This Week in Startups - podcast cover

This Week in Startups

Jason Calacanisthisweekinstartups.com
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.
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Episodes

SBF gets arrested, The Block’s CEO gets a bag from FTX, + Walmart launches a BNPL service | E1636

Molly and Jason react to the breaking news that Bahamian authorities have arrested Sam Bankman-Fried. (1:27) Then, from earlier in the day, Molly and Jason chop it up about the news of The Block’s CEO Michael McCaffrey receiving $40M from Alameda Research. (27:41) We then close with a story about Walmart’s new BNPL service. (45:25) (0:00) Molly kicks off the show (1:36) Molly and Jason react to SBF getting arrested (14:51) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (15:55) Kevin...

Dec 13, 20221 hr 5 min

Jason’s big night, the culture war in tech + Google Search vs ChatGPT and more | E1635

Molly and Jason talk about their big weekends. (2:27) Then they discuss the culture war in tech right now (13:47). Followed by our new favourite game, ChatGPT or Google Search. (47:15) Then we wrap up with a breakthrough in the world of nuclear fusion. (1:17:16) (0:00) J+M Kick off the show (2:27) Molly and Jason Catch up after the weekend (12:24) FanDuel Sportsbook - Sign up with promo code TWIST to place a $1000 risk-free bet at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com (13:47) The culture war in tech (2...

Dec 13, 20221 hr 30 min

How to calculate "Bottom-up TAM" + Hubspot Co-Founder Brian Halligan on his new climate fund | E1634

J+M kick off the show discussing TAM, SAM, and SOM on this week’s edition of VCSS. (2:40) Then, HubSpot Co-Founder and Partner at Propeller Brian Halligan joins Molly to discuss his $100M venture fund to invest in protecting the world’s oceans. (26:00) (0:00) J+M tee up today's segments! (2:40) Exceeding your TAM + overestimating your TAM (7:39) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20 (9:07) Inducing a market and Bottom-up TAM (21:15) AgeTec...

Dec 11, 202251 min

Business of superhero films, James Gunn's DC reboot + OK Boomer w/Alex Banks | E1633

First up, Lon Harris joins to cover James Gunn's DC reboot (2:14), the business of superhero films (28:18), the top films of the year debate (37:15), and more! Then, Producer Rachel is back with another edition of OK Boomer, featuring through the Noise and Tribescaler founder Alex Banks! (1:21:27) (0:00) J+M tee up today's segments! (2:14) Lon Harris joins the show to discuss DC's James Gunn-led revamp (9:29) Odoo - Get access to all of Odoo's apps, services, and maintenance for under $25 at htt...

Dec 09, 20221 hr 38 min

How to send effective investor updates | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1632

Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to explain how founders can nail their investor updates! (0:00) Kruze's Scott Orn joins Jason to discuss the MOST important metrics and information that founders should include in their investor updates to make them concise and effective (11:49) Other non-financial items to include (14:50) How to break bad news to investors Check out Kruze: https://www.kruzeconsulting.com FOLLOW Scott: https://twitter.com/scottorn FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis F...

Dec 09, 202224 min

Crypto Roundtable: SBF updates, $GBTC's role, Saylor says $ETH is unregistered security | E1631

Sunny and Vinny are BACK to break down all the important topics in crypto: SBF updates (2:52), how $GBTC played into the industry unraveling (11:34), why we should be paying attention to Genesis (25:51), Michael Saylor's recent comments (44:13), and more! (0:00) Jason tees up today's crypto roundtable! (2:52) Sunny and Vinny are back to talk about the current vibes in crypto and some updates on the SBF situation (10:20) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embro...

