This Week in Startups Jason Calacanis

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Todays show:

Rory O’Driscoll joins guest host Mark Suster to discuss: advice for founders with traction but not yet booming (2:33), thirty years of internet cycles and their impact on venture capital (13:25), the approach to big-picture thinking vs. immediate traction and strategizing exits (36:58), and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Rory O’Driscoll joins guest host Mark Suster.

(2:33) Rory’s advice for founders with traction but not yet booming.

(9:09) Aligning incentives between founders and venture; reminding CEOs to be "selfish.”

(10:23) Northwest Registered Agent - For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(13:25) Reflections on thirty years of internet cycles and their impact on venture capital.

(18:25) Debating AI: Does it favor the incumbents?
(20:07) Wistia - Try Wistia for free at https://www.wistia.com/startups
(21:35) What Rory and Scale Venture looks for when investing in AI.
(26:20) How OpenAI has changed the landscape
(29:18) HiddenLayer - HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://www.HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more.
(30:30) Debating “faux-mentum” vs. long-term sustainability in investments.
(34:34) Balancing deep passion and business savvy when evaluating founders.
(36:58) Rory’s approach to big-picture thinking vs. immediate traction and strategizing exits

(44:02) The importance of picking vs. price discipline.

(1:00:58) Advice for founders dealing with “busted cap tables.”

(1:08:07) Rory’s advice for his younger self.

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(29:18) HiddenLayer - ****HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://www.HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more.
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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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

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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.

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Todays show:

Jason and Alex discuss xAI raising $6B (2:07), the TWiST500 (30:11), the startups building our drone future (39:55), North Korean tech talent taking American remote tech jobs (55:50), and more!

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Timestamps:

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

(2:07) xAI raised $6B series B

(10:03) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(11:30) The evolution of smartphone adoption over time

(19:08) Global Internet users from 2005-2023

(26:06) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(26:57) The control over silicon and Apple’s move switch from Intel

(30:11) TWiST500 announcement

(38:24) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist

(39:55) Armed robot dogs, drone warfare, and the startups building our drone future

(55:50) North Korean nationals taking American remote tech jobs

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Links and articles from show:

https://x.ai/blog/series-b

https://www.twz.com/sea/rifle-armed-robot-dogs-now-being-tested-by-marine-special-operatorshttps://news.crunchbase.com/ai/defense-military-ai-tech-startups-vc-funding-anduril-shield-ai/?utm_source=cb_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20230703

https://www.axios.com/2024/05/21/north-korea-it-workers-us-hiring

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/24/north-korea-crypto-hacking-activity-soars-to-record-high-in-2023-new-report-shows.html

https://www.statista.com/statistics/273018/number-of-internet-users-worldwide

https://www.axios.com/2024/05/26/china-robot-gun-dog-military-cambodia

https://www.allencontrolsystems.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMnkqY98Cyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8igjcW39T4k

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Follow Alex:

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(26:06) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(38:24) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist
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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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

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Follow TWiST:

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

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Todays show:

David Weisburd hosts Jaime Matus, Michael Eisenberg, and Jason Calacanis to discuss AI investments and the potential washout of overfunded startups (4:11). They also touch on VC hypocrisy (38:47), and the role of geography in the VC ecosystem (54:53).

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Timestamps:

(0:00) David Weisburd intros Jaime Matus, Michael Eisenberg, and Jason Calacanis

(4:11) Pitchbook data summarizing the total amount of capital invested in AI

(12:12) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(16:33) Predicting a washout of overfunded AI startups and sky high valuations

(25:30) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(26:57) Discussing Michael Eisenberg's career and investment experiences

(37:22) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(38:47) Discussion on Greg Isenberg's tweet about VC hypocrisy

(54:53) Fundraising rankings by ecosystem

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Follow Jaime:

X: https://x.com/JaimeMatusVC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-matus

Check out: https://www.invariantes.com

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Follow Michael:

X: https://x.com/mikeeisenberg

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

Check out: https://aleph.vc

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Follow David:

X: ⁠https://twitter.com/DWeisburd⁠

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

Check out: ⁠https://10xcapital.com

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

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

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Thank you to our partners:

(12:12) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(25:30) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠

(37:22) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

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Check out the Launch Accelerator: https://launchaccelerator.co

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Check out Founder University: https://www.founder.university

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

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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

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Follow TWiST:

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

In this episode, David Sacks and Evan Owen of Glue join Jason to demo their new “slack killer” product (4:38), explain the role of AI within Glue (14:14), discuss building products with remote vs in-person teams (36:47), and more!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) David Sacks and Evan Owen join Jason to show us newly launched Glue.

(2:42) David Sacks answers, “Why build another product?”.

(4:38) Evan jumps into a demo of Glue.

(9:37) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(12:15) Popular data sources users are incorporating into Glue.

