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This Week in Startups
Description

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. Join our community on Twitter to discuss the show: https://twitter.com/i/communities/1496977694747209728

Episodes
  • 2023 / 6 / 3
    RunwayML, AI Steve Jobs, & more with Sunny Madra & Vinny Lingham | E1755

    This Week in Startups is presented 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...

  • 2023 / 6 / 1
    How open-source & distributed models can win AI with MosaicML’s Naveen Rao | E1754

    This Week in Startups is presented 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...

  • 2023 / 5 / 31
    How generative AI is enabling hologram assistants with Looking Glass CEO Shawn Frayne | E1753

    This Week in Startups is presented by: House of Macadamias is the next big health trend! Get 20% off your first purchase and a free bottle of cold-pressed macadamia oil at houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using...

  • 2023 / 5 / 30
    Breaking down Bard with Google’s Jack Krawczyk | E1752

    This Week in Startups is presented by: LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist Hampton Join Hampton's community of high-growth founders today...

  • 2023 / 5 / 26
    Understanding the UAE startup opportunity with Brad Gerstner and Ibrahim Ajami | E1751

    This Week in Startups is presented by: VEED makes it super easy for anyone (yes, you) to create great video. Filled with amazing features like templates, auto subtitles, text formatting, auto-resizing, a full...

  • 2023 / 5 / 25
    ChatGPT vs Hollywood writers and the WGA strike with Lon Harris | E1750

    This Week in Startups is presented 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...

  • 2023 / 5 / 24
    Text-to-UI demo with Galileo AI Co-founder Arnaud Benard + How to design loved products | E1749

    This Week in Startups is presented by: Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at...

  • 2023 / 5 / 23
    Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K | E1748

    This Week in Startups is presented by: LinkedIn Marketing. To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups. Squarespace. Turn your idea into a...

  • 2023 / 5 / 23
    Demoing Google’s MusicLM, AssemblyAI, and other AI tools with Sunny Madra | E1747

    This Week in Startups is presented by: Issuu is the all-in-one platform for creating and distributing beautiful digital content. Get started with Issuu today for free or sign up for an annual premium account...

  • 2023 / 5 / 19
    Fireside chat with Jason Calacanis & Brad Gerstner hosted by Mubadala’s Ibrahim Ajami | E1746

    This Week in Startups is presented by: Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://squarespace.com/TWIST for a free trial. When you’re ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off...

  • 2023 / 5 / 18
    Viral fundraising tactics with Rewind AI’s Dan Siroker + How to build a strong brand | E1745

    This Week in Startups is presented by: Merge. Let your developers get back to their core product. Merge is a single API to add hundreds of integrations to your app. Integrate up to 3 customers for free today...

  • 2023 / 5 / 17
    Magic.dev CEO Eric Steinberger on making developers bionic | E1744

    This Week in Startups is presented by: Crowdbotics. Great ideas can change the world, and Crowdbotics is the fastest way to turn those ideas into code. Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at...

  • 2023 / 5 / 17
    AI girlfriends, memories & recreations + Sam Altman testifies | E1743

    Rachel joins Jason to discuss Caryn AI and its rise to popularity before explaining how GenZ uses AI in their everyday lives (1:11). They wrap up conversing about the hearings at the Senate regarding AI...

  • 2023 / 5 / 16
    Open-source vs. "ClosedAI," demoing new AI tools & more with Sunny Madra & Vinny Lingham | E1742

    Sunny and Vinny are back to demo some new AI tools (14:08), discuss open-source vs. "ClosedAI" (38:45), and more! (0:00) Jason kicks off the show (1:31) Jason's trip to the UAE and Abu Dhabi's 30-year...

  • 2023 / 5 / 12
    Using AI to revolutionize video game development with Scenario CEO Emmanuel de Maistre | E1741

    Emmanuel de Maistre joins Jason to demo Scenario’s AI-powered game asset generator (3:54) before breaking down future applications of Scenario’s technology. Then, Presh gives a presentation on how to build...

  • 2023 / 5 / 11
    Building brands and community + influencer marketing that actually works with Dee Murthy | E1740

    Dee Murthy joins Jason to discuss the origin of the Group Chat podcast before talking about his new startup, Ghost (1:44). They then delve into fostering a community, staying true to your brand, and more!...

  • 2023 / 5 / 10
    Reid Hoffman on AI's "crescendo moment," regulation and real-world applications | E1739

    Reid Hoffman joins Jason to discuss AI's current "crescendo moment," and its ability to amplify human capabilities (1:50). Then, they discuss AI regulation, real-world use cases, and much more! (25:55) (0:00)...

  • 2023 / 5 / 9
    Box CEO Aaron Levie breaks down Box AI and generative AI’s impact on business | E1738

    Aaron Levie joins Jason to discuss the launch of Box AI (19:13), AI as a platform shift, its potential effects on employment dynamics (25:53), and much more! (00:00) Aaron Levie joins Jason (4:12) Thoughts on...

  • 2023 / 5 / 9
    GPT-4 web browsing, plugin demos, AI layoffs + more with Sunny Madra & Vinny Lingham | E1737

    Vinny and Sunny join Jason for another AI roundtable to demo ChatGPT’s web browsing capabilities (1:44), discuss AI’s effect on productivity and the workforce (13:53), demo Opus Clip and ChatGPT’s Zillow...

  • 2023 / 5 / 5
    Mining asteroids with AstroForge CEO Matthew Gialich | E1736

    AstroForge CEO Matthew Gialich joins Jason to discuss his startup’s lofty goal of mining Platinum Group Metals from asteroids (1:11). They discuss the recent launch of their Brokkr-1 space vehicle, the...

  • 2023 / 5 / 4
    Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky on early rejection, customer focus & AI’s future in hospitality | E1735

    Airbnb CEO and Co-Founder Brian Chesky joins Jason to tell the story of Airbnb’s early startup struggles (1:29) and discuss how the company has restructured operations to heighten focus on the product and its...

  • 2023 / 5 / 3
    Uber earnings + using AI to revolutionize clinical trials w/ Unlearn.AI’s Charles Fisher | E1734

    First up, Jason breaks down Uber’s huge Q1 results! (1:21) Then, Unlearn.AI CEO Charles Fisher joins to discuss the advancements his company is making in fast-tracking clinical trials (9:49), how machine...

  • 2023 / 5 / 2
    BuzzFeed vs Gawker, AI’s impact on the future of media, and more with Semafor’s Ben Smith | E1733

    Jason is joined by Semafor Co-Founder and EIC Ben Smith to dive into his new book and explore the current state of media. They break down BuzzFeed vs Gawker, why media unions might not work (29:35), the...

  • 2023 / 5 / 1
    Demoing the most innovative new ChatGPT features with Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham | E1732

    Sunny and Vinny are back to break down ChatGPT's latest innovation: the Code Interpreter. They demonstrate its capabilities with two separate datasets on EVs in America and US Bank Failures (10:58) before...

  • 2023 / 4 / 28
    Big Tech earnings breakdown w/TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm | E1731

    TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to break down the big tech's Q1 earning reports (0:53). They discuss Google's culture of entitlement, Microsoft's AI momentum, Meta's year of efficiency, how Amazon may...

  • 2023 / 4 / 27
    Billy McFarland on Fyre Fest fraud, failure, hacking, & the long road back | E1730

    Billy McFarland joins Jason to discuss the lessons he has learned from his Fyre Fest fraud, before discussing the festival’s origin story and what led him to winding up in jail (1:36). This leads to an...

  • 2023 / 4 / 26
    AI’s Future: Opportunity, Regulation & Limits with Vinny Lingham & Sunny Madra | E1729

    Vinny and Sunny join Jason to discuss the three phases of AI adoption and the emergence of new business models (1:55), which leads to a conversation about Grimes open-sourcing her AI-generated vocals before...

  • 2023 / 4 / 25
    Spotify earnings, Grimes takes AI-based music approach + Cafe X CEO Henry Hu | E1728

    Jason starts the show by breaking down Spotify’s latest earnings report before discussing pop star Grimes taking to Twitter to announce a new business model for her AI-generated music (1:44). Then, Cafe X CEO...

  • 2023 / 4 / 24
    Building generative AI for pitch decks with Tome CEO Keith Peiris | E1727

    Tome CEO Keith Peiris joins Jason to demo Tome’s AI-powered text-to-presentation platform (10:25). They discuss concerns about the pace of AI and the prevalence of 10x engineers (35:55), before Velocity...

  • 2023 / 4 / 21
    SpaceX's Starship launch, Tiger Global's 20% markdown + Ask Jason! | E1726

    Jason recaps SpaceX's Starship rocket launch (2:06) and discusses BuzzFeed's 15% RIF and Fox News settling its Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit (9:11). He also covers Reddit's announcement to charge large AI...

  • 2023 / 4 / 20
    Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K | E1725

    Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring two startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university⁠ (0:00) Jason kicks off the show (3:35) Jason...

  • 2023 / 4 / 20
    Startup pitch competition: Jason invests 25K | E1725

    Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring two startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university⁠ (0:00) Jason kicks off the show (3:35) Jason...

  • 2023 / 4 / 19
    Building the future of VFX and video editing with Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela | E1724

    Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela joins Jason to discuss their suite of generative AI video editing tools (3:03), Runway's AI Film Festival and the rapid evolution of filmmaking (22:21), Runway's ability to...

  • 2023 / 4 / 18
    Google’s search engine “panic,” AI-generated hits, Coinbase considers leaving US market | E1723

    Rachel is back to help Jason break down the news! First, they cover Google reportedly “panicking” over Samsung potentially switching to Bing as its device-default search engine, how Google can beat...

  • 2023 / 4 / 17
    Uizard’s Tony Beltramelli on text-to-UI & PMF + building a Notion CRM w/ Kelly Schricker | E1722

    Uizard CEO Tony Beltramelli joins Jason to demo Uizard’s AI-powered UI designer (6:01) and discusses how he iterated on Uizard’s product-market fit and the competition it faces (21:20). Then, Kelly Schricker...

  • 2023 / 4 / 14
    Hyfe’s Joe Brew on using AI to quantify coughs + Presh on generating content with ChatGPT | E1721

    Hyfe CEO Joe Brew joins Jason to discuss quantifying cough to prevent the spread of disease. They break down how Hyfe’s technology works (2:48), how his company diagnoses diseases via audio and qualifying...

  • 2023 / 4 / 13
    The rise of AutoGPTs and AI anxieties with Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham | E1720

    Vinny and Sunny join Jason to discuss AI’s blistering pace and compare its development to other product launches (2:47). They also break down the anxiety artists and developers feel from AI automation...

  • 2023 / 4 / 12
    Copy.ai CEO Paul Yacoubian on keeping up with GPT’s rapid evolution & AI’s potential impact | E1719

    Copy.ai Founder Paul Yacoubian joins Jason to break down the evolution and progress that OpenAI has made with its GPT LLMs (2:38) before discussing the radical shifts that AI will cause across most industries...

  • 2023 / 4 / 11
    Stanford & Google’s Westworld-like AI experiment, BloombergGPT, SF CRE collapse | E1718

    Jason breaks down an AI experiment conducted by Google and Stanford researchers, where they created a simulated Sims-like video game with characters driven by AI (2:27). Then, he discusses Bloomberg...

  • 2023 / 4 / 11
    PrayingForExits on the state of VC, ZIRP fraudsters, revolutionary product launches & more | E1717

    The man behind the anonymous accounts “prayingforexits” on Instagram and “@mrexits” on Twitter joins Jason for a jam-packed episode. Topics covered: what founders can learn from Logan Roy (2:29), what recent...

  • 2023 / 4 / 11
    Praying For Exits on the state of VC, ZIRP fraudsters, revolutionary product launches & more | E1717

    The man behind the anonymous accounts “prayingforexits” on Instagram and “@mrexits” on Twitter joins Jason for a jam-packed episode. Topics covered: what founders can learn from Logan Roy (2:29), what recent...

  • 2023 / 4 / 7
    YC demo day valuation tensions, how VCs can find gems, Substack's performance & more | E1716

    Jason breaks down the valuation tension surrounding YC demo days (2:36), how to get better prices on YC-equivalent startups (8:59), Garry Tan's response to complaints (15:18), and more! Then, Jason reacts to...

  • 2023 / 4 / 6
    Satya Patel on the state of VC, flexible investing frameworks & converting to evergreen | E1715

    Satya Patel joins Jason to discuss the economics of being a self-funded GP and the structure of their fund (6:51). Then, they have an all-encompassing discussion about the challenges of running Google today,...

  • 2023 / 4 / 5
    Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K | E1714

    Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring three startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university (0:00) Nick kicks off the show (1:07)...

  • 2023 / 4 / 4
    Saudi Arabia discloses LP positions & SEC charges Frank founder with fraud | E1713

    First up, Jason touches on Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund disclosing which VC firms it has made LP investments in (2:48), which leads to him pondering the human rights issues and if founders care where...

  • 2023 / 4 / 3
    Trump, Saudi, & Adam Neumann’s obsession with cities + BioFluff CEO Martin Stübler | E1712

    Jason kicks off the show by breaking down clips from a recent conversation between Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, and Adam Neumann about Saudi Arabia’s promising startup scene (2:44). This leads to Jason...

  • 2023 / 3 / 31
    Stephen Wolfram on AI’s rapid progress & the “Post-Knowledge Work Era” | E1711

    Stephen Wolfram of Wolfram Research joins Jason for an all-encompassing conversation about AI, from the history of neural nets (7:53) to how modern ai emulates the human brain (19:33). This leads to an...

  • 2023 / 3 / 30
    Crypto’s de-platforming and the balkanization of AI with Vinny Lingham | E1710

    Vinny Lingham joins Jason to break down the state of crypto’s de-platforming by the US government. They discuss recent happenings with Coinbase (2:13), Balaji’s Bitcoin bet (20:00), Binance (38:23), SBF...

  • 2023 / 3 / 29
    Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K live! | E1709

    Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring three startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.founder.university (0:00) Jason kicks off the show  (1:58)...

  • 2023 / 3 / 29
    Alibaba's six-way split, Disney cuts its metaverse team, Substack's raise & more | E1708

    Producer Rachel joins Jason to break down the latest tech news. They cover AOC's arguments against banning TikTok (2:29), Alibaba's six-way split (18:43), Disney's metaverse cuts (28:17), Substack's equity...

  • 2023 / 3 / 27
    First Citizens acquires SVB, the daunting reality of AI & Refiberd CEO Sarika Bajaj | E1707

    Jason starts the show by discussing First Citizens acquiring SVB’s assets (2:03) before diving into a Reddit post detailing how generative AI changed a 3D artist’s job overnight (9:09). Jason wraps by...

  • 2023 / 3 / 24
    Acquired’s Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal on private markets, ZIRP impact, future of Amazon | E1706

    Acquired co-hosts Ben and David are BACK to discuss the state of the VC market and YC shutting down its Continuity Fund (6:20) before diving into industries that benefitted from ZIRP (26:35). They also break...

  • 2023 / 3 / 23
    TikTok CEO grilled in front of Congress, Coinbase's Wells Notice & Do Kwon arrested | E1705

    Jason kicks off today's episode by reacting to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony in front of Congress (1:41) before delving into the news that Coinbase was served a Wells notice by the SEC (22:57). Then, he...

  • 2023 / 3 / 22
    ANGEL: Freestyle’s Jenny Lefcourt on nailing non-consensus bets and avoiding hype | E1704

    Jenny Lefcourt of Freestyle VC joins Jason for an insightful conversation. They delve into the mission of All Raise and the importance of diversity in venture capital (2:04). Jenny shares her thoughts on...

  • 2023 / 3 / 21
    Startup pitch competition! Jason invests $25K into one of four founders | E1703

    Today on the podcast, we have a new format for you! Jason will hear four pitches from Founder University participants and choose ONE startup to invest $25K in! (1:45) (0:00) Jason kicks off the show and...

  • 2023 / 3 / 20
    Balaji’s $1M Bitcoin bet, banking crisis update, OpenAI launches GPT-4, and Jay Trading! | E1702

    Rachel Reporting joins Jason to read the news! First, they give an update on the banking crisis and how it’s impacting startups (1:34). Then, they cover Balaji’s huge Bitcoin bet and his predictions for the...

  • 2023 / 3 / 17
    ANGEL: Laurie Yoler on investing early in Tesla, strategic partnerships, and her VC career | E1701

    Molly is joined by Laurie Yoler as they dive into her early experiences in VC before discussing how she became the first investor in Tesla (1:45). Next, Laurie talks about her time at Qualcomm and Playground...

  • 2023 / 3 / 16
    Banking crisis impact, more Meta cuts, and GPT-4 with Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham | E1700

    Vinny and Sunny are BACK with Jason for another roundtable! First, they cover the aftermath of the bank shutdowns (2:54) before breaking down the impact on startups and the overall economy. (14:14) They also...

  • 2023 / 3 / 15
    Andy Rachleff on SVB, how to evaluate VCs, market pull indicators, Wealthfront, and more | E1699

    Wealthfront Chairman and Co-Founder Andy Rachleff joins Jason for an incredible interview! They start the show by discussing the SVB situation before breaking down different tech mini-crashes throughout...

  • 2023 / 3 / 14
    How ocean farming can solve world hunger with Alora CEO Luke Young | E1698

    Alora CEO and Co-Founder Luke Young joins Molly to discuss ocean agriculture and the ability to grow crops offshore (1:17). They discuss the progression and engineering that have propelled Alora’s innovations...

  • 2023 / 3 / 13
    Silicon Valley Bank collapse recap + Wist CEO on capturing XR memories | E1697

    Jason kicks off Monday by recapping this weekend’s chaos caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (1:45). Then, he advises founders on preventing a scare like this from happening again before...

  • 2023 / 3 / 11
    EMERGENCY POD: $SVIB implodes, contagion risk, advice for founders, and what’s next? | E1696

    Jason reacts to Silicon Valley Bank being shut down by the FDIC and breaks down what this means for founders and VCs. (0:00) Breaking down the SVB situation (4:28) FDIC press release (7:41) What Jason hopes...

  • 2023 / 3 / 10
    Stripe to raise $6B, $SIVB drops 60%, generative AI funding | E1695

    Eric Newcomer joins to break down all the trending tech topics, including Stripe raising $6B (16:31), major generative ai fundraises (35:55), Silicon Valley Bank dropping 60% (50:35), and more! (0:00) Jason...

  • 2023 / 3 / 10
    Stripe to raise $6B, $SIVB drops 60%, generative AI funding | E1694

    Eric Newcomer joins to break down all the trending tech topics, including Stripe raising $6B (16:31), major generative ai fundraises (35:55), Silicon Valley Bank dropping 60% (50:35), and more! (0:00) Jason...

  • 2023 / 3 / 10
    Ask an Angel! Startup funding overview, investor red flags, negotiating early-stage terms | E1694

    Zach Coelius is BACK with Jason to take questions from founders and investors! They cover investing on Zoom post-COVID (6:07), diligence red flags (13:13), investor red flags (27:32), building relationships...

  • 2023 / 3 / 8
    ANGEL: Threshold VC’s Emily Melton on market distortion, healthcare investing & culture | E1693

    Emily Melton joins Molly to discuss her early days in venture and what she learned while working at DFJ (1:30). Then, they talk about the barriers that healthcare imposes on entrepreneurship (17:22), building...

  • 2023 / 3 / 7
    Crypto climate bill resurfaces, BlocPower raises $155M + Arcadia CEO Kiran Bhatraju | E1692

    Molly kicks off Climate Tuesday breaking down the news that the Crypto-Asset Environmental Transparency Act has resurfaced (1:37). Then, she discusses BlocPower’s $155M raise and their collaboration with a...

  • 2023 / 3 / 7
    Sequoia resigns from Citizen's board, IPO window opens, chaos at Dapper Labs | E1691

    Jason is BACK with Molly to break down the news! They cover Sequoia leaving Citizen's board after passing on a "pay to play" round (5:46), two major companies reportedly going public in 2023: Instacart and...

  • 2023 / 3 / 4
    Apple blocks AI email app, TikTok restricts teens, Foodini’s Dylan McDonnell | E1690

    Molly starts the show with Producer Rachel, covering Apple blocking an email app with an AI update (7:17), TikTok's latest restriction for users under 18 (14:05), and Salesforce Q4 earnings results. Then,...

  • 2023 / 3 / 2
    Snowflake CEO Frank Slootman on moving the needle, win-first culture & managing burnout | E1689

    Frank Slootman joins Jason for another incredible conversation that ranges from the management shift in Silicon Valley (1:08) to how to know if you’re moving the dial in your organization (9:59). Then, they...

  • 2023 / 3 / 2
    Crypto Roundtable: Twitter payments integration and latest Yuga Labs NFT drop | E1688

    Vinny and Sunny joined Molly on another segment of Crypto Roundtable! Highlights included how Twitter could have integrated crypto  (2:02), the benefits and controversy of a national ID system (23:00),...

  • 2023 / 2 / 28
    ANGEL: Canaan’s Maha Ibrahim on fund sizing, distribution strategies & early VC days | E1687

    Maha Ibrahim of Canaan joins Molly to discuss her early days in VC (1:38), managing distributions and exiting at the right time (20:36), the clean tech bubble, being a generalist/specialist, diversity, and...

  • 2023 / 2 / 27
    Neeva CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy on AI chatbots and the search revolution | E1686

    Neeva CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy joins Molly to talk all things search and AI chatbots, including Neeva’s technology and the difficulty of building a search engine (1:41), Neeva’s consumer focus and business model...

  • 2023 / 2 / 24
    WallStreetBets founder on why he's suing Reddit; Andrew Hart of Hyper; and Ok Boomer | E1685

    The Friday variety show is back! Jason kicks it off by interviewing WallStreetBets founder Jaime Rogozinski, who's currently suing Reddit (2:08). Then, Molly is joined by Hyper CEO Andrew Hart to discuss the...

