56 min

NEWS: Anthropic targets $20B+ valuation, Flexport chaos & more! | E1823 This Week in Startups

    • Technology

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

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With Mercury Raise, startup founders no longer have to navigate roadblocks alone. Visit mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice.

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Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank &
Trust; Members FDIC.

NetSuite. Once your business gets to a certain size the cracks start to emerge.  Things you used to do in a day take a week. You deserve a customized solution - and that's NetSuite. Learn more when you download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist - absolutely free, at NetSuite.com/twist.

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Today’s show:

Jason breaks down Amazon’s Anthropic deal and the state of AI mega-rounds (5:29), Flexport’s growing pains through the lens of founding CEO vs. hired gun (24:58), and DoorDash’s new stealthy “Dine Out” feature (44:52).

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(2:42) Recap of Anthropic's big week

(5:29) Amazon’s Anthropic deal and the state of AI mega-rounds

(7:35) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(9:04) Two major details in Amazon’s Anthropic deal

(18:57) Strategic investors and Anthropic’s corporate structure

(23:32) Mercury Raise - Visit http://mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice

(24:58) Flexport’s growing pains through the lens of founding CEO vs. hired gun

(35:17) Why Dave Clark being fired “for cause” instead of being allowed to resign matters

(38:20) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://netsuite.com/twist

(39:45) Flexport's offer to Clark

(44:52) DoorDash’s new stealthy “Dine Out!” feature

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Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-steps-up-ai-race-with-up-4-billion-deal-invest-anthropic-2023-09-25/

The Information article: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-rival-anthropic-in-talks-to-raise-2-billion-from-google-others-as-ai-arms-race-accelerates

CNBC article: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/02/the-inside-story-of-dave-clarks-tumultuous-last-days-at-flexport.html

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Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

Apply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply

Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.com

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

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

*

Follow Jason:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason

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

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

*

Follow TWiST:

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

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

*

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

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.

With Mercury Raise, startup founders no longer have to navigate roadblocks alone. Visit mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice.

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

NetSuite. Once your business gets to a certain size the cracks start to emerge.  Things you used to do in a day take a week. You deserve a customized solution - and that's NetSuite. Learn more when you download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist - absolutely free, at NetSuite.com/twist.

*

Today’s show:

Jason breaks down Amazon’s Anthropic deal and the state of AI mega-rounds (5:29), Flexport’s growing pains through the lens of founding CEO vs. hired gun (24:58), and DoorDash’s new stealthy “Dine Out” feature (44:52).

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(2:42) Recap of Anthropic's big week

(5:29) Amazon’s Anthropic deal and the state of AI mega-rounds

(7:35) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(9:04) Two major details in Amazon’s Anthropic deal

(18:57) Strategic investors and Anthropic’s corporate structure

(23:32) Mercury Raise - Visit http://mercury.com/raise to get access to a network, connections, and advice

(24:58) Flexport’s growing pains through the lens of founding CEO vs. hired gun

(35:17) Why Dave Clark being fired “for cause” instead of being allowed to resign matters

(38:20) NetSuite - Download your free KPI Checklist at http://netsuite.com/twist

(39:45) Flexport's offer to Clark

(44:52) DoorDash’s new stealthy “Dine Out!” feature

*

Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-steps-up-ai-race-with-up-4-billion-deal-invest-anthropic-2023-09-25/

The Information article: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-rival-anthropic-in-talks-to-raise-2-billion-from-google-others-as-ai-arms-race-accelerates

CNBC article: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/02/the-inside-story-of-dave-clarks-tumultuous-last-days-at-flexport.html

*

Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

Apply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply

Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.com

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

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

*

Follow Jason:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason

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

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

*

Follow TWiST:

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

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

*

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

56 min

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