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Jason Calacanis

Jason Calacanis covers startups, tech, markets, media, and all the hottest topics in business and technology. He also interviews the world’s greatest founders, operators, investors, and innovators.

This Week in Startups

Todays show:

In this episode, we discuss Hailey Welch and the viral Hawk coin, then discuss David Sachs' new White House role and recent job data's economic impact. We address the United Healthcare CEO's murder, debate cancel culture, and a viral tweet on software engineers' habits. Deedy Das offers insights on tech inefficiencies and the shift to in-person work. Coffeezilla joins to explore crypto scams, influencer marketing ethics, and regulation. We wrap up with David Sachs' Czar role in AI and crypto for the US government, market dynamics, and a new addition to the Twist 500.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(1:53) Economic outlook and recent job data
(5:12) Reaction to United Healthcare CEO murder

(9:19) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(10:48) Cancel culture debate and public statements
(16:00) Viral tweet about software engineers' work habits

(19:02) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(20:08) DeeDee Doss interview on software engineer productivity
(23:17) Management incentives and tech company inefficiencies
(25:16) Shift to in-person work in tech startups

(29:37) Ramp - Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist
(31:20) Remote work psychology and potential abuse
(37:35) Strategies to prevent remote work abuse
(39:24) Hayley Welch interview on viral meme coin
(41:00) Coffeezilla's investigations into scams and frauds
(47:42) Cryptocurrency red flags and influencer consequences
(52:50) Crypto regulation and influencer marketing ethics
(59:03) Influencer credibility and responsibility
(1:03:21) Coffeezilla's assignment and Rabbit AI device insights
(1:04:01) David Sachs announcement and AI/crypto in government
(1:07:25) Regulatory capture and Silicon Valley dynamics
(1:09:15) Market perspectives and government influence

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Apply for the Launch CloudKitchens Incubator here: https://ck.launch.co

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Mentioned on the show:

Check on Menlo Ventures: https://menlovc.com/

Check out Coffeezilla: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQMnBA3CS502aghlcr0_aw

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Follow Coffeezilla:

X: https://x.com/coffeebreak_YT

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Follow Deedy:

X: https://x.com/deedydas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debarghyadas/

*

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

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Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:19) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(19:02) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(29:37) Ramp - Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

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Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Ghost Engineers, Measuring Productivity, & Memecoin Scams | E2056

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Ramp. The corporate card and spend management software designed to help you save time and money. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist

Zendesk. The best customer experiences are built with Zendesk. Qualifying startups can join their Startup program and get Zendesk products free, for six months! Visit http://www.zendesk.com/twist today to get started.

Digital Ocean. Whether you’re just getting started with AI, or seeing your project take off, DigitalOcean is the cloud platform that lets you focus on what matters: building killer apps. Right now get up to $100k in free credits at https://www.do.co/twist. Terms and conditions apply.

*

Todays show:

Anthony Pompliano joins Jason and Alex to discuss crypto markets, Bitcoin's future, and Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy. Then, they dive into Reddit's new Q&A feature, SEC shifts, and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(7:36) Anthony Pompliano joins the show

(9:55) Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist

(11:48) Impact of new administration on Bitcoin and crypto markets

(19:58) Concerns from OG Bitcoiners and Bitcoin as a marketing tool

(20:38) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist

(22:07) Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy and historical trade comparisons

(27:17) Risks of MicroStrategy's Bitcoin holdings and price volatility

(30:15) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions.

(31:47) Bitcoin yield, new metrics, and investment advice

(39:48) Rationality and risk in Bitcoin investment and audience engagement

(47:23) SEC accreditation, private investment funds, and the Brian Thompson case

(1:01:56) Reddit's new Q&A feature, “Reddit Answers”

(1:12:05) Kids Online Safety Act and social media regulation

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Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

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Follow Anthony:

X: https://x.com/APompliano

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypompliano

*

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

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Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:55) Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist

(20:38) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist

(30:15) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions.

