This Week in Startups

William Barnes, early-stage operator and investor who scaled teams at Uber, and Amanda Bradford, founder of The League turned product and marketplace builder. They discuss what founders must focus on: cash conservation, building a taped-together MVP, prioritizing distribution, and using constraints to force clarity. Short, practical, and tactical startup priorities in fast-paced startup life.

Breaking news about SpaceX buying an AI company and plans to launch data centers into orbit. Discussion of why space-based compute could be cheaper, from solar power to zero cooling. Speculation about a larger Musk conglomerate including electric vehicles and robots. Deep dive into OpenClaw’s top automation skills, security risks, and creative uses like Reddit tracking, Gamma decks, and task monitoring.

Rahul Sood, security and AI leader (Irreverent Labs, Voodoo PC) warns about risks and sandboxing. Oliver Corzon, LAUNCH producer, explains OpenClaw automations for research and booking. Lukas Durand, VC operator at LAUNCH, builds agent-driven workflows and cost strategies. They explore agent orchestration, memory and cron jobs, integrations, guardrails, and the economics and ethics of scaling AI assistants.

Andrew Duffy, founder of Sparkplug building retail incentives and inventory tools. Socrates Rosenfeld, founder of iHeartJane running a cannabis marketplace. Ford Smith, investor and operator in cannabis consumer products. They debate rescheduling and federal vs state rules. They unpack industry growth, capital cycles, and rising product potency. They cover safety, regulation, and how cannabis consumption is shifting from alcohol.

Dan Penguine, an operator automating small businesses, describes using ClaudeBot to run his parents' tea shop. Alex Finn, founder of a one-person SaaS and YouTuber, shows ClaudeBot as an autonomous assistant building product features. Matt Van Horn, entrepreneur and builder, demos CloudBot skills, integrations, and automation workflows. They talk about skill creation, 24/7 AI employees, scheduling, and security risks.

Max Weiss, a VC focused on aerospace, semiconductors and Japan–U.S. ties, and Fred Almeida, CEO building AI-driven diagnostic and primary care systems, discuss AI as your future GP. They explore self-directed diagnostics, speeding accurate testing, automating doctors' paperwork, and how Japan’s tech strengths and cultural traits shape startups and talent flows.

Keller Cliffton, Co-founder and CEO of Zipline, revolutionizes healthcare with autonomous drones for blood and burrito deliveries, arguing they can outperform self-driving cars economically. Anastasis Germanidis, CTO of Runway, dives into world models that enhance AI capability in robotics and simulations. Together, they explore the future of drone logistics and the expansive potential of generative AI, revealing how these innovations are reshaping industries and everyday life.

Shin Takamiya, a venture capitalist and partner at Globis Capital Partners, shares insights on Japan's evolving startup landscape. He explains how the country's tech culture led the world but fell behind in entrepreneurship. Shin discusses the collaborative nature of VCs in Japan, the role of AI in accelerating startup growth, and the importance of evaluating founder-investor relationships. Plus, he offers delectable sushi recommendations for Tokyo food enthusiasts!

Thomas McInerney, a veteran angel investor with a notable portfolio including SpaceX and Uber, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of angel investing. He emphasizes the importance of providing more than just capital, focusing on operational support and founder mentorship. McInerney discusses key traits of successful founders, such as humility and deep domain expertise, while cautioning against buzzword-heavy pitches and inflated valuations. He also reflects on the need for frugality and strategic planning when managing initial funding.

Kathy Matsui, a general partner at MPower Partners and board member at Uniqlo, dives into the current transformative landscape of Japan’s startup scene. She discusses why 40% of Japanese students now prefer entrepreneurship over corporate careers, the lingering effects of the 1990s economic crisis, and MPower's focus on fostering 'Japan Dynamism.' Kathy also highlights the unique approaches to ESG in Japan compared to the US, and the critical role of government support for aspiring unicorns and female founders in the country.