Belief in vertical SaaS despite LLMs

This Week In Startups is made possible by:

Northwest Registered Agent- https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

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Today’s show: 

Jason’s already a millionaire many times over… but what are the huge, blockbuster, dream purchases that he’s still holding off on? BESIDES the private jet we all know he wants? The Noti Gang has asked, and JCal finally answers, on a holiday TWiST where we’re taking questions from viewers and fans.

Check out the episode for lots more intriguing queries, like how to push forward and glean useful information when your first customers aren’t using your product the way you’d envisioned. Plus, is there room for both AI agents and great SaaS startups in the coming years? Hear why Jason thinks there IS.

AND we’ve got the very last Gamma Pitch Deck Competition entry before we announce our winner in the new year. Check out AskHumans, an innovative approach to improving market research.

Timestamps: 

(00:00) On a special holiday TWiST, we’re answering YOUR pressing Founder Questions!

(8:35) Northwest Registered Agent - Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!

(09:35) What should a founder do when a VC reaches out cold?

(13:37) The importance of maintaining “ball control”

(15:35) A European founder asks: Should I take European investments if they’re targeting American customers?

(19:47) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(20:51) A member of the Noti gang asks for JCal’s dream mega-purchases

(24:12) Why Jason thinks there’s room for BOTH AI agents and great SaaS companies

(27:18) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://lemon.io/twist

(28:23) It’s our final Gamma pitch with Zak from AskHumans!

(29:24) How AskHumans uses AI to improve on marketing surveys and research

(34:33) Management and measurement were designed before computers could understand language… why this matters.

(35:48) Why no one ever wants to give feedback in a video

(39:01) Why Zak’s pitch is “two chapters of the same story”… and was this a pivot?

(44:14) Why founders need to assume LLMs are going to get exponentially better

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Follow Lon:

X: https://x.com/lons

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Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

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

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Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

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

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Thank you to our partners:

(8:35) Northwest Registered Agent - Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!

(19:47) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(27:18) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://lemon.io/twist

Great TWIST interviews: 

Will Guidara

https://youtu.be/pvJa2pzuXWQ

Eoghan McCabe

https://youtu.be/9dHN4YFkgv4

Steve Huffman

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reddit-ceo-steve-huffman-on-mod-revolt-building-a/id315114957?i=1000617333424

Brian Chesky

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-on-early-rejection-customer/id315114957?i=1000611761112

Bob Moesta

https://youtu.be/y2UMzSqX94Q

Aaron Levie

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/box-ceo-aaron-levie-breaks-down-box-ai-and-generative/id315114957?i=1000612384545

Sophia Amoruso

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/sophia-amoruso-on-branding-raising-a-fund-portfolio/id315114957?i=1000601352978