

This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis
Jason Calacanis covers startups, tech, markets, media, and all the hottest topics in business and technology. He also interviews the world’s greatest founders, operators, investors, and innovators.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 7min
Lovable's Anton Osika on Revolutionizing Software Development and OpenAI Drops Deep Research | E2080
OpenAI dropped Deep Research—hilariously, the exact same name as Google’s existing tool. Jason and Alex dive into the AI arms race, break down Lovable.dev’s insane growth to $10M ARR in weeks, and test whether AI can really replace software engineers. Plus, they analyze Trump’s latest tariff chaos and what it means for startups, global trade, and the economy.
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show.
(1:09) Jason’s talk and case study at Stanford
(2:38) Managing the chaotic news cycle
(5:22) NBA trade insights: Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis
(7:15) Lovable startup's rapid growth
(9:44) Lemon.io. Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(11:02) Lovable's AI demo and European startup landscape
(15:20) Lovable's target market and pricing strategy
(19:48) PrizePicks. Run your game. Download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST
(21:39) Custom software development's future with AI
(23:17) Launching and designing AI-powered apps
(27:07) US sovereign wealth funds and crypto regulation
(28:56) LinkedIn Ads. Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(33:42) Creative tax and debt reduction strategies
(41:34) Defense spending and OpenAI's new product
(46:51) OpenAI's market impact and ethical considerations
(53:02) AI's role in content creation and job market
(58:13) Venture capital trends and startup ecosystem
(1:01:19) DeepSeek's popularity and security concerns
(1:03:28) Tariffs, economic impact, and supply chain importance
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Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
Check out:
Standford Case Study on Jason: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/case-studies/jason-calacanis-case-study-creating-resources
OpenAI’s Deep Research: https://openai.com/index/introducing-deep-research/
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Follow Anton
X: https://x.com/antonosika
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonosika/
*
Follow Lovable:
X: https://x.com/lovable_dev
Website: www.lovable.dev
*
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:
(0:00) Lemon.io. Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(0:00) PrizePicks. Run your game. Download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST
(0:00) LinkedIn Ads. Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
*
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

Feb 1, 2025 • 1h 13min
Is OpenAI Really Worth $300B? ElevenLabs’ Series C & YC’s Funding Focus | E2079
Today’s show: The AI revolution is about to hit your household—Jason and Alex break down how general-purpose robots, AI-powered chicken coops, and voice clones are redefining daily life and work. They dig into OpenAI’s sky-high valuation, the surprising rise of DeepSeek’s R1 model, and why the AI cost curve is dropping at an insane pace. Plus, the latest on AI hardware, antitrust battles, and why the “No Buy 2025” trend could change how we think about consumer tech.
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show.
(3:10) Episode topics overview and fan participation
(5:48) Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses discussion
(9:27) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.
(11:05) 11 Labs' Series C funding and voice cloning technology
(18:09) Automation's impact on jobs and ethical considerations
(20:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(21:22) Market trends towards sustainability and AI in smart chicken coops
(27:04) Y Combinator's AI startup focus and investment considerations
(29:47) Scalable Path. Get 20% off your first month at https://www.scalablepath.com/twist
(31:42) AI in compliance, auditing, and personal staff replacement
(35:06) AI development tools, hardware investments, and data trust issues
(39:29) AI company valuations, OpenAI's revenue, and AI commoditization
(51:04) AI ethics, SoftBank's strategy, and audience questions on AI hardware
(59:27) Government AI funding, DOJ suit, and tech industry commoditization
(1:09:21) AI advancements, consumer electronics costs, and computing hardware trends
(1:12:08) Closing thoughts on technology's impact on life and teaser for next week
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Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
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:
(9:27) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.
(20:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(29:47) Scalable Path. Get 20% off your first month at https://www.scalablepath.com/twist
*
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

