This Week in Startups

2024 TWISTY Awards | E2066

Dec 31, 2024

Jason and Alex host the 2024 TWISTY Awards, celebrating the year's highs and lows in the startup world. Nominations range from Breakout Startup of the Year to Bag Secure of the Year, featuring standout companies like Perplexity and Tabular. They also debate the Main Character of the Year and highlight notable IPOs, including Andrill and SpaceX. A fun segment recounts the funniest moments from the year, shedding light on impactful interviews and the importance of a strong online presence for startups.

52:34

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Quick takeaways

The recent exit of Bench highlights the serious implications of founder decisions on stakeholders and startup reputations.

Innovative startups like Perplexity and Blue Sky are recognized for their significant market impacts and unique contributions to their industries.

Controversial figures like Lena Khan and Sam Altman exemplify the influential roles individuals play in shaping tech industry narratives.

Deep dives

Bench's Controversial Exit

The recent exit of Bench, a bookkeeping company, has garnered significant attention due to its dramatic and controversial nature. Reports suggest that the company's failure has been marked by allegations of misconduct, leaving customers feeling betrayed. This situation has sparked discussions about the responsibilities of founders and the potential repercussions of their decisions on stakeholders. The fallout has prompted the founder to take to social media, where he has expressed his frustrations regarding his ousting, leading to speculation about the role of venture capital in the company's demise.

Intro

2min

Tech Startups and Controversies

8min

Leveraging Influence and Essential Online Presence for Startups

2min

Spotlight on Upcoming IPOs and Industry Influencers

6min

Controversial Views and Startup Successes

3min

Innovative IPOs and Leadership Highlights

7min

Reflections on Impactful Interviews and a Tool for Startups

4min

Reflections on Past Interviews and Startup Failures

8min

Navigating Growth Through Static Team Size and Automation

2min

10.

Tech Innovations and Podcast Highlights

11min

This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

OpenPhone. TWiST listeners can get 20% off your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

Notion: TWiST listeners can try it for free at https://notion.com/twist

Todays show: The 2024 TWISTY Awards are here! Jason and Alex look back at the year and dole out awards for Best CEO, Bag Securer of the Year, and more; plus a look back at the best TWIST moments.

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the episode (1:36) Twisty Awards 2024 Overview (2:06) Breakout Startup of the Year Nominations and Winner (5:53) Pre IPO Startup of the Year Nominations and Winner (10:03) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (15:06) Main Character of the Year Nominations and Winner (19:10) Bag Secure of the Year Nominations and Winner

(20:07) OpenPhone. TWiST listeners can get 20% off your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (22:05) CEO of the Year Discussion (not Elon Musk) (24:43) Twist Interview of the Year Highlight (29:34) Notion: TWiST listeners can try it for free at https://notion.com/twist (31:07) Best Venture Capital Guest Feature (33:32) Defunct Startup of the Year Category (35:46) News Topic of the Year Debate (43:00) Best Tech Product of the Year Nominations (45:07) Funniest Twist Moment of the Year (48:05) Episode of the Year

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:03) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (20:07) OpenPhone. TWiST listeners can get 20% off your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (29:34) Notion: TWiST listeners can try it for free at https://notion.com/twist

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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