This Week in Startups

Nate O'Brien, a popular YouTuber and founder of Roadrunner VC, joins the discussion to unpack the latest tech earnings. He shares insights on Amazon's impressive growth, especially in AWS and advertising, while exploring Apple's slowing revenue yet impressive subscriber growth. The conversation shifts to Meta's struggles and the shifting landscape of investment opportunities, highlighting O'Brien's journey to YouTube success and the balance of creativity and investment savvy in the digital age.

Mike Mignano, co-founder of Anchor and a key player in the podcasting revolution, shares his insights on the transformative journey of Anchor until its acquisition by Spotify. He discusses the challenge of balancing innovation with traditional RSS standards that may hinder progress. Mignano also explores the landscape of podcast advertising, delving into the debate between host-read and dynamically inserted ads. His thoughts on evolving monetization strategies reflect the industry's shift towards new funding models and the future of content creation.

Deirdre Bosa, a CNBC correspondent specializing in tech and business, joins to dissect the latest earnings from tech giants $GOOG and $MSFT. She shares insights into Shopify's significant layoffs and the implications for the e-commerce landscape. The conversation touches on the mounting challenges faced by Coinbase amid an SEC probe. Additionally, Jason offers practical tips on supercharging your professional network, emphasizing the importance of authentic connections to unlock unexpected opportunities.

In this engaging conversation, Alex Oshmyansky, the CEO of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company and a practicing radiologist, discusses his mission to create a parallel supply chain to lower drug costs. He delves into the 'financial engineering' of the industry and the importance of transparency. Later, AJ Loiacono, CEO of CapitalRx, highlights the opaque nature of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their effect on pricing. Both guests passionately advocate for innovative solutions to revolutionize prescription drug accessibility and transparency.

Alex Wilhelm, a TechCrunch reporter, shares his insights on major tech headlines. He discusses Netflix's crackdown on password sharing, highlighting the backlash from customers. The conversation shifts to Snap's disappointing Q2 earnings and its challenges in advertising. Alex also dives into allegations of insider trading at Coinbase and its implications on market integrity. Additionally, they reflect on the fallout from the Three Arrows Capital scandal and a quirky tale of a man trying to recover lost Bitcoin from a landfill.

Michael Luciani, Managing Partner at Climate Capital, shares insights on investing in climate tech startups, discussing over 200 innovative ventures aimed at sustainability. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of synthetic biology and its potential to reduce carbon emissions. Luciani emphasizes the importance of strategic investor collaboration and the challenges of measuring environmental impact in early-stage companies. The hosts also tackle how investors can say 'no' to founders constructively and the key etiquette for board meetings.

Ben Narasin, Founder of Tenacity VC, shares insights on raising a new venture capital fund amid a tough market, discussing the necessity of quick decision-making and the importance of liquidity. He highlights the shift towards smaller, agile funds as valuations decline. Meanwhile, Natalie Barbu, Founder of Rella, discusses her journey as a lifestyle influencer and how her platform streamlines workflows for creators. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and tools that enhance productivity in the creator economy.

Lon Harris, a keen observer of the streaming landscape, joins to dissect why Amazon spent $3.9 billion on One Medical and its potential game-changing impact on healthcare. The chat heats up with a deep dive into the bot-driven buzz surrounding the Snyder Cut, questioning fan engagement authenticity. They also analyze Netflix's path forward amid fierce streaming competition and ponder the implications of Amazon’s expanding media footprint. Expect lively exchanges about tech, cinema, and the evolving entertainment industry!

Netflix's Q2 earnings reveal mixed results, sparking a discussion on its competitive landscape and challenges from rivals like Disney+. A deep dive into 'Jay Trading' offers insights on strategic long-term investing versus day trading. The conversation also emphasizes the pivotal moment of deciding when to quit your job, with practical advice for career transitions. Finally, the rise of the photo-sharing app BeReal is explored, highlighting its unique features and recent popularity that have captured investor interest.

Zach Coelius, an angel investor, shares invaluable insights for both founders and investors. He discusses the challenges and adaptations of remote work, emphasizing productivity and global talent recruitment. Zach dives into navigating economic downturns and how SaaS spending is evolving. He also advises on cautious investment strategies, steering clear of high-risk startups without strong founder connections. The conversation wraps up with audience questions, tackling competition and the importance of transparent communication in the startup ecosystem.