  • 2023 / 2 / 24
    WallStreetBets founder on why he's suing Reddit, Andrew Hart of Hyper + OK Boomer | E1685

    The Friday variety show is back! Jason kicks it off by interviewing WallStreeBets founder Jaime Rogozinski, who's currently suing Reddit (2:08). Then, Molly is joined by Hyper CEO Andrew Hart to discuss the...

  • 2023 / 2 / 23
    Sophia Amoruso on branding, raising a fund, portfolio construction & more | E1684

    Sophia Amoruso, Founder and General Partner at Trust Fund, joins Jason to chop it about her angel investments (1:23), raising a fund publicly (5:54), and the creative process (12:14). Then they discuss...

  • 2023 / 2 / 22
    ANGEL: Upfront’s Mark Suster on the power of alignment, setting reality, and raising capital | E1683

    Jason is joined by Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures to cover various topics. They discuss raising capital in the early 2000s (1:22), aligning board members (21:19), the three variables VCs need to bet on...

  • 2023 / 2 / 21
    Brain-computer interfaces and the future of neural engineering with Dr. Benjamin Rapoport | E1682

    Precision Neuroscience’s Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer joins Molly to discuss how the brain communicates with the body (7:08) and the breakthroughs that allowed companies like Precision to exist....

  • 2023 / 2 / 21
    Meta's paid tier, Bing's chatbot gone wild, Stripe's $4B bill | E1681

    First up, J+M break down Meta taking a note from Twitter with a $12 paid tier and how it can have a material impact on revenue. (12:05) Then, they cover the problems with Bing's new chatbot (32:13) before...

  • 2023 / 2 / 17
    US crypto crackdown with Vinny Lingham & Sunny Madra + OK Boomer | E1680

    Vinny and Sunny join Jason and Molly for another crypto roundtable discussing the federal government’s crackdown on crypto. (1:39) They define what staking is (10:13), and Jason addresses his Twitter Exchange...

  • 2023 / 2 / 15
    ANGEL: Insight's Deven Parekh on venture tourists, cleaning cap tables & winning investments | E1679

    Deven Parekh of Insight Partners joins Jason to discuss navigating markets during the dot com era and the pandemic. (1:50) Then they discuss "venture tourists" and cleaning up cap tables before wrapping up...

  • 2023 / 2 / 14
    Bing dodges $100B bullet & IVP's Tom Loverro on the looming startup collapse | E1678

    Molly is joined by Rachel as they discuss the news that some companies are selling data about their mental health patients. (1:33) Then they discuss how Bing’s AI chatbot was presenting false information...

  • 2023 / 2 / 13
    ChatGPT’s alter ego and moderating AI-generated content | E1677

    Molly and Jason kick off the show catching up after the weekend, discussing the Super Bowl and the spy balloons that the US airforce has shot down. (1:30) Then they have a very interesting conversation about...

  • 2023 / 2 / 11
    ANGEL: Surviving a down market, early VC stories & more with four-cycle investor Geoff Yang | E1676

    Four-cycle investor and Redpoint Ventures Co-Founder Geoff Yang joins to discuss his early years in VC (1:45), what it takes for a founder to survive in a down market (11:47), what makes CEOs like Frank...

  • 2023 / 2 / 8
    Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia on early “a-ha” moments, elite design + his new startup Samara | E1675

    Joe Gebbia joins Jason to discuss the early days of Airbnb, gaining traction, persevering through the “no’s,” and functional design. (2:09) They also discuss gaining customer trust and Airbnb’s incredible...

  • 2023 / 2 / 7
    Google announces Bard, Adam Neumann’s business plan, Blue Collar tech’s moment | E1674

    Molly and Jason discuss Google’s announcing plans to roll out its ChatGPT competitor, called Bard, in the coming weeks. (1:10) Then, they discuss Adam Neumann’s explanation of Flow’s business before wrapping...

  • 2023 / 2 / 6
    The AI arms race escalates: Google’s $300M bet, Neeva’s paid search engine + So Syncd CEO | E1673

    Molly breaks down Google’s $300M investment in Anthropic and how this deal compares to Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI. (2:00) Then, she dives deep into a former Google executive’s paid search engine and...

  • 2023 / 2 / 3
    Google, Amazon & Apple earnings + OK Boomer with Slush CEO | E1672

    Molly is off for the day, so Producer Rachel joins Jason to break down Google, Amazon, and Apple’s latest earnings report. (1:29) Then LA26 graduate Perrin Davidson, CEO of EATERCLUB, joins Molly. (46:05)...

  • 2023 / 2 / 3
    Google, Amazon & Apple earnings + Ok Boomer with Slush CEO | E1672

    Molly is off for the day; Producer Rachel joins Jason to break down Google, Amazon and Apple’s latest earnings report. (1:29) Then LA26 graduate Perrin Davidson, CEO of EATERCLUB, joins Molly. (46:05) Lastly,...

  • 2023 / 2 / 2
    Meta’s massive comeback, FED’s latest hike, GPT-4 rumors + Spotify earnings with Lon Harris | E1671

    Jason and Molly kick off the show by discussing Meta’s Q4 earnings and the news that the Fed is raising rates by only 25 basis points (3:06), which leads to a discussion on unemployment, automation, and...

  • 2023 / 2 / 2
    ANGEL: FirstMark’s Rick Heitzmann on shaking off the bull run, “shock absorbers,” and more | E1670

    Jason is joined by FirstMark Capital’s Rick Heitzmann, who started his investment career in 1999. They discuss “sobering up” after the 14-year bull run (1:55), Airbnb’s response to the downturn (7:38), how...

  • 2023 / 2 / 1
    Instagram co-founders team up for new startup + Magic Spoon’s Gabi Lewis | E1669

    Jason and Molly kick off the show with a quick third-rail story about Area 51. (1:56) They then cover Instagram co-founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom’s new startup, Artifact. (10:44) Finally, Gabi Lewis...

  • 2023 / 1 / 30
    Anthropic seeking $5B valuation, OpenAI hires 1000 contractors, Mr. Beast’s latest video | E1668

    Jason and Molly kick off the week with a generative ai update! (5:00) Then, they cover Mr. Beast’s latest video and “stunt culture” (35:21), some more third-rail topics (49:40), and Billy McFarland being back...

  • 2023 / 1 / 27
    MSG's facial recognition software, BuzzFeed's deal with Meta, The Creator Economy and more | E1667

    Please take our 90-second audience survey for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card at www.thisweekinstartups.com/survey Molly and Jason chop it up about New York Attorney General Letitia James probing into...

  • 2023 / 1 / 27
    Macro picture, Bitcoin’s bull/bear case, DCG controversy & more | E1666

    Please take our 90-second audience survey for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card at www.thisweekinstartups.com/survey Vinny and Sunny are back for our first crypto-roundtable of 2023. Vinny breaks down...

  • 2023 / 1 / 25
    ANGEL: Venrock’s Bryan Roberts on 25 years in VC, hitting wins early, avoiding bad habits | E1665

    Please take our audience survey!: https://launchevents.typeform.com/to/K5RhKaEH Jason sits down with Bryan Roberts of Venrock for another episode of Angel Season 7! They discuss Bryan’s first bets (2:22) and...

  • 2023 / 1 / 24
    DOJ sues Google over ad practices, Ticketmaster takes the stand + LA26 founders | E1664

    Please take our audience survey!: https://launchevents.typeform.com/to/K5RhKaEH Molly goes solo today to cover the DOJ joining eight states to file an anti-trust lawsuit against Google (2:04) before covering...

  • 2023 / 1 / 23
    Employee reactions to Google layoffs, Microsoft & OpenAI codify deal + NVIDIA's new feature | E1663

    Join Molly and Jason as they react to TikToks posted by former Google employees who have recently been let go. They discuss why Google is letting people go despite their massive profits (8:54). They also...

  • 2023 / 1 / 20
    $NFLX earnings, Reed Hastings steps down, Google's 6% RIF & Ok Boomer with Mike O'Brien | E1662

    Molly and Jason tackle Netflix's stellar fourth-quarter earnings and the news that Reed Hastings is stepping down as CEO. (1:55) Plus, they delve into Google's announcement to lay off 6% of its workforce...

  • 2023 / 1 / 19
    Quiet hiring, Semafor’s $10M SBF buyback + M3GAN and The Last of Us with Lon Harris | E1661

    Molly and Jason kick off the show by discussing the concept of 'quiet hiring' (1:53) and the SEC's proposed rules making it easier for LPs to sue VCs (9:37). They also cover Semafor's buyback of Sam...

  • 2023 / 1 / 18
    ANGEL: Brad Feld on investing through 3 economic cycles, CEO/investor dynamics, and more | E1660

    (0:00) Jason Kicks off the show (2:49) Brad Feld, Co-founder of Foundry, talks about starting out in investing (13:30) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free...

  • 2023 / 1 / 17
    Getty to sue Stability AI, $MSFT to incorporate OpenAI into Azure + new climate startups | E1659

    First up, Molly and Jason cover a bunch of news happening in the world of AI, Getty Images is preparing to sue Stable Diffusion creator Stability AI (8:47), Meta is partnering with Shutterstock to train its...

  • 2023 / 1 / 16
    Tim Cook’s $50M pay cut, CEO compensation packages & Acquire.com's CEO Andrew Gazdecki | E1658

    Molly and Jason dive deep into the recent news of Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, taking a $50 million pay cut. They discuss this move's implications and whether CEOs are worth their large compensation packages....

  • 2023 / 1 / 14
    OpenAI’s endgame, DeepMind’s chatbot, United by Zero’s Lex Kiefhaber + OK Boomer | E1657

    Molly and Jason kick off the show about social taboo topics and getting to the bottom of Covid-19.(2:22) Following the two discuss Molly attending Strictly VC, DeepMind’s new chatbot Sparrow and OpenAI’s end...

  • 2023 / 1 / 12
    Jay Trades and SBF's Substack + Award season and Netflix's content strategy with Lon Harris | E1656

    Molly and Jason chop it up about Jason's latest Jay Trades: Apple, Amazon and Disney. (2:21) Then they briefly discuss SBF's new Substack. (14:42) To wrap up the show, Lon joins us for this week's edition of...

  • 2023 / 1 / 11
    Slack’s troubles inside Salesforce, crypto trader gets jail time, DoNotPay’s robo-lawyer | E1655

    First up, J+M cover the problems at Slack and Salesforce (3:00), before breaking down the anti-competitive issues with bundling software to harm competitors. (13:34) Then, they talk about the comeuppance from...

  • 2023 / 1 / 10
    Coinbase cuts 20%, Microsoft to invest $10B into OpenAI & Ascend Elements CEO Mike O’Kronley | E1654

    Molly and Jason discuss the news that Coinbase is doing another 20% RIF. (6:50) Then they discuss the announcement that Microsoft is investing $10B into OpenAI with some pretty favourable terms. (27:19)...

  • 2023 / 1 / 10
    "The weirdest economy ever," Noma shuts down, Jason demos ChatGPT's iOS app | E1653

    Back from the weekend! First up, J+M catch up and cover a very strange economic situation. (2:07) Then, the duo covers NoMa, the world's most famous restaurant, shutting its doors due to an unsustainable...

  • 2023 / 1 / 6
    Logan Paul & CryptoZoo’s alleged scam breakdown with Coffeezilla + Ok Boomer with Em Herrera | E1652

    Coffeezilla joins M+J to discuss the latest on the alleged Logan Paul and CryptoZoo scam. (1:21) Then Em Herrera joins Rachel for this year’s first edition of Ok Boomer to discuss 2023 predictions....

  • 2023 / 1 / 5
    Bing to integrate ChatGPT, Microsoft’s first union + Flux Gourmet review with Lon Harris | E1651

    M+J kick off the show by discussing the news that Bing will integrate ChatGPT into its search service. (1:21) Then they chop it up about ZeniMax forming Microsoft’s first union. (15:06) And then Lon Harris...

  • 2023 / 1 / 4
    Keith Rabois on 2023 macro outlook, startup valuations, founder advice, ChatGPT vs Google | E1650

    Multiple time guest and friend of the pod Keith Rabois is back! Jason and Keith talk 2023 macro outlook (1:00), big tech's impact on startups (10:01), advice for founders (18:24), Meta's risky VR bet (27:22),...

  • 2023 / 1 / 3
    SpaceX valued at $137B, Starlink's massive market, Shopify purges meetings | E1649

    Jason and Molly are BACK for the first news show of 2023! First up, they break down SpaceX's reported $137B valuation, the astounding market opportunity for Starlink, and more! (7:14) Then, they cover two...

  • 2023 / 1 / 2
    2023 Predictions! Startups, VC, tech, media, stocks, shutdowns, and more! | E1648

    Jason and Molly rip through 20+ predictions for 2023, including over/under bets, shutdowns, stocks, main characters, startups, new tech, and SO much more! (0:00) J+M tee up today's show: 2023...

  • 2022 / 12 / 29
    The 2022 TWiSTY Awards! | E1647

    Molly and Jason present... the 2022 TWiSTY Awards! Join them in commemorating all the best, worst, and craziest moments from this year in startups, markets, and tech! (0:00) J+M intro today's show (1:37)...

  • 2022 / 12 / 27
    Direct listing rule change, Notion AI demo, NYE planning & more | E1646

    J+M kick off the show by discussing some approved changes to direct listings, which will make it easier for companies going public via direct listings to raise money! (1:18) Then, LAUNCH team member Charlie...

  • 2022 / 12 / 25
    Bonus episode! Tár review with Lon Harris

    Christmas surprise! Check out Jason and Molly's FULL review of Tár, spoilers and all, with Lon Harris! (0:00) Tár review from Thursday (21:53) Bonus Tár review! Reviewing the critics, SPOILER REVIEW, and...

  • 2022 / 12 / 23
    FTX & Alameda execs plead guilty, YouTube inks NFL Sunday Ticket deal + Tár review | E1645

    Molly and Jason discuss Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang pleading guilty to securities fraud. (2:04) Then Lon Harris joins J+M for this week’s edition of This Week in Streaming, where they discuss YouTube’s new...

  • 2022 / 12 / 21
    Managing your cash reserves | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1644

    Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to educate founders on how to get the most out of their cash reserves. (0:00) (0:00) Your fiduciary duty to protect and invest your cash responsibly + developing an...

  • 2022 / 12 / 21
    The inside story of Iger's Disney return, Epic Games record-breaking fines + ClimateCamp CEO | E1643

    First up, J+M break down Disney's "Battle of the Bobs" (2:59), before covering two record-breaking fines against Epic Games, and explaining "dark patterns." (20:35) Molly wraps the show by interviewing...

  • 2022 / 12 / 20
    Salesforce CEO questions WFH amid SaaS slowdown, OpenAI projects $1B revenue by 2024 & more | E1642

    J+M start the show by breaking down the recent disruption at Salesforce and Marc Benioff's comments on remote work. (2:44) Then, they cover OpenAI projecting $1B in revenue by 2024 (57:25) and wrap with a new...

  • 2022 / 12 / 18
    VCSS: Year in review + Valerie Shen of G2 Venture Partners | E1641

    Molly and Jason celebrate the last VCSS of 2022 by reflecting on what Molly has learned over this past year. (1:24) Then Valerie Shen of G2 Venture Partners joins Molly for the final TWiCS of the year....

  • 2022 / 12 / 17
    Financial info to include in your pitch deck | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1640

    Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to explain the MOST important financial information that founders should include in their pitch deck ( (0:00) Kruze's Scott Orn joins Jason to discuss the role of...

  • 2022 / 12 / 16
    Interest rates, inflation and “getting fit” with Brad Gerstner | E1639

    Brad Gerstner of Altimeter Capital joins Molly and Jason for an epic Friday show. They chop it up about the state of the economy, what it actually means to be founder friendly and discuss which big tech...

  • 2022 / 12 / 16
    Jason interviews EatKind CEO Neetha Avalakki and ‘TWiST Mean Tweets’ with Lon Harris | E1638

    First up, Jason interviews Neetha Avalakki, the founder and CEO of EatKind. EatKind is an AI-powered search engine that converts ANY food or recipe into a vegan alternative. (3:20) Then Lon Harris joins Molly...

  • 2022 / 12 / 15
    Affirm addresses Molly & Jason + is TikTok getting banned, and Pearpop’s CEO Cole Mason | E1637

    Molly and Jason react to a letter they received from Affirm after yesterday’s episode. (1:59) Then, Molly and Jason discuss Marco Rubio’s bipartisan legislation to ban TikTok (35:46), And finally, we cap off...

  • 2022 / 12 / 13
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 13
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 11
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 9
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 9
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 8
    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),...

  • 2022 / 12 / 8
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 7
    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)...

  • 2022 / 12 / 6
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 4
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 2
    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...

  • 2022 / 12 / 2
    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!...

  • 2022 / 12 / 1
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 30
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 29
    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!...

  • 2022 / 11 / 29
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 27
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 23
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 21
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 20
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 18
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 17
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 17
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 16
    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)...

  • 2022 / 11 / 15
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 13
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 12
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 11
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 10
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 8
    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...

  • 2022 / 11 / 8
    Meta's looming layoffs & path forward, Airbnb answers concerns & more | E1606

    Monday! First, J+M dive deep on Meta reportedly cutting "many thousands" of jobs this week (1:56), the company's best path forward (12:14), and more. Then, J+M discuss some new Airbnb features (40:52) and...

  • 2022 / 11 / 6
    Understanding capital calls, one-off SAFEs + Transaera CTO Ross Bonner | E1605

    J+M kick off the show with TWO VC Sunday School topics: understanding capital calls (2:11), and one-off SAFEs. (10:29) Then, Transaera CTO Ross Bonner joins the show to break down why he is building...

  • 2022 / 11 / 4
    Airbnb earnings breakdown + Gen Z becoming adults on the internet | E1604

    First up J+M deep dive on Airbnb's Q3 earnings (1:27), before Producer Rachel joins for another edition of OK Boomer! (26:57) (0:00) J+M tee up today's segments! (1:27) Airbnb earnings: surviving the pandemic...

  • 2022 / 11 / 4
    Wave of tech layoffs, Robinhood earnings, what makes a great CEO & more | E1603

    First, J+M discuss the recent wave of layoffs at Stripe, Opendoor, Lyft, and others. (1:54) Then, they dive deep into Robinhood's impressive Q3 (21:51), and what other companies can learn from RH's shrinking...

  • 2022 / 11 / 3
    Uber Q3 earnings, macro picture + Brinc Drones CEO Blake Resnick | E1602

    First up, Jason gives an update on his busy weekend. (2:32) Then, Molly joins to break down Uber's Q3 earnings report (8:50) and the macroeconomic picture. (14:31) Then, Brinc Drones CEO Blake Resnick joins...

  • 2022 / 11 / 1
    Steve Case on "The Rise of the Rest", America's economic resiliency & more | E1601

    Author, CEO of Revolution, and former AOL CEO Steve Case joins Jason to talk about his new book, "The Rise of the Rest". (0:50) They also discuss reflections on remote work (13:14), American economic...

  • 2022 / 10 / 31
    Self-driving shakeup: TuSimple CEO fired & Argo AI shuts down + Divvy Homes CEO Adena Hefets | E1600

    Molly Wood breaks down some shakeups in the self-driving space: TuSimple fired its CEO and is being probed by the FBI and SEC (1:40), and Argo AI has shut down after raising ~$2.6B. (8:50) Then, Divvy Homes...

  • 2022 / 10 / 30
    Strategies for investing in an overheated market, understanding warrants + Nat Bullard | E1599

    First up, J+M cover how to approach a market that's heating up during a downturn (1:42), before covering warrants. (25:07) Then, Voyager's Nat Bullard joins to discuss his journalist to VC path and Voyager's...

  • 2022 / 10 / 28
    Meta's precarious situation, $AMZN earnings breakdown, James Gunn to run DC + OK Boomer | E1598

    First up, Jason goes solo to break down more Meta fallout and Amazon's Q3 earnings. (1:59) Then, Lon Harris joins J+M to break down House of the Dragon's huge finale, James Gunn hired to run DC Films, and...

  • 2022 / 10 / 27
    $META earnings instant reaction, Apple's NFT rules, SBF backlash & more | E1597

    Sunny and Vinny are BACK for another crypto roundtable! First up, they give instant reactions to Meta's rough Q3 earnings and Zuck's big bet (1:59), before breaking down Meta's AR/VR battle with Apple...

  • 2022 / 10 / 27
    $MSFT, $GOOG, $SPOT earnings breakdowns + Coco CEO Zach Rash | E1596

    First up Jason does a solo breakdown of recent earnings reports from $MSFT (1:38), $GOOG (13:59), and $SPOT. (26:46) Then, Molly is joined by Coco CEO Zach Rash for another edition of The Next Unicorns!...

  • 2022 / 10 / 26
    Shutterstock partners with OpenAI, Apple's new smart lock partner, Mach 9 spaceplane & more | E1595

    First up, J+M discuss Shutterstock partnering with OpenAI and what this means for ownership and IP rights. (1:56) Then they break down Apple partnering with Level to sell a smart lock (29:00) and what the...

  • 2022 / 10 / 25
    Brad Gerstner's open letter to Zuck, Meta's lack of efficiency, Divvy Homes hit piece | E1594

    J+M cover Brad Gerstner's letter to Zuck and three-point plan to boost Meta's FCF 2x (7:04), an NFT project located at the Fyre Fest island (33:19), and a hit piece on Divvy Homes and its CEO, Adena Hefets....

  • 2022 / 10 / 23
    Venture Debt: should your startup take it on? + Mi Terro's Robert Luo | E1593

    First up, J+M chop it up about venture debt on this edition of VC Sunday School. What are the dangers? And when should your startup take it on? (2:12) Then, Molly has a conversation with Mi Terro founder...