Dec 08, 202257 min

Ask Jason: investing in similar startups, pitch deck tips + MycoWorks Co-Founder Sophia Wang | E1630

First up, Jason answers some founder questions! (1:46) Then, MycoWorks Co-Founder Sophia Wang joins for this week's edition of The Next Unicorns! (10:12) (0:00) Molly tees up today's segments! (1:46) Ask Jason! What happens if a VC finds a great startup/founder to invest in, but they've already invested in a similar business (4:31) Ask Jason! What is the ideal number of slides in a pitch deck? What are some general tips to spruce up a pitch deck? (8:34) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn a...

Dec 08, 202242 min

Meta's ad targeting troubles, Ask Jason, Hive Social's data mishap & more | E1629

First up, Molly breaks down some news stories, including Meta's ad troubles in Europe (1:24) and Semafor's saga with its climate editor departing. (9:51) Then, Jason answers questions from founders! (20:25) Finally, Producer Rachel joins Molly to discuss what happened with Hive Social. (32:10) (0:00) Molly tees up today's segments! (1:24) Molly covers Meta's targeted ad troubles in Europe - are we headed for a new standard for ad-based business models? (8:24) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST t...

Dec 07, 202247 min

Slack CEO departs Salesforce, Circle cancels SPAC, SBF's links with media & regulators | E1628

J+M start the show with some BREAKING NEWS: Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield is leaving Salesforce! (5:09) Then, they cover Circle canceling its SPAC (26:06), SBF's interactions with regulators and the media (40:29), and a Startup of the Day! (57:50) (0:00) Molly tees up today's news topics! (1:48) J+M catch up from the weekend (5:09) BREAKING: Slack Founder and CEO Stewart Butterfield is leaving Salesforce two years after the Slack acquisition was announced (12:49) Mixpanel - Apply for $50K in cre...

Dec 06, 20221 hr 8 min

Momentum investing in VC + Convective Capital’s Bill Clerico | E1627

J+M are back for another edition of VC Sunday School. This week, they discuss momentum investing in venture capital! (1:35) Then, Molly interviews Convective Capital’s Bill Clerico on investing in firetech startups. (27:58) (0:00) Molly tees up Sunday’s segments! (1:35) VC Sunday School: Momentum investing: fair strategy, or sign of a bubble? (12:56) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (14:30) Contrarian investing in VC (26:28) Microso...

Dec 04, 202246 min

OpenAI releases ChatGPT, a16z sunsets future.com + OK Boomer with Jack Raines | E1626

J+M kick off the show by discussing and testing out OpenAI’s ChatGPT. (1:59) Then, they wrap up the news with a16z’s announcement that they are shutting down future.com (37:40). Producer Rachel ends the show with another edition of OK Boomer featuring Litquidity’s Jack Raines. (50:03) (0:00) J+M Kick off the show (1:59) Molly gets party theme suggestions from OpenAI’s new Chat GPT (9:58) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (11:23) Compoun...

Dec 02, 20221 hr 13 min

Reacting to SBF's ill-advised media tour + Disney's new in-house AI-based de-aging tool | E1625

First up, J+M go through a tale of two interviews: SBF at DealBook (3:14) and on Good Morning America (31:58). Then, Lon Harris joins to discuss Disney's new in-house automatic de-aging tool and more! (47:00) (0:00) J+M tee up today's segments! (3:14) Covering Sam Bankman-Fried's two recent interviews, reacting to clips from SBF at the NYT DealBook conference (12:14) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (13:43) SBF chimes in on VC responsibility and drug usage at FTX (27:3...

Dec 02, 20221 hr 32 min

Generative AI's potential, Spotify Wrapped + AMP Robotics Founder Matanya Horowitz | E1624

First up, Jason answers two great questions from the most recent cohort of Founder University! (1:34) Then, Molly and Producer Rachel discuss Spotify Wrapped's marketing genius and a potential new contemporary. (22:33) Finally, AMP Robotics Founder Matanya Horowitz joins Molly for another edition of The Next Unicorns! (40:02) (0:00) Molly tees up today's segments! (1:34) Ask Jason! Is the Generative AI boom for real? (11:42) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at ht...