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

TWiST News: Bitcoin’s Future, Reddit Answers, SEC Shifts, and more! | E2057

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

Oracle - Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. Save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Lon Harris kick off the show

(2:06) Welcome back to Lon Harris and discussion on current events

(6:04) Drones in New Jersey: Security issues and speculations on their origin

(11:01) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(13:04) Privacy concerns surrounding drone technology
(15:27) The future of drone delivery services
(19:32) OpenAI's launch of the video generation tool, Sora

(20:04) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(21:34) The emergence of new mediums from AI tools

(31:04) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill 
at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist
(32:28) Startup of the Day: Remento
(43:06) Uber's milestone and the future of ride-sharing
(51:14) Alex Gumbel from Quby Technologies joins the TWIST500
(56:00) Economics of mobile micro factories and deskilling labor in home construction
(1:04:09) Market demand and strategic focus in construction innovation
(1:07:10) Business model, customer base, and production goals for Qubii Technologies
(1:11:11) Challenges and future prospects in the construction industry

 

Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

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Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

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Mentioned on the show:

Check out OpenAI’s Sora: https://sora.com/

Check out Cuby: https://www.cubytechnologies.com/

Check out Remento: https://www.remento.co/

*

Follow Lon:

X: https://x.com/Lons

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonharris

*

Follow Aleks:

X: https://x.com/agampel1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamaleksandrgampel

*

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(11:01) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(20:04) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(31:04) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill 
at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

v

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

 

Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Drones, Deepfakes, and Disruptors with Lon Harris, Remento and Cuby | E2058

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at https://www.vanta.com/twist

CLA. Innovation takes balance. CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors can help you get from startup to where you want to end up. Get started now at https://www.CLAconnect.com/tech

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Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss the reporting that Tiger Global's 2021-era fund is not only posting poor results, it's lagging peers from the same timeframe. Then, the pair also interview Suvir Wadhwa, founder and CEO of Flite, a former Launch accelerator company, and dug into the Cruise-GM news along with a peek at the next head of the FTC.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(2:19) Tiger Global's investment strategy and performance

(5:49) Challenges of quick capital deployment and market timing

(10:13) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(11:15) Impact of losing key investors or advisors on startups

(12:24) Public market trends affecting private investments

(16:09) Market downturns' effects on startups and investors

(20:05) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(21:16) Political influences on market and technology sectors

(29:32) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(31:10) Trump administration's business policies and immigration

(38:20) Changes in the FTC leadership and impacts on startups

(41:40) Finix's addition to the TWiST500

(44:53) GM's scale-back on Cruise and future implications

(51:25) Self-driving technology's impact on car ownership

(52:39) Flite's Suvir Wadhwa joins the show

(54:18) Flite's business model, AI benefits, and market reach

*

Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Mentioned on the show:

Check out Flite: https://www.flite.city/

Check out the TWiST500: https://www.twist500.com/

Check out Tiger Global: https://www.tigerglobal.com/

Check out E1207: How Tiger Global is outpacing VC with fast, cheap capital ft. Founders Fund’s Everett Randle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koDKxjHe_Kk

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Follow Suvir:

X: https://x.com/suvirwadhwa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suvirwadhwa/

*

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

*

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(10:13) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(20:05) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(29:32) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Negative Venture Returns, GM Kneecaps Cruise, and Finix joins the TWiST500 | E2059

Todays show:

In the latest edition of Startup Finance Basics, Jason sits down with Scott Orn from Kruze Consulting to answer the
six most important founder/startup questions around finance, accounting, and taxes.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Kruze COO, Scott Orn, joins Jason to dive into Finance Basics FAQs.

(1:05) How can I avoid paying payroll tax as a startup founder?

(6:54) How do you shut down a startup?

(11:33) Why do I owe Delaware $50,000 in franchise taxes?

(12:58) I’ve got my first customer lined up! How do I get paid?

(16:26) Can I tell VCs that implementation revenue is ARR?

(19:59) Should I raise venture debt when I raise my Series A?

*

Check out Kruze: https://kruzeconsulting.com
Check out more Finance Basics here: THISWEEKINSTARTUPS.COM/basics

*

Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Follow Scott:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottorn

X: https://twitter.com/scottorn

*

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

The Top 6 Startup Finance FAQ’s | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

LinkedIn Jobs. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to https://www.linkedin.com/twist to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

Washington Post. Stay informed with trusted journalism from The Washington Post.
Right now, TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your first year at

https://www.washingtonpost.com/twist

Beehiiv. Power your newsletters with AI tools, referral programs, and ad network features—all in one platform. Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

*

Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm kicks off the show with Cyera’s Yotam Segev to dive into the state of enterprise data security. They discuss Cyera’s impressive feat of raising $300 million just quarters after its previous mega-round and explore the company's recent nine-figure acquisition of Trail Security. Next, Alex unpacks ServiceTitan's successful IPO and Broadcom's milestone achievement of reaching a $1 trillion market cap. To close, Cake Equity’s Kim Hansen joins the conversation to share insights into his company’s growth strategy and how it’s thriving in a highly competitive market.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Alex kicks off the show

