Geopolitical Tensions and Technological Innovations

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Oracle. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. Save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

Notion. Notion combines your notes, docs, and projects into one beautifully designed space with AI built right in. Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist

AssemblyAI. Get maximum value from voice data with AssemblyAI. Build powerful products and features for your end users on the industry’s leading speech-to-text models. Get 100 free hours to start building at https://www.assemblyai.com/twist

*

Timestamps:

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

(3:55) Skydio’s Adam Bry joins the show

(4:22) Overview of Skydio's autonomous drones and public safety applications

(9:31) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

(11:07) Skydio as the largest US drone producer and Chinese sanctions impact

(17:36) Risks of Chinese-made drones and Skydio's cybersecurity measures

(21:28) Drones in defense and combat applications

(25:15) Notion - Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist

(27:24) Drone light shows and military implications, Skydio's mission and hiring

(31:44) Future applications of drone technology and hardware startup challenges

(39:31) Geopolitical tensions and impact on American companies

(39:43) AssemblyAI - Get 100 free hours to start building at https://www.assemblyai.com/twist

(41:36) Presidential election results and implications for entrepreneurship

(48:49) Tariffs, immigration policies, and economic impact

(57:41) Prediction markets

(1:00:07) High-skilled immigration and antitrust policies

(1:04:35) Political influence on business dynamics and media

(1:07:02) Mergers, acquisitions, and startup liquidity post-Lena Khan

(1:11:26) Secondary markets, Lyft and DoorDash valuation trends

(1:15:15) The future of search engines

*

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

*

Mentioned on the show:

Check out Skydio: https://www.skydio.com/

Check out Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/

Article on Amazon’s purchase of MGM: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a36543339/james-bond-amazon-mgm-deal-explained/

Article on election ad spending in 2024: https://www.afaqs.com/news/advertising/harris-and-trump-spent-nearly-10-billion-on-ads-in-2024-us-elections-7452195

Trailer for 1982 Doc “Buried”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4NpOlJ_O-I

*

Follow Adam:

X: https://x.com/adampbry

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adambry/

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

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

*

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

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

*

Thank you to our partners:

(9:31) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at at https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist

(25:15) Notion - Try it for free today at https://notion.com/twist

(39:43) AssemblyAI - Get 100 free hours to start building at https://www.assemblyai.com/twist

*

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