  • 2022 / 10 / 22
    YouTube’s new roadmap, OpenAI & BeReal fundraising news, Snap’s 30% drop + OK Boomer | E1592

    First up, J+M discuss YouTube’s new @handle feature (2:10) and break down how TikTok and Facebook aren’t catching misinformation in political ads. (10:07) Then, they each do a solo segment! Jason chimes in on...

  • 2022 / 10 / 21
    Tesla + Netflix Q3 earnings, Kevin Hart's VC fund, Twitter ideas, revamping the DCEU | E1591

    First up, J+M break down Tesla's Q3 earnings with the help of some insightful charts (2:09), before discussing Kevin Hart's VC firm landing JP Morgan as an LP (17:08) and some ideas for Twitter verification....

  • 2022 / 10 / 20
    Next Unicorns evaluation + Ask Jason | E1590

    New format! Jason evaluates some prior Next Unicorns company's performances since the CEO appeared on the podcast (2:06), and contextualizes the fundraising market throughout the past three years. Then, Jason...

  • 2022 / 10 / 18
    Stability AI's $1B+ valuation, why you should start or join a startup, Roblox jumps 20% | E1589

    First up, J+M cover Stability AI's new billion-dollar valuation (2:45) before Jason runs through a presentation and a manifesto. (15:33) Then, J+M break down Roblox's stock popping 20% on Monday (33:02), and...

  • 2022 / 10 / 18
    Ye agrees to acquire Parler, Xi Jinping on the state of China, deglobalization & more | E1588

    J+M break down Ye agreeing to acquire Parler and share some thoughts on the artist's current situation. (2:22) Then, they cover CCP President Xi Jinping's recent comments on the current state of China...

  • 2022 / 10 / 16
    The Wing shuts down, avoiding pitfalls of success + Tesseract Energy's Alan Chang | E1587

    First up, J+M discuss The Wing shutting down, where it went wrong, and avoiding ego-based pitfalls. (1:35) Then, Alan Chang joins Molly to break down his idea behind Tesseract Energy! (22:37) (0:00) J+M...

  • 2022 / 10 / 15
    VCs hiring Twitter ghostwriters, Meta's XR plan, Netflix's ad tier & more | E1586

    Friday variety! First up J+M cover a wide range of topics, including VC ghostwriters (12:45), firms investing in public tech companies (22:29), and news lightning round! (34:51) Then, Producer Rachel is back...

  • 2022 / 10 / 14
    SEC investigates Bored Apes, AI-generated Steve Jobs/Joe Rogan interview & more | E1585

    Vinny Lingham and Sunny Madra are back for another crypto roundtable! The show starts with a discussion on Nvidia's new high-powered graphics cards (2:35) and an AI-generated podcast interview. (15:21) Then,...

  • 2022 / 10 / 13
    TikTok planning to build US fulfillment centers + Liquid Death CEO Mike Cessario | E1584

    First up J+M discuss TikTok's apparent plan to build an e-commerce business via US fulfillment centers! (8:57) Then, Molly is joined by Liquid Death CEO Mike Cessario to discuss the genesis of a great brand...

  • 2022 / 10 / 11
    New worker classification test proposal, Getir in talks to acquire Gorillas & more | E1583

    J+M kick off the show by catching up after Molly's speaking gig yesterday (2:31), before breaking down the US Labor Dept proposing new rules for worker classification (16:23). Then, they discuss self-driving...

  • 2022 / 10 / 11
    Amazon's transformation, Peloton's mistakes, VC market downturn & more with Ben Gilbert | E1582

    Acquired's Ben Gilbert fills in for Molly Wood and joins Jason to discuss Amazon's transformation (3:57), AI edge cases (22:02), Peloton's mistakes (32:05), used car prices (59:59), and the current VC market...

  • 2022 / 10 / 9
    Why VCs care about ownership percentage + Flowcarbon CEO Dana Gibber | E1581

    First, Jason explains why many VCs focus on ownership percentage and maintaining ownership throughout an investment life cycle. (1:40) Then, Molly welcomes Flowcarbon CEO Dana Gibber to break down her...

  • 2022 / 10 / 8
    US chip industry update, fixing education, Amazon allegations + OK Boomer | E1580

    First up, J+M discuss new developments in the US chip industry, including tighter restrictions on exports and a massive new investment in an upstate NY factory! (4:57) They also cover fixing US education...

  • 2022 / 10 / 7
    Ask Jason! + Streaming news with Lon Harris | E1579

    Jason opens the show by answering listener questions for 20+ minutes! (1:19) Then, Lon Harris joins to break down Netflix's new mega-hit, the death of network TV, and more! (30:22) (0:00) Jason tees up...

  • 2022 / 10 / 5
    Twitter ideas, Elizabeth Holmes trial update, universal USB-C + Ellevest's Sallie Krawcheck | E1578

    J+M start the show by suggesting some Twitter product ideas (1:59), before ripping through a lightning round of news. (16:26) Then, Molly welcomes Ellevest CEO and Co-Founder Sallie Krawcheck to kick off...

  • 2022 / 10 / 4
    Twitter deal updates, Poshmark acquired, Liquid Death's $700M valuation & more | E1577

    First J+M say as much as they can about the Twitter news (2:03), before breaking down Poshmark being acquired by Naver (6:38). Then, they break down Liquid Death's $700M valuation (34:05) and Selena Gomez...

  • 2022 / 10 / 3
    Tesla AI Day, SEC charges Kim Kardashian for unlawfully promoting token, Section 230 & more | E1576

    Monday! First up, J+M go down the rabbit hole on Tesla AI Day, what impact some form of general AI might have on the world, and more! (2:09) Then, the duo covers the SEC charging Kim Kardashian for unlawfully...

  • 2022 / 10 / 2
    How VCs decide to sell a position + Future's Jean-Louis Warnholz | E1575

    On VC Sunday School, J+M discuss how and when VCs decide to sell a position. (2:01) Then, Molly is joined by Future's Jean-Louis Warnholz to discuss his startup, Future, which offers a climate-friendly debit...

  • 2022 / 10 / 1
    The virtuous cycle of tech startups, Mr. Beast turns down $1B offer + OK Boomer: Taylor Bell | E1574

    First up, J+M discuss the virtuous cycle of tech startups (2:15) before breaking down Mr. Beast turning down a $1B acquisition offer for his media business (24:58). Then, Producer Rachel is joined by content...

  • 2022 / 9 / 29
    Meta's text-to-video tool, Zuck's grand plan, Vision Fund to cut staff 30% + $WBD lawsuit | E1573

    J+M discuss Meta's new text-to-video tool and what the future of creativity might look like (2:59), then they break down Zuck's grand plan (14:49) before discussing what a recession might mean for startups...

  • 2022 / 9 / 28
    Apple allows in-app NFT purchases + Bitcoin's role during global macro headwinds | E1572

    Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham are BACK for another crypto roundtable! First up, a full breakdown of the current NFT space: Apple allowing in-app NFT purchases (1:35), best uses cases & platforms for...

  • 2022 / 9 / 28
    Cathie Wood's new VC fund, Bill Gurley's best insights, Girls Who Code on banned books list | E1571

    J+M break down Cathie Wood's new VC fund (1:53), Bill Gurley's best insights from his interview with McKinsey (26:13), and Girls Who Code making a banned books list in a Pennsylvania county (0:00) J+M tee up...

  • 2022 / 9 / 26
    British pound crashes, Do Kwon's red notice, NASA's DART mission, TikTok nears US deal | E1570

    J+M break down the British pound dropping below $1.04 (5:15), Interpol issuing a red notice for Do Kwon (27:07), NASA's DART mission (53:52), and TikTok discussing an agreement with the Biden administration!...

  • 2022 / 9 / 25
    Evaluating founder ambition, tools vs platforms + USV's Albert Wenger: post-capital world | E1569

    First up, J+M discuss founder ambition and tools vs. platforms on VC Sunday School. (3:06) Then, USV's Albert Wenger joins to break down his firm's $162M climate fund, his book "The World After Capital", and...

  • 2022 / 9 / 24
    Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke on navigating a downturn, innovating in compensation & more | E1568

    Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke joins Jason for the third time to break down Shopify's wild ride over the past 2+ years (1:40), $SHOP's new compensation system (14:19), competing with Amazon (45:38), Shop Pay (56:25),...

  • 2022 / 9 / 23
    DAO breakdown with Orange DAO's Ben Huh + Amazon's $11B NFL deal with Lon Harris | E1567

    (0:00) J+M tee up today's segments! (2:57) J+M intro Ben Huh and discuss his background and why he helped start Orange DAO (15:21) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at...

  • 2022 / 9 / 21
    Mojo CEO Vinit Bharara on building a stock market to bet on athletes | E1566

    On today's show, Mojo CEO and Co-Founder Vinit Bharara joins Jason to talk about his new stock market to bet on athletes, Mojo, which just launched in New Jersey. (1:39) Vinit breaks down the thesis (17:07),...

  • 2022 / 9 / 20
    Nikola lawsuit updates, Rumble business breakdown + more SPAC updates | E1565

    Tuesday SPAC-tacular! J+M cover the biggest on-goings in the world of SPACs, including: the latest in the trial of former Nikola CEO Trevor Milton (1:55), Chamath winding down $IPOD and $IPOF and returning...

  • 2022 / 9 / 20
    Monetizing BeReal, Bogus accounts by US Military, iPhone 14 camera bug, Twilio layoffs | E1564

    Jason and Molly kick the week off by breaking down the team's favorite new social media app, BeReal, and its plans to add paid features (15:16). Then, they cover how platforms found fake accounts suspected of...

  • 2022 / 9 / 18
    How to deal with failing startups + Team Wildfire CEO Steve Wolf on "Hurricane-as-a-Service" | E1563

    Welcome to Sunday! First up, J+M cover different methods and classifications for dealing with failing startups. (2:01) Then, Molly interviews Team Wildfire CEO Steve Wolf about his "Hurricane-as-a-Service"...

  • 2022 / 9 / 17
    Paid newsletter pricing disruption, Instagram Reels underperforming + OK Boomer | E1562

    Friday variety is back! First up, J+M do a Startup Breakdown and cover newsletter platform beehiiv and how it could disrupt Substack's pricing model (2:27). Then, they cover leaked documents from Meta that...

  • 2022 / 9 / 16
    Adobe acquires Figma for $20B, Patagonia founder donates profits + Streaming consolidation | E1561

    J+M kickoff the show by discussing Adobe acquiring Figma for $20B! (2:30) Then, they cover Patagonia's founder donates nearly all profits to solve climate change. (21:53) Finally, Lon Harris joins to discuss...

  • 2022 / 9 / 15
    Crypto news: Do Kwon arrest warrant, ETH merge, Orange DAO + The Blueprint Part 10 | E1560

    First up, Jason is back with the tenth and FINAL edition of The Blueprint, where he explains the seven ways to create wealth (2:12). Then, Vinny and Sunny join J+M for a crypto roundtable, covering: Do Kwon's...

  • 2022 / 9 / 14
    Bob Iger joins VC firm as venture partner, Twitter whistleblower hearing, KKR tokenizes fund | E1559

    First up, J+M discuss Bob Iger joining Thrive Capital as a venture partner (2:09), then they break down the most interesting moments from the Twitter whistleblower hearings (24:48). After that, they discuss...

  • 2022 / 9 / 13
    Bolt cancels $1.5B Wyre deal, $ROKU adds TikTok-style feature, Deere's self-driving tractors | E1558

    J+M are back recapping this week's episode of All-In and how to stop brigading on Twitter (1:42). They also cover Bolt cancelling its $1.5B acquisition of crypto payments startup Wyre (19:46), Roku adding a...

  • 2022 / 9 / 11
    How VCs view founders with a side hustle + Bringing ESG to VC with Joe Blair | E1557

    Sunday special! First up, J+M break down how VCs view founders with a side hustle (1:44), and how founders can actually make their side hustles accretive to their startup. (12:45) Then, Molly interviews Bay...

  • 2022 / 9 / 10
    Muck Rack raises $180M, Elly Health Co-Founder Cecilia Anderson + OK Boomer | E1556

    Friday Variety is back! First up, J+M break down Muck Rack's $180M Series A (10:43). Then, Elly Health Co-Founder Cecilia Anderson joins Molly to discuss her startup (21:16). Finally, Producer Rachel...

  • 2022 / 9 / 9
    Kim Kardashian's new PE firm & impact on VC + how Amazon can turn a profit on Rings of Power | E1555

    First up, J+M discuss Kim Kardashian's new PE firm and break down what this means for the broader private investing industry (2:29). Then, Lon Harris joins the show to break down the controversy, history, and...

  • 2022 / 9 / 8
    Instagram to shut down Shopping, reacting to Apple's event & more + The Blueprint Part 9 | E1554

    J+M have big hotel energy today as the duo lets it fly on a bunch of topics including: Trump's documents (2:21), Code Conference poker stories (18:40), Instagram shutting down "Shopping" + Zuck's new look...

  • 2022 / 9 / 7
    Jason's DTC investment thesis, Jokr looking to raise $50M, liquidation preference breakdown, witness in Elizabeth Holmes trial goes rogue | E1553

    First up, Jason explains his DTC investment thesis (3:00), before he and Molly give some insight into the Bay Area heat wave (13:41). Then, Jason and Molly dive deep on reporting that instant delivery startup...

  • 2022 / 9 / 4
    Raising a VC fund in public + Brilliant Planet's Raffael Jovine on the power of algae | E1552

    On VC Sunday School, J+M discuss why Jason is planning on raising LAUNCH Fund IV in public! (2:38) Then, Raffael Jovine joins to discuss how Brilliant Planet is growing algae and using it to sequester carbon...

  • 2022 / 9 / 2
    Ask Jason + LAUNCH founder interviews + OK Boomer with Andrew Yeung | E1551

    Friday Variety Show! First up, Jason answers a bunch of listener questions. (1:16) Then, Molly interview two amazing LAUNCH portfolio founders building marketplace businesses! (21:09) To wrap the show,...

  • 2022 / 9 / 1
    The Definitive History of VC with "Power Law" author Sebastian Mallaby | E1550

    Huge interview today. "Power Law" author Sebastian Mallaby joins the show to break down some of the most important moments in VC history and his lessons from writing the book, including: the youth revolt...

  • 2022 / 9 / 1
    The Blueprint: finding & developing all-stars + Mark Gurman on Apple's AR plans | E1549

    Jam packed show! First up, The Blueprint is BACK as Jason breaks down how he finds and develops emerging talent (1:36). Then, Bloomberg's Apple Guru Mark Gurman is back to discuss the latest on Apple's AR...

  • 2022 / 8 / 31
    Twitter's failed OnlyFans-like product, OpenSea trading volume drops 99%, major FTC lawsuit | E1548

    BIG Tuesday show! First up, J+M break down the insane saga of Twitter's now-cancelled OnlyFans-like product (1:41), OpenSea NFT trading volume dropping ~99% (20:47), a MAJOR FTC lawsuit against a data broker...

  • 2022 / 8 / 30
    YC brings on Garry Tan as President, Apple's AR plans, Bored Apes at the VMAs | E1547

    First up, J+M break down YC announcing Garry Tan as its new President and CEO, and what this means for the industry. (11:44) Then, they break down Apple potentially showing its card for its AR goggles name...

  • 2022 / 8 / 28
    How VCs think about deploying reserves & follow-on funding + Quaise CEO Carlos Araque | E1546

    Sunday show! On VC Sunday School, J+M discuss how VCs deploy reserves for follow-on funding. (1:58) Then, Molly interviews Quaise CEO & Co-Founder Carlos Araque about his geothermal drilling business!...

  • 2022 / 8 / 26
    Twitter adds podcasting, Chatter.dev Founder Pete Oxenham + OK Boomer with Danny Miranda | E1545

    Friday Variety Show! First up J+M break down Twitter adding podcasting to the platform and what this means for the product and for the podcasting industry. (2:14) Then, LAUNCH portfolio founder Pete Oxenham...

  • 2022 / 8 / 26
    $PTON & $SNOW earnings divergence + Streaming news with Lon Harris: HBO, MoviePass & more | E1544

    Big show! First up J+M break down two pandemic darlings on two totally different paths: $PTON and $SNOW (2:26). Then, Lon Harris joins to talk about HBO's record breaking House of the Dragon premiere (27:12),...

  • 2022 / 8 / 25
    Student loan debate, Zuck copies BeReal, Twitter whistleblower + Blueprint Part 7 | E1543

    First up, J+M break down the news, incl: Student loan forgiveness (2:30), Zuck copying BeReal (20:21), the Twitter whistleblower's allegations (36:32), and a climate company's Series A! (1:04:49) Then, Jason...

  • 2022 / 8 / 23
    Crypto Roundtable: Shkreli's new web3 project, ETH merge, Gensler goes after DeFi protocols | E1542

    J+M are joined by Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham for another crypto roundtable! They cover the following topics: Shkreli's new web3 project (1:50), distributed computing projects (16:08), ETH merge (38:00),...

  • 2022 / 8 / 23
    FTX's leaked financials, $AMZN ramps up healthcare interest + Swayed Founder Arjun Shokeen | E1541

    Back with a big Monday news show: Jason and Molly recap last week's All-In (2:09), before covering FTX's leaked financials (17:19), Amazon potentially going further into healthcare (40:34), and more M&A in...

  • 2022 / 8 / 21
    How VCs evaluate pre-launch startups + Mycocycle's Joanne Rodriguez | E1540

    Sunday show! First up, Jason breaks down how VCs evaluate pre-launch startups (1:54) and startups that are going after a market that doesn't exist yet. (15:21) Then, Molly is joined by Mycocycle CEO and...

  • 2022 / 8 / 20
    Ask Jason + LegalQ founder Zeb Anderson + OK Boomer with Jules Terpak | E1539

    Friday variety show! First up, Jason answers your questions on VCs investing in a downturn, winning founder qualities, and more. (1:24) Then, Molly interviews LAUNCH founder Zeb Anderson about his legal...

  • 2022 / 8 / 19
    Apple's new feature & potential ads business + more HBO Max layoffs & chaos | E1538

    New segment alert! J+M debut "Little Big Things" to highlight a unique new feature from Apple (1:46), before breaking down the company ramping up its ads business and what that means for consumers. (10:49)...

  • 2022 / 8 / 18
    Reaction to Adam Neumann's $350M raise, Boom Supersonic's new deal + The Blueprint Part 6 | E1537

    J+M kick off the show by discussing the reaction to Adam Neumann's $350M raise (1:40), before covering Boom Supersonic's new deal with American Airlines (24:59), and a Startup of the Day. (41:55) Jason wraps...

  • 2022 / 8 / 17
    Debating Apple's return to work & Jason's WFH playbook, $META partners with $DASH & more | E1536

    J+M have a big debate over remote work: including covering Apple's return to work policy, Malcolm Gladwell's comments, Jason's WFH playbook, and much more. Then, they cover Meta's new partnership with...

  • 2022 / 8 / 16
    Adam Neumann raises $350M from a16z for his new startup Flow, Bay Area housing hypocrisy | E1535

    Molly is back for a HUGE news days! Adam Neumann has raised $350M from a16z for his new startup Flow (2:14), and his main investor, Marc Andreessen, got into some hot water over housing policy hypocrisy!...

  • 2022 / 8 / 14
    Self-destructive traits of VCs & founders + Air Protein CEO Dr. Lisa Dyson | E1534

    First up, Molly and Jason break down self-destructive founder and VC traits (1:37). Then, Molly interviews Air Protein CEO Dr. Lisa Dyson on how they turn carbon dioxide into protein and how they are...

  • 2022 / 8 / 13
    Howard Lindzon reviews Jason's portfolio & breaks down public/private investing + OK Boomer | E1533

    Howard Lindzon joins to talk about the different mindsets and skillsets of public and private market investors and breaks down what the future of the blockchain might look like. (1:39) Then, Producer Rachel...

  • 2022 / 8 / 12
    $DIS earnings, Disney vs Netflix & streaming strategies with Lon Harris + Ephemeral Tattoos | E1532

    Lon Harris joins the show for a full streaming industry breakdown, including $DIS earnings, $WBD drama, streaming strategies, and more! (1:59) Then, Molly interviews Ephemeral CEO Jeff Liu on building a...

  • 2022 / 8 / 11
    State of the crypto market, Tornado Cash blacklisted, $COIN Q2 + The Blueprint Part 5 | E1531

    Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham join Jason for a fully loaded crypto market breakdown (1:40). Topics covered include: Tornado Cash being blacklisted by the US Treasury Dept, Coinbase Q2 earnings, smart crypto...

  • 2022 / 8 / 10
    VC market overview, Vision Fund impact, Amazon's core businesses & more with Acquired | E1530

    Acquired's Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal join the show to discuss how they think about public market investments (1:43), VC token sales (27:25), a VC market overview (45:40), the Vision Fund's impact on...

  • 2022 / 8 / 9
    SoftBank's Vision Fund loses $21B+, DTC brands struggle + NutriSense CEO Alex Skryl | E1529

    Jason breaks down SoftBank's Vision Fund losing $21B+ last quarter and reflects on how founders should approach raising capital from megafunds. (2:11) Then, Jason reflects on lessons learned from the tough...

  • 2022 / 8 / 7
    Why some VCs won't invest in first-time founders + $369B carve-out for climate/energy | E1528

    First up on VC Sunday School, J+M cover the stigma around investing in first-time founders: Is it a myth? What are the pros and cons? What really matters when evaluating a founder? (3:01) Then, Molly...

  • 2022 / 8 / 6
    $COIN partners with $BLK, $AMZN acquires iRobot for $1.7B, Jay Trading update + OK Boomer | E1527

    Solo Jason news day! First up, Jason breaks down Coinbase's performance as a public company and its recent partnership with BlackRock (2:18), then he covers Amazon acquiring Roomba-maker iRobot (18:08),...

  • 2022 / 8 / 5
    $WBD shakeup, streaming earnings, Locket raises $12.5M, Lina Khan/FTC sues Meta | E1526

    Lon Harris joins the show to break down the chaotic shakeup going on at Warners Bros. Discovery, what's happening with HBO Max, potential new roadmaps for the DCEU, and more. (2:46) Then, J+M break down a new...