(2:12) Cyera’s Yotam Seveg joins the show

(10:05) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist

(11:34) Evolution from information security to cybersecurity and automated data categorization

(20:44) Cyera's acquisition strategy and impact on the company

(28:00) Washington Post - TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your first year at https://www.washingtonpost.com/twist

(29:10) AI's impact on data security and competition in the cybersecurity market

(34:19) ServiceTitan IPO, market reaction, and implications for the industry

(37:34) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

(39:05) Tech companies reaching significant market caps and IPO performances

(47:17) Texas attorney general's lawsuit against tech companies over data practices

(48:21) Cake Equity’s Kim Hansen joins the show

(49:02) Cake Equity's mission, platform, and cap table management software demo

(54:29) Cake Equity's user interface, employee engagement, and expansion plans

(58:22) Automation in onboarding and international growth challenges for Cake Equity

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Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Mentioned on the show:

https://www.cyera.io

https://www.cakeequity.com

*

Follow Yotam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yotam-segev

*

Follow Kim:

X: https://x.com/KimHansenYeah

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhansencake

*

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

*

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(10:05) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist

(28:00) Washington Post - TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your first year at https://www.washingtonpost.com/twist

(37:34) Beehiiv - Get 30 days free and 20% off your first 3 months at ⁠https://www.beehiiv.com/twist

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Cyera's Hypergrowth, Cake's Cap Table Push, and ServiceTitan's Stellar IPO | E2060

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Ramp. The corporate card and spend management software designed to help you save time and money. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist.

DevSquad. Most dev agencies only offer developers. Why? Because product management is hard. Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

Digital Ocean. Whether you’re just getting started with AI, or seeing your project take off, DigitalOcean is the cloud platform that lets you focus on what matters: building killer apps. Right now get up to $100k in free credits at https://www.do.co/twist. Terms and conditions apply.

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show
(3:03) Government reactions to drone sightings
(4:02) Theories and politicians' reactions to the drones
(9:21) Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist.
(10:48) Official statements on drone sightings
(13:34) Speculation on drones' radiation detection capabilities
(15:20) TikTok insights and Swiss startup Arctis Radiation Detectors
(20:21) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist
(21:52) Personal reactions and media aspects of drone sightings
(26:12) Startups in drone detection and geopolitical implications
(30:36) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions.
(32:23) American Security Drone Act of 2023 and government coordination
(39:01) Nicole Wischoff joins Alex and Jason.
(40:28) Startup pitches and trend discussions
(46:14) Investment strategies and AI's impact on startups
(51:10) Market dynamics in various industries
(52:09) Fundraising strategies and venture capital insights
(57:56) Closing thoughts with Nicole Wischoff
(58:05) Venture capital performance metrics
(1:00:39) Challenges for large venture funds

*

Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com

Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

Mentioned on the show:
Check out Wischoff Ventures: https://www.wischoff.com/

Robin Radar Systems: https://www.robinradar.com/

Arktis Radiation Detectors: https://www.arktis-detectors.com/

ApolloShield: https://www.apolloshield.com/

John Ferguson’s full post: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenstate/reel/DDnmN8oRw3T/

American Security Drone Act Of 2023: https://smartpay.gsa.gov/resources/american-security-drone-act/#:~:text=On December 22%2C 2023%2C the,Fiscal Year 2024 
(NDAA) 

*

Follow Nicole:

X: https://x.com/NWischoff

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholewischoff

*

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

 

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

*

Thank you to our partners:

(9:21) Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist.

(20:21) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

(30:36) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions.

*

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Silicon Valley Clones and Jersey Drones: Decoding the Signals with Nicole Wischoff | E2061

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Sunny kick off the show

(1:26) Discussing Groq's recent developments and Middle East tech inspiration
(3:51) Global business challenges and Jason's 2025 announcements
(7:53) Gemini app demo and ChatGPT 4 comparison

(9:57) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(11:24) Evaluating ChatGPT 4.0 Pro limitations and robo-taxi fleet costs
(12:46) Differences between ChatGPT models and future improvements

(19:57) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(20:58) LLM focus shift and robo taxi cost model experimentation
(23:01) Importance of prompt engineering in AI tools adoption
(25:31) Workplace AI adoption challenges and generational tech differences
(27:22) New productivity hacks and Gemini app's growth

