMC gold mine + D.A. Wallach: music and bio-investing | Angel S6 E10 | E1410 Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

We wrap up Angel Season 6 on First Time Funds with Pharrell Williams-signed rocker turned investor D.A. Wallach of TimeBio Ventures (32:23). But first, we do 4 rapid-fire news topics: Spotify spent ~$307M on FC Barcelona naming rights (2:56), AMC acquired a 22% stake in gold miner (10:29), Ex-Disney CEO Bob Iger joins the NFT avatar company Genies' Board (16:14) and we break down the anatomy of two alleged NFT grifts (22:35).

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro the show: Spotify & FC Barcelona, AMC goes for Gold, Bob Iger joins Genies, NFT Grifts, Angel interview w/ DA Wallach (02:56) Spotify drops reported ~$307M on FC Barcelona stadium naming rights (09:18) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/angel (10:29) AMC goes for Gold (16:14) Bob Iger joins Genies board (21:19) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (22:35) Anatomy of NFT Grifts (31:03) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to https://linkedIn.com/angel and post your first job for free. (32:23) Angel S6 w/ DA Wallach of Time BioVentures

Check out Time Bio Ventures: https://www.timebioventures.com

D.A.'s Blog: http://www.dawallach.com

FOLLOW D.A. Wallach: https://twitter.com/dawallach

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

Ex-FB Diem team builds Aptos blockchain, Metamask parent ConsenSys raises $450M, Mojo's athlete betting market, Zero Grocery shutdown | E1409 Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

First, we discuss a new Layer 1 blockchain called Aptos, valued at $1B in a recent round led by a16z (2:42). Then discuss MetaMask's parent Consensys raising 450M at a $7B valuation (39:47). Our startup of the day is Mojo, which is building a stock market-like product to "bet on athletes" (51:35). Next, we do a post-mortem for our "shutdown of the day," Zero Grocery, a grocery delivery company that closed down this month after announcing raising $12M a month ago (59:06). To wrap, Jason chats with JJ Foster, a listener who did some show notes for us (01:11:05).

Show Notes

(0:00) Jason and Molly intro the show (02:42) Former Facebook employees raise $200M to build out blockchain (14:55) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (16:13) Thoughts on Facebook and centralized currency (28:22) Mercury - Banking built for startups. See more at https://mercury.com/twist (29:40) Breaking News: Bain Capital Crypto hires woman partner (36:27) Gun.io - Get $250 off your first developer hire at https://Gun.io/twist! (39:47) ConsenSys raised $450M Series D valued at $7B (51:35) Startup of the day: Mojo (59:06) Shutdown of the day: Zero Grocery (1:11:05) 05 Jason mentors noti gang member JJ Foster about his career

Check out The TWIST Podcast Notes: https://www.thisweekinstartups.com/notes

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

Blue Origin picks Pete, NYT launches Telegram channel, Clearview AI in Ukraine, Semiconductor pains | E1408 Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

It's an all-news show. We discuss Blue Origin selecting Pete Davidson to go space (2:47), Clearview AI offering their facial recognition services to the Ukrainian government (24:58), the NYT launching a Telegram channel and semiconductor slowdowns forcing Ford to ship Explorers without rear AC controls (44:00).

Show Notes:

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's topics: Blue Origin & Pete Davidson, NYT Telegram, Clearview AI (02:47) Blue Origin sending Pete Davidson to space 3/23 (14:41) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist (16:00) NYT launches Telegram channel for war in Ukraine (23:38) Boast - Get your R&D tax credits without the hassle at https://boast.ai/twist (24:58) Clearview AI giving Ukraine's defense ministry free access to face recognition search engine (38:48) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist (40:00) Surveillance companies and crime (44:00) Companies face more production issues

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

How Big Funds Change the Startup Ecosystem (VC Sunday School) + Climate: Include Ventures' Taj Ahmad Eldridge | E1407 Mar 13, 2022

Show notes

Sunday double-header. First, Jason and Molly discuss the impact of large funds on the startup ecosystem, how fund size influences firm strategy and why big funds often seed smaller funds (2:21). For the This Week in Climate Startups segment, Molly chats with Taj Ahmad Eldridge from Include Ventures (29:42). They discuss:

1. How Taj's experience with negative health impacts from pollution helped guide his investing focus

2. Include Venture's unique fund of funds and direct investment strategy

3. Why Taj is not afraid of hardware investing (and how it's paying off)

4. How government branches can support climate tech progress

Show Notes:

(0:00) Jason and Molly introduce VC Sunday School + Taj from Include Ventures (02:21) VCSS, Molly asks Jason if big funds are ideal (11:30) Bubble - Get one month free of a no-code plan at https://bubble.io/twist (12:57) Can a fund become too big to manage? (18:20) Big funds seeding small funds and Jason's falling out with Marc Andreessen (21:43) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (23:00) Building relationships in venture (28:10) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (29:42) This Week in Climate Startups with Taj Eldridge of Include Ventures (37:28) Taj's first-hand experience with the negative externalities of pollution (51:46) Can software investing really help solve the Climate Crisis? (1:05:31) The latest from TWIST and Launch