Dec 01, 20221 hr 11 min

Apple vs Twitter, app store duopoly, YouTube's efficiency, Snap goes back to the office | E1623

First up, J+M cover Twitter vs. Apple and the app store duopoly (2:10) before breaking down Google's employees per department. (32:48) They wrap up talking about Snap announcing a return to the office for all employees (37:09) and more crypto chaos. (58:18) (0:00) J+M tee up today's topics! (2:10) Twitter vs Apple (9:23) Mayfair - Get 4% APY on your idle cash automatically at https://getmayfair.com/twist (10:53) Apple/Google app store duopoly, Steve Jobs's original App Store pitch (21:43) Bluegr...

Nov 30, 20221 hr 13 min

Managing Finances in a Recession: Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1622

Jason welcomes back Kruze COO Scott Orn for another edition of Startup Finance Basics! Jason and Scott break down the state of the market (0:00), 2023 budget planning (9:21), and how to nail investor comms! (14:58) (0:00) Jason welcomes Kruze COO Scott Orn and they discuss the state of startups and VC (9:21) What a 2023 budget plan should look like at a Seed stage startup (14:58) Bias for action, investor comms

Nov 29, 202220 min

Pipe's Co-Founders step down, Apple's China-based iOS update, Black Friday's BNPL boost | E1621

TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm joins to break down the news! First up, the trio covers Pipe's Co-Founders abruptly stepping down (7:06) and the lessons learned. (26:29) Then, they discuss Apple's China-based iOS update impacting AirDrop (40:31) before Alex leaves. J+M finish the show with more thoughts on China and react to Black Friday's ATH sales volume and the BNPL boom. (1:11:01) (0:00) J+M tee up today's topics and special news guest! (2:21) J+M catch up on their Thanksgiving breaks with TechCru...

Nov 29, 20221 hr 28 min

How VCs size their bets + Ben Birnbaum of TeraWatt and Keyframe | E1620

On VC Sunday School, Jason and Molly discuss how VCs size their investments (1:40). Then, Molly is joined by Ben Birnbaum of Keyframe and TeraWatt! (13:17) (0:00) Molly tees up today's topics! (1:40) Jason breaks down how VCs think about bet sizing! (11:43) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (13:17) Molly welcomes Ben Birnbaum of TeraWatt and Keyframe to discuss his background and why he started TeraWatt! (27:07) Odoo - Get access to ...

Nov 27, 202256 min

Zoom earnings, SaaS burnout, Amazon's $10B Alexa loss + FTX contagion with Sunny Madra | E1619

First up, Jason and Molly discuss Zoom's Q3 earnings and SaaS burnout throughout the industry (1:37). Then, they break down Amazon's $10B loss tied to its Alexa smart speakers (22:13) and an Airbnb Co-Founder's new housing startup! (34:54) Sunny Madra joins in the final segment to help explain the crypto contagion caused by the FTX collapse. (45:12) (0:00) Jason tees up today's segments! (1:37) J+M wind-down earnings season with Zoom's Q3 results and discuss SaaS burnout in tech (14:40) Embroker...

Nov 23, 20221 hr 26 min

EMERGENCY POD! Bob Iger returns as Disney CEO | E1618

Bob Iger is BACK as Disney CEO, and Bob Chapek has left the company! First, Jason and Molly break down how we got here (11:49) before Lon Harris joins to go deeper on Chapek's missteps and join in on some speculation and predictions for Iger's second stint as CEO! (23:25) (0:00) J+M tee up today's EMERGENCY POD! (1:40) Jason and Molly catch up on some wild news from the weekend: Elizabeth Holmes's sentencing, crypto contagion, and more! (10:21) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your ...

