This Week in Startups Jason Calacanis
-
- Technology
-
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.
-
Figure’s AI Robot, AI News, Cognition’s Devin, and the biggest AI bet yet! | E1915
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 http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
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.
Attio - A radically new CRM for the next era of companies. Head to attio.com/twist to get 15% off for your first year.
*
Todays show:
Sunny joins Jason to dive into AI news, including the CTO from Open AI talking about their training data for Sora (5:11), the FIgure AI robot (12:26), Devin, the first AI software engineer (38:17), and more!
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) Sunny joins Jason for a fun AI day!
(2:08) Elon and open source Grok vs “Closed” AI.
(5:11) The CTO from Open AI talking about their training data for Sora.
(9:28) Exploring the fascinating AI robot from Figure.
(10:57) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(12:26) Comparing the FIgure AI robot and what we have seen from Boston Dynamics and why this is impressive.
(19:47) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://www.gusto.com/twist
(21:10) Thinking about how humans learn and applying that to AI.
(28:28) The idea that robots may one day be 1:1 with humans.
(30:50) Attio - Head to http://www.attio.com/twist to get 15% off for your first year.
(32:01) New bet alert! And it’s a major one. Sunny and JCal bet on how soon we will all have access to AI robots in our homes!
(38:17) Introducing Devin, the first AI software engineer!
(40:24) The “maestro” concept when working with AI.
(47:21) Hot news: Apple in talks to let Google Gemini power iPhone AI Features.
*
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
LINKS:
Cognition’s Devin: https://www.cognition-labs.com/introducing-devin
Figure AI Robot: https://www.figure.ai/
*
Follow Sunny:
X: https://twitter.com/sundeep
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sundeepm
*
Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Thank you to our partners:
(10:57) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(19:47) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist
(30:50) Attio - Head to attio.com/twist to get 15% off for your first year.
*
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
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast -
2024 VC trends, portfolio construction, & more with Churchill's Raja Doddala | E1914
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 http://linkedin.com/angelpod
Mantle. The AI-powered equity management platform designed for modern founders and operators. Get your first 12 months free at https://withmantle.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.
*
Todays show:
Jason Calacanis welcomes Churchill Asset Management’s Raja Doddala to the show to discuss startups and the VC market in 2024. They dive into the competitiveness in pre-seed, seed, and series A (10:40),
portfolio construction (30:24), the future of the vc industry (50:59), and much more!
*
Timestamps:
(00:00) Jason welcomes Churchill Asset Management’s Raja Doddala to the show
(1:52) Trends in pre-seed and seed deal values
(9:19) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://linkedin.com/angelpod
(10:40) Competitiveness and predictability in pre-seed, seed, and series A
(21:28) Mantle - Get your first 12 months free at https://withmantle.com/TWIST
(22:46) Trends in exit values
(29:19) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist
(30:24) Exploring portfolio architecture and the difference between mega funds and smaller funds
(50:59) Prospects in the vc over the next few years and the rise of the next generation
(59:26) The role of secondary sales in venture capital and importance of liquidity for VC funds
*
Check out:
Churchill Asset Management - https://www.churchillam.com
*
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
Follow Raja
X: https://twitter.com/rdoddala
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajadoddala
*
Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Thank you to our partners:
(9:19) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://linkedin.com/angelpod
(21:28) Mantle - Get your first 12 months free at https://withmantle.com/TWIST
(29:19) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist
*
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
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast -
Melengo's Justin Kwong on the future of end-to-end clothing manufacturing | E1913
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
Uizard. Struggling to transform innovative ideas into concrete product designs? Uizard can help you turn your visions into polished UI designs in a fraction of the time, while enhancing collaboration across your entire team. Get 25% off Uizard Pro for an entire year at uizard.io/twist
Experimentation is how generation-defining companies win. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit geteppo.com/twist
*
Todays show:
Jason welcomes Melengo's Justin Kwong to the show to discuss how his company simplifies the process of developing, financing, and scaling apparel lines for brands and creators. The two dive into Melengo’s business model, initial customers, fundraising, and much more (1:49). Then, Jason breaks down his A.D.D. framework, designed to enhance efficiency and focus within companies (36:50)!
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) Jason kicks off the show
(1:48) Justin Kwong from Melengo joins Jason
(4:38) Justin demos Melengo and its use cases
(9:45) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist
(10:37) Melengo’s business model, initial customers, and fundraising
(22:19) Uizard - Get 25% off Uizard Pro for an entire year at http://uizard.io/twist
(23:26) Building Melengo's team and the next steps for finding product-market-fit
(36:50) Eppo. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit geteppo.com/twist
(37:50) Jason’s A.D.D. framework (Automate, Deprecate, Delegate)
*
Check out:
Melengo - https://www.melengo.com
A.D.D. Framework - https://calacanis.substack.com/p/startup-productivity-in-the-age-of
LAUNCH Accelerator - https://launchaccelerator.co
Founder University - https://www.founder.university
The Syndicate - https://thesyndicate.com
*
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
Follow Justin:
X: https://twitter.com/jkwong
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinckwong
*
Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Thank you to our partners:
(9:45) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist
(22:19) Uizard - Get 25% off Uizard Pro for an entire year at http://uizard.io/twist
(36:50) Eppo. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit geteppo.com/twist
*
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
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast -
AI Demos: Claude 3's Opus, Mistral, Groq Playground, EMO by Ali Baba | E1912
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Lemon.io. Need to speed up your product development without draining your budget? Hire vetted engineers from Europe at lemon.io. Go to Lemon.io/twist to get 15% off for the first 4 weeks!