  • 2022 / 8 / 4
    YC reduces S22 batch by 40%, $HOOD RIF, $MSTR CEO change, $ABNB earnings + Blueprint Part 4 | E1525

    BIG show! First up, our co-hosts break down why YC cut its summer cohort size by 40% (2:13), Robinhood letting go 23% of its employees (12:40), Michael Saylor out as MicroStrategy CEO (32:09), and Airbnb...

  • 2022 / 8 / 3
    $UBER & $PINS Q2 earnings + customer-centric primary care with The Lanby's Chloe Harrouche | E1524

    J+M break down Uber and Pinterest's Q2 earnings (2:42), and Jason makes a Jay Trade live on air (18:51). Then, The Lanby CEO Chloe Harrouche joins to break down approaching primary care from a...

  • 2022 / 8 / 2
    TikTok takes on Spotify, startup advice + US housing market w/ Redfin & Divvy Homes CEOs | E1523

    First up, Jason and Molly cover TikTok's recent patents that indicate it might be going after Spotify (2:23). Then, the duo breaks down a recent WSJ report about VCs giving conflicting advice to founders....

  • 2022 / 7 / 31
    How VC diligence works at different stages + Fion's Sudarshan Sridharan on wildfire tech | E1522

    First up on the Sunday show, Jason breaks down the different levels of diligence at different company stages for VC Sunday School (2:02). Then, Fion Technologies CEO Sudarshan Sridharan joins to talk helping...

  • 2022 / 7 / 30
    $AMZN & $AAPL earnings, $META investors losing faith, Jay Trading + OK Boomer with Nate O'Brien | E1521

    Jason is BACK and he's ready to Jay Trade! Jason and Molly wrap up big tech earnings week with a major deep dive on $AMZN's impressive quarter (1:53), $AAPL's slowing revenue growth/growing subscriber base...

  • 2022 / 7 / 28
    Revolutionizing podcasting + standards vs. innovation with Anchor Co-Founder Mike Mignano | E1520

    Today's show is a CLASSIC TWiST founder interview. Anchor Co-Founder Mike Mignano joins to tell Anchor's founding story (1:40), break down what it's like getting acquired by Spotify (15:32), and talk about...

  • 2022 / 7 / 27
    How to supercharge your network + $GOOG & $MSFT earnings & $SHOP layoffs with Deirdre Bosa | E1519

    BIG variety show today! Jason kicks off the show with Part 3 of "The Blueprint" series (1:43), then, CNBC's Deirdre Bosa joins to break down $GOOG and $MSFT earnings, $SHOP layoffs, and $COIN's SEC probe...

  • 2022 / 7 / 26
    Solving prescription drug pricing in the US with Cost Plus Drugs & Capital RX CEOs | E1518

    Today, we have two interviews with founders innovating in the US prescription drug market to bring prices down for consumers. First up, Molly talks with Alex Oshmyansky, CEO of The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug...

  • 2022 / 7 / 25
    $NFLX stops sharing, $SNAP Q2 earnings, $COIN alleged insider trading with Alex Wilhelm | E1517

    We have a big news show with a very special guest! TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm fills in for Jason to break down the news with Molly. They cover Netflix cracking down on password sharing (2:12), Snap's rough Q2...

  • 2022 / 7 / 24
    Telling founders "no," Board meeting etiquette (VC School), + Michael Luciani | E1516

    For today's VC Sunday School, Jason talks about saying "no" to founders (1:20), and Molly asks about board meeting etiquette (20:12). Then, for This Week in Climate Startups, Molly speaks with Michael Luciani...

  • 2022 / 7 / 23
    Ben Narasin on raising a new VC fund in a down market, + Natalie Barbu of Rella | E1515

    Today, Jason and Molly speak with Ben Narasin of Tenacity VC about raising a new venture capital fund in the down market (1:30). Then, for this week's segment of OK Boomer, Producer Rachel sits down with...

  • 2022 / 7 / 22
    $AMZN acquiring One Medical, The Snyder Cut bot army, + maybe some Jay Trading | E1514

    First up, Jason and Molly break down Amazon acquiring One Medical for $3.9B — what is the long-term strategy here (2:44)? And you know it’s Thursday, so you know we had to have Lon Harris on the show (16:36)....

  • 2022 / 7 / 21
    Jay Trading: $NFLX Q2 earnings, The Blueprint E2: when to quit your job, + more | E1513

    Yesterday, Netflix released its Q2 earnings, and this prompted Jason to make some Jay Trades (2:53).  Then, we have our second installment of "The Blueprint," where Jason breaks down when you should quit...

  • 2022 / 7 / 20
    Ask an Angel with Zach Coelius: practical advice for founders and investors in a downturn | E1512

    Molly had a big board meeting today, so we had our guy Zach Coelius join for another version of Ask an Angel (1:32). Zach and Jason share their thoughts on remote work (4:40), the downturn (22:10), and then...

  • 2022 / 7 / 19
    Andy Jassy’s lobbying efforts, small US cities enticing remote workers, Phaidra Series A | E1511

    Today, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is celebrating his one-year anniversary, and the NYT published an interesting profile that has a lot to do with regulatory scrutiny (3:01). Then we cover the boom of remote work...

  • 2022 / 7 / 17
    Taking the leap on valuation, strategic retreats (VC School), + more | E1510

    On today's episode of VC Sunday School, Molly asks Jason about taking the leap on valuation (2:10) and best practices for strategic retreats (11:41). Then, Molly speaks with Meiling Gao and David Lu of...

  • 2022 / 7 / 16
    $AMZN considers dropping “Basics”, FCC Commissioner Carr on banning TikTok + more | E1509

    Today, we cover the WSJ reporting on Amazon thinking of exiting the private-label business entirely (2:26). Then, Jason talks to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr about banning TikTok in the US (15:23). And of...

  • 2022 / 7 / 15
    Jay Trading, Stripe valuation cut, $NFLX ads, $PTON outsourcing, + more | E1508

    Today, Jason makes his first investment in our new Jay Trading segment (which is not investing advice), and Jason and Molly break it down (3:22). Then, we do a little segment called “Series A & M&A” (24:40)!...

  • 2022 / 7 / 14
    The Blueprint E1: Branding yourself, + Jeffrey Pfeffer on the 7 Rules of Power | E1507

    Today we kick off our new series, "The Blueprint." Jason gives practical advice on how to brand yourself (1:33). Then, Jason sits down with Stanford professor and author Jeffrey Pfeffer to talk about his new...

  • 2022 / 7 / 13
    3AC liquidation chaos, Taibbi’s USDC deep dive, startup employee advice + more | E1506

    First, we break down the 3AC situation where the founders were reportedly MIA for about 12 hours (1:52). It’s a complex situation, and we try and make sense of it. Then, we cover Matt Taibbi’s deep-dive...

  • 2022 / 7 / 12
    Twitter deal called off, Uber leaks, + Apple Car setbacks | E1505

    Today we talk about the Elon Musk & Twitter deal-or-no-deal (2:14). Then we get into two big pieces of Uber news today: first, over a hundred thousand leaked documents about Uber’s aggressive expansion...

  • 2022 / 7 / 10
    Molly’s first 6 months as an investor (VC School), + EV battery recycling | E1504

    For today's VC Sunday School, Jason asks Molly what she's learned in her first six months as a venture capitalist (1:59). Then, on This Week in Climate Startups, Molly speaks with siblings Steven and Zora...

  • 2022 / 7 / 9
    Frost Giant CEO Tim Morten on gaming business models, Esports & more | E1503

    Today, Jason sits down with Frost Giant CEO Tim Morten to discuss the gaming business models, Esports, and more (1:50). Then, on this week's OK Boomer segment, Producer Rachel speaks with Richard Mensah,...

  • 2022 / 7 / 8
    Balwani found guilty, Crypto crash updates, + Turkey’s rare earth discovery | E1502

    First, we cover some breaking news: Theranos ex-president Sunny Balwani has been found guilty of fraud (2:27). Then we dive into crypto: those responsible for the lack of crypto regulation in the US might...

  • 2022 / 7 / 7
    Crypto Updates: Voyager files bankruptcy, Celsius pays debt, + Jason Q&A | E1501

    Molly is out today, but don’t worry- we still have crypto news to cover. Crypto firm Voyager Digital filed for bankruptcy (2:14), and crypto loan company Celsius paid some debts (10:43). Finally, Jason takes...

  • 2022 / 7 / 6
    "Minions" record-breaking viral strategy, TikTok algo, reframing semiconductors & energy | E1500

    On today's show, Molly and Jason catch up after the long weekend (0:00) before breaking down how the new "Minions" movie broke a box office record by using TikTok, catchy hooks, and viral marketing (5:19)....

  • 2022 / 7 / 3
    VC School: What's a venture scale business + Matt Duesterberg of OhmConnect | E1499

    For today's VC Sunday School, Molly asks Jason about what makes a venture scale business (2:20). Then, for This Week in Climate Startups, Molly sits down with Matt Duesterberg, co-founder of OhmConnect...

  • 2022 / 7 / 1
    Crypto crash updates, Sequoia’s structure, $ZM product expansion, Starlink & more | E1498

    First, we cover an update from the BlockFi CEO denying that FTX is buying them for $25N (2:33), and we have a couple more crypto quick hits (5:51) before we touch on Sequoia's largest investments being down...

  • 2022 / 7 / 1
    FTX buys BlockFi for $25M, Sequoia raising $2.25B, AI Umpires for MLB, Substack layoffs | E1497

    First, we talk about Meta’s new Facebook Groups overhaul that looks like Discord (2:35). Then we touch on Sequoia raising over 2 billion for its US venture and growth funds (20:31) and FTX acquiring BlockFi...

  • 2022 / 6 / 30
    Downtown Josh Brown & Michael Batnick on Disney+, Peloton, Knicks, podcasting, markets, & more | E1496

    Today, Jason is joined by the hosts of “What are your thoughts?” Downtown Josh Brown (CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management) and Michael Batnick (Managing Partner at Ritholtz Wealth Management). They discuss the...

  • 2022 / 6 / 28
    SBF buys the crypto dip, hedge funds short Tether, VC funding down, flying nuclear cruise mockup | E1495

    First, we dig into the crypto contagion where FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is stepping in to backstop crypto lenders (2:56). Then, we check in on the billions of dollars sitting in SPACs- remember those (39:27)?...

  • 2022 / 6 / 27
    Digital surveillance risks post-Roe v. Wade ruling with Legal Voice’s Kim Clark + PE firm acquires Zendesk for $10.2B | E1494

    Today, we bring on Kim Clark, an attorney at Legal Voice, who reached out to Molly after listening to our shows last week that mentioned the impacts of surveillance on healthcare privacy, notably abortion...

  • 2022 / 6 / 26
    How to co-invest with other firms (VC School) + Electric Sea Gliders: REGENT Co-Founder Billy Thalheimer | E1493

    For today's VC Sunday School, Molly asks Jason about co-investing with other VC firms (3:11). Then for This Week in Climate Startups, Molly sits down with REGENT co-founder Billy Thalheimer to talk about the...

  • 2022 / 6 / 25
    Praying For Exits on Markets, Crypto, Startup Valuations + Anisha Sunkerneni of Cyphr VC | E1492

    Today, Jason sits down with the anonymous account Praying For Exits — they discuss everything going on in markets, crypto, startup valuations post-crash, and even what was behind the All in podcast...

  • 2022 / 6 / 23
    Obi-Wan finale + Healthcare’s hidden money pit with Capital RX CEO AJ Loiacono | E1491

    Today we bring on Lon Harris to discuss the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale (2:23), then we do a quick hit on the FDA taking action against Juul (42:14). Finally, Molly chats with AJ Loiacono from Capital RX, who is...

  • 2022 / 6 / 22
    TikTok data security, the Chinese surveillance state, Amazon running out of warehouse workers | E1490

    Today we kick it off with a discussion of BuzzFeed’s reporting on TikTok, and we debate if there are real risks to worry about here (2:04). Then, we discuss Amazon forecasting it will run out of workers in...

  • 2022 / 6 / 21
    NFT NYC, Solend takeover, Why Non-Finance use cases are the key to Crypto, Magic Eden & more with Vinny Lingham | E1489

    There’s been some crazy news in Crypto, so we bring on Vinny Lingham, an early investor in Solana, who runs a startup that encrypts identity information on the blockchain called Civic. We dig into NFT NYC...

  • 2022 / 6 / 19
    When to take a meeting (VC School) + Fungi Flour: Hyfé Foods Founder Michelle Ruiz (Climate) | E1488

    For this week's VC Sunday School,  Molly asks Jason about when to take a meeting with a founder (2:18). Then for This Week in Climate Startups, Molly speaks with the CEO and Founder of Hyfé Foods,...

  • 2022 / 6 / 18
    Kraken CEO Jesse Powell responds to NYT hit piece and breaks down the state of crypto + Alexander Olesen CEO of Babylon Micro-Farms | E1487

    Today, we recap the Warriors' finals win (2:50) with some potential takeaways for founders (14:00). Next, Jason speaks with Jesse Powell: founder, and CEO of crypto exchange Kraken, and they discuss the state...

  • 2022 / 6 / 16
    Apple & Disney’s sports streaming strategy, Facebook’s plan to be TikTok, Obi-Wan, Star Trek | E1486

    It’s Thursday, so we talk all about streaming with our guy Lon Harris! Spoiler alert as we dive into Obi-Wan Kenobi E5 (1:53) and Star Trek E4-5 (34:48). We cover Disney losing cricket streaming rights in...

  • 2022 / 6 / 15
    YouTube shorts vs. TikTok, Crypto contagion, Twitch ad changes, China found aliens? | E1485

    First, we’ll dig into the creator economy: Youtube shorts almost has as many users as TikTok (3:06), and Twitch is changing how they pay creators (24:00). We quickly hit on some breaking news as The Federal...

  • 2022 / 6 / 14
    Coinbase lays off ~18%, EU crypto regulation, $NFLX & $ROKU ad-tech talks, Hallow prayer app, Prey laptop security | E1484

    Today, we kick off the episode with Coinbase’s several hundred-person layoffs (3:23) and the EU’s crypto regulation in progress (23:15). We cover Netflix talking with Roku to help run its planned ad-supported...

  • 2022 / 6 / 14
    Crypto drops ~$200B, Celsius freezes, Binance’s BTC pause, Google AI sentience, Magic Spoon: DTC isn’t dead | E1483

    On today's show, Jason and Molly cover crypto losing $200B from its total market cap this weekend (14:51) and Binance pausing withdrawals of Bitcoin for almost 4 hours this morning (29:53). We also quickly...

  • 2022 / 6 / 12
    How to value startups (VC School) + Creating Diamonds from Air with Aether’s Ryan Shearman (Climate) | E1482

    For today’s VC Sunday school, Molly asks Jason about valuation- valuing startups (1:44). Then for This Week in Climate Startups, Molly sits down with Ryan Shearman, CEO of Aether, to talk about how Aether...

  • 2022 / 6 / 10
    Disney’s ambitious streaming goals with Lon Harris + Dressd Founder Capri Wheaton | E1481

    Today, Lon Harris joins for This Week in Streaming and we talk about Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 4 (1:49), then we cover some Disney news as they fire their head of General Entertainment Content, Peter Rice...

  • 2022 / 6 / 9
    Twitter bots & Apple BNPL with Deirdre Bosa + Prediction markets with Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour | E1480

    Today, Deirdre Bosa from CNBC joins Molly to talk about Twitter’s plans to comply with Musk’s demands for data (1:28), Apple being its own bank for Apple Pay Later (17:15), and Facebook's parent Meta changing...

  • 2022 / 6 / 9
    Amazon’s Dave Clark joins Flexport, Bird layoffs, Twitter’s bring-your-own algo, Multiverse, Ken Griffin gets into crypto | E1479

    Today, we talk about Flexport Founder Ryan Petersen bringing on Amazon’s Dave Clark to be CEO (2:56). Then, we discuss Bird laying off almost a quarter of their team (17:32), and we talk about Twitter working...

  • 2022 / 6 / 7
    Why BuzzFeed fell 40%, EU mandates USB-C, Lab-grown ear transplants, Tom Brady’s Series B | E1478

    BuzzFeed is tanking- we talk about what it means for its employees and the company (2:07). Next, we discuss Uber Eats coming for GoldBelly (23:51), then we cover the EU mandating that USB-C ports be standard...

  • 2022 / 6 / 7
    Apple’s new releases, Twitter bots, Didi returns, Bad actors on Binance + Michael Shellenberger’s vision for California | E1477

    Jason talks with independent candidate for California Governor Michael Shellenberger on what he wants to improve in California (2:57). Then, we cover Apple's 2022 WWDC (48:40). We cover the $2.35B of illicit...

  • 2022 / 6 / 5
    Markups & markdowns (VC School) + Coral Regeneration with Coral Vita Co-founder Sam Teicher (Climate) | E1476

    First, in VC Sunday School Jason answers Molly’s questions about markups and markdowns (1:35), then in This Week in Climate startups, Molly talks with Coral Vita’s Sam Teicher about Coral Regeneration...

  • 2022 / 6 / 4
    Coinbase & Loom rescind job offers (strategies for managers & workers during a downturn) + OK Boomer: Mehak Vohra of Skillbank | E1475

    Today we have a Warriors Game Recap (2:01), we discuss the new Apple emojis (11:29), and then we dive into more layoffs news: Coinbase and Loom rescinding job offers (26:34). Jason and Molly give tips on how...

  • 2022 / 6 / 2
    Sheryl Sandberg leaves Meta + This Week in Streaming with Lon Harris: Obi-Wan Kenobi | E1474

    Today, we dive into Sheryl Sandberg leaving Meta (2:14), then Lon Harris joins for This Week in Streaming where we cover Kenobi episodes 1-3 (12:36). We talk about Disney’s response to racism (26:54), where...

  • 2022 / 6 / 2
    ESG fraud, Stripe & Reddit markdowns, Remote productivity + DroneUp Founder Tom Walker | E1473

    First, we talk about Deutsche Bank getting raided by law enforcement for “greenwashing” its ESG funds (2:59), then we touch on Fidelity marking down its investments in Stripe and Reddit (17:00), then we...

  • 2022 / 6 / 1
    NYT’s Glossier hit piece, VC winters, Activist CEOs and Podcast live events with Acquired’s David Rosenthal | E1472

    Today, Acquired’s David Rosenthal joins us. We discuss their recent Climate Pledge Arena Show (1:37), the new fundraising environment, and what the best founders and VC firms are doing (21:29), and we dig...

  • 2022 / 5 / 27
    Bolt layoffs, DroneUp, Lunar Outpost, $4.5B crypto fund, Ape theft + Diagram’s Jordan Singer | E1471

    In today's episode, Jason and Molly cover Bolt's layoffs (12:11), Walmart's drone deliveries (17:02), Lunar Outpost's $12M seed (32:31), a16z's $4.5B crypto raise (44:07), and Seth Green's Bored Ape heist...

  • 2022 / 5 / 27
    The cost of CEOs ignoring mental health with Bonobos Founder Andy Dunn | E1470

    Today's episode is a Molly solo interview with Bonobos founder and author of "Burn Rate," Andy Dunn (2:30). We go deep on entrepreneurship and mental health, talk about how founders are up to 7x more likely...

  • 2022 / 5 / 26
    Solving our biggest problems, Cerebral’s fast & loose telehealth prescriptions, Jack leaves Twitter Board | E1469

    We discuss the tragedy at a Texas elementary school and gun violence in America (2:25). Can tech play a role in decreasing child deaths? (21:14) Then we cover mental health startup Cerebral getting probed by...

  • 2022 / 5 / 24
    Snap drops 40%, Layoffs at Gorillas & Klarna, Adam Neumann's new startup, Coinbase using Principles | E1468

    First, we break down SNAP dropping over 40% after lowering earnings estimates (4:43). Then we cover some layoffs at instant-delivery startup Gorillas AND BNPL player Klarna (29:18). Next, we talk about Adam...

  • 2022 / 5 / 23
    All-In Summit recap, Argo debuts AV test cars in Miami/ATX, $AMZN to sublease 10M+ square feet | E1467

    Molly and Jason are BACK from Miami to break down all the most interesting stories and content from the All-In Summit! (2:13) Then, they cover Argo AI, an AV company that just launched autonomous test cars in...

  • 2022 / 5 / 22
    Proof of Impact CEO Fleur Heyns on meaningful metrics for measuring environmental impact (This Week in Climate Startups) | E1466

    In this episode of This Week in Climate Startups, Molly sits down with Fleur Heyns of Proof of Impact about how to measure, verify, and analyze ESG & impact data. We discuss the current pain points for...

  • 2022 / 5 / 21
    Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding: cleaning up space junk with Steve Wozniak + Behind the scenes of working for Jason | E1465

    First, Jason and Molly reflect on their time in previous tech recessions (03:06). Then, Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding joins to discuss solving the space junk problem (18:02), the difficulties of mapping...

  • 2022 / 5 / 19
    Fixing a broken system - Mahmee CEO Melissa Hanna on patient-centric maternal care | E1464

    Molly Wood sits down with Melissa Hanna, CEO and Co-Founder of Mahmee, a care network for parents (01:44), they discuss the impetus for Melissa launching the company (12:34), the challenges of bringing the...

  • 2022 / 5 / 18
    Accelerating leadership - Chief Co-Founder & CEO Carolyn Childers on raising $100M Series B, building a women's executive network and more | E1463

    Molly speaks with Carolyn Childers, CEO of Chief, a women’s professional network (01:26) about how their community stretches across digital and physical spaces, accelerating women's executive careers, growing...

