Deel’s growth overshadows SpyGate, Claude learned new skills, and the great “momentum is moat” debate | E2194
This Week in Startups
Free Cash Flow, Buybacks, and Strategic Optionality
Jason discusses corporate optionality from strong cash flow, buybacks, and the tactical uses of capital by public companies.
Deel’s growth overshadows SpyGate, Claude learned new skills, and the great “momentum is moat” debate | EXXX
Today’s show:
*Deel’s growing fast enough that investors are overlooking the espionage allegations and jumping on board anyway. (LAUNCH now owns a lil taste of Deel, so Jason is on board!)
PLUS is the Mag 7 about to become the Mag 70… Why legendary investor Roelof Botha thinks VC is not an asset class… How startups can use capital as a weapon… AND Anthropic gave Claude more skills, which they hope will help pay their bills.
Timestamps:
(00:01:34) Jason’s excited for ski season and checking his favorite powder app, OpenSnow
(00:04:02) Why Jason’s done with meetings; he’s pulling a Doug Leone!
(00:06:27) Jason can tell the market’s heating up because people are starting to lose their minds.
(00:09:31) How much will global AI tools one day be worth? Alex is crunching the numbers.
(10:00) Miro - Help your teams get great done with Miro. Check out miro.com to find out how!
(00:15:22) PREDICTION: The Mag7 is about to become the Mag70
(20:00) Alphasense - Get deeper insights into your business with the power of AI search and market intelligence. Start with a free trial at https://www.alpha-sense.com/twist
(00:25:36) Deel’s big raise… Why major growth overshadows spying allegations
(30:00) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://LinkedIn.com/ThisWeekinStartups to claim your credit.
(00:33:31) Why Roelof Botha says VC is a “return-free risk,” and not an “asset class.”
(00:40:49) The two reasons why VC firms end
(00:44:18) How startups can use capital as a weapon
(00:57:52) Anthropic gave Claude Skills to pay the bills
(01:00:51) Jason’s vision for what Grammarly could become
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Follow Lon:
Follow Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
Follow Jason:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Thank you to our partners:
Miro - Help your teams get great done with Miro. Check out miro.com to find out how!
Alphasense - Get deeper insights into your business with the power of AI search and market intelligence. Start with a free trial at LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today.
Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://LinkedIn.com/ThisWeekinStartups to claim your credit.
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
Follow TWiST:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916
The AI-powered Podcast Player
