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.

Episodes

AI Demos: ChatGPT-o4 Canvas, Notebook LM & Meta's Movie Gen | E2026

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist Fidelity Private Shares℠. Manage your cap table and data room, get faster, more accurate 409A valuation and fully automate your next financing round. Visit ⁠ https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com ⁠! Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription. CLA. Innovation takes balance. CLA's CPAs, consultants, and w...

Oct 16, 20241 hr 6 min

TWiST News: Tesla Robotaxis, Electric RVs, and How Startups are Helping Secure Elections | E2025

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. 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 Cloud Devs. Building the best remote team is t...

Oct 15, 20241 hr 15 min

TWiST500 Spotlight: The must-know startups from AI to robotics! | E2024

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 NetSuite. The number one cloud financial system, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR, into one platform. Giving you one source of truth. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at h...

Oct 11, 202436 min

Navigating the AI Boom | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn

Todays show: Kruze’s Scott Orn joins Jason on the latest edition of Startup Finance Basics! In this episode, they break down the unique aspects and dynamics of the current AI boom, contrasting AI startup revenue, costs, and growth rates with traditional SaaS models (4:11). They also dive into AI tools' impact on productivity and labor efficiency (8:12), the accounting challenges and operational issues AI startups face (14:27), and more! * Timestamps: (00:00) Kruze COO, Scott Orn, joins Jason (1:...

Oct 10, 202424 min

TWiST News: M.G. Siegler Explains the Current Venture Crisis and Google’s Antitrust Woes | E2023

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Gusto is easy online payroll, benefits, and HR built for modern small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at https://www.gusto.com/twist *Gusto pricing shown in ad is based on pricing prior to March 2025 Oracle - Save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist Linear. Streamline issues, projects, and product roadmaps in a tool your team will actually enjoy using. Get 25% off at https://www.linear.app...

Oct 09, 20241 hr 15 min

The Next-Generation of Single-Stage-to-Orbit Spaceplanes with Radian's Richard Humphrey | E2022

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/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 AssemblyAI. Get maximum value from voice data with AssemblyAI. Build powerful products and feat...

Oct 08, 202456 min

Hacking Meta's AR glasses, a shakeup at Initialized, and the best startups of the decade | E2021

Timestamps: (0:00) Alex and Jason kick off the news show! (3:26) Overview of Harvard's AR glasses tech demo and club projects (10:09) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (11:35) Discussing responsible tech use, privacy, and entrepreneurial aspirations (18:30) Guests' academic focus and future in technology (19:41) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartup...

Oct 07, 20241 hr 6 min

Highlighting Data Intelligence with Databricks & Bonbon’s Reward Innovation | E2020

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 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 Beehiiv. Power your newsletters with AI tools, ...

Oct 04, 20241 hr 26 min

The Automation Endgame, VCs Returning Cash, and the OpenAI Wager | E2019

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Notion. Notion combines your notes, docs, and projects into one beautifully designed space with AI built right in. Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist Fidelity Private Shares℠. Manage your cap table and data room, get faster, more accurate 409A valuation, and fully automate your next financing round. Visit https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription. Kyte. Looking to get ...

Oct 03, 20241 hr 25 min

Monique Woodard, Fund of Funds Panel & The Pro-Rata Yacht! | E2018

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to 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. Gusto. Gusto is easy online payroll, benefits, and HR built for modern small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at Gusto.com/twist . *Gusto pricing shown in ad is based on pricing prior to March 2025 Runway. Looking to up...

Oct 02, 202451 min

The AI Supercycle, California's AI Safety Bill Vetoed, and the Future of AR/VR | E2017

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… 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 CloudDevs. Building the best remote team is tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite LATAM talent today. Sprig. The Product Experience pl...