  • 2022 / 5 / 17
    Bitcoin payments on the Lightning Network with Strike's Jack Mallers | E1462

    First, we cover the news of Ex-Meta crypto chief David Marcus launching a Bitcoin payments startup backed by a16z & Paradigm (02:05). Then, Jack Mallers, the CEO of Strike joins (8:13) to discuss the...

  • 2022 / 5 / 16
    SaaS multiple compression, downturn outlook & advice for new VCs with Jason Lemkin of SaaStr | E1461

    Jason and Molly chat with Jason Lemkin of SaaStr (01:44). They discuss: advice for new VCs (16:14), the future of SaaS investing (27:37), playing offense as investors (35:50), secondaries and more. (00:00)...

  • 2022 / 5 / 15
    Women in venture capital + SpringEats.com CEO Anukampa Freedom Gupta-Fonner (Climate) | E1460

    In VC Sunday School we discuss Pitchbook's data on women-led VC funds (03:16), how much money they've raised and how the industry is evolving. Then, Jason explains why new fund managers often have more...

  • 2022 / 5 / 14
    SBF buys 7.6% $HOOD stake, SoftBank’s $13B loss, Twitter exec layoffs & deal update + Nicole Ruiz from Compound VC | E1459

    First Jason and Molly cover FTX CEO SBF buying 7.6% of $HOOD (1:57), SoftBank’s $13B loss (8:29), Twitter’s exec layoffs (14:55) & give a deal update (21:50). Then Producer Rachel chats with Nicole Ruiz is an...

  • 2022 / 5 / 13
    Sundar Pichai, tech crash, crypto, journalism and more with CNBC's Deirdre Bosa | E1458

    Deirdre Bosa from CNBC’s Tech Check joins to talk about a wide variety of topics (2:20), including her interview with Sundar Pichai, journalism (12:54), the crashing public markets, crypto (44:58), Twitter...

  • 2022 / 5 / 11
    Airbnb's category search, Coinbase's new disclosure + Facebook exits podcasting with Ashley Carman | E1457

    First Jason and Molly open by digging into some details for the All-In Summit (02:12). Then they discuss Airbnb's search options (08:13), Airbnb's new aircover insurance feature (21:34) and Coinbase's...

  • 2022 / 5 / 11
    Terra UST stablecoin unpegged with Bennett Tomlin + High growth tech’s runway: $COIN, $SQ, $ZM, $TWLO, $SHOP & $PTON | E1456

    First, crypto reporter Bennett Tomlin joins to break down the the massive decline of algorithmic stablecoin Terra USD (UST) and how the Terra-Luna ecosystem works (09:00). Then we recap five tech stocks that...

  • 2022 / 5 / 10
    Dara sets the tone for Uber's next push, Jason's market prediction, Apple's ML director departs, Internet affordability & more | E1455

    First, we discuss Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's company-wide email rallying Uber behind a cash-generating vision to court investors (6:30). Then, we cover Apple's machine learning director departing because of...

  • 2022 / 5 / 8
    Side investing (VC School) + Stripe's Nan Ransohoff: Frontier carbon removal | 1454

    Sunday double-header. First, Jason discusses why some VC firms allow side investing and others explicitly forbid it (01:50). Then, in a This Week in Climate Startups segment Molly interviews Nan Ransohoff,...

  • 2022 / 5 / 7
    Twitter's new Birdwatch moderation/annotation feature + OK Boomer: Flapjack's Patrick McDonnell | E1453

    First Jason and Molly break down Twitter's new community annotation feature Birdwatch (1:40), they go through screenshots of the beta version and weigh the possibility for the Birdwatch to bridge the...

  • 2022 / 5 / 6
    Stripe launches Plaid competitor, Cameo layoffs, Elon raises $7B + Streaming news with Lon Harris | E1452

    First we chat with Lon Harris from Inside Streaming about the latest Netflix news, strategy, exciting upcoming shows and the proliferation of ads on streaming services (2:23). Then we cover Plaid CEO...

  • 2022 / 5 / 5
    Live Show Preview: Wednesday May 4

    Every Monday - Thursday, Jason and Molly record live at https://youtube.com/thisweekin - it has bonus content that doesn't make it into the edited version of the show. This is a sample of the LIVE version...

  • 2022 / 5 / 5
    Tech reactions to Roe vs. Wade leak + $UBER, $LYFT and $ABNB earnings | E1451

    First Jason and Molly discuss the way tech is impacted by the leaked Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade decision (2:20). Then they break down the differences between a Lyft and Uber’s Q1 (52:18). To wrap, we discuss...

  • 2022 / 5 / 3
    Meta's VR plans with The Information's Sylvia Varnham O'Regan + SEC strengthens its crypto enforcement team | E1450

    First, we speak with The Information’s Sylvia Varnham O’Regan about Meta's plan to double its VR headsets by 2024 (02:06), VR adoption (13:14), and more. We wrap by discussing the SEC’s Crypto Assets and...

  • 2022 / 5 / 3
    Bolt's struggles with The Information's Malique Morris + How Yuga Labs' mint sent Ethereum Gas 120X + Gravity Sketch | E1449

    First, we discuss Bolt’s declining customer base and struggles with The Information’s Malique Morris (02:50). In addition, we discuss Fast, Amazon's "Buy with Prime," ShopPay (25:35) and all the other...

  • 2022 / 5 / 1
    How to manage competing portfolio companies (VC School) + Energy Impact Partners' Shayle Kann (Climate) | E1448

    Sunday double-header. First, in VC Sunday School Jason discusses competing companies in the portfolio, when it's ok, when it's not and how to manage issues in good faith (01:52). Then, in This Week in Climate...

  • 2022 / 4 / 30
    $AMZN & $AAPL earnings, Snap's drone, China softens on tech, AirBnB goes nomad + Landon from Inside | E1447

    First, we cover 5 news stories: Amazon Q1 earnings (02:01), Apple's fiscal Q2 earnings (06:33), China's new tune for tech (12:06), AirBnB's long-term remote commitment (16:55) and Snap's new Pixy camera drone...

  • 2022 / 4 / 29
    WeCrashed & Severance finales w/ Lon Harris + Twitter follower changes w/ The Verge's Corin Faife | E1446

    First up, Lon Harris joins to break down the finales of WeCrashed (1:52) and Severance (34:50), then The Verge's Corin Faife joins to discuss his research on the sharp changes in Twitter follower counts for...

  • 2022 / 4 / 28
    Archegos founder arrested, Bolt sued by Authentic Brands, $GOOG & $MSFT earnings, Apple sells repair parts, EV Corvette | E1445

    All news. First we break down the SEC's allegations from one of the craziest financial stories since Bernie Madoff, Archegos Capital (4:20). Then cover: Bolt being sued by its largest customer (28:47), Google...

  • 2022 / 4 / 26
    Jack's Twitter take & employee reactions, Medical NFTs, Hopin's $200M founder secondary sale | E1444

    All news. We break down, Jack chiming in on Twitter’s sale to Elon Musk and the employee reactions (2:21). Then, we talk about an NFT project where Doctor influencers on TikTok are selling access to medical...

  • 2022 / 4 / 26
    Twitter accepts Elon's buyout offer, EU's new algo rule, Pipedream Labs: Hyperloop for package delivery | E1443

    First, we cover Twitter's Board accepting Elon Musk's take-private deal (1:41). Then, we cover a new EU social media regulation that will increase algorithm transparency called the Digital Services Act...

  • 2022 / 4 / 24
    VC School: Deal Memos + Sphere CEO Alex Wright-Gladstein (Climate) | E1442

    First, in a VC Sunday School segment, Jason explains his approach to deal memos (01:42) and what parts of a memo are most important. Then, in a This Week in Climate Startups segment, Molly chats with Alex...

  • 2022 / 4 / 23
    Twitter funding secured, Boring Co. raises $675M, Amazon's $1B VC fund, Ackman's $400M loss + The Lunar Society: Dwarkesh Patel | E1441

    First Jason and Molly do four rapid news stories: Elon securing funding for the Twitter buyout (03:20), Bill Ackman’s $430M loss on Netflix (11:48), The Boring Company's $675M raise (18:47), Amazon’s $1B...

  • 2022 / 4 / 22
    TSLA earnings + Streaming: WeCrashed & Severance review, CNN+ demise, Netflix’s future | 1440

    First, Jason and Molly cover Tesla’s strong Q1 and gems from the earnings call (2:22),  then Lon Harris joins (31:32) to discuss WeCrashed episode 7 (34:17), Severance episodes 1-3 (58:46), Netflix’s...

  • 2022 / 4 / 21
    Netflix earnings breakdown, Kushner’s $3B pitch deck, CNN+ on pause, Grubhub for sale | E1439

    First, we break down Netflix's earnings and discuss where Netflix’s content strategy might have gone wrong (2:46). Then, Jason pitches Jared Kushner’s leaked PE firm fundraising deck (35:15). We wrap with a...

  • 2022 / 4 / 19
    Jack's candid Twitter takes, FB invests in African internet, Regent's electric Seaglider, Better.com layoffs | E1438

    First, Jack is getting candid about Twitter’s board dysfunction (2:14). Then, we cover Facebook’s internet infrastructure development projects in Africa (24:31) and Better.com's new round of layoffs (33:53)....

  • 2022 / 4 / 19
    Q1 venture capital review, Twitter breaks, BeReal's new take on social & more | E1437

    All-news show. First, we go over PitchBook’s Q1 Venture Monitor report where VC fundraising is high, but portfolio exits are down (3:08). Then, we discuss how the incoming CNN CEO Chris Licht and Chris Sacca...

  • 2022 / 4 / 15
    Twitter's takeover defense, Meta's AR project with The Verge's Alex Heath + Wordcab's Aleks Smechov + OK Boomer: Rachel Cantor | E1436

    Friday variety show! First, The Verge’s Alex Heath joins to talk about two big stories he recently broke (2:32): Facebook’s plans for AR glasses and Twitter’s internal reaction to Elon’s takeover bid. Molly...

  • 2022 / 4 / 14
    Elon offers to take $TWTR private at $43B + Autonomous car drives away from police | E1435

    All news show. First, Jason and Molly debrief after their Worldcoin interview (2:37). Next, they discuss Elon Musk's take-private offer for Twitter at $43B (08:50), the highlights from Elon's TED interview...

  • 2022 / 4 / 13
    Meta's 47.5% take rate + Worldcoin CEO Alex Blania: onboarding the globe to crypto | E1434

    First, we cover Meta's announcement that they will be taking 47.5% creator fees on their Horizons platform (2:17) and A16Z’s Crypto lead Chris Dixon ranking number one on the Forbes Midas List. Then, Jason...

  • 2022 / 4 / 13
    Shopify Board proposes share restructuring + The Atlantic's Derek Thompson, Why American Teens Are So Sad | E1433

    First we discuss Shopify planning 10-to-1 stock split & increasing CEO/Founder Tobi Luke’s control from 34% to 40% (1:42). Then, the Atlantic's Derek Thompson joins to discuss his piece “Why American Teens...

  • 2022 / 4 / 12
    Elon no longer joining $TWTR board, Breslow's Instacart case-study, NYT tells reporters to reduce time on Twitter | E1432

    All news show. First, we discuss Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announcing that Elon has reversed his decision to join Twitter's board (04:10) and the NYT's Editor telling reporters to stop tweeting so much in an...

  • 2022 / 4 / 10
    Investing in down rounds (VC School) + The Lightsmith Group Co-Founder Jay Koh (Climate) | E1431

    Another Sunday edition of This Week in Startups! In VC Sunday School, Jason answers a question about investing in down rounds (1:54)from "Noti Gang" member Bob Gee. Then, Molly has a great interview with Jay...

  • 2022 / 4 / 9
    BONUS - Jason on This Week in Startups Australia

    Jason talks about how he sees the startup landscape developing, running remote teams and more on This Week in Startups Australia with Mark Pesce. Check out TWISTA: https://twistartupsaus.com/ Subscribe to...

  • 2022 / 4 / 8
    Macro insights with Rose Technology CEO Alex Campbell + TCG Crypto's Gaby Goldberg | E1430

    First, Jason chats with Alex Campbell of Rose Technology, a data analytics tool and marketplace that helps organizations more clearly understand macro trends (1:28). Alex is a former trader for Ray Dalio’s...

  • 2022 / 4 / 8
    Portfolio construction, Sequoia's transition & Fast with Acquired.FM + The Dropout: This Week in Streaming with Lon Harris | E1429

    First, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal from Acquired join Jason to talk portfolio construction (13:41), Roelof Botha succeeding Doug Leone at Sequoia (30:58), and to debate the takeaway from Fast's demise...

  • 2022 / 4 / 6
    Uber travel, OpenAI illustrator, Edit button, CNN+ review + Dune Analytics CEO Fredrik Haga | E1428

    We kick off our crypto series with Dune Analytics CEO and Founder Frederik Haga about crypto on-chain analytics (37:23). But first, Jason covers Uber’s piloting long-distance travel bookings in the UK,...

  • 2022 / 4 / 6
    FB vs. Apple on AR and Ads, Twitter's Future, Conflict, Crypto Regulation with Antonio Garcia Martinez & Zach Coelius | E1427

    Antonio Garcia Martinez (Chaos Monkeys, The Pull Request) and Zach Coelius (Investor, Coelius Capital) join to discuss a wide range of news topics including Antonio's trip to Ukraine, the one-click company...

  • 2022 / 4 / 5
    Elon buys ~9% stake in Twitter + Freestyle Capital's Dave Samuel | E1426

    First, Jason and Molly discuss Elon buying a 9.2% stake in Twitter (01:50). Then, Dave Samuel of Freestyle VC joins (23:18) for a discussion on early stage investing. Freestyle invested early in startups...

  • 2022 / 4 / 3
    Inbound vs. outbound deal flow (VC School) + Jason Jacobs of My Climate Journey | E1425

    Sunday double-header! In the opening VC Sunday School segment, Jason discusses deal flow (1:43), you will learn: 1. Inbound vs. outbound deal flow 2. Tactics VCs use to streamline their deal flow  3....

  • 2022 / 4 / 1
    GoPuff & Fast trimming staff + Bradley Tusk on tech regulation + Glimpse Co-founder Akash Raju | E1424

    First Jason and Molly discuss instant delivery company GoPuff and 1-click checkout company Fast making layoffs (2:22). Then, Bradley Tusk of Tusk Ventures joins to discuss Uber’s Taxi strategy in NYC, sports...

  • 2022 / 3 / 31
    NFT exclusive restaurant: FlyFish Club CEO David Rodolitz + Reviewing We Crashed & The Dropout with Lon Harris | E1423

    Lon Harris joins us for This Week in Streaming to break down WeCrashed episode 4 AND The Dropout episode 6 (1:54). Then, we have David Rodolitz, the CEO and Co-Founder of FlyFish Club, which is NYC’s first...

  • 2022 / 3 / 30
    Facebook funding anti-TikTok lobbyists with Taylor Lorenz + SEC SPAC crackdown, Fast vs. Bolt | E1422

    First up, Taylor Lorenz joins to talk about her newest scoop for the Washington Post: Facebook hired a GOP firm to trash TikTok (2:18)! Then, we discuss the SEC considering cracking down on SPACs (39:40),...

  • 2022 / 3 / 30
    $625M Axie Infinity Ronin Bridge hack, $TWLO insider trading, Subject's learning platform, $HOOD extends trading hours | E1421

    First we explain the $625M hack of Axie Infinity’s Ronin Bridge (1:34), then we discuss the engineers at Twilio who allegedly insider traded (17:30). Next we discuss Robinhood extending its trading window by...

  • 2022 / 3 / 29
    Oscars recap, FTX investors don't hold board seats, Apple working on hardware subscriptions | E1420

    All news show. First, we recap the Oscars, including "The Slap" and Apple winning Best Picture (02:17).  Then, we discuss $32B crypto derivate exchange FTX not having investors on its Board of Directors...

  • 2022 / 3 / 27
    Understanding non-dilutive fundraising options + Continuum Ag Founder Mitchell Hora | E1419

    Sunday Double-header! First, in VC Sunday School, Jason explains non-dilutive funding's impact on startups (2:18). Then, Molly interviews Continuum Ag Founder Mitchell Hora. His company helps farmers analyze...

  • 2022 / 3 / 26
    Teenage hacking phenom allegedly caught, Molly's Hall of Fame induction & OK Boomer | E1418

    Another Friday variety show! First up, Jason and Molly break down the 16-year old hacking phenom who was allegedly behind the recent hacks at Microsoft, Nvidia and Okta, and might have just been caught...

  • 2022 / 3 / 25
    Streaming news! Breaking down WeCrashed E1-3 & The Dropout E5 with Lon Harris | E1417

    Lon Harris joins Molly and Jason to talk WeCrashed, The Dropout and Super Pumped! First, they play a round of "Boff, Marry, Kill" between the three shows (1:16), before breaking down the first three episodes...

  • 2022 / 3 / 24
    Katie Haun's $1.5B web3 fund, Yuga Labs worth $4B, Apple's BNPL play + ChroniFI's Ben Miller | E1416

    Jason and Molly take on another Five in Five! Five stories in (a little over) five minutes each: Katie Haun's record-breaking $1.5B debut web3 fund (2:50), Yuga Labs raising $450M at a $4B valuation (12:42),...

  • 2022 / 3 / 23
    How Apple can win podcasting, Bezos' leadership, MBAs raising search funds & FDNY robodogs | E1415

    Tuesday news day! Jason and Molly break down the following stories: Apple's "new" creator tools, and brainstorming on how they could dominate podcasting again (2:23), Jeff Bezos' letter to shareholders from...

  • 2022 / 3 / 22
    Sequoia debuts Arc, SEC considering climate disclosures, Disney CEO fallout & more | E1414

    Monday news! Jason and Molly have some big stories to discuss: Sequoia's new "catalyst" program, called Arc (2:37), SEC considering mandating climate disclosures from public companies (19:21), another Startup...

  • 2022 / 3 / 20
    Super Pro Rata (VC Sunday School) + ClimateCheck Founder Cal Inman (Climate) | E1413

    Sunday Double-header! First, in VC Sunday School, Jason discusses and defends his pro rata strategy (1:26). Then, Molly interviews ClimateCheck founder Cal Inman. His company analyzes and risk-rates real...

  • 2022 / 3 / 20
    NEWS: $BABA & $TCEHY layoffs, Google's AR purchase, $APE coin; OK Boomer: Smirk | E1412

    First, Jason and Molly rip through the news (1:44). They cover looming layoffs at two Chinese tech giants (2:31), Google getting back into the AR glasses race with a new acquisition (7:27), chaos in the...

  • 2022 / 3 / 18
    Reacting to Super Pumped (Uber) & The Dropout (Theranos) with Lon Harris +OneShop CEO Nick McHenry | E1411

    We chat film expert, podcaster, and Inside.com writer Lon Harris to talk about tech's latest streaming series The Dropout and Super Pumped! After that conversation, Molly sits down with LAUNCH founder Nick...

  • 2022 / 3 / 17
    Spotify x Barcelona, ex-Disney CEO joins Genies, AMC gold mine + D.A. Wallach: music and bio-investing | Angel S6 E10 | E1410

    We wrap up Angel Season 6 on First Time Funds with Pharrell Williams-signed rocker turned investor D.A. Wallach of TimeBio Ventures (32:23). But first, we do 4 rapid-fire news topics: Spotify spent ~$307M on...

  • 2022 / 3 / 16
    Ex-FB Diem team builds Aptos blockchain, Metamask parent ConsenSys raises $450M, Mojo's athlete betting market, Zero Grocery shutdown | E1409

    First, we discuss a new Layer 1 blockchain called Aptos, valued at $1B in a recent round led by a16z (2:42). Then discuss MetaMask’s parent Consensys raising 450M at a $7B valuation (39:47). Our startup of...

  • 2022 / 3 / 15
    Blue Origin picks Pete, NYT launches Telegram channel, Clearview AI in Ukraine, Semiconductor pains | E1408

    It's an all-news show. We discuss Blue Origin selecting Pete Davidson to go space (2:47), Clearview AI offering their facial recognition services to the Ukrainian government (24:58), the NYT launching a...

  • 2022 / 3 / 13
    How Big Funds Change the Startup Ecosystem (VC Sunday School) + Climate: Include Ventures' Taj Ahmad Eldridge | E1407

    Sunday double-header. First, Jason and Molly discuss the impact of large funds on the startup ecosystem, how fund size influences firm strategy and why big funds often seed smaller funds (2:21). For the This...

  • 2022 / 3 / 12
    $RIVN, Biden on TikTok & Crypto, $PTON + Countdown Capital’s Jai Malik + Josh from Party Round | E1406

    It’s a variety show. First Jason and Molly do six rapid fire news topics (2:10) including: Rivian’s lowered guidance, Biden briefing TikTok influencers on Ukraine, declining NFT volume, creator economy wins,...

  • 2022 / 3 / 10
    Love.com, Lessons from Bain Crypto launch + Redfin Founder & CEO Glenn Kelman | E1405

    Jason and Molly discuss Ryan Breslow's new startup Love.com (2:03), Bain Capital Crypto’s new $550M fund announcement that backfired on Twitter (14:49).  Then, Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman join to discuss the...

  • 2022 / 3 / 9
    Apple's new Mac + Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt, driverless service in SF, the Origin (zero-emission shared vehicle) | E1404

    First Jason and Molly recap the Apple event, including the new Mac Studio release (1:53). Then they discuss Pony AI's $8.5B Series D (34:41). Next, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt joins to discuss launching their...

  • 2022 / 3 / 9
    Doug Leone of Sequoia Capital: global growth, partnering with legendary companies and the evergreen fund | E1403

    "Sequoia Capital is the greatest venture capital firm of all time. It's indisputable." - Jason  Jason chats with Sequoia's Doug Leone, a leader who shepherded the firm for four decades. They discuss...

  • 2022 / 3 / 8
    Alumni Ventures charged by SEC + What Germany got wrong about nuclear power with Mark Nelson | E1402

    First, Jason and Molly cover the news of Alumni Ventures Group getting charged by the SEC for misleading investors about their management fees (1:56). AVG had to repay $4.7M to investors and paid $800,000 in...

