This Week in Startups

The hosts dive into Apple’s innovative on-device AI and its potential privacy pitfalls. They analyze Reddit’s impressive surge in user engagement and discuss Amazon's major investment interest in AI firm Anthropic. Conversations expand to touch on the critical importance of product velocity for SaaS growth, illustrated through Toast’s success story. The political landscape is also examined, focusing on how economic factors and inflation could sway voter sentiment in upcoming elections.

Adam Bry, CEO and co-founder of Skydio, a leading U.S. drone manufacturer specializing in autonomous technology, joins the conversation. He discusses the pivotal role of drones in enhancing public safety and military applications. Bry explores the implications of geopolitical tensions on drone production and cybersecurity. The talk also covers innovative leasing models for drones, the challenges of hardware startups, and Skydio's mission to innovate despite global competition, highlighting the crucial need for U.S. manufacturing capabilities.

Hannan Parvizian, Co-founder and CEO of Exowatt, shares his insights on the urgent needs for sustainable energy in AI-driven data centers. He explains how traditional energy models are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing power demands from AI technologies. The conversation dives into Exowatt's innovative solutions like the P3 system and XOLED, promising affordable electricity and state-of-the-art energy storage. Parvizian also highlights the role of cutting-edge technologies such as solar lenses and heat-to-electricity conversion in the future of clean energy.

Dive into the fascinating world where AI is reshaping gaming, highlighted by Decart’s innovative video game creation. Explore NVIDIA's booming market presence and Amazon's ambitions in nuclear energy, including the challenges that come with it. Unpack viral growth strategies for startups and the latest trends in AI-driven video production. Plus, get the scoop on Waymo's advancements in self-driving technology, as we examine the intersection of tech innovations and societal impact.

Dr. Chang Liu, Founder and CEO of Extend Robotics, dives into the fascinating world of robotic grape-picking technology. He discusses the challenges of automating agriculture and highlights the synergy between humans and AI for enhanced productivity. Liu also explores teleoperation and network latency, emphasizing the future of automated harvesting. Moreover, he shares insights on building a tech company in the UK and the implications of AI advancements on labor markets and global salary standards. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on the future of work and technology!

Tosin Anya-Larunda, CEO and co-founder of Moniepoint, discusses the impressive $110 million Series C funding that propelled his fintech unicorn in Africa. He shares insights about Moniepoint's transformation from software provider to a leading financial services competitor. The conversation highlights the balance between rapid growth and profitability, digitalization's role in scaling, and the unique challenges faced by African fintech startups in attracting investment. Tosin’s passion for empowering small businesses through innovative solutions shines throughout.

Linda Gray, founder of Mastertech.ai, shares her journey from tech leadership at Microsoft to transforming auto repair with AI. She discusses how innovative technologies simplify vital repair processes and boost technician efficiency. Lior Gavish, CTO of Monte Carlo, highlights the critical nature of data observability, tackling the challenges of data downtime. Together, they explore the interplay between AI advancements and reliable data systems, revealing how these developments can revolutionize both the auto industry and data management.

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Digital Ocean. Whether you’re just getting started with AI, or seeing your project take off, DigitalOcean is the cloud platform that lets you focus on what matters: building killer apps. Right now get up to $100k in free credits at https://do.co/twist Terms and conditions apply. Cloud Devs. Building the best remote team is tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today. Kalshi. Kalshi the largest regulated predictions market—now lets you trade on US elections. Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist to see live odds, trade, and get $20 when you deposit $100. * Todays show: Sonos director Mattias Scheek joins Jason & Alex to discuss his journey in audio technology and Sonos acquisition. Then, Jason and Alex dive into election security (34:57), influencer marketing, Google’s upcoming AI release (1:10:42), and more! * Timestamps: (0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show (3:18) Earnings week predictions & discussion on national debt (9:17) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions. (10:24) Mattias Scheek from Sonos joins the show (11:23) Mattias Scheek's journey in audio technology and Sonos acquisition (17:49) Challenges for hardware startups in venture capital (20:25) Getting acquired: The process, strategy, and life after (22:04) Cloud Devs - Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today. (23:11) Sonos' hi-fi strategy and industry issues in audio clarity (33:08) Kalshi - Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist today to see live election odds, place a trade, and get $20 dollars when you deposit $100. (34:57) Voting irregularities, election security, and influencer marketing (45:14) Trump Rogan YouTube search issues and search engine comparison (53:06) Monetization experiments on YouTube and Launch Cloud Kitchens Incubator (1:10:42) Google's upcoming AI model for PC browsers and cybersecurity risks (1:15:52) Apple's app permissions approach and AI * Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Check out the Launch CloudKitchens Incubator: https://ck.launch.co * Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * Mentioned on the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWnUry6mCxs * Follow Mattias: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattias-scheek-539a0349/ * Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm * Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis * Thank you to our partners: (9:17) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions. (22:04) Cloud Devs - Visit https://www.clouddevs.com/twist for an unbeatable offer on hiring elite Latam talent today. (33:08) Kalshi - Visit https://www.kalshi.com/twist today to see live election odds, place a trade, and get $20 dollars when you deposit $100. * Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland * Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

In an engaging discussion with Shensi Ding, the Co-founder of Merge, listeners discover her intriguing leap from finance to tech. She emphasizes the vital role of integrations in modern business and shares the challenges of building and maintaining them. Shensi highlights the need for standardized data models and strategic partnerships, along with ways to enhance integration observability. The conversation wraps up with insights into Merge's expansion into AI applications and the importance of financial efficiency in fostering growth.

Ramsey Shaffer, CEO of Uptrends AI, discusses how AI helps financial advisors monitor market news effectively. Ana Malhotra introduces Roam, a unique yard-sharing service for dog owners, addressing supply challenges. Tyce Herrman shares insights on Ullama, a software that ensures architects' 3D models meet code compliance. Ulan Abdurazakov reveals CorePod, an AI-driven sleep aid designed to improve sleep quality through personalized interactions. Each guest shares their innovative solutions and the entrepreneurial hurdles they face in their respective fields.