In this discussion, Mike Maples Jr., co-founder of Floodgate and author of "Pattern Breakers," dives into the secrets of successful startups and shares insights from his biggest miss in investing. The conversation spans California Governor Gavin Newsom's controversial AI bill, Trump's media ventures, and how OpenAI is navigating immense gains against significant losses. Maples emphasizes the unpredictability of startup capitalism and the necessity of innovation, offering a fresh perspective on what truly drives industry disruptors.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
San Francisco Mayoral Race
Kara Swisher is back in San Francisco to interview mayoral candidates.
She discusses the city's challenges and contributions to business and innovation.
insights INSIGHT
Newsom Vetoes AI Bill
Governor Newsom vetoed an AI safety bill, opposed by OpenAI, Meta, and Google, but supported by Anthropic and Elon Musk.
Newsom cited the bill's broadness and is working on alternative guardrails.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Trump Media Stock Dump
Trump Media co-founders are dumping their stock after the lockup agreement ended.
Trump claims he won't sell his shares, despite their value dropping significantly.
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Pattern Breakers, written by Mike Maples Jr. and Peter Ziebelman, challenges traditional startup wisdom by revealing the hidden forces that drive extraordinary success. The book is based on extensive research and real-world examples from transformative startups like Twitter, Twitch, and Lyft. It emphasizes the importance of a different mindset and actions to harness developments that others might miss or initially see as crazy. The authors provide practical advice on how to transcend ordinary thinking, capitalize on market opportunities, and build a community of true believers to revolutionize industries.
Nexus
A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
Yuval Noah Harari
In 'Nexus', Yuval Noah Harari delves into the long-term history of information networks, examining how the flow of information has made and unmade our world. The book takes readers from the Stone Age through significant historical events like the canonization of the Bible, early modern witch-hunts, Stalinism, Nazism, and the resurgence of populism today. Harari discusses the complex relationship between information, truth, bureaucracy, mythology, wisdom, and power, and addresses the urgent choices humanity faces as non-human intelligence threatens our existence. He argues that information networks are the primary driving force shaping human societies and that AI represents a new and critical phase in this history[2][3][5].
Hillbilly Elegy
A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
JD Vance
In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.
Kara and Scott discuss California governor Gavin Newsom's veto of the AI bill that divided Big Tech, and Trump Media co-founders dumping $100 million worth of stock. Then, JD Vance and Tim Walz face off, Donald Trump's latest comments hit new lows, and is Kamala Harris leaning into crypto? Plus, a peek at OpenAI's financials reveals massive gains, but bigger losses. Will that be a problem for investors? Our Friend of Pivot is Mike Maples Jr., co-founder of the VC firm, Floodgate, and author of the new book, "Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future." Mike talks about what makes for a successful start-up, and shares the story behind one of his biggest misses.
Pivot 