  • 2022 / 3 / 6
    How much money is too much? (VC Sunday School) + Climate: Andrew Beebe of Obvious Ventures | E1401

    Another Sunday double-header edition! First Jason leads a VC Sunday School session on how to react when companies try and skip steps and raise larger rounds (2:51). Plus, how Pegasus (or Alicorn) companies...

  • 2022 / 3 / 4
    Google ends WFH, $SNOW earnings + Stillmark's Alyse Killeen Angel S6 E7 + Pallet CEO Kai Han | E1400

    First Jason and Molly cover Google is bringing employees back to the office three times per week starting in early April (1:41), Snowflake dropping 15% after reporting strong earnings, Slack’s slowing growth...

  • 2022 / 3 / 3
    Cana CEO Matt Mahar on launching a "Replicator for beverages," turning a product into a platform, working with The Production Board and more | E1399

    Cana is back on the podcast, previously David Friedberg teased the "molecular beverage printer" on E1365.  This time, we speak and to CEO Matt Mahar about pricing, their go-to-market plans, their...

  • 2022 / 3 / 3
    Apple pauses RU sales, Ford splits-off EVs + How Facebook killed Joe Speiser's $100M business | E1398

    First, we talk about Apple pausing all sales in Russia and other actions they’re taking (1:47). Then, we cover Ford splitting its EV business off from its ICE business (15:57). Then, Joe Speiser from Hampton...

  • 2022 / 3 / 2
    Tech takes action against Russia, Backbone's mobile gaming device + Joel Greenblatt from Gotham Capital | E1397

    First Jason and Molly break down the reactions from big tech companies to the Russia / Ukraine conflict (2:22), then we showcase our Startup of the Day, Backbone which is innovating in mobile gaming (51:41)....

  • 2022 / 3 / 1
    Web 3 is Going Great with Molly White | E1396

    First, Molly Wood quickly sums up crypto donations flowing to Ukraine (2:03). Then, Jason and Molly chat with Molly White, the creator of the website "Web 3 is Going Great." We discuss the problems she...

  • 2022 / 2 / 27
    What investors mean when they are "waiting for a lead" (VC Sunday School) + Seth Bannon of 50 Years | E1395

    First up is a VC Sunday school where Jason discusses what investors mean when they say "we are interested in investing, but come back when you found a lead" (1:51). Then, we tease Molly's EV review of the...

  • 2022 / 2 / 26
    DHH on Basecamp's painful evolution, Bitcoin, Revitalizing internet discourse + Lumanu CEO Tony Tran | E1394

    Jason chats with David Heinemeier Hansson (2:03) about global governments reacting to COVID, Basecamp’s Twitter cycle blowup last spring when more than 1/3 of the company left, the shift from debating in the...

  • 2022 / 2 / 25
    Critical cyber attacks of the last decade + How Jason Calacanis grew the Launch Fund: Angel S6 E7 | E1393

    Molly interviews Jason about raising "LAUNCH Fund I." This season of Angel is focused on the nitty-gritty details of raising and running a first-time fund (22:47). Jason shares everything from getting his...

  • 2022 / 2 / 24
    Kanye's genius business model, Platform dependency risks, Pipe enters the movie biz + AirPals' Joshe Ordonez | E1392

    First we discuss Kanye’s new “STEM Player” bluetooth speaker, and why he’s trying to diversify away from Spotify and streaming platforms (2:21). We continue with a discussion about platform reliance one...

  • 2022 / 2 / 23
    Coinbase's mutable messaging, Revitalizing Peloton and High-growth companies poised for a comeback | E1391

    First, we cover Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong potentially taking credit for an idea generated by a creative firm (2:09). Then, we cover Peloton’s new CEO Barry McCarthy's vision for a revitalized Peloton...

  • 2022 / 2 / 19
    From PM to GP: Roach Capital's Fahd Ananta | Angel S6 E6 + OK Boomer: Dive Chat | E1390

    00:00 Jason intros the show, Roach Captial's first fund, and Producer Rachel's interview with the Dive Chat founder01:33 Angel Season 6 - First Time Funds 04:07 Fahd Ananta of Roach Capital's path from...

  • 2022 / 2 / 18
    Spotify's ad-tech acquisitions to take on YouTube with The Verge's Ashley Carman + Founder University Pitches | E1389

    Ashley Carman joins Jason & Molly to discuss Spotify's acquisition of podcast ad-tech companies Chartable and Podsights (1:55). Ashley is a senior reporter at The Verge and the lead writer at HotPod. We dig...

  • 2022 / 2 / 17
    Keith Rabois of Founders Fund + AirBnB's earnings & evolving customer base, SF BOE recall | E1388

    World-class investor-operator Keith Rabois is back for his eighth time!  But first, Jason breaks down Airbnb’s great Q4 and full-year earnings report (2:42) and how its customer segment is evolving....

  • 2022 / 2 / 16
    Do startup employee stock options need an overhaul? Softbank's failed Arm sale + Growth University's Craig Zingerline | E1387

    Catalyzed by a Ryan Breslow viral tweetstorm, we break down the arguments for if companies should loan money to employees to allow them to exercise their stock options early (1:42). Then, we briefly cover...

  • 2022 / 2 / 15
    Crypto's Super Bowl blitz, Joby's asian air-taxi partnerships, Affirm's earnings & BNPL growing pains | E1386

    First, we break down the Crypto companies that ran super bowl ads and see how they stack up against the dot-com era ads (1:53). Then, we do an update on Joby aviation now that they are trying to roll out an...

  • 2022 / 2 / 13
    VC Sunday School: first-tier investor behavior + Climate: Dangerous Ventures' Mike Lin | E1385

    Jason and Molly begin this double-header Sunday show with a VC Sunday School segment on top-tier VC behavior (01:38). You will learn: 1. How first-tier VCs compare to second-tier VCs 2. When VCs should...

  • 2022 / 2 / 11
    Rapid Disney+ growth, Predicting preference with Qloo's Alex Elias, OK Boomer: Zehra Naqvi's Z-list | E1384

    Jason and Molly open the shown discussing Disney’s Q1 Earnings and the 37% increase in Disney+ subscribers (01:51). Then, Qloo CEO Alex Elias joins to discuss his AI prediction company (21:12). You will...

  • 2022 / 2 / 11
    Peloton's new CEO + Cake Ventures' Monique Woodard Angel S6 E5 | E1383

    In the opening news segment, Molly and Jason break down the news around Peloton's new CEO, Barry McCarthy,  including the open letter he sent to the company, his background and principles for success...

  • 2022 / 2 / 10
    $3.6B crypto hack recovered + Segment co-founder Peter Reinhardt's next bet: Charm Industrial | E1382

    We have a great interview with a serial-founder today! But first, Molly and Jason cover one of the craziest stories of the year. A couple has been charged with conspiring to launder ~$3.6B worth of crypto...

  • 2022 / 2 / 9
    Peter Thiel departs FB board, John Foley steps down at Peloton, Should Amazon spin off AWS? + Startup of the Day: Island | E1381

    Molly and Jason cover Peter Thiel stepping down from FB’s board and look back at the board's evolution over time (2:07). Next, we cover Joe Lonsdale’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, where he argues AWS...

  • 2022 / 2 / 8
    Spotify's saga continues, $FB warns of EU exit, GoFundMe's protest refund, Peloton's suitors | E1380

    Molly and Jason catch up on the big news stories from the weekend. First, we talk about the Joe Rogan & Spotify saga (1:51) and size up the odds of Rogan finishing out his contract with Spotify (15:41). Then,...

  • 2022 / 2 / 6
    John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins with Ryan Panchadsaram + VC Sunday School: cap table management | E1379

    John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins joins to discuss his lessons from a career of investing and his new book "Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now," alongside his co-author Ryan...

  • 2022 / 2 / 4
    NYC delivery wars, Cruise gives driverless rides in SF + Gopuff Co-CEO Rafael Ilishayev | E1378

    First Jason and Molly discuss reports from "The Information" that Jokr is looking to sell its NYC delivery business due to heightened competition (1:51). Next, they cover how Cruise is opening up its...

  • 2022 / 2 / 4
    Full $FB earnings breakdown, NFT company violates music IP + Behind Genius' Paige Finn: Angel S6 E4 | E1377

    In the opening news segment, Molly and Jason break down the numbers behind Facebook's colossal drop in market cap (2:42). Then, they cover a company that seems to be violating music copyrights to sell NFTS...

  • 2022 / 2 / 3
    All-In’s hijacked feed, Google’s earnings breakdown, Jason’s legendary iPad troll | E1376

    First, Jason explains how someone copied the All-In podcast, put in ads, and then redirected Google’s podcast player to display it as the real All-In feed (1:44). Then, we break down Google's Q4 and full year...

  • 2022 / 2 / 2
    Playstation's $3.2B Bungie acquisition, Metafy gaming tutoring, Shopify CEO joins Coinbase Board of Directors | E1375

    Another big news drop in the gaming space! Jason and Molly discuss Sony is acquiring Bungie for $3.6B (2:36). We break down what this means for Sony, Bungie’s crazy history, and if other big tech giants...

  • 2022 / 2 / 1
    Breaking down Ryan Breslow's YC critique + Spotify's solution & Joe Rogan's response | E1374

    Over the weekend Bolt CEO Ryan Breslow wrote a big thread on why he thinks Y Combinator isn't worth it. We break it down point by point and assess the validity of the claims (7:07). Right before we started...

  • 2022 / 1 / 30
    VC Sunday School: startup investing in a down market + Emily Kirsch of Powerhouse Ventures | E1373

    Jason says, "fortunes are made in the down market and collected in the up market." In today's VC Sunday School Jason and Molly discuss how a down market impacts early-stage investors (01:45). You will...

  • 2022 / 1 / 29
    Packy McCormick’s Not Boring parlay: Angel S6 E3 + Producer Rachel visits Miami Hack Week | E1372

    Today’s guest is Packy McCormick of Not Boring, for Episode 3 of Season 6 of Angel. Packy turned his massive newsletter into a Not Boring Fund I in 2021, and has since invested $10M into startups....

  • 2022 / 1 / 28
    $TSLA earnings breakdown & 2022 IPOs to watch with TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm | E1371

    Alex Wilhelm from TechCrunch joins Molly and Jason for a full episode. First, they breakdown Tesla's Q4 2021 earnings including its consistently increasing Model 3 production, profitability and charger...

  • 2022 / 1 / 27
    MSFT adds $10B, Stripe mafia memes, Spotify: platform or publisher, Scratchpad case-study | E1370

    We break down Microsoft’s amazing earnings (quarterly revenue is up $10B year-over-year) and assess if Satya Nadella is the greatest big tech CEO right now (2:32). Then, we follow-up on the Stripe Mafia...

  • 2022 / 1 / 26
    TikTok vs. YouTube, Bolt CEO calls Stripe & YC "Mob Bosses," Culdesac, Anduril wins $1B contract | E1369

    In this all news show Jason and Molly talk about Jason's strategy for meeting with founders (1:48) and we talk about monetization for creators on TikTok and how payouts compare to YouTube (6:48). Then we look...

  • 2022 / 1 / 25
    Comparing 2022 to the Dot-Com bubble + Activist investor challenges Peloton leadership | E1368

    Due to the volatility in the market, Jason and Molly review the fundamentals of Block, Zoom, Netflix, Coinbase, and AirBnB and compare this correction with the Dot-com crash (2:11).  They discuss...

  • 2022 / 1 / 23
    Sunday VC School: how investors work together + Prime Movers Lab's Ramez Naam | E1367

    First, Jason teaches Sunday VC School: how investors work together (01:54). In this segment you will learn.: How collaboration varies across investing stages. How lead investors are determined and what...

  • 2022 / 1 / 23
    Apple AR headset scoops with Mark Gurman + Campbell Baron: Gen Z startup content creator | E1366

    First, Jason and Molly chat with on the top Apple reporters, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, about Apple's AR headset (2:02). They talk about Apple's strategy, timeline, competitive strengths and more. Then our...

  • 2022 / 1 / 21
    Google AR, Peloton pullback + David Friedberg: Cana, the first molecular beverage printer | E1365

    David Friedberg joins to discuss The Production Board's latest company, Cana, which is making, the world's first molecular beverage printer.  But first Jason and Molly break down some news. Google is...

  • 2022 / 1 / 20
    FTC antitrust revision, 5G rollout pause + David Rosenthal's $2.8M fund: Angel S6 E2 | E1364

    First Jason and Molly cover how 5G rollouts are causing problem with airlines (2:03) and Lina Khan’s remarks on reworking antitrust regulation to not only consider deals inflicting consumer harm, but those...

  • 2022 / 1 / 19
    Full breakdown of Microsoft acquiring Activision-Blizzard for ~$70B+ | E1363

    Microsoft has announced its intention to make the largest tech acquisition ever by buying Activision-Blizzard for ~$75B ($68.7 when you net out Activision's cash). This is Microsoft's 3rd major gaming...

  • 2022 / 1 / 18
    Snowflake CEO Frank Slootman: victory through taking ownership, increasing velocity & cultivating talent | E1362

    Frank is the Chairman & CEO of Snowflake, a data warehousing company he joined and rapidly accelerated in 2019. Frank led Snowflake to the largest software IPO in history (his third massive IPO as CEO)....

  • 2022 / 1 / 14
    Oath Keepers indicted from Signal messages, U.S. House subpoenas tech platforms + Alex Masmej: selling a personal token | E1361

    First, Jason covers the how Signal messages led to the Oath Keeper sedition indictments (1:47) and how Google, Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter are being subpoenaed by the House committee investigating Jan 6th,...

  • 2022 / 1 / 13
    1M fewer college students: is it a problem? + Ask an Angel with Zach Coelius | E1360

    First Jason covers the recent college enrollment decline (1:23) and lay out his alternative (9:56). Then Zach Coelius joins for an Ask an Angel session, where they answer 12 audience questions about investing...

  • 2022 / 1 / 13
    $140B streaming wars 2022 budget, Warren's bad "Big Grocery" take + Mac Conwell: Angel S6 E1 | E1359

    First we talk about how the top streaming platforms projected to spend $140B on content in 2022 (2:18) and Elizabeth Warren’s bad take on grocery stores. Then Mac Conwell "Mac the VC" joins the show as the...

  • 2022 / 1 / 11
    Y Combinator's New Deal, Turo S-1 + Deep Sentinel CEO Dave Selinger: Human-in-the-loop security cameras | E1358

    First Jason and Molly discuss YC's new $500K deal for startups and what that means for founders and early stage investors (1:53). They also dig into car-sharing app Turo's S-1 (25:32). Then Redfin Co-founder...

  • 2022 / 1 / 11
    Tech pullback, SEC considers tightening startup investing regulations, Apple XR headset leaks | E1357

    We cover the tech stock pullback (1:34), discuss the impact of the SEC exploring more restrictions and disclosures for late stage private companies (12:00) and share details about Apple’s mixed reality...

  • 2022 / 1 / 9
    Sunday VC School: valuation vs. traction matrix + Climate: New Energy Nexus CEO Danny Kennedy | E1356

    Welcome to our new Sunday show. Each episode will have two segments, Sunday VC School and Climate startups. First, Jason and Molly discuss early-stage investing including, Jason's valuation vs. traction...

  • 2022 / 1 / 7
    Kazakh Bitcoin mining outage, Synthetic actors, Memes + Ben Awad: Gen Z Programming Mentor | E1355

    Jason and Molly cover how 15% of the world’s bitcoin mining network going down when Kazakhstan’s internet was shut off (3:11) and Chainalysis' scam report (12:32). Then they do a "We Live in the Future"...

  • 2022 / 1 / 7
    GETTR & social media moderation, NYT to acquire The Athletic + Axie Infinity's Jeff Zirlin on NFT gaming | E1354

    00:00 Jason & Molly intro the show 02:25 GETTR get a bump in downloads after Joe Rogan joins 09:55 Dataiku - Create transparent, repeatable, and scalable AI and analytics programs....

  • 2022 / 1 / 6
    OpenSea raises $300M, VW & Toyota commit $170B to EVs, China's strangled tech sector, New media | E1353

    In this all news show,  Jason and Molly cover Toyota & Volkswagen committing a combined $170B to take on Tesla’s EV dominance (2:30), NFT platform OpenSea raising a $300M Series C at a $13.3B valuation...

  • 2022 / 1 / 5
    Elizabeth Holmes is guilty, Amazon wins over socialists, Biden sanctions China | E1352

    Jason and Molly cover Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes guilty verdict (1:47), how even socialists have admitted that Amazon is the best place many people have ever worked (40:08). To wrap they dig into Biden’s new...

  • 2022 / 1 / 4
    How JOKR lost $159 per order, rising startup valuations, OpenSea freezes stolen NFTs, Web 2 CEOs troll Web 3 | E1351

    Jason and Molly cover how QuickCommerce startup JOKR lost $159 per order in the US in August (1:54), the state of startup valuations (25:57), Jason's case of COVID & the state of testing (32:00), OpenSea...

  • 2021 / 12 / 27
    The 2021 TWISTY Awards: best guest, most awkward moment, best chemistry & more! | E1350

    Jason hosts "The 2021 TWISTY Awards" where we give out 10 awards for top podcast moments from this year including: the most surprisingly awesome guest (02:17), best chemistry (04:48), best live moment...

  • 2021 / 12 / 22
    Web3 wars & Rivian Q3 earnings with our new co-host Molly Wood! | E1349

    Jason is joined by This Week in Startups' new co-host Molly Wood for a news show. First they cover why Molly joined the TWiST team (1:24), then they dig into the Web3 wars erupting on Twitter (24:00) and...

  • 2021 / 12 / 17
    Praying For Exits: the satirist of venture capital | E1348

    Praying for Exits, the top meme account in Venture Capital joins to discuss being a pseudonymous commentator (01:13), why VCs spend too much time brand building (12:37), entitlement in tech (23:47), assessing...

  • 2021 / 12 / 17
    Melania Trump’s NFT, Reddit to go public + Twitter’s Tony Haile: news & product evolution | E1347

    First Jason covers Melania Trump launching an NFT series (02:27) and Reddit just filing to go public(13:10). Then, Twitter's Tony Haile joins (24:14) to talk about selling his startup Scroll to Twitter,...

  • 2021 / 12 / 16
    mRNA cancer treatment, Google’s vax policy, Better.com CEO “taking time off” + Founder roundtable: PaidBack, Wearwell, SupporTrends | E1346

    First Jason covers the Mayo clinic's promising new signs for mRNA cancer treatment (02:02), Google's firm vaccine policy (07:41) and the Better.com CEO stepping away after last week's meltdown (16:39). Then,...

  • 2021 / 12 / 15
    What Elizabeth Holmes’s prosecution missed, Nike buys NFT studio, Tether, the power of equity, ISS tourism | E1345

    All news show! First Jason gives an Elizabeth Holmes trial update and reveals the key point the prosecution missed (2:12). Then he covers, Nike acquires an NFT company (14:17), $USDT becoming an official...

  • 2021 / 12 / 14
    Is Peloton undervalued? + Rad Power Bikes CEO Mike Radenbaugh + Succession recap, All-in | E1344

    First, Jason breaks down the math of why Peloton might be undervalued (3:23). Then, the founder and CEO Rad Power Bikes Mike Radenbaugh joins to discuss building a massive ebike company (15:36), the most...

  • 2021 / 12 / 10
    Guess the fake startup + Founders of Jenni.AI, Wearloom, Track, Llama Life + How to hire Gen Z | E1343

    First, Jason plays "Guess the Fake Startup" (1:30). Then, Jason interviews four founders he invested in (12:50): David Park from Jenni.ai about computer copywriting assistants (18:08), Samuel Spitz from...

  • 2021 / 12 / 10
    Armstrong & Tether skip crypto hearings, Adele’s NFT resale solution + Startup Checklist E10 | E1342

    First, Jason covers the recent crypto hearings (1:25), then offers a brief potential NFT solution for Adele's ticket scalper problem (16:06). After the news, Jason closes out the 100-point Startup Checklist...

  • 2021 / 12 / 9
    Art Basel recap (Beeple, JUUL, Cathie Wood) + reacting to Better.com’s leaked layoffs clip | E1341

    All news today. Jason recaps his Art Basel experience (1:55), meeting Beeple, being ultra candid with the JUUL CEO (6:58) and interviewing Cathie Wood & Tiffany Zhong about crypto at 500 Global's Pre-Money...

  • 2021 / 12 / 7
    What is a Vibe Capitalist? Bedrock’s Geoff Lewis on investing, crypto, city-states, defense & AI | E1340

    Geoff Lewis is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Bedrock Capital. He joins to discuss lessons from entrepreneurship (1:25), why "vibe" is the critical way he assesses founders (11:44), his investment in...

  • 2021 / 12 / 6
    Crypto accounting for startups | Finance Basics with Kruze Consulting’s Scott Orn | E1339

    Crypto is reaching the mainstream, which has major implications for crypto and traditional startups alike. Kruze Consulting COO Scott Orn joins to discuss what regulation and taxes actually apply to crypto...

  • 2021 / 12 / 3
    Square becomes Block, Spotify Wrapped’s genius, $GRAB debut + Founders of Fathom, Deft & Krepling | E1338

    First, Jason covers Square's corporate renaming to Block to reflect their broader ambitions (2:11), breaks down the genius of Spotify wrapped (13:15), and gives a nod to Grab's public debut (16:41). Then, ...

  • 2021 / 12 / 2
    Podcasting, crypto and favorite finds with Acquired’s Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal | E1337

    David and Ben from Acquired.FM join Jason to talk about their favorite podcast moments from 2021 (1:29), valuations across startups & crypto (35:50), top content recommendations (1:10:00) and so much more!