(14:14) Digging deeper on the AI of Glue and when it will be able to be proactive in its participation.
(19:42) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist
(21:07) Glue’s strategy on converting users from tools like slack in this competitive landscape.

(27:18) Glue’s approach to pricing.

(30:16) Dot Tech Domains - Don’t miss our “Jam with JCal” contest. To apply and get more details go to https://jamwithjcal.tech/

(31:45) Training models and the heated subject of privacy and security.

(34:12) How building a company now, fourteen years after Yammer, has been different for Sacks.

(36:47) Diving into the topic of building products with remote vs in-person teams.

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Check out Glue: https://gluegroups.com/
Glue on X: https://x.com/GlueAI

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Follow David:

X: https://x.com/DavidSacks

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

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X: https://x.com/kainosnoema

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

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Thank you to our partners:

(9:37) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at http://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(19:42) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist
(30:16) Dot Tech Domains - Don’t miss our “Jam with JCal” contest. To apply and get more details go to https://jamwithjcal.tech/

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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

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Follow TWiST:

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

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

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

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*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC.

HiddenLayer - Generative AI is revolutionizing industries. HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Helping you generate more – by enabling seamless & secure Generative AI. Visit https://HiddenLayer.com/TWiST

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Timestamps:

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

(1:50) Nvidia earnings for First Quarter Fiscal 2025

(12:53) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist

(14:32) Continuing discussion on Nvidia's earnings

(22:39) News Corp and OpenAI strike ‘multi year global partnership’

(29:21) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at http://mercury.com

(30:51) Apple News+ is driving big numbers for The Daily Beast

(39:03) HiddenLayer - HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more.

(40:14) Wearable AI startup Humane is exploring a sale

(50:56) Windows Recall

(1:08:45) Farcaster raises $150M: Is crypto making a comeback?

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Links and articles from show:

https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-announces-financial-results-for-first-quarter-fiscal-2025

https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/21/farcaster-a-crypto-based-social-network-raised-150m-with-just-80k-daily-users/

https://gizmodo.com/humane-ai-pin-selling-billion-1851493143

https://www.semafor.com/article/05/19/2024/as-clicks-dry-up-for-news-sites-could-apples-news-app-be-a-lifeline

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/openai-news-corp-strike-deal-23f186ba?mod=latest_headlines

https://s201.q4cdn.com/141608511/files/doc_financials/2025/Rev_by_Mkt_Qtrly_Trend_Q125.pdf

https://x.com/dsiroker/status/1792956339515273537

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Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

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

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

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Thank you to our partners:

(12:53) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist

(29:21) Mercury - Join 200K startups who use Mercury to operate at their best at ⁠http://mercury.com⁠

(39:03) HiddenLayer - HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more.
*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

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

*

Follow TWiST:

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

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

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

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

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

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 http://www.vanta.com/twist

LinkedIn Ads - To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

Equinix - The Equinix Startup program offers a hybrid infrastructure solution for startups, including up to $100K in credits and personalized consultations and guidance from the Equinix team. Go to https://www.equinixstartups.com to apply today.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to dive into this week’s news.

(1:17) Announcing new co-host on TWiST Alex Wilhelm of TechCrunch fame!

(3:03) Alex breaks down what’s on the docket for today!

(4:16) The OpenAI equity issue.

(10:38) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(12:39) OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4o.
(15:33) Why ChatGPT is better than Siri.

(17:50) OpenAI’s net revenue in the wake of last week’s announcements.
(20:04) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(22:06) Comparing the needs of consumers vs enterprise for ChatGPT.
(24:17) OpenAI has pulled “Sky” one of the voices for the new ChatGPT 4o due to it sounding like Scarlett Johansson

(28:48) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://deploy.equinix.com/startups
(30:01) Alex’s favorite topic around how much founders paying themselves.
(38:46) A billion-dollar deal in cybersecurity.

(45:43) Breaking news Scar Jo!

(56:24) What’s going on with crypto-venture capital.

(58:02) A look at “decentralized twitter” called Farcaster.

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Links from episode:

OpenAI Equity link: https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-openai-nda-clause-vested-equity-ilya-sutskever-2024-5

OpenAI revenue growth https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/20/chatgpts-mobile-app-revenue-saw-biggest-spike-yet-following-gpt-4o-launch/

Founder salary report: https://pilot.com/founder-salary-report-2024

CyberArk-Venafi deal: https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/20/cyberark-snaps-up-venafi-for-1-54b-to-ramp-up-in-machine-to-machine-security/

Crypto VC rising: https://www.reuters.com/technology/venture-capital-funding-crypto-rises-24-bln-pitchbook-says-2024-05-20/

Check out Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/

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Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

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

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Follow Jason:

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

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:38) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(20:04) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(28:48) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://deploy.equinix.com/startups

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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

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

*

Follow TWiST:

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

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

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

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

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast