This Week in Startups

This week features Alex Lieberman, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, who shares insights on growing a newsletter business from college to empire. He discusses the challenges of expanding into a media company and effective angel investing strategies. The conversation also delves into the ethics of politicians trading stocks, highlighting the implications of their access to inside information. Additionally, they analyze the dynamics of Nextdoor's SPAC announcement and its community impact.

Evan Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Steezy, shares his journey of transforming dance education through an innovative app. He discusses the simplicity of creating a minimum viable product and the challenges of monetizing a consumer SaaS business. The conversation also delves into the rise of online dance classes during the pandemic, the influence of TikTok on dance culture, and strategies for blending online and in-person experiences. Zhou emphasizes the importance of quality content in a crowded market, making dance education accessible to everyone.

Robinhood's public offering is making waves! Key metrics reveal 18 million funded accounts and a surge in active users. The discussion dives into regulatory hurdles and the impact of trading practices on user education. Jason also compares Robinhood's growth to other financial startups, emphasizing its unique position in a competitive landscape. Resilience shines as they navigate challenges and eye future expansions in financial services. Tune in to uncover how this disruptor is reshaping online trading!

Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, shares insights on delivering effective investor updates, highlighting transparency as key to building strong investor relationships. He delves into the revolutionary potential of synthetic biology, discussing how Ginkgo is helping customers optimize product creation. The conversation also tackles the ethical implications of DNA editing, and the importance of navigating biosecurity in biotech, balancing innovation with responsibility.

Nikhil Viswanathan, Co-founder and CEO of Alchemy, shares insights on transforming blockchain infrastructure, comparing it to AWS. He discusses the rise of Worldcoin, its biometric identity verification, and ethical implications. The conversation dives into the scalability challenges facing blockchain systems and their competition with traditional databases. Additionally, Nikhil highlights the transformational potential of decentralized finance (DeFi) and the urgent need for regulatory clarity in the evolving crypto landscape.

Dive into the financial buzz surrounding Peter Thiel’s staggering Roth IRA, which raises eyebrows about wealth division. Discover the plight of Black creators on TikTok as they rally for recognition and fair pay. BuzzFeed's SPAC journey reveals insights into media valuations, while Microsoft takes a bold stance against Apple, challenging app store norms by lowering fees for developers. The dynamic landscape of tech investment is also explored, highlighting innovation strategies and potential unicorn traits in startups.

Bill Maris, founder of Section 32 and former head of Google Ventures, shares his insights on the early days at Google and the launch of GV. He discusses the challenges Google faced in the social media space and highlights the risks of bioterrorism, emphasizing the need for better preparedness. Maris also reflects on the importance of the Start of Day/End of Day (SOD/EOD) approach for remote work, promoting accountability and productivity through structured communication. His anecdotes offer a fascinating look into the venture capital world and tech innovation.

Dan Porter, CEO of Overtime, is on a mission to revolutionize youth sports. He discusses Overtime Elite, a groundbreaking basketball league allowing 16-18-year-olds to earn up to $500K, redefining pathways to professional sports. Porter highlights the league's focus on competition, support, and education for aspiring athletes. He also dives into the influence of digital media and how platforms like YouTube and Twitch expand the reach of sports to Gen Z. Meanwhile, he touches on the recent migration of cryptocurrency mining from China to the U.S. and its implications for digital currencies.

Des Traynor, CEO of Intercom, reveals the secrets behind startup success with insights from his experience scaling a company to $150 million in revenue. He emphasizes the importance of speed and efficiency in growth while balancing culture and productivity. Traynor discusses key metrics for measuring user engagement and product success, and navigates the evolving dynamics of remote work. He highlights the necessity of having a clear mission and understanding customer acquisition costs, providing actionable strategies for startups to thrive.

Akash Nigam, Founder and CEO of Genies, discusses the transformative power of digital avatars and NFTs in the virtual marketplace. He argues that everyone will soon have an avatar, reshaping online interaction. The conversation touches on the evolution of celebrity culture in the digital age, showcasing how figures like Cardi B engage with Gen Z through avatars. Nigam also highlights the innovative collaborations driving sales in digital goods, emphasizing the importance of relatability and enjoyment in appealing to younger audiences.