  • 2021 / 12 / 1
    Twitter bans sharing “private media” + Startup Checklist: How to raise capital | E1336

    First, Jason covers Twitter's confusing major new privacy policy revision (1:54), reacts to a 1995 clip of Bill Gates talking about the internet on Letterman (12:36). Then, in episode 9 of the Startup...

  • 2021 / 11 / 30
    Twitter’s new CEO, Mr. Beast’s record-breaking Squid Game + Haus’ Helena Price Hambrecht | E1335

    First, Jason sums up Jack Dorsey's departure from Twitter's CEO role (1:41). Then he breaks down the stats from Mr. Beast's latest YouTube video (11:05). After the news, Haus CEO and Co-Founder Helena Price...

  • 2021 / 11 / 29
    End of year startup accounting checklist | Finance Basics with Kruze Consulting’s Scott Orn | E1334

    Kruze Consulting COO Scott Orn shares the seven tasks founders need to complete before years end. Jason and Scott discuss efficiently navigating compliance and tax deadlines, taking advantage of tax...

  • 2021 / 11 / 24
    Zoom’s revenue tops $1B, valuation falls + Startup Checklist: how to prepare for fundraising | E1333

    First Jason covers Zoom's Q3 earnings and reflects on broader tech valuations (01:53). Then, Jason does a Startup Checklist episode on how to get your startup ready for an investment (16:10). The episode...

  • 2021 / 11 / 24
    Turner Novak: Turning memes into a $10M VC fund | E1332

    Banana Capital's Turner Novak joins to discuss breaking into venture, starting his own fund (11:08), what it's like being an emerging manager, rising valuations, and crypto (45:10). Turner also makes the...

  • 2021 / 11 / 23
    Nikola Motors update, El Salvador launches $1B bond to build “Bitcoin City” on a volcano | E1331

    Full news show today! First, a quick update on Nikola and Trevor Milton's situation (1:35). Then, Jason reacts to a video of Jordan Peterson getting "orange-pilled" (23:10) and the announcement of El...

  • 2021 / 11 / 19
    A DAO bids $40M on the Constitution, Startup Checklist: Operational best practices, Gen Z VCs | E1330

    First, Jason covers ConstitutionDAO attempt to buy one of the remaining 13 copies of the constitution at Sotheby's (01:56). Then, he does 10 points from the Startup Checklist on operational excellence ...

  • 2021 / 11 / 19
    Tarantino sued over NFTs + Twitch Co-Founder Justin Kan: YouTube, Entrepreneurship, Investing | E1329

    First Jason explains why Miramax is suing Quentin Tarantino over his Pulp Fiction NFT collection (2:31). Then Twitch Co-Founder & GP at Goat Capital Justin Kan joins (19:19) to discuss lessons from...

  • 2021 / 11 / 18
    Why Sam Lessin is using the VC model to invest in individuals + Jason funds a startup on air | E1328

    First, Sam Lessin of Slow Ventures joins to discuss how he is applying the venture model to invest in individuals, he just placed a $1.7M bet on a YouTube creator (4:10). Then, Jason brings on Chris Niblett,...

  • 2021 / 11 / 17
    Ohio sues FB + Bradley Tusk “The Fixer,” Uber, startups navigating politics, mobile voting | E1327

    First, Jason covers the Ohio Attorney General suing Meta (2:05). Then, Tusk Venture's Bradley Tusk joins to discuss the strategy he developed to help Uber overcome cities trying to ban it (17:43), what...

  • 2021 / 11 / 15
    How to hire anywhere in the world (legally) | Finance Basics with Kruze Consulting’s Scott Orn | E1326

    Remote work unlocked massive hiring opportunities for startups, but also creates new compliance challenges. In this episode, Kruze Consulting COO Scott Orn joins to explain how startups should navigate remote...

  • 2021 / 11 / 13
    The greatest CNBC hit of all time, YouTube hides dislikes + Ready Games CEO David Bennahum | E1325

    First up, Jason showcases what he calls the greatest CNBC hit of all time (01:46). Then he covers YouTube hiding the downvote counter (18:49). In the interview segment, Ready Games CEO David Bennahum about...

  • 2021 / 11 / 11
    Breaking down Rivian’s IPO & $100B valuation + DAO deep dive with OpenLaw’s Aaron Wright | E1324

    First, Jason analyzes Rivian's IPO and gives his thoughts on the current valuation (2:05). Then, Aaron Wright from OpenLaw joins (22:13) to discuss Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). At OpenLaw...

  • 2021 / 11 / 11
    Coinbase Q3 earnings breakdown + Startup Checklist: Crafting a brand & knowing your market | E1323

    First, Jason breaks down Coinbase's Q3 earnings and takes a look at the broader trends in crypto trading (01:13). Then, Jason runs through 10 points of his "Startup Checklist" focused on crafting a brand &...

  • 2021 / 11 / 9
    $RBLX earnings, Jetson ONE personal aircraft + Oculus game dev Ryan Engle, creator of Pro Putt | E1322

    First Jason covers Roblox earnings, the platform's total usage is up 28% year over year (2:19)! In a new segment, "We Live in the Future," Jason shares Jetson One, a personal E-VTOL (11:16). Then, Ryan Engle...

  • 2021 / 11 / 8
    How to simplify diligence & avoid fraud | Finance Basics with Kruze Consulting’s Scott Orn | E1321

    In this hot funding environment, both investors and founders benefit from startups having all the finance basics covered. In this episode, Kruze Consulting COO Scott Orn joins to explain how to prepare for...

  • 2021 / 11 / 5
    Tech Earnings: $UBER, $ABNB, $PTON + OK Boomer: Gen Z joins the workforce | E1320

    First, Jason breaks down three recent earnings reports, Uber (1:57), Airbnb (21:10) and Peloton (26:00). Then, he introduces a new segment "Ok Boomer" where our producer Rachel reports on Gen Z tech &...

  • 2021 / 11 / 4
    Building a Great Team: Startup Checklist E5 | E1319

    We continue with episode five of the Startup Checklist, where Jason gives 10 points to build a great team. He covers hiring, compensating the early team (11:31), outsourcing, structuring the company, setting...

  • 2021 / 11 / 3
    Zillow falls after iBuying collapse, Biden Admin’s stablecoin report + LeadIQ’s Mei Siauw | E1318

    Jason reacts to Zillow's huge drop after the implosion of their iBuying business (4:33), and breaks down the Biden Administration's stablecoin report (23:35). Then, LeadIQ CEO Mei Siauw joins the show to talk...

  • 2021 / 11 / 2
    Bytedance bans 996 + Multicoin Capital’s Kyle Samani: The 100x fund | E1317

    First Jason briefly covers TikTok owner Bytedance's restriction on overtime working hours (2:14). Then Multicoin Capital partner Kyle Samani joins (11:07) to discuss how they evaluate products, why they...

  • 2021 / 11 / 1
    Apple privacy updates cost social media giants $10B + BetterBrand’s Aimee Yang | E1316

    First, Jason covers the reported revenue impacts for FB, SNAP, TWTR & GOOG caused by Apple's App Tracking Transparency policies (1:57). Then, Aimee Yang CEO & Founder of BetterBrand™ joins (16:18) to discuss...

  • 2021 / 10 / 29
    Facebook’s new name + DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg: the privacy search engine | E1315

    Facebook changed its name to Meta. In the news segment, Jason shares 10 highlights from the keynote and reacts to the name change (1:57). Then DuckDuckGo founder and CEO Gabriel Weinberg joins (36:22) to...

  • 2021 / 10 / 28
    Media employees battling “back to work” orders + Startup Checklist E4: Building a Great Product | E1314

    First, Jason reacts Conde Nast's union refusing to return to the office on November 1 and takes stock of the big tech WFH policy landscape (1:34). We continue the show with episode four of the Startup...

  • 2021 / 10 / 27
    Sequoia’s new structure, $HOOD and $TWTR earnings + Bolt’s Ryan Breslow: 4-day work week | E1313

    First, Jason covers Sequoia's VC-redefining transition to an evergreen fund (1:54). He continues Q3 earnings coverage with Robinhood (13:38) and Twitter (21:10). Then, Ryan Breslow from Bolt joins to discuss...

  • 2021 / 10 / 26
    Facebook’s Q3 earnings breakdown: revenue, user growth, rumored rebrand + Italic’s Jeremy Cai | E1312

    First, Jason breaks down Facebook's Q3 earnings, including: growing revenue and profits, slowing user growth, AR investment and its new reporting structure (2:00). He also covers Facebook's potential rebrand...

  • 2021 / 10 / 25
    Growth & Retention: Why Subscription is the Holy Grail | Customer Basics with Salesforce’s Tiffani Bova | E1311

    This Startup Basics is all about growth & retention. Tiffani Bova from Salesforce joins to talk about how startups should measure customer health, the pitfalls of high churn, the best kind of growth, how to...

  • 2021 / 10 / 22
    Trump SPAC, WeWork SPAC, GitLab IPO w/ Eric Newcomer + Quick Commerce w/Matt Newberg | E1310

    Tech journalist Eric Newcomer joins to talk the Trump SPAC (8:26), WeWork SPAC (15:58), and the behind the scenes funding story of GitLab's IPO (25:41). Then, HNGRY's Matt Newberg joins to talk innovations in...

  • 2021 / 10 / 21
    Inflation warnings and hedge strategy, Bitcoin ETF, Hindenburg’s Tether bounty + Startup Checklist E3 | E1309

    First, Jason reacts to CNBC's Paul Tudor Jones interview, where PTJ warned about inflation and called Bitcoin (and crypto) a better hedge than gold (2:10). Then, Jason covers the new Bitcoin ETF and...

  • 2021 / 10 / 20
    Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson: the next $60B, Engage, Segment acquisition & more + Who actually uses Oculus? | E1308

    It was great to have Jeff back on the pod! But first, Producer Rachel gives some updates on TWIST Founder Meetups (01:54) and Jason talks a bit about Oculus (14:12). Then, Jeff Lawson from Twilio joins...

  • 2021 / 10 / 19
    Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire on USDC, Tether & more + Jason reacts to Apple’s new M1 chips & MacBooks | E1307

    First, Jason reacts to the most recent Apple event announcing new M1 chips & Macbooks (1:26). Then, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire (23:85) joins to discuss how USDC, what makes Circle different from Tether,...

  • 2021 / 10 / 18
    How to manage customer relationships | Customer Basics with Salesforce’s Tiffani Bova | E1306

    This Startup Basics is all about managing customer relationships. Tiffani Bova from Salesforce joins to talk about the ways startups can improve customer interactions, transforming one-time transactions to...

  • 2021 / 10 / 15
    Coinbase chases NFT billions + Peter Thiel “The Contrarian” with author Max Chafkin | E1305

    First, Jason covers Coinbase's announcement of their new NFT platform (2:06). Then, Bloomberg's Max Chafkin joins to discuss his book, "The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power"...

  • 2021 / 10 / 14
    Is Netflix over cancel culture? + Startup Checklist: Choosing a Business Model | E1304

    First, Jason covers the blowback Netflix is facing from Dave Chappelle's new special "The Closer" and the masterful response from Co-CEO Ted Sarandos (2:09). Then, continuing our startup checklist series,...

  • 2021 / 10 / 13
    US inherits China’s Bitcoin Mining Dynasty + Jacob Helberg on the “New Cold War” with China | E1303

    Jason does a short news segment on China’s Bitcoin Mining hash rate falling to 0 and how the U.S. is now the largest mining hub (1:59). Then, Jacob Helberg author of "The Wires of War: Technology and the...

  • 2021 / 10 / 12
    Solana Founder Anatoly Yakovenko on scaling the blockchain to warp speed | E1302

    Anatoly from Solana joins Jason to discuss how they've managed to build the fastest blockchain (0:54). Solana's "proof of history" innovation allows for over 50,000 transactions a second, we get into Solana's...

  • 2021 / 10 / 11
    How to understand customer engagement | Customer Basics with Salesforce’s Tiffani Bova | E1301

    Startup Basics is BACK! This series focuses on one of the most important aspects of any successful startup: the customer. On episode two, Salesforce's Tiffani Bova joins to break down all things customer...

  • 2021 / 10 / 8
    Tether’s hidden billions with Bloomberg’s Zeke Faux + Startup Checklist E1 | E1300

    First, Jason chats with Bloomberg reporter Zeke Faux about his latest investigative piece "Tether's $69 Billion Mystery"(1:04). Then, Jason launches our news series "Startup Checklist" (31:49) which explores...

  • 2021 / 10 / 7
    Fantasy startup investing NFTs + former Tesla CTO JB Straubel’s Redwood Materials | E1299

    In a short news segment, Jason talks about a company that tried to sell "fantasy startup investing" NFTs and why they had to pivot (1:44). Jason gives a brief tribute to Steve Jobs (15:48). Then, he's joined...

  • 2021 / 10 / 6
    FB Whistleblower’s Senate testimony + Scorpion Capital shorts Ginkgo Bioworks, claims fraud | E1298

    In this all news show, Jason covers Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen’s Senate testimony and Mark Zuckerberg's response (2:22). We also get into the fraud claims made by Scorpion Capital against Ginkgo...

  • 2021 / 10 / 5
    How to create great customer experience | Customer Basics with Salesforce’s Tiffani Bova | E1297

    Startup Basics is BACK! This series will focus on one of the most important aspects of any successful startup: the customer. On episode one, Salesforce's Tiffani Bova joins to break down all things customer...

  • 2021 / 10 / 4
    Facebook’s whistleblower reveal & major outage + reacting to OZY media CEO on Today Show | E1296

    In this news episode, Jason covers the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen's "60 minutes" interview and breaks down some clips. Then he shares the highlights and rationalizations from the OZY Media CEO's...

  • 2021 / 10 / 1
    Coinbase CEO reflects on “mission” manifesto + Kettle’s Nat Manning on fire insurance | E1295

    First Jason covers Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong's reflections on last year's blog "Coinbase is a mission focused company.” Then, Nat Manning joins from Kettle, to chat about better assessing fire risk with...

  • 2021 / 9 / 30
    Amazon’s AI driver supervisors, OZY media fallout, rising FEMA flood insurance, OpenScouting | E1294

    Jason does a full news show breaking down: how Amazon monitors drivers with AI cameras (01:54), Tesla's new driver score (22:05), OZY Media's continued fallout (32:45), and new proposed changes for homeowners...

  • 2021 / 9 / 29
    Google’s game-changing ad policy + Michael Dell on “Play Nice But Win,” stories from building a computing giant | E1293

    First, Jason brings on investor, former ad tech exec, and frequent guest Zach Coelius to discuss the strategic implications of Google's new ad attribution policy (01:43). Then Michael Dell joins for for a...

  • 2021 / 9 / 28
    OZY Media’s deception, VC retirement, Clubhouse’s monetization problem with The Verge’s Ashley Carman & more | E1292

    First, Jason covers OZY media's attempted deception of Goldman Sachs & investors (1:50), then covers Clubhouse's monetization problem with special guest Ashley Carman from the Verge (24:26). To wrap up, he...

  • 2021 / 9 / 27
    Facebook puts Instagram Kids on pause, Bevy’s high-profile firing + Squarespace’s Anthony Casalena | E1291

    Jason covers Instagram's Adam Mosseri announcing the pause of Instagram Kids (2:09), the recent firing of Bevy employee following a hostile interaction in Brooklyn (21:51). Then, Squarespace Founder and CEO...

  • 2021 / 9 / 24
    News! China bans crypto transactions (again), Zillow & iBuyers impacting Real Estate + Ask Jason | E1290

    Jason covers China's latest crypto mandate (0:59), a TikToker's conspiracy about iBuyers and the Redfin CEO's response (17:17), then takes a bunch of Ask Jason Questions (31:42) & more!

  • 2021 / 9 / 24
    News! EU Mandates USB-C, Facebook Files, China RE, Apple leaks, Stonkfluencers, SaaS Pod | E1289

    In this all news show, Jason teases a new podcast dedicated to SaaS (1:46) and covers: the EU's planned USB-C mandate (7:44), China's property glut (13:12), TikTok Investors following congressional trades...

  • 2021 / 9 / 22
    Apple Maps 3-D update, SEC Chair tips off coming crypto regulation + Pacaso’s Austin Allison | E1288

    First, Jason covers the new Apple Maps and what he speculates it means for their next major product (2:11), then discusses SEC Chair Gary Gensler calling crypto the "wild west"(10:38). Then, Jason interviews...

  • 2021 / 9 / 21
    Apple launches iCloud Private Relay + Framework’s Nirav Patel on customizable laptops | E1287

    In a short news segment, Jason describes Apple's new iCloud+ privacy suite (2:18). Then, Framework founder Nirav Patel joins to talk about making laptop customization great again (13:04)! They discuss the...

  • 2021 / 9 / 20
    ByteDance limits daily app time for kids in China + Next Unicorns: Orbital Insight’s Kevin O’Brien | E1286

    In news, Jason covers Bytedance's decision to institute a 40 minute limit for kids on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok (1:56) and hits on the real estate situation in SF and implications for the startup...

  • 2021 / 9 / 18
    Head of Instagram comments on teen impact, Jay-Z’s NFT lawsuit + Sourcegraph’s Quinn Slack | E1285

    First, Jason reacts to comments from Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri on the impact of Instagram on teen girls and comparing the risks of social media to the automobile industry (1:50). Then, Jason breaks down...

  • 2021 / 9 / 17
    Rapid Fire News: App Annie fraud, Instagram’s negative impact, Discord valued at $15B & more | E1284

    Full news show! First up, Jason covers the App Annie fraud (1:59), then he shares thoughts on Facebook's leaked documents showing they knew Instagram was detrimental to teen girls' mental health despite...

  • 2021 / 9 / 15
    OpenSea admits employee was front-running featured NFTs + Goldbelly CEO Joe Ariel on food e-commerce | E1283

    First, Jason breaks down NFT platform OpenSea admitting one of their employees was front-running featured items (2:02). Could this tip off the SEC that NFTs might be securities rather than collectibles...

  • 2021 / 9 / 14
    “Amazon Unbound” author Brad Stone on the mind of Bezos, the future of Amazon & more | E1282

    Brad Stone, the author of "Amazon Unbound", joined to talk about Elon Musk (09:44), Amazon's workplace environment (23:25), the importance of Prime (27:17), which tech companies are most dangerous for society...

  • 2021 / 9 / 10
    Growth stocks, Inflation impacts, SPACs & more with Beth Kindig & Knox Ridley from I/O Fund | E1281

    Beth Kindig and Knox Ridley from the I/O Fund came on to discuss with Jason their top growth stocks, market indicators, how to manage risk in an all tech portfolio, potential big tech spin outs, Roku's...

  • 2021 / 9 / 10
    News! Fireproof homes, Amazon’s college plan, Facebook copies Snap, Notion Acquires Automate.io & more | E1280

    Rapid fire news episode. First, Jason covers how a fire proofed home survived the Caldor fire, Amazon's plan to provide college for all its employees, Facebook copying Snap's glasses, Notion acquiring...

  • 2021 / 9 / 9
    Coinbase battles SEC over Lend + How DeFi interest rates work with Genesis’ Matt Ballensweig | E1279

    Coinbase CEO Brain Armstrong took to Twitter to call out the SEC for what Coinbase considers unclear guidance & hostility around their Lend product, Jason breaks down the situation (1:43). Then, to better...

  • 2021 / 9 / 7
    BAYC at Sotheby’s, Loot, Tether Canada ban + 8VC’s Joe Lonsdale: Palantir, China, Cicero | E1278

    First Jason covers the $19M Bored Ape Yacht Club bid on Sotheby's & the Loot NFT collection launched by a Vine co-founder (1:42), and briefly covers Tether being banned from Canadian exchanges (11:07). Then...

  • 2021 / 9 / 3
    Adrian Grenier: launching a new fund + FounderU: balancing product vision & customer feedback | E1277

    First, Jason discusses how to balance product vision with customer feedback in a FounderU segment (0:57). Then, actor and investor Adrian Grenier joins to discuss the launch of his new fund DuContra Ventures...

  • 2021 / 9 / 2
    Next Unicorns: Miso Robotics’ Mike Bell, $3 an hour fry cooks + MorningBrew’s Dan Toomey on TikTok | E1276

    Jason chats with Miso Robotics CEO Mike Bell (1:07), about automating food preparation, filling the labor gap, the consequences of robots, growing with crowdfunding and more. Then, TWIST Producer Rachel Braun...

  • 2021 / 9 / 1
    Bored Ape Madness with The Infatuation’s Andrew Steinthal + Breaking into VC with Nicole DeTommaso | E1275

    The Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs have been going crazy in the secondary market, Jason brings on collector and co-founder of media site "The Infatuation" Andrew Steinthal (2:04) to chat about why he bought in,...

  • 2021 / 8 / 31
    Elizabeth Holmes Theranos fraud trial kickoff + Blokable’s Aaron Holm: how to scale housing | E1274

    First, Jason covers the kickoff of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' fraud trial (1:48). Then, Blokable Co-CEO & Co-Founder Aaron Holm joins (16:37) to discuss solving the housing crisis, the Phoenix Rising...

  • 2021 / 8 / 27
    CCP closes foreign IPO loophole + Audius’ Roneil Rumburg: decentralized project crash course | E1273

    First Jason covers the CCP banning US IPOs for big tech companies, closing the VIE loophole (1:50), then Audius Co-Founder Roneil Rumburg joins (18:44) to talk about his "decentralized SoundCloud," how...

  • 2021 / 8 / 26
    HeadSpin accused of $80M fraud, housing startup irks NIMBYs + Not Boring’s Packy McCormick | E1272

    In the news segment, Jason covers unicorn SaaS Startup called HeadSpin has been accused of a massive fraud by the SEC and DOJ (2:06), and Pacaso real estate startup offering fractional ownership of vacation...

  • 2021 / 8 / 25
    Rapid Fire News: OnlyFans reverses course, Circle to clean up USDC reserves, Warby Parker S-1 | E1271

    In today's news show, Jason covers OnlyFans being back to business as usual (1:31), the stablecoin Circle cleaning up commercial paper from their USDC reserves (16:49), and does a break down of Warby Parker's...

