This Week in Startups

The Self-Driving Unicorn You Need to Meet & MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Bet | E2052

Nov 27, 2024

In this discussion, Alex Kendall, the visionary founder and CEO of Wayve, shares insights about his company's groundbreaking approach to self-driving technology. He dives into the debate between LiDAR and camera-first solutions, addressing economic viability and strategies for autonomous vehicles. Kendall also reveals an ambitious timeline for deployment and explores the evolving subscription models for AI-driven cars. Shifting gears, the conversation touches on MicroStrategy's controversial Bitcoin strategy and its implications in the market.

53:08

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Episode guests

Alex Kendall

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Wayve's innovative approach prioritizes AI-driven, camera-first technology for autonomous vehicles, ensuring flexibility and real-time decision-making in diverse environments.

MicroStrategy's strategy to integrate convertible debt with Bitcoin holdings introduces complexities that warrant careful scrutiny due to potential market volatility implications.

The concept of pink flags and red flags in investments underscores the necessity for prudent and informed decision-making in complex financial scenarios.

Deep dives

Understanding Flags in Investment Decisions

The distinction between pink flags and red flags in investments is crucial. A pink flag signifies the need for further inquiry, suggesting that questions must be asked about the financial practices or narratives a company presents. A red flag serves as a signal to cease participation, indicating significant concerns that may jeopardize an investment's viability. This framework emphasizes the importance of vigilance and skepticism in navigating complex financial landscapes.

Intro

3min

Navigating Autonomy in Self-Driving Tech

4min

Navigating the Future of Autonomous Driving

5min

Reimagining Autonomous Vehicles: A Scalable Approach

5min

Navigating the Future of Self-Driving Technology and Market Competition

6min

The Future of Self-Driving Cars

6min

Revolutionizing Car Rentals: KITE and the Future of Self-Driving Technology

3min

Navigating the Future of Autonomous Vehicles and Bitcoin Strategies

20min

Todays show:

Jason and Alex welcomed Alex Kendall to the show. He's the founder and CEO of Wayve, an AI company working on self-driving. You might recall that Wayve raised $1 billion earlier this year, but TWIST wanted to know how the company intends to commercialize -- and how soon. From there, it was back to the bitcoin mines. Figuratively, as the hosts dug into MicroStrategies' bitcoin buying bet. Precisely why it is trading at such a NAV premium remains occluded to the show, but we did chase down its debt terms. Next week: More TWiST500!

Timestamps:

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

(2:32) Introduction of guest Alex Kendall Co-Founder & CEO of Wayve (3:00) Alex Kendall on Wayve's autonomous driving approach and AI technology (8:29) LiDAR vs. camera-first solutions debate

(10:19) Cloud Devs - Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today.

(12:23) Economic viability and strategy of autonomous vehicles (17:49) Timeline for Wave's technology deployment and future market scenarios

(19:58) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(22:34) Autonomy subscription models and AI driving behavior challenges

(30:01) Kyte - Download the Kyte app today and use code JASON to save 10% on your first rental.

(33:00) AI driving culture and Twist 500 update (37:05) MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy and market concerns (41:33) Bitcoin convertible debt analysis (49:03) Deciphering complex business models and historical examples (51:24) Evaluating new financial terms and investor advice (52:29) Final thoughts and invitation to Michael Saylor

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Mentioned on the show:

Check out Wayve: https://wayve.ai/ Check out MicroStrategy: https://www.microstrategy.com/ TWiST Episode #1251 with Do Kwon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLZL8iPKsHQ

Follow Alex Kendall:

X: https://x.com/alexgkendall

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

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

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

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