Oct 01, 20241 hr 11 min

The Future of Sound: Udio’s Vision for AI-Generated Music | E2016

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… .Tech Domains. Don’t miss our “Jam with JCal” contest! To apply and get more details go to https://Jamwithjcal.tech brought to you by .tech domains. LinkedIn Ads. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to https://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups Brave. If you’re building AI and search-based applications, train your models with the Brave Search API. Get started for free at https://brave.com/jason * Todays show: Udio’s ...

Sep 27, 202455 min

Data Centers and Energy with Phil Deutch | E2015

Timestamps: (0:00) Teaser of today’s Liquidity Summit talk from Phil Deutch. (1:29) Alex kicks off the show. (2:11) Jason introduces Phil Deutch at the Liquidity Summit 2024 (3:52) Phil Deutch’s talk “Data Centers & Energy: A First Principles Understanding of Investment Opportunities & Challenges” (4:39) Data center power demands and the impact on energy demand (7:30) The complexity of energy generation and distribution (9:24) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first...

Sep 26, 202437 min

OpenAI CTO Departure, DOJ AI Compliance, M&A Trends, and more! | E2014

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Linear. Linear helps product teams focus on what they do best: Planning and building great products. Streamline issues, projects, and product roadmaps in a tool your team will actually enjoy using. Get 25% off at https://www.linear.app/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...

Sep 26, 20241 hr 27 min

Amazon's RTO Impact, Lina Khan’s 60 Minutes, and Microsoft's Big Nuclear Deals | E2013

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist Coda. Coda empowers your startup by bringing words, tables, and teams together. Strategize, plan, and track goals effectively with all your valuable data in one place. Go to https://www.coda.io/twist to get started for FREE and get 6 free months of the Team plan. Google Cloud. Accelerate your startup journey with the Google for Start...

Sep 24, 20241 hr 20 min

How Pie's 'Block Ads, Get Paid' Model Is Giving Users Control of Ads & Privacy | E2012

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 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.a Beehiiv. Power your newsletters with AI tools...

Sep 20, 202453 min

Navigating Challenges in Distressed Companies with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

Todays show: Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason on the latest edition of Startup Legal Basics! In this episode, they break down challenges in distressed companies(1:04), pay-to-play scenarios (2:31), the importance of a market check in financing (9:25), and high-profile legal and ethical issues (18:03). * Timestamps: (00:00) Wilson Sonsini partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason (1:04) Distressed companies and VCs leaving the board; Challenges in distressed companies (2:31) Insider-led dow...

Sep 19, 202421 min

No hype, Just works: How Comma reached 100M miles in autonomous driving | E2011

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… .Tech Domains - Don’t miss our “Jam with JCal” contest! To apply and get more details go to https://jamwithjcal.tech brought to you by .tech domains. 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 Micro1. Micro1 is an AI recruitment engine to hire world class...

Sep 18, 202446 min

Summarize Anything & Discover Connections with Recall’s Sankari Nair | E2010

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://www.Lemon.io/twist CommandAI. Seamlessly integrate an AI-powered guide into your software, making navigation intuitive and interactiv...

Sep 18, 202441 min

OpenAI's new models, the MrBeast leak, Waymo ♥’s Uber and more! | E2009

Todays show: Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss OpenAI's latest model and implications (11:49), Uber's partnership with Waymo and its implications (38:16), Analyzing Mr. Beast's content creation and business culture (1:01:21). and more! * Timestamps: (0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show. (3:57) Highlights from the All-In Summit (9:16) Tackling media criticism and the state of journalism (10:23) Washington Post - TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your fi...

Sep 17, 20241 hr 13 min

Relationship Advice of the Investor Sort with Meghan Reynolds of Altimeter | E2008

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… LinkedIn Ads. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to https://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups Runway. Looking to up-level your financial planning Runway is the modern and intuitive way to model, plan, and align your business for everyone on your team. Sign up at ⁠https://www.Runway.com/TWIST to get your first 3 months free. Beehiiv. Power your newsletters with AI tools, referral programs, and ad network features—al...

