This Week in Startups

IPO Shakeups, NVIDIA’s Big Bets & Must-Know Founder Hacks | E2085

Feb 15, 2025

Delve into the latest IPO shakeups with insights on Turo's exit and SailPoint's rise. Discover Robinhood's impressive stock surge and the broader fintech landscape. Explore NVIDIA’s bold investment in self-driving tech, all while navigating the changing dynamics of consumer behavior and gig economy trends. Learn essential founder hacks and a golden rule for thriving startups. Plus, get a glimpse into innovative food delivery solutions and the rise of open-source AI as startups chase new funding.

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast discusses the unpredictable IPO landscape, highlighting Turo's withdrawal and SailPoint's successful launch amidst market fluctuations.

Robinhood's significant revenue growth highlights a fintech resurgence driven by increased consumer engagement and interest in crypto trading.

Emerging trends in the delivery economy emphasize the shift towards convenience, with mobile solutions transforming consumer expectations and preferences.

Deep dives

Innovative Convenience Trucks Concept

The idea of utilizing convenience trucks instead of traditional convenience stores is proposed, suggesting a model where mobile trucks equipped with essential items could operate in urban areas. The concept allows customers to order items through an app similar to ride-sharing services like Uber, aiming to reduce delivery times and fees associated with existing options. It emphasizes the feasibility of logistics and tech partnerships to bring this idea to life while highlighting the growing trend of mobile services meeting immediate consumer needs. This model could revolutionize how everyday staples are delivered, meeting demand and convenience simultaneously.

Intro

2min

Navigating Chaos: Insights on News, Business, and IPOs

7min

The Integration of Car Rentals in the Sharing Economy

3min

Investing in Fintech: The Growth Journey

6min

Transformations in Revenue Streams and the Self-Driving Investment Boom

5min

The Future of Grocery Delivery

4min

Innovative Food Delivery Solutions and Developer Resources

5min

Navigating AI Innovations and Market Dynamics

15min

Navigating Customer Engagement and Advisory Councils

2min

10.

Harnessing Customer Insights and Innovative Startups

21min

11.

Innovative Advertising on Food Delivery Vehicles

3min

12.

Startup Marketing and Media Ethics

8min

Today’s show: IPO shakeups, big AI moves, and essential founder hacks—this episode covers it all. Jason breaks down Robinhood’s 6X stock surge and his strategy for $HOOD, plus the latest on tech IPOs as Turo pulls out and SailPoint surges. We dive into AI’s open-source battle, with X.ai chasing a $10B raise and DeepSeek challenging Hugging Face. And for founders, Jason shares the startup golden rule you should break for success—plus, a brand-new startup idea he’s willing to fund right now.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show.(1:51) The ‘new’ news cycle(2:17) Calming down during chaotic times(4:29) IPO updates: Turo and SailPoint, private equity, public markets, and M&A(9:37) Rental car business & sharing economy job creation

(9:53) Squarespace. Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST(12:21) Robinhood's financial performance & fintech resurgence(18:08) NVIDIA's investment in WeRide & self-driving technology(20:02) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.

(21:28) Cooking, convenience, DoorDash, Uber, CloudKitchens & startup opportunities(25:45) Smart IoT devices & revisiting the mobile convenience stores idea(29:59) Lemon.io . Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist(33:12) XAI's potential funding & AI's impact on consumer behavior(40:49) Revisiting failed startup ideas & founder hacks(47:18) Customer advisory councils: size, incentives, and roles(52:09) Humanoid robots & market competition in the next decade(58:51) OpenAI model selection & user experience(1:00:56) Founder University pitches compilation(1:13:56) Audience question: Addressing criticism on Trump and Elon Musk(1:17:26) Discussion on Palantir, bias, state of journalism, and investigative reporting

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(9:53) Squarespace. Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST(20:02) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.

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