Jan 29, 2025 • 1h 3min
Boom Supersonic's Milestones, OpenAI Ethics, and Startup Tools | E2078
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Vanta. Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist
Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
Scalable Path. Get 20% off your first month at https://www.scalablepath.com/twist
Today’s show: Jason and Alex cover Jason’s unique sauna experience, leading them to discuss the value of niche communities and supporting small startups, spotlighting Boom Supersonic's achievements and Starlink's aviation collaborations. Financial updates include the Federal Reserve's actions and Trump's public opinion. They analyze the impact of CapEx on tech giants and Meta's AR/VR success. The DeepSeek controversy, OpenAI's intellectual property issues, and AI race risks and opportunities are explored. Jason and Alex conclude with insights on building startups and modern tools for entrepreneurs.
Timestamps:
(0:00) Episode Teaser
(1:39) Introduction to the podcast; Jason's sauna experience; GoPolar app
(3:41) Niche communities; encouraging small startup projects
(10:11) Vanta. Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist
(13:48) Boom Supersonic's achievements and flight details
(18:30) Starlink's role in aviation; Apple collaboration; Helium project
(20:47) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(24:11) Financial updates; Federal Reserve; Trump's public opinion
(30:14) Scalable Path. Get 20% off your first month at https://www.scalablepath.com/twist
(31:57) Federal spending; debt strategies; upcoming tech earnings
(37:18) Impact of CapEx on tech giants; Meta's AR/VR success
(42:26) DeepSeek controversy; OpenAI's response and IP issues
(50:13) AI race risks and opportunities; OpenAI's market position
(57:13) Building startups; Founder University; modern tools for startups
(1:02:15) Closing remarks; upcoming episodes
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Check out:
Boom Supersonic: https://boomsupersonic.com/
GoPolar App: https://www.gopolar.app/
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:
(10:11) Vanta. Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist
(20:47) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(30:14) Scalable Path. Get 20% off your first month at https://www.scalablepath.com/twist
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

Jan 27, 2025 • 60min
DeepSeek Rattles Markets + SailPoint's Going Public… again? | E2077
Today’s show: A $6M open-source AI model from China, DeepSeek, sends shockwaves through Wall Street, wiping billions off NVIDIA’s market cap and forcing a rethink on AI infrastructure spending. We explore the 25% surge in startup shutdowns, the lessons from leaner teams, and why some companies just couldn’t make the runway. Plus, SailPoint returns to the public markets saddled with $1.6B in debt—what does this say about private equity’s “buy, fix, and flip” strategy? Don’t miss this deep dive into the latest tech and startup news!
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show.
(1:58) DeepSeek's market impact and Project Stargate
(4:18) Innovation, H100 GPUs, and open-source AI models
(8:41) Jevons paradox, Pat Gelsinger's analogy, and AI efficiency
(10:03) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(13:25) AI's benefits for startups and privacy concerns
(19:32) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(19:51) AI optimization vs. hardware consumption
(22:20) OpenAI's revenue, valuation, and NVIDIA's market value
(30:13) LinkedIn Jobs. Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist
(33:21) Unified AI digital assistants and DeepSeq's new model
(35:01) AI's role in venture capital and team size reduction
(41:04) China's influence and DeepSeek's market impact
(43:22) Startup shutdowns and potential for increased M&A activity
(53:02) Nvidia's historical analysis, risks of leverage, and SailPoint's IPO
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Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
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:
(10:03) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(19:32) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(30:13) LinkedIn Jobs. Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist
*
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

Jan 24, 2025 • 58min
Twilio Bets Small, DeepSeek Scares & the GameOn Fraud | E2076
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST
Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
Horatio. Visit https://www.hirehoratio.com/twist and get $2,000 off your initial set up.
Today’s show: Jason and Alex cover Twilio’s team size compression, DeepSeek’s scary good AI for only $6M and the GameOn fraud saga that sounds too crazy to be true.
Timestamps:
(0:00) Alex and Jason kick off the show
(6:27) Rundown of potential topics
(7:10) Twilio's team size strategy and AI's impact on workforce
(9:40) Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST
(14:52) Entrepreneurship in the AI era and automation concerns
(19:30) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(22:49) Meta's investment in data centers and surplus compute power
(26:36) Technology’s potential to solve humanity’s problems
(30:12) Horatio. Visit https://www.hirehoratio.com/twist and get $2,000 off your initial set up.
(32:01) Empathy for workers displaced by automation
(34:11) DeepSeq's role in reducing AI industry costs
(37:27) Game On startup fraud case and due diligence in startups
(53:13) Venture capital's role in startup oversight
(55:36) OpenAI's Operator announcement and AI autonomy risks
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
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:
(9:40) Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST
(19:30) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(30:12) Horatio. Visit https://www.hirehoratio.com/twist and get $2,000 off your initial set up.
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