(30:27) Zendesk - Get six months free at https://www.zendesk.com/twist
(34:06) Startup support programs and Google Gemini's research capabilities
(37:08) AI model performance evaluation and simplification
(45:02) Meta's Llama 3.370b launch and AI industry impact
(46:37) Infrastructure costs, competitive landscape, and AI-generated content evolution
(55:44) Trust and bias in language models, news analysis startup ideas
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Mentioned on the show:

Check out Sora here: https://sora.com/

Check out Kling here: https://klingai.com/

Check out Groq: https://groq.com/

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Follow Sunny:

X: https://x.com/sundeep

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sundeepm

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:57) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

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(30:27) Zendesk - Get six months free at https://www.zendesk.com/twist

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Sora Disappoints, ChatGPT Pro Tested, Inference Time Reasoning & More with Sunny Madra | E2062

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*Gusto pricing shown in ad is based on pricing prior to March 2025

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Todays show:

Alex and Jason discuss Databricks’ record raise, TikTok’s big day at the Supreme Court, Shishir Mehrotra on the Coda-Grammarly merger, and more.

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show(3:38) Insights on Databricks' private fundraise and venture capital trends(8:37) Predictions on unlimited free energy, water, and food

(9:41) Coda - Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist(14:25) The declining costs of cloud computing(17:12) Evaluating growth rate for startup valuations(19:46) Competitive landscape: Databricks vs. Snowflake

(20:48) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist22:07 The strategic importance of selecting the right customers26:34 Venture capital communication and the ghosting phenomenon28:43 TikTok's ongoing legal challenges

(31:25) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist(32:33) Shashir Mehrotra on the Coda-Grammarly merger(37:16) Vision and applications of the Coda-Grammarly partnership(42:35) Future of AI agents and Grammarly's role(45:13) SaaS industry dynamics and AI's role in upselling(49:10) The impact of AI on job automation and workforce productivity(54:40) Team sizes and AI-driven productivity debate(57:18) The future interaction with AI agents(1:00:40) Efficiency gains from combining Grammarly and Coda(1:02:02) The role of ChatGPT and AI in social media(1:03:46) Tailoring AI tools for business needs(1:06:26) Lessons from mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector(1:08:08) Strategic acquisitions and their importance in the tech industry

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(9:41) Coda - Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist

(20:48) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(31:25) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist

*Gusto pricing shown in ad is based on pricing prior to March 2025

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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara,Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta,Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Databricks' Record Raise, TikTok goes to the Supreme Court, and all about the Grammarly-Coda Deal | E2063

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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PrizePicks - Run your game. THE BEST place to get real money action while watching your favorite sports! Download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!

 

Todays show:Jason & Alex chat with Varun Mohan, founder & CEO of Codeium, the revolutionary AI-powered coding platform backed by Kleiner Perkins & Founders Fund. Varun shares insights on pivoting to greatness, scaling enterprise solutions, and launching Codeium's new IDE, Windsurf.

 

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show
(0:30) Failure examples and Star Wars character confusion
(1:38) Introduction to the episode, guests, and Perplexity AI
(4:36) Varun Mohan and Codium's journey in AI and IDE development
(11:01) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(12:29) The challenge of moderate success and building 10x better experiences
(19:48) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(21:21) Alex Wilhelm's Cascade demo and Codium's capabilities
(24:49) Codium's pricing and the future of no code development
(31:45) PrizePicks - Run your game. Download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!
(33:31) Satya Nadella on SaaS's future and AI replacing agents
(36:00) AI's impact on developer jobs, salaries, and remote work
(41:27) Elite developers, hiring strategies, and in-person vs. remote work
(46:03) Twist 500, upcoming events, and what VCs seek in startups
(53:02) Hyper competition in AI services and niche market strategies
(58:26) Audience Q&A and closing remarks

 

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Follow Varun:

X: https://x.com/_mohansolo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varunkmohan

Check out: https://codeium.com

 

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X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

 

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis

 

Thank you to our partners:

(11:01) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

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(31:45) PrizePicks - Run your game. Download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!

 

Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

 

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

 

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Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

 

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Codeium’s Vision for AI-Driven Development with Varun Mohan | E2064

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

Referenced in this Episode:

GeekWire - Amazon Web Services posts record $13.5B in *profits* for 2020 in Andy Jassy’s AWS swan song

https://rb.gy/k9m3ep

CNBC - Amazon reports first $100 billion quarter following holiday and pandemic shopping surge

https://rb.gy/v24lfb

Amazon Q4 2020 Earnings

https://rb.gy/653jmd

Emergency Pod! Jeff Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO: Reasons, reactions & more | E1170

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