This Week in Startups

Francisco Cornejo, founder of Familify and the innovative Theo app, discusses a pivotal moment when Storybook's growth stalled despite great reviews. By experimenting with Bible stories, they discovered strong user demand that propelled Theo to surpass Storybook in just weeks. Colin Sebastian introduces En Vérité, highlighting how AI simplifies due diligence for investors, while Jake Triton of Pitch Perfect shares insights on SMS compliance and how his platform enhances communication for SMBs. The conversation emphasizes adaptability and data-driven decisions for startup success.

The discussion kicks off with Jason predicting a wave of major mergers and acquisitions ahead. They delve into the evolving landscape of AI, highlighting Google's impressive consumer adoption metrics. The duo debates Nvidia's strong performance and the uncertainty surrounding its deals with OpenAI. They also explore how restaurants are becoming new intellectual property and share insights on global startup expansion. Plus, a comparison of AI tools shows Google's impressive infographic generation. Buckle up for an engaging ride through the startup world!

Arthur Mensch, Co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI, dives into the real bottleneck for AI progress: a shortage of data. He discusses how enterprises can enhance the value of their AI initiatives and why Mistral's mission is to empower users to be independent. Mensch also explores the difference between open-source and closed models, warning against over-optimizing benchmarks for AI. With insights on robotics and the regulatory landscape in Europe, he reveals the challenges of building effective AI applications in today's fast-paced environment.

This discussion dives into the fierce competition between AI models Grok 4.1 and Gemini 3, exploring their potential to shake off the prevailing pessimism in the tech industry. The hosts dissect a recent Cloudflare outage, contemplating the implications for startups when their services go offline. They also predict a future where businesses run their own models locally, balancing data privacy with tech accessibility. The episode wraps up with insights on market reactions to these AI developments and the ongoing risks of job displacement due to automation.

The discussion kicks off with Archer's ambitious acquisition of an airport and Joby's moves in eVTOL. Jason shares insights from his travels to MENA and Japan, highlighting booming construction and fintech sectors. Ramp's $300M fundraising round sparks talk about AI making corporate finance smarter. A quirky tale about KitKat, the bodega cat, raises eyebrows after a Waymo incident. The conversation also dives into the potential of AI in reshaping work and the implications of Jeff Bezos returning to lead an AI-focused initiative.

Molly Cantillon, Founder of Nox, discusses her innovative app RPLY, designed to help users manage their messaging and achieve inbox zero. She dives into how RPLY leverages AI to map user relationships and organize communication. Greg Mojica, CEO of Alloy Automation, shares insights on AI agents and the often misunderstood need for human escalation in workflows. The conversation touches on the current limitations of AI and how they can enhance relationship management while keeping meaningful interactions human. A nostalgic flashback to Shopify's early days completes the show.

Ben Schleuniger, co-founder and CEO of Orbital Operations, discusses groundbreaking advancements in space logistics. He highlights the challenges of moving satellites in increasingly crowded orbits and the critical need for mobility in space. With their innovative cryogenic orbital maneuvering vehicles, like Astraeus, they're tackling space refueling and transportation. Ben also shares insights on the future of reusable rockets, the importance of active refrigeration systems, and the rising demand for commercial space solutions amidst growing defense interests.

Gabe Pereyra, Co-founder and President of Harvey AI, discusses how AI can revolutionize the legal industry, overcoming challenges posed by traditional billable hours. He highlights the success of Harvey’s Vault and Assistant products and shares insights on client collaboration. Alex Atallah, Co-founder and CEO of OpenRouter, delves into the complexities of integrating multiple LLMs with a unified API, emphasizing the growing importance of benchmarks and resource-specific models. Both guests explore the transformative impact of AI on professional services.

Three startups are preparing for IPOs, highlighting the booming cybersecurity sector. Controversy unfolds as Marc Andreessen takes on the Pope over AI ethics. Discussion shifts to the potential impact of AI on job displacement and whether it could spark a surge in new businesses. Allegations involving Giga raise questions about startup culture and management. Meanwhile, Mercury, Ledger, and 1Password show strong growth and readiness for public markets, while Gamma makes strides in AI with impressive user numbers.

Billy Thalheimer, founder of REGENT, reveals their innovative Seaglider, a hybrid air-and-sea vehicle poised to revolutionize travel while minimizing airport hassles. Ayaan Parekh of Convexia shares insights on leveraging AI to discover and repurpose shelved drug candidates for rare diseases. Finally, Hunter Leath from Arkyl discusses their caching-as-a-service solution that transforms cloud data access into a local experience, speeding up applications while reducing costs. The future of transport and healthcare technology is fresh and promising!