  • 2021 / 8 / 24
    Rapid Fire News: Facebook “cleans up their house,” Tyga takes on OnlyFans, Jack Ma vs. CCP | E1270

    In this news episode Jason covers Facebook finally revealing their Q1 transparency report after they originally shelved the report for PR purposes (2:08), Tyga deleting his OnlyFans account and announcing he...

  • 2021 / 8 / 20
    Rapid fire news: OnlyFans bans sexual conduct + Boston Dynamics, Disney & Tesla bet big on robots | E1269

    Jason breaks down the OnlyFans' pivot away from sexual conduct (1:54), then he covers all the robot highlights from this week, Boston Dynamics robots doing backflips (23:34), Disney creating AI characters...

  • 2021 / 8 / 19
    Robinhood earnings breakdown, Amazon launching department stores + Mark Suster deep dives VC | E1268

    Jason breaks down the 2 metrics he uses to to assess Robinhood's Q2 earnings (1:43) and Amazon entering Department Store retail (16:39). Then, Mark Suster from Upfront Ventures joins (24:07) to discuss...

  • 2021 / 8 / 18
    Noodlegate, the end of cancel culture? + Next Unicorns: OpenGov CEO Zac Bookman | E1267

    Jason opens the show with a brief recap of "Noodlegate" and the end of cancel culture (2:09). Then he chats with OpenGov CEO Zac Bookman for the latest installment of our Next Unicorns series (14:10) about...

  • 2021 / 8 / 17
    Casey Newton’s Superhuman misfire, Apple’s backdoor, 5G crypto network, WhatsApp’s Taliban problem | E1266

    Podcasting from Italy after a 2-week break of news, Jason covers Casey Newton's failed dunk on Superhuman's $75M raise (2:58), the privacy implications of Apple's approach to preventing child porn...

  • 2021 / 8 / 13
    Next Unicorns: Splice CEO Steve Martocci, building the Github for music | E1265

    Steve Martocci, the CEO of Splice (also co-founder of Blade & previously sold GroupMe to Skype) joins for our Next Unicorns series to discuss how music rights work (10:07), growing a high-quality marketplace...

  • 2021 / 8 / 12
    How to secure follow-on investment for your startup (FounderU) + Ask an Angel with Zach Coelius | E1264

    Jason discusses how founders can secure follow on funding (1:57), then is joined by investor Zach Coelius to answer listener questions on technical co-founders (38:21), successful founder traits (40:41),...

  • 2021 / 8 / 11
    How to come up with a startup idea (FounderU) + Ask an Angel with Zach Coelius | E1263

    Jason does a Founder University segment on how to generate startup ideas (1:55), then Zach Coelius joins to take some "Ask an Angel" questions: what data points are most valuable when iterating on product...

  • 2021 / 8 / 10
    Nick Kokonas of Tock & Alinea, flipping the low-margin restaurant model | E1262

    Nick Kokonas joins to discuss his his company Tock (10:50), his world-class restaurant group Alinea (0:54), how restaurants can improve their operating leverage (18:05), digital experiences augmenting...

  • 2021 / 8 / 6
    Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman on the current state and future of the US housing market | E1261

    Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman joins to discuss the current U.S. housing situation (05:05), homebuilding rates, San Francisco (23:43), remote work (28:22), generational work-life balance differences (35:24),...

  • 2021 / 8 / 5
    Bootstrapping vs. taking Venture Capital (FounderU) + Ask An Angel with Zach Coelius | E1260

    In a Founder University segment, Jason compares running a bootstrapped vs. venture-backed company (1:17), discusses 'pegasus' companies (11:09), advises what types of businesses should take VC (23:59), and...

  • 2021 / 8 / 4
    How to a Grow Consumer SaaS App to 225K Paying Customers – Next Unicorns: Fitbod CEO Allen Chen | E1259

    Fitbod CEO Allen Chen joins to discuss how they got funded & why they haven't deployed their capital (01:06), the importance of being user-centric when building a consumer app (17:44), how Allen plans grow to...

  • 2021 / 8 / 3
    Creating a new venture fund: formation, follow-on strategies & more with Acquired | E1258

    Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal from Acquired join to discuss David's new venture fund Kindergarten Ventures (00:56), how to structure a VC fund (12:16), Jason's super pro-rata strategy (30:17), podcasting...

  • 2021 / 7 / 30
    News! Robinhood/Duolingo IPOs, Big Tech earnings, China & more with TechCrunch’s Alex Wilhelm | E1257

    Alex Wilhelm from TechCrunch joins Jason to chop up this week's news. They cover Robinhood & Duolingo's IPOs (3:40), consumer subscription businesses (25:09), Google's growth (28:25), the startup funding...

  • 2021 / 7 / 29
    Nikola’s Trevor Milton indicted for fraud, Robinhood IPO + GRIN CEO Brandon Brown | E1256

    Jason covers the Grand Jury indictment of Nikola founder Trevor Milton for making false claims to investors (1:50) and gives short recap of Robinhood's IPO (18:55). Then, Brandon Brown joins to discuss his...

  • 2021 / 7 / 28
    Youtube vs. Netflix, Google’s $230B run rate + Next Unicorns: OpenSea’s Devin Finzer on NFTs | E1255

    Jason breaks down Google's earnings and compares Netflix & Youtube (3:22). Then, in our Next Unicorns series, Devin Finzer (27:01), the Co-Founder and CEO of OpenSea (an NFT marketplace) joins to discuss the...

  • 2021 / 7 / 27
    Rapid Fire News: China’s techlash continues, Tesla’s incredible Q2 earnings, Tether holders move to USDC & more | E1254

    Jason covers China reigning in big tech (2:03), Tesla’s incredible Q2 earnings crossing $1B in profit (25:30), a $300M market movement from Tether to USDC (33:24), and gives a breakdown of a Binance Crypto...

  • 2021 / 7 / 27
    Emergency Pod! Tether executives facing DOJ bank fraud probe (via Bloomberg) | E1253

    Tether executives are reportedly facing a DOJ criminal probe for bank fraud! Jason breaks down Bloomberg's report (1:31), Tether's response (10:34) and assesses potential implications for the wider crypto...

  • 2021 / 7 / 23
    Dfinity’s ICP crypto complaint, Snap/Twitter earnings, China’s e-learning crackdown & more | E1252

    In this rapid fire news episode, Jason covers a16z-backed Dfinity's crypto class action complaint (02:46), Snapchat and Twitter's massive earnings (19:33), the CCP considering turning it's ed-tech sector...

  • 2021 / 7 / 22
    China punishes Didi, Twitter’s new feature, UAE makes it rain + Do Kwon of Terraform Labs | E1251

    Jason covers China's increasing penalties for Didi (2:52), Twitter's test of a downvote feature (12:13), and how the UAE was able to induce rain with electricity (17:32). Then Do Kwon, the founder of...

  • 2021 / 7 / 21
    Reacting to Tether’s CNBC interview, Netflix earnings + Vincent’s Slava Rubin on alt assets | E1250

    In the news segment, Jason reacts to the Tether CTO & General Counsel's interview on CNBC (2:22) and digs in to Netflix's latest earnings report (37:35). Then, Vincent founder Slava Rubin joins to discuss all...

  • 2021 / 7 / 21
    Bezos goes to space, Robinhood IPO, USDC attestation + Flock Safety’s Garrett Langley | E1249

    In news Jason covers Bezos reaching space (2:32), Robinhood's S-1/A (13:28), Circle's new USDC attestation (22:25), crypto crackdown in Asia (36:06), Zoom buying Five9 for almost $15B (46:00) Keith Rabois'...

  • 2021 / 7 / 16
    Rapid Fire News: AI voices after death, DOJ investigates Lordstown Motors, COVID adaptation | E1248

    Jason covers Anthony Bourdain's amazing AI deepfake voice in "roadrunner" & potential startup ideas for the technology (01:49), the investigation into EV startup Lordstown Motors (12:27), and the way...

  • 2021 / 7 / 16
    Rapid Fire News: FB’s right-wing algo, Tether update, giving Cuba internet, Powell on stable coins & more | E1247

    News episode, Jason covers CrowdTangle's data headache (01:56), how the White House wants to crack down on social media misinformation (13:34), Florida Gov. DeSantis proposal for providing internet to Cuba...

  • 2021 / 7 / 15
    The Next Unicorns: Adena Hefets CEO of Divvy Homes, forging a new path to home ownership | E1246

    To kick off this season of "The Next Unicorns," Adena Hefets, CEO of Divvy Homes, joins to discuss how they are helping Americans blaze a path to owning a home (2:51), if we are in a real estate bubble...

  • 2021 / 7 / 14
    Education’s war on excellence, AWS atrophy, France fines Google + AppHarvest’s Josh Lessing | E1245

    Jason covers the war on excellence in public education (2:05), signs of AWS maturity (19:04), France's $592M antitrust fine for Google (30:28). Then discusses AI Farms with AppHarvest CTO Josh Lessing (47:43)...

  • 2021 / 7 / 13
    China cracks down on US IPOs, winning founder qualities, Ask Jason: accelerators, investing | E1244

    Jason covers the CCP crackdown on Chinese tech companies listing in the US, shares how he spots winning founders (14:02), then answers Ask Jason questions: finding a technical co-founder (36:47), signals for...

  • 2021 / 7 / 9
    Biden targets big corporations + Tether Investigation with Bitfinex’ed | E1243

    Jason covers Biden's executive order seeking to increase competition and weaken the power of Big Tech (2:21). Then, we continue our Tether Investigation with @Bitfinex'ed (18:16), covering how Tether works...

  • 2021 / 7 / 8
    Nextdoor SPAC breakdown, Pelosi trading options + Morning Brew’s Alex Lieberman | E1242

    First, Jason breaks down the highlights from Nextdoor's SPAC announcement (1:48) and covers the profits made by politicians trading tech company options (16:26). Then, Alex Lieberman, Co-Founder & Executive...

  • 2021 / 7 / 6
    Barclays blocks Binance, China pauses Didi downloads + Steezy CEO Evan Zhou | E1241

    Jason covers the red flags emerging around Binance (2:34), the Chinese government's swift action against Didi relating to data privacy (16:40). Then Steezy Founder & CEO Evan Zhou joins to discuss how simple...

  • 2021 / 7 / 2
    Emergency Pod! Robinhood files to go public: S-1 breakdown | E1240

    Robinhood is going public! Jason breaks down their recently filed S-1 and covers the most important metrics (1:56), comparisons against other major brokerages (8:45) and more!

  • 2021 / 7 / 1
    How to nail Monthly Investor Updates (FounderU) + Ginkgo Bioworks CEO Jason Kelly | E1239

    First Jason explains how to deliver great investor updates & the benefits of doing them well (1:36). Then, Ginkgo Bioworks CEO Jason Kelly joins to discuss the expanding capabilities of synthetic biology...

  • 2021 / 6 / 29
    Sam Altman’s “Worldcoin,” Facebook hits $1T + Alchemy’s Nikil Viswanathan on “AWS for Blockchain” | E1238

    In the opening News segment Jason covers Sam Altman launching a new cryptocurrency "Worldcoin" (2:18), and Facebook becoming the fastest company to ever reach a $1T market cap (11:16). Then, Alchemy CEO...

  • 2021 / 6 / 25
    News! Peter Thiel’s $5B Roth IRA, Black creators strike on TikTok, BuzzFeed SPAC, Microsoft goes anti-Apple PLUS Ask Jason | E1237

    News episode Jason talks about Peter Thiel’s multi-billion dollar Roth IRA (1:27), Black creators striking on TikTok (13:32), BuzzFeed's SPAC (24:15), Microsoft's dig at Apple (31:28), and two Ask Jason...

  • 2021 / 6 / 24
    The power of the SOD/EOD plus Bill Maris on early Google stories, origins of GV, bioterrorism & more | E1236

    First, Jason does a "Founder University" segment on the benefits of remote managing using a SOD-EOD format (1:31). Then Bill Maris joins to discuss what working at Google was like when Bill started GV...

  • 2021 / 6 / 22
    China moves crypto mining to US + Overtime’s Dan Porter on GenZ basketball league & network | E1235

    Jason covers the recent Chinese Bitcoin mining migration (1:56). Then, Dan Porter the CEO of Overtime joins to discuss how Overtime is building a next-generation sports network across Youtube, Twitch, &...

  • 2021 / 6 / 18
    What startups need to succeed | Scaling Your Startup S2 E10 with Intercom’s Des Traynor | E1234

    Intercom CEO Des Traynor discusses why startups need to grow fast (7:44), how to execute at speed (10:48), build an effective culture (33:35) & more!

  • 2021 / 6 / 16
    GameStop poaches Amazon execs, Streaming stalls + Genies CEO Akash Nigam on Avatars & NFTs | E1233

    Jason kicks off the episode with the news: an update on the Tether (02:02), how Gamestop poached Amazon talent (06:17), and the first-ever decline in the average number of streaming accounts per household...

  • 2021 / 6 / 15
    Tether: Crypto’s Black Swan? Plus Alternative Asset Roundtable featuring the founders of Masterworks, Fundrise & Rally Rd | E1232

    Jason kicks off the episode with research into the claims against Tether Limited, the company behind USDT, the world's largest "stablecoin" and 3rd largest cryptocurrency (1:30). Then Jason is joined by 3...

  • 2021 / 6 / 11
    Zymergen CEO Josh Hoffman on Biofacturing PLUS Founder U Startup Math | E1231

    Jason opens with a Founder University segment on "Startup Math" (1:48), then interviews Zymergen CEO Josh Hoffman on Biofacturing (16:45), how DNA sequencing & machine learning are enabling materials science...

  • 2021 / 6 / 11
    News! The cult of Bitcoin maximalists, Bezos is going to space, & Facebook’s smartwatch | E1230

    First up, Jason covers "Bitcoin Toxicity." Are Bitcoin maximalists exhibiting cult-like behavior? (1:19) Then, he assesses the risks of Bezos going to space: is the potential upside worth the risk of ruin?...

  • 2021 / 6 / 9
    Customer Success | Scaling Your Startup S2E9 with Statusphere’s Kristen Wiley & Techmate’s Nicole Beals | E1229

    Customer success is key to startup success. First, Statusphere CEO Kristen Wiley shares strategies from managing two customer success teams in B2B and B2C. (1:00) Then, find out why customers churn from...

  • 2021 / 6 / 8
    Aurora CEO Chris Urmson on building the roadmap to fully autonomous vehicles | E1228

    Chris Urmson the CEO of Aurora, a leading self-driving company, joins Jason to recount the history of autonomous vehicles (1:06), the roadmap for removing human drivers (16:47), what technology problems are...

  • 2021 / 6 / 8
    Apple’s WFH blowback, navigating current startup valuations PLUS Sugar’s Fatima Dicko | 1227

    Jason gives his take on the letter from a group of employees to Tim Cook about Apple's return to work (1:00), then Fatima Dicko the CEO and Founder of Sugar discusses pivoting in the pandemic (25:54), what...

  • 2021 / 6 / 4
    Katerra’s collapse, Bill Ackman’s SPAC merger plus Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi | E1226

    Jason covers the bankruptcy of the Softbank-backed construction startup Katerra, Bill Ackman's Universal Music SPAC, then interviews Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi about portable benefits for independent...

  • 2021 / 6 / 3
    Launching Twitter Blue with Twitter’s Head of Product Kayvon Beykpour | E1225

    Kayvon Beykpour, Twitter's Head of Product shares the strategy behind Twitter's recent feature releases, what structural changes enabled Twitter to increase product velocity, how they segment composers &...

  • 2021 / 6 / 3
    Low-Burn | Scaling Your Startup S2 E8 with Neyborly’s Ben Seidl & Xendoo’s Lil Roberts | E1224

    A low-burn rate gives startups the agility they need to succeed and weather unforeseen challenges. Two CEOs join Jason to discuss how founders can make the most of their limited capital. Ben Seidl of...

  • 2021 / 5 / 28
    Citizen App’s bounty blunder, “digital bodyguard” service + Coinbase launches “Fact Check” | E1223

    Jason breaks down the Citizen App's recent mistake of putting a $30,000 bounty on an incorrect arson suspect (01:39), assesses the merits of an "Uber for private security" (17:15), and covers Coinbase's...

  • 2021 / 5 / 26
    Acquired.FM’s Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal on Berkshire vs. Bitcoin, Amazon acquires James Bond IP, and more! | E1222

    Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal of Acquired join Jason to talk about Bitcoin's recent price action (5:55), the cognitive dissonance of liking both Bitcoin and Berkshire (14:27), Amazon's acquisition of MGM...

  • 2021 / 5 / 25
    Culture | Scaling Your Startup S2 E7: 15five’s David Hassell & Balloon’s Amanda Greenberg | E1221

    Two CEOs join to talk about intentionally creating and maintaining a workplace culture that delivers high performance. First, 15five's David Hassel shares how to build culture at scale (1:49), then Balloon's...

  • 2021 / 5 / 21
    US initiates crypto regulation, Robinhood IPO access, Slack as a Trojan Horse PLUS Magic Spoon CEO Gabi Lewis | E1220

    Jason hits the recent restrictions on crypto from the U.S. and China, Robinhood allowing users to get in at IPO prices, and Antonio García Martínez's chat with Kara Swisher (1:15). Then in the main segment,...

  • 2021 / 5 / 20
    Emergency Pod! Huge Bitcoin correction, Robinhood IPO rumors, Squarespace direct listing | E1219

    Emergency pod! Bitcoin sees a major correction due to China's crack down (1:46). What are the chances it could it go to zero, and could China banning crypto be a blessing in disguise? Robinhood is rumored to...

  • 2021 / 5 / 19
    Marketing SEO & Conversion Funnels | Scaling Your Startup S2 E6: Gravitr’s Doriane Mouret & Outlaw’s Danielle Vincent | E1218

    This episode is full of tactical advice for improving your marketing operations. Gravitr's Doriane Mouret explains how to improve your conversion funnels (3:28), Outlaw's Danielle Vincent shares how to...

  • 2021 / 5 / 18
    Amazon in talks to acquire MGM, AT&T offloading Warner Media, Dapper Labs lawsuit plus NYT’s Taylor Lorenz on creator economy, Clubhouse & Jake Paul’s venture fund | E1217

    Jason covers Amazon's talks to acquire MGM, AT&T's spin-off of WarnerMedia to Discovery, and Dapper Labs lawsuit about the nature of NFTs (1:00). Then, NYT journalist Taylor Lorenz joins to discuss the...

  • 2021 / 5 / 18
    Emergency Pod! Twitter is reportedly building a paid subscription called “Twitter Blue” | E1216

    Jason shares insights on the Twitter Blue leak (1:40) then breaks down recent product innovations, Twitter's 2021 acquisition spree, and what it all means (15:05). Check out the pod notes:...

  • 2021 / 5 / 15
    Ask an Angel PLUS Antonio Garcia Martinez vs. Apple with Zach Coelius | E1215

    Zach Coelius joins Jason to answer live listener questions (1:09), and then the pair discuss Apple's recent debacle in firing Antonio Garcia Martinez after being pressured by employees (42:43). Check out the...

  • 2021 / 5 / 15
    Product | Scaling Your Startup S2 E5 with Superhuman’s Rahul Vohra & Fitbod’s Jesse Venticique | E1214

    This episode reveals the product strategies of two of Jason's high-performing portfolio companies, Superhuman & Fitbod. First, Superhuman's Founder & CEO Rahul Vohra shares his 7 principles for improving...

  • 2021 / 5 / 13
    Oura CEO Harpreet Rai on improving sleep, NBA partnerships, hardware & more PLUS the Instagram Kids debacle | E1213

    Jason gives his take on Facebook's Instagram Kids initiative (0:53), then, Ōura's CEO Harpreet Rai discusses how sleep & recovery scores are calculated (25:09), how Oura works with the NBA & enterprise to...

  • 2021 / 5 / 11
    Precursor Ventures’ Charles Hudson & Jason give candid feedback on startup pitches at Founder University | E1212

    Jason & Charles Hudson from Precursor Ventures take 8 pitches from founders and give feedback on how the pitches were structured (13:10) and their business models (38:48). Pod Notes: http://bit.ly/twist1212

  • 2021 / 5 / 7
    Facebook’s Oversight Board rules on Trump ban plus how to reverse engineer TAM & more | E1211

    Jason covers the Facebook Oversight Board's decision on Trump (15:49), gives a potential solution for bad actors on social media that are of public consequence (39:25), provides a concrete way to reverse...

  • 2021 / 5 / 6
    Fundraising | Scaling Your Startup S2 E4 with Density’s Andrew Farah and SoleSavy’s Dejan Pralica | E1210

    Two startup CEOs share their approach to fundraising, Andrew Farah explains the strategy he used to raise $100M for Density (03:58), Dejan simplifies his community-forming principles for SoleSavy (38:27), and...

  • 2021 / 5 / 5
    Crafter’s Morgan Spenla on delighting makers with memberships, materials, and a marketplace | E1209

    Morgan Spenla shares why her company Crafter delivers a wonderful experience to makers (01:06), how they monetize (15:04), why she hires customer support from Starbucks (48:07), and more!

  • 2021 / 5 / 5
    Breaking down Basecamp’s tumultuous week, politics at work & more | E1208

    Jason weighs in on Basecamp's ban of political discussion at work (10:57), the ensuing employee exodus (22:40), shares his policy for his companies (26:32), answers a listener's question about how to surround...

  • 2021 / 4 / 30
    How Tiger Global is outpacing VC with better, faster, cheaper, capital ft. Founders Fund’s Everett Randle | E1207

    Tiger Global, a crossover hedge fund, is moving at an unprecedented speed and scale in venture capital. Everett Randle of Founder's Fund joins Jason to break down Tiger Global's strategy, discuss the...