This Week in Startups

Is Project Europe a YC Riff? Nick Denton is Back! And more! | E2096

Mar 13, 2025

European startups face a brain drain, prompting a new $10M initiative to keep founders local. AI is on the rise, with one company seeing a 40% revenue surge in just a quarter. Meanwhile, Tesla grapples with fierce competition from Chinese EV manufacturers. The conversation shifts to Saudi Arabia's ambitious move to create a gaming empire, and there's buzz around a potential merger of X and XAI, benefiting from real-time data advantages. Nick Denton returns with spicy commentary on key political figures, stirring the pot even further.

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Quick takeaways

Project Europe aims to counteract the brain drain of founders from Europe by providing mentorship and a $10M fund for entrepreneurship.

The integration of X and XAI, leveraging real-time data, poses an intriguing possibility for a merger that could reshape the AI landscape.

The decline in job placements for MBA graduates highlights a shift towards entrepreneurship, underscoring the need for adaptable skills in today's market.

Deep dives

Integration of X and XAI

The growing financial ties and product integrations between X and XAI raise questions about their potential merger. This relationship is bolstered by the significant advantage XAI gains from accessing X's vast data corpus, which enhances its language model's effectiveness. Real-time data access is emphasized as a critical factor that could set XAI apart in the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence. Such integration hints at a shift where both companies could become synonymous in the AI and social media sectors.

Intro

5min

Rethinking the Value of an MBA for Young Entrepreneurs

3min

Exploring Financial Accessibility and Media Influence in Startups

5min

Corvettes, EVs, and Car Controls

7min

Understanding the Boundaries of Protest and the Dangers of Arson

3min

Navigating Politics and Brand Loyalty

6min

Exploring Project Europe: A New Venture Initiative

5min

Challenges of Entrepreneurship in Europe

3min

Riyadh's Transformation: Culture, Technology, and Health

10min

10.

AI Dynamics and Global Power Shifts

15min

Today’s show: Europe wants to keep its founders from fleeing, AI is growing at breakneck speed, and Nick Denton is back with a spicy Twitter storm—so we had to talk about it. Jason, Alex, and Lon break down Project Europe, a new $10M fund aimed at stopping the European startup brain drain. Plus, Anthropic’s revenue just jumped 40% in a single quarter, and we debate what that means for AI’s future. Meanwhile, China’s EV makers are coming for Tesla, Saudi Arabia is building a gaming empire with a $3.5B Pokémon GO buyout, and we ask the big question: Should X and XAI just merge? Since XAI gets real-time data from X, it’s got a major advantage—so what’s stopping them from becoming one?

Timestamps:

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

(1:29) Recap of Jason's appearance on Glenn Beck's show and advice to MBA students

(4:21) The value of an MBA vs. starting a company(8:14) Nick Denton on Musk, Trump, and investment thesis

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(15:16) The rise of Chinese EV manufacturers and Tesla's challenges

(19:09) Jason's stance on vandalism, protests, and political affiliations

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(23:13) Tesla's brand challenges and future prospects

(25:03) Jason's audience and political neutrality(26:35) Inflation data and its implications for startups

(28:07) Project Europe and entrepreneurship in the EU and Middle East

(29:45) AdQuick. Easily plan, deploy and measure out-of-home campaigns as easily as digital ads. Visit www.AdQuick.com/twist to learn more

(38:09) Jason's personal health and productivity protocol

(41:18) Anthropic's revenue growth, API credits, and AI developments(45:09) AI competition and consumer trust

(46:41) Mainstream adoption of ChatGPT and AI challengers

(48:02) Grok AI's integration with X

(51:12) Sale of Niantic's games business and global market shifts(

58:06) India's economic rise and TSMC's potential deal with Intel

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