Series A sizing, entitlement, and misuse of capital in AI startups

👉 Register here for Founder University Japan’s Kickoff! https://luma.com/cm0x90mk

Today’s show:

*Three of our favorite TWiST 500 startups — Ledger, 1Password, AND Mercury — are circling IPOs. Find out why the cybersecurity space remains so hot… AND why Jason says you really need to have multiple banks.

PLUS Marc Andreessen called The Pope an AI Doomer on X, then thought better of it. We’re tracking the entire viral controversy…

SPEAKING OF viral feuds, allegations are FLYING around about recently-funded AI agent makers Giga. Does the startup pose some genuine red flags, or was it just a questionable launch video?

AND why Alex and Jason remain optimistic the AI vibes could turn around, presentation maker Gamma is growing FAST, plus an update on Jason and Alex’s Polymarket IPO wager…

Timestamps:

(02:17) Jason is hosting the big show from Tokyo today (tonight for him)… Where is Founder U headed next?

(04:03) Jason’s eating his way across Japan… what are his top “bang bangs” so far?

(07:47) Is The Pope a Doomer? Why Andreessen called out His Holiness (then deleted it)

(9:22) Quo - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get started free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months, at http://quo.com/TWiST

(12:08)Why Jason still thinks mass AI job displacement is coming

(17:48) Will AI-related job loss lead to an explosion in startups and small businesses?

(19:24) Coda - Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist

(20:39) Have lots of Americans suddenly turned on AI Why?

(25:30) Why Alex and Jason remain optimistic that the AI vibes could turn around

(29:44) Gusto. Check out the online payroll and benefits experts with software built specifically for small business and startups. Try Gusto today and get three months FREE at Gusto.com/twist.

(31:01) Alex’s new favorite definition of Product Market Fit, or “Market Pull,” as Jason clarifies

(33:31) Delving into the Giga controversy… “ugly” talk, wild X allegations, etc.

(46:11) THREE TWiST 500 are readying IPOs… Catching up with Ledger, 1Password, and Mercury

(53:42) Why Jason and Alex think you need multiple banks

(57:40) Why presentation maker Gamma is growing even faster than we thought!

(1:00:37) Checking in with Jason and Alex’s Polymarket IPO bet…

(1:03:44) Could startups become so richly valued that they become “uninvestable” without an IPO?

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

Thank you to our partners:

(9:22) Quo - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get started free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months, at http://quo.com/TWiST

(19:24) Coda - Empower your startup with Coda’s Team plan for free—get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist

(29:44) Gusto. Check out the online payroll and benefits experts with software built specifically for small business and startups. Try Gusto today and get three months FREE at Gusto.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

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