Nov 21, 202248 min

VC investing in a downturn & protecting founders + smart vents with Flair's Dan Meyers | E1617

J+M kick off the show with another edition of VCSS: a VC’s role in a down market and protecting your money and founders. (4:32) Then, Dan Meyers of Flair joins Molly for this week’s edition of TWiCS.(28:27) (0:00) J+M discuss how winners start work on Sunday (4:32) VC Sunday School: Raising and deploying capital in a collapsing economy (11:32) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (13:02) Pay-to-Play + fiduciary duty vs friendship (18:10) Smash Digital - Visit https://Smash...

Nov 20, 202258 min

Managing a recession, housing market insights & more with Redfin's Glenn Kelman + OK Boomer | E1616

Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman joins Jason to discuss the current downturn, operating in a recession, layoffs, the housing market and more. (1:31) Then, Producer Rachel is joined by Volv Co-Founders Shannon Almeida and Priyanka Vazirani. (33:46) (0:00) J+M tee up today's segments! (1:31) Glenn Kelman joins Jason to break down the current downturn, operating in a recession, layoffs, and more (14:30) FanDuel Sportsbook - Sign up with promo code TWIST to place a $1000 risk-free bet at https://sportsbook.f...

Nov 18, 202257 min

Breaking down the FTX book + film rights & Michael Lewis’s involvement with Lon Harris | E1615

Lon Harris joins for the FULL show to break down the most recent FTX book/film news (2:26), the business of horror movies (30:42), Apple’s MLS deal (46:43), and more! (0:00) J+M tee up today’s show (2:26) Lon joins to catch up on the most recent FTX book/film news (14:16) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist (15:24) FTX’s new CEO comments, mapping out FTX content based on the coming Michael Lewis book, CAA’s leaked email (29:29) Dell for Startups - Apply fo...

Nov 17, 20221 hr 4 min

Amazon launches "Amazon Clinic" + Calibrate CEO Isabelle Kenyon on metabolic health | E1614

Molly rides solo today as she breaks down Amazon’s new telehealth business, Amazon Clinic. (1:40) Then, Calibrate CEO Isabelle Kenyon joins Molly for another edition of the Next Unicorns! (9:30) (0:00) Molly tees up today's topics! (1:40) Molly breaks down Amazon clinic (8:15) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (9:30) Calibrate CEO & Founder Isabelle Kenyon joins Molly for the Next Unicorns to chat about calibrate and GLP-1s (20:5...

Nov 17, 202258 min

Wild news week, Bird overstates revenue, Chinese startups look to rebrand + WLITF | E1613

J+M kick off the show with some banter about Russia, SBF, and the challenges of being a journalist. (1:51) Then, they discuss the scooter-sharing industry and Bird being under the eye of the SEC. (13:52) Molly and Jason discuss TechCrunch’s article titled ‘The dilemma of Chinese startups going global'. (24:45) We wrap up the show with a We Live in the Future segment featuring Simbe Robotics. (40:57) (0:00) J+M kick off the show (1:51) Russian missile, SBF, and the challenges of being a journalis...

Nov 16, 202249 min

Amazon to lay off 10K employees, FTX saga update, Shopify's reverse AR platform & more | E1612

First up, J+M break down Amazon's reported ~10K employee RIF (4:27) and try to wrap their heads around the current recession. (15:54) Then, they give an FTX update (26:25), break down the mobile gaming industry (38:12), discuss Shopify's reverse AR platform (47:43), and more! (0:00) J+M tee up today's topics (1:58) Weekend catch-up! (4:27) Amazon will reportedly cut 10K corporate employees this week (14:41) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist (15:54) Why th...

Nov 15, 20221 hr 11 min

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

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 d...

Nov 13, 202256 min

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

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 g...

Nov 12, 20221 hr 22 min

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

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 CF...

Nov 11, 202258 min

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

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 (2...

Nov 10, 20221 hr 5 min

EMERGENCY POD: FTX sells to Binance with Vinny Lingham and Sunny Madra | E1607

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, ...

Nov 08, 202251 min
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