Check out Include Ventures: https://www.includeventures.com/

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

$RIVN, Biden on TikTok & Crypto, $PTON + Countdown Capital's Jai Malik + Josh from Party Round | E1406 Mar 12, 2022

Show notes

It's a variety show. First Jason and Molly do six rapid fire news topics (2:10) including: Rivian's lowered guidance, Biden briefing TikTok influencers on Ukraine, declining NFT volume, creator economy wins, Biden's Crypto executive order and Peloton's new pricing pilot. Then, hard-tech investor Jai Malik of Countdown Capital joins (42:22) for Angel Season 6 "First Time Funds." Finally, producer Rachel has another edition of OK Boomer, this time she talks viral marketing and new ways of fundraising with Josh from Party Round (1:18:42).

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro the show: 5 rapid fire stories, Angel S6 interview with Jai Malik of Countdown, OK Boomer w/ Josh of Party Round (02:10) TikToker Part of Biden Ukraine Strat. (07:53) Rivian Earnings (14:42) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (16:05) OpenSea Volume Down (21:25) Wins in the Creator Economy (26:42) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to https://linkedIn.com/angel and post your first job for free. (28:10) Biden Crypto Policy (34:04) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist (35:22) Peloton New CEO Actions (42:22) Molly interviews Jai Malik of Countdown for Angel S6 (01:10:29) Jason, Molly, and Rachel toss to OKB (01:18:42) OKB w/ Producer Rachel and Josh of Party Round

Check out Countdown: https://countdown.capital

FOLLOW Jai: https://twitter.com/jai__malik

Check out Party Round: https://www.partyround.com

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

Love.com, Lessons from Bain Crypto launch + Redfin Founder & CEO Glenn Kelman | E1405 Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Jason and Molly discuss Ryan Breslow's new startup Love.com (2:03), Bain Capital Crypto's new $550M fund announcement that backfired on Twitter (14:49). Then, Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman join to discuss the current real estate market and how policies are are promoting a nation of renters (54:28). Plus, Glenn turns the tables on Jason and Molly to ask them a few questions.

Show Notes:

00:00 Jason and Molly intro the show: Ryan Breslow news, Bain Capital Crypto's unaware tweet, diversity in the workplace, Interview w/ Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman 02:03 Ryan Breslow's new startup: Love.com 10:49 Fiverr - Sign up for https://Fiverr.com/Business free for the first year and save 10% on your purchase with promo code JASON 12:22 Psychedelic startups 14:49 Bain Capital Crypto posts unaware tweet on International Women's Day 23:21 Notion - Go to https://Notion.so and use promo code TWIST to get $250 off its annual team plan 24:53 Diversity in the workplace and how to make forward progress 36:05 Marlow - Get 15% off your individual or team memberships at https://getmarlow.com/twist. 37:31 Taking a chance on unproven talent and open minded to blindspots 54:28 Catch up w/ Glenn Kelman, CEO of Redfin 01:07:40 Housing price increases are sustainable 01:32:00 Supply and demand in housing 01:49:20 Shift from urban living to the suburbs 02:02:00 Jason, Molly, and Glenn on flying 02:06:37 Goodbyes from the TWIST team

Check out Redfin: https://www.redfin.com

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

Apple's new Mac + Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt, driverless service in SF, the Origin (zero-emission shared vehicle) | E1404 Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

First Jason and Molly recap the Apple event, including the new Mac Studio release (1:53). Then they discuss Pony AI's $8.5B Series D (34:41). Next, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt joins to discuss launching their driverless service in SF (46:40), their custom-built zero-emission shared vehicle the "Origin" (1:01:06), and self-driving maturity.

Show Notes:

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's topics: thoughts on new Apple products, interview with Kyle Vogt of Cruise (01:53) Jason and Molly talk about the Mac Studio (10:52) Indochino - Get $50 off any purchase of $399 or more by using code TWIST at checkout https://indochino.com (12:05) Big presentations aren't needed for incremental changes (22:23) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (23:41) Guessing the next computer in the Mac lineage (25:40) More Apple products announced, and Apple TV for Friday MLB (33:33) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist (34:41) Startup of the day: Pony.ai (46:40) Jason interviews Kyle Vogt, CEO of Cruise (01:01:06) Carpooling with the Cruise Origin (01:07:45) Smoother rides and self-driving cars in different weather (01:19:05) Self-driving robo-taxis and sharing map data (01:27:00) What percent are we at for self-driving general accessibility?

Check out Cruise: https://www.getcruise.com

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

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