TWiST News: Startups & Wealth Taxes, The Bitcoin Boom, and The OpenAI Browser | E2051
This Week in Startups
Norway's Strategic Wealth Management and Oil Taxation
This chapter explores Norway's economic transformation after the discovery of oil in 1969, focusing on the implementation of a high taxation rate for oil companies. It highlights how these strategic decisions led to the creation of a significant sovereign wealth fund, positioning Norway for long-term financial sustainability.
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Todays show:
Jason and Alex are joined by Dune's CEO to discuss wealth taxes and their impact on startups, highlighting the need for nations to support digital innovation. Then, they dive into MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy, OpenAI's browser plans, and the 2025 IPO class, including excitement for CoreWeave's debut!
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show
(6:07) Impact of taxes on startup formation and Norway's economic background
(10:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(11:53) Norway's wealth tax implications and policy changes
(18:09) Exodus of top taxpayers and the paradox of Norway's wealth tax
(20:14) Wall of shame for tax critics
(27:41) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist
(28:41) Dune Analytics' revenue growth and new index product launch
(36:47) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at https://devsquad.com/twist
(38:15) Michael Saylor and MicroStrategy's Bitcoin investment strategy
(49:01) Market irrationality and risks associated with Bitcoin investments
(55:01) Crypto wealth diversification and new investment structures
(1:02:20) OpenAI's new browser project and its impact on search
(1:05:51) Increasing reliance on browsers and Bluesky's potential
(1:15:37) CoreWeave's IPO and the future of GPU clouds
(1:18:22) Bitcoin market dynamics and predictions
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Mentioned on the show:
https://x.com/ASvanevik/status/1857568015929455050/photo/1
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2550877
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Follow Fredrik:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrikhaga
Check out Dune: https://dune.com
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Follow Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
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Follow Jason:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
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Thank you to our partners:
(10:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(27:41) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist
(36:47) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at https://devsquad.com/twist
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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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