Sep 13, 202435 min

The New Power Law & How I Built a $100B Portfolio | E2007

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… .Tech Domains. Don’t miss our “Jam with JCal” contest! To apply and get more details go to jamwithjcal.tech brought to you by .tech domains. Fidelity Private Shares. Manage your cap table and data room, get faster, more accurate 409A valuation and fully automate your next financing round. Visit https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com/ Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription. Oracle. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, i...

Sep 11, 202450 min

Boom: Supersonic speeds for everyday travel with Blake Scholl | E2006

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… 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 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 doma...

Sep 11, 20241 hr 28 min

Scaling Childcare with Tech: Winnie.com’s Blueprint for Growing with Purpose & Profit | E2005

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Brave Search API. Get started for free at ⁠https://www.brave.com/jason CLA. Get started now at ⁠https://www.claconnect.com Sprig**.** Visit https://sprig.com/twist to book a demo and get a $75 gift card. * Timestamps: (0:00) Sara Mauskopf, CEO of Winnie joins Alex (1:45) Winnie's evolution, pivot, and focus on childcare services (7:25) Building Winnie's database and reflections on company growth (9:55) Brave Search API. Get started for free at ...

Sep 09, 20241 hr 3 min

The Rise of Stablecoins with Circle’s Jeremy Allaire | E2004

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. Google Cloud. Accelerate your startup journey with the Google for Startups Cloud Program. Get up to $200K in Google Cloud credits – or up to $350K for AI startups – plus training and guidance. Apply at⁠ https://startups.google.com/twist Beehiiv. Power your newsletters with A...

Sep 06, 20241 hr 8 min

Medium: Reaching Profitability while The Internet is Broken + CorePod | E2003

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Notion. Notion Projects combines project management with your docs, knowledge base, and AI. Try notion projects for free at notion.com/twist Brex. The financial stack founders can bank on. Brex knows cash is king for startups, so they built a banking experience that takes every dollar further. Get the business account trusted by 1 in 3 US startups at ⁠https://www.brex.com/twist24 OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work ...

Sep 05, 20241 hr 19 min

Fundraising hurdles and M&A slowdown with Becki DeGraw | Wilson Sonsini Startup Legal Basics

Todays show: Wilson Sonsini Partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason on the latest edition of Startup Legal Basics! In this episode, they break down fundraising trends (1:33), the challenges of M&A (7:39), and the evolving regulations for tech companies (13:29). * Timestamps: (00:00) Wilson Sonsini partner Becki DeGraw joins Jason (1:33) Fundraising trends and investor expectations (3:57) Breakeven points and penny warrants (7:39) M&A slowdown and regulatory challenges (13:29) Proposals for M&am...

Sep 05, 202425 min

Superhuman 2.0: The AI edge, top productivity hacks, and the future of email | E2002

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… NetSuite. The number one cloud financial system that unifies accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR into a single platform. Giving you ONE source of truth. Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning today! Visit https://www.netsuite.com/twist Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://lemon.io/twist AssemblyAI. Get maximum value from voice data with AssemblyAI. Build p...

Sep 04, 20241 hr 14 min

AI Demos: Gemini Gmail, Search GPT, Groq with Voice & Playground | E2001

Timestamps: (0:00) Sunny joins Jason to jump into AI demos. (1:21) Analysis of Q4's impact on startups and Nvidia's market performance (5:09) Chip design advancements and AI prevalence in startup technology (8:12) Experiences with ChatGPT-4 and Google's Gemini in Gmail (10:14) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (11:36) Discussion on generative AI: filtered vs. unfiltered content (19:50) Van...

Sep 04, 20241 hr 8 min

Episode 2000! Epic guests, huge news, and how to build a media legacy in 14 short years | E2000

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. LinkedIn Ads. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to https://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups Brex. the financial stack founders can bank on. Brex knows cash is king for startups, so they built a bankin...

Aug 30, 20242 hr 37 min