This Week in Startups

Venture Concentration, High-Skill Immigration, And Who Should Buy Lyft? | E2067

Jan 4, 2025

Lisa Wehden, Founder and CEO of Plymouth Street, shares her insights on the critical role of high-skilled immigration in the U.S. tech landscape. She discusses the overwhelming concentration of venture capital and its effect on startups, particularly emphasizing the struggles of smaller founders. Lisa also contrasts the H-1B and O-1 visa systems, advocating for reforms to attract top talent. Additionally, the conversation touches on the future of Lyft and possible acquisitions, stirring curiosity about the evolving ride-sharing market and its key players.

01:08:08

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Episode guests

Lisa Wehden

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Venture capital is increasingly concentrated among a few firms, complicating funding opportunities for early-stage startups and innovators.

High-skill immigration reform, particularly the adoption of O-1 visas, is crucial for enhancing the U.S. tech sector's innovation landscape.

Tech giants like Uber and Amazon are positioned as potential acquirers of Lyft, driven by strategic operational synergies in the market.

Deep dives

The Impact of Social Media on Personal Expression

Social media platforms have become essential tools for individuals to share their thoughts and experiences. The speaker highlights how they appreciate receiving feedback, even negative comments, from followers on their social media channels. This interaction is seen not just as feedback but also as a reflection of the commenters' own emotions and states of mind. Embracing this connection allows the speaker to engage more deeply with their audience, despite facing criticism.

Intro

2min

Holiday Reflections and New Beginnings

11min

The Shift from Traditional to Growth Stage Venture Capital

4min

Shifting Venture Focus and the Importance of Personal Fitness for Founders

4min

Venture Capital Dynamics and Immigration Insights

8min

Targeted Advertising and High-Skill Immigration: Keys to National Growth

4min

Immigration's Impact on Tech Innovation

12min

Reforming Immigration to Attract Top Talent

5min

Startup Failures and Future Consolidation

10min

10.

Navigating Tech Affiliations

8min

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Todays show: Jason and Alex discuss the over saturation of venture capital, how to fix the high-skill immigration issue, including an interview with Lisa Wehden of Plymouth, and the pressing question of who should buy Lyft?

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the episode (1:56) Jason and Alex discuss their New Year holidays and resolutions (6:25) Jason shares tips for mindfulness and meditation (8:01) Reflecting on family moments and making memories (10:13) Paddle. Go to paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.

(11:27) Jason and Alex delve into venture capital and Instacart's funding rounds (17:41) Jason announces focus on early-stage investments and Founder University (19:12) Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up now at fitbod.me/TWIST. (21:05) Venture capital fundraising concentration and strategy (25:40) Impact of large funds on seed rounds and venture capital immigration (29:08) LinkedIn Ads. Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit: http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (31:05) Social media weaponization, self-censorship, and high-skilled immigration (36:45) Criticisms, reforms, and solutions to H1B visa issues (45:40) Consultancy costs and Jason's simple solutions for H1B visa reform (50:05) The rise and fall of Bench and Level; predictions for startup failures by 2025 (56:21) Potential mergers in on-demand and autonomous sectors; viability of an Amazon-Lyft merger (1:03:08) Expanding the Mag 8 to reduce tech giant dominance (1:04:33) Valuations of major tech companies (1:05:26) Overview and support offerings of Founder University and getstartupcredits.com

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