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 http://www.openphone.com/twist
Looking to up your marketing game? Check out the podcast: Marketing Against the Grain. Hosted by: Hubspot CMO Kipp Bodnar and Zapier CMO Kieran Flannigan. They bring you the latest in marketing trends, growth tactics and innovation. Available on all your favorite podcast apps. https://lnk.to/h3vKHnTW
*
Todays show:
Sunny demos the lightning speed of Groq (4:10), the new model Opus from Claude 3 (5:38), Mistral (35:26), EMO by Ali Baba (45:21), and more!
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) Sunny joins Jason for this week’s AI demos!
(1:19) Details on Definitive Intelligence being acquired by Groq.
(4:10) Sunny demos the lightning speed of Groq.
(5:38) Sunny demos the new model Opus from Claude 3 and it’s prompt library.
(8:52) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(10:12) Claude helps interpret Ikea instructions.
(19:18) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist
(20:35) Looking at the use of “guardrails” in LLMs.
(28:59) Marketing Against the Grain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIE8hmH0fLM*
https://lnk.to/h3vKHnTW
(35:26) Sunny demos Mistral
(38:53) Sunny demos Groq Playground and creates a framework for a study plan.
(45:21) Sunny demos EMO by Ali Baba.
*
LINKS:
Anthropic Claude 3: https://console.anthropic.com/
Prompt Library: https://docs.anthropic.com/claude/prompt-library
Mistral: https://chat.mistral.ai/
Groq Playground: groq.com/console.groq.com
EMO by Ali Baba: https://humanaigc.github.io/emote-portrait-alive/
*
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
Follow Sunny:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sundeep
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sundeepm/
*
Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Thank you to our partners:
(8:52) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(19:18) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist
(28:59) Marketing Against the Grain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIE8hmH0fLM*
*
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
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast -
Uber's leadership lessons, AI's disruption, and the power of solo founders with Josh Mohrer | E1911
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 LinkedIn.com/TWIST to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.
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.
Northwest Registered Agent. When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist to get a 60% discount on your next LLC.
*
Todays show:
Josh Mohrer, the solo founder building Wave App joins Jason. The two dive into Josh’s time during the early Uber NY days (1:17), solo entrepreneurship in tech (19:59), and more! Josh then showcases the Wave App in action (27:10) and delves into its intricate development journey (32:26).
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) Josh Mohrer joins Jason
(1:17) Early Uber NY days, Travis Kalanick's leadership, and Uber NY's regulatory challenges
(12:42) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(19:59) Solo entrepreneurship in tech, enabled by AI advancements
(26:15) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(27:10) Josh demos Wave App and delves into its development journey
(40:45) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(41:39) Future of work, AI in daily life, and generational tech shifts
*
Check out: https://waveapp.ai
*
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
Follow Josh:
X: https://twitter.com/joshmohrer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmohrer
*
Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Thank you to our partners:
(12:42) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist
(26:15) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/twist
(40:45) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
*
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
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast -
Robotic kitchens, restaurant tech, and fast-casual's future with Sweetgreen's Jonathan Neman | E1910
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Wistia. All-in-one video platform for business, with tools that help you create, manage, and measure the impact of your videos. Try Wistia for free at http://www.wistia.com/startups
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 http://www.CLAconnect.com/tech
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://www.Lemon.io/twist
*
Todays show:
Jason is joined by sweetgreens’ Jonathan Neman to discuss: the x-factor that makes a strong manager (7:36).
deciding between the franchise model vs owned and operated (16:02), robotics in the restaurant industry (24:23), and more!
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) Jonathan joins Jason.
(2:30) The scale and innovation of sweetgreen today
(7:36) The x-factor that makes a strong manager
(10:05) Wistia - Try Wistia for free at http://www.wistia.com/startups
(12:31) The “Sweetlife” and the importance of “polishing forks”
(16:02) Navigating the decision between the franchise model vs owned and operated
(18:30) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(24:23) Robotics in the restaurant industry
(29:28) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(30:33) The details and benefits of the machines Sweetgreen has brought into its restaurants.
(37:15) Restaurant difficulties with inflation, COVID and “sticker shock”
(38:46) Delivery in the business today pre and post-pandemic
(45:10) How Australia fits into the origin of sweetgreen
(48:01) The best way to build a brand
(52:28) The seed oil conversation
(45:53) sweetgreen is positioned towards tailored menus.
(1:01:12) The challenging topic of food options and availability across different socioeconomic groups.
(1:05:58) The definition of healthy food
*
LINKS:
Check out sweetgreen: https://www.sweetgreen.com/
Watch The Founder (2-16): https://www.amazon.com/Founder-Michael-Keaton/dp/B01MY7FSMF
Watch our Business Breakdown of the film The Founder: https://youtu.be/kYqzEEFU_nw
Watch The Bear: https://tv.apple.com/ca/show/the-bear/umc.cmc.javg04xbn3eonbgfvnaqmodk
Check out Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
Follow Jonathan:
X: https://twitter.com/JonnyNemo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-neman-9a28aa8/
*
Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Thank you to our partners:
(10:05) Wistia - Try Wistia for free at http://www.wistia.com/startups
(18:30) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech
(29:28) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
*
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
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Customer Reviews
Ok
Great job
Long time fan
I’ve been listening to TWiST for several years and have seen it go through changes, some good, some not so good. I really enjoy the interviews Jason does with founders and investors, and his takes on current event and news. I didn’t love the addition of Molly, though at the same time I thought she was a good co-host and I appreciated her perspective. I do find it unfortunate that there was clearly an acrimonious divorce, despite neither party acknowledging it (and not even announcing her departure for at least a week when it was totally obvious; very bizzare), but I like that the show is getting back to what got me listening in the first place.
Politically driven
I was looking for a business blog that wasn’t political. Sadly the views of the host color the commentary and spin too much.