Jan 23, 2025 • 59min
Created By Humans | Sila’s Battery Evolution | E2075
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist*Gusto pricing shown in ad is based on pricing prior to March 2025Netsuite. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at https://www.netsuite.com/twistAtlassian. Head to Atlassian.com/Startups/TWiST to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.Today’s show: Alex covers The Stargate Project, other hot news items, and two great interviews. Created By Humans’ Co-founder Trip Adler talks about the future of copyrights and AI. Gene Berdichevsky, Co-founder and CEO of Sila, discusses the future of batteries and our clean energy future.Timestamps:(0:00) Alex kicks off the show.(1:22) Introduction to Mistral's IPO, Anthropic's funding, and Project Stargate(6:01) Market reactions and AI funding landscape(10:19) Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist(11:35) Tripp Adler discusses AI in literature and Created by Humans(16:20) Authors' concerns and AI companies' reactions(19:42) Netsuite. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at https://www.netsuite.com/twist(20:58) Tripp Adler on AI, copyright, and the future of authorship(27:47) Human-created content symbol and synthetic vs. human data(29:52) Atlassian. Head to Atlassian.com/Startups/TWiST to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.(34:08) Gene Berdichevsky on Sila's battery technology and Titan Silicon anodes(41:29) Battery tech's role in industry transformation and consumer devices(48:25) The impact on renewable energy and grid storage(53:02) Hard tech challenges, fundraising, and IPO considerations(56:38) Netflix's quarterly earnings and tech market forecastsSubscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpCheck out:Created by Humans:Website: https://www.createdbyhumans.ai/X: https://x.com/createdbyhumansFollow Trip:X: https://x.com/tripadlerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tripadler/Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisThank you to our partners:(10:19) Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist*Gusto pricing shown in ad is based on pricing prior to March 2025(19:42) Netsuite. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at https://www.netsuite.com/twist(29:52) Atlassian. Head to Atlassian.com/Startups/TWiST to see if you qualify for 50 free seats for 12 months.Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara,Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta,Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarlandCheck out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.comSubscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Jan 21, 2025 • 1h 12min
Trump, Memecoins, and What to Expect from the New Administration | E2074
Today’s show: Jason and Alex explore America's fascination with billionaires and self-made figures, touching on recent events in Washington, DC, and the tech industry's political influence. They discuss Gen X's rising political power, tech CEOs' prominence at inaugurations, and critique Democrats' tech policies. The conversation covers economic factors in elections, like inflation and abortion rights, COVID's origins, immigration policy, and foreign policy. AI regulation under Biden and Trump's economic strategies, including crypto regulations, are debated. They also discuss Trump's impact on M&A, antitrust laws, and the startup ecosystem, with insights on tech IPOs and tax policy.
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show.
(1:06) Diving into recent DC events and tech's political role
(3:13) Gen X's rising political influence and tech CEOs' prominence at inauguration
(7:00) Discussion on tech founders' importance and criticism of Democrats' tech stance
(10:17) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!
Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game.
(11:35) Economic factors influencing elections: Inflation and abortion rights
(17:15) COVID origins investigation and executive orders affecting tech
(19:58) OpenPhone. TWiST listeners can get 20% off your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(21:25) Steve Bannon, JD Vance, and immigration policy discussions
(23:20) US potential territory expansion and foreign policy
(30:23) LinkedIn Jobs. TWiST listeners can post their first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist
(32:13) Trump's economic strategies, legacy, and US energy production
(41:23) AI and drone technology: Regulation and countermeasures
(51:05) Crypto's economic value, personal freedoms, and investment risks
(1:01:27) Entrepreneur wellness, Trump's EV policies, and state vs. federal regulation
(1:04:23) New admin’s influence on M&A, antitrust laws, and startup ecosystems
(1:09:08) Upcoming tech IPOs, tax policy, and regulatory capture discussion
*
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
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:
(10:17) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!
Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game.
(19:58) OpenPhone. TWiST listeners can get 20% off your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(30:23) LinkedIn Jobs. TWiST listeners can post their first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist
*
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

Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 3min
TikTok Ban, Data Centers in Space… and What's a Vector? | E2073
Today’s show: Alex sits down with two CEOs from companies freshly added to the TWIST500. We get a masterclass from Bob van Luijt of Weaviate, on vector databases helping AI and LLMs do what they do. An then Philip Johnston from Lumen Orbit explains his vision of building data centers in space!
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) Alex kicks off the show.
(0:58) Supreme Court ruling on TikTok and key market numbers
(3:49) Interview introduction with Weaviate and Lumen Orbit CEOs
(4:06) Deep dive into vector databases with Weaviate's Bob van Luijt.
(8:23) Lemon. TWiST listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(11:35) Exploring deep learning, vector indexing, and Weaviate's open-source significance
(18:03) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(19:32) Discussion on vector databases use cases and retrieval augmented generation (RAG)
(27:17) Weaviate's business model, revenue streams, and growth
(28:12) Vanta. TWiST listeners automate your SOC2 and get $1,000 off at http://www.vanta.com/twist
(32:52) The future of AI, agentic architectures, and enterprise adoption
(40:50) Lumen Orbit's vision for space-based data centers
(42:54) Philip Johnston on the technical aspects of Lumen Orbit
(49:12) Satellite demonstrators, technology challenges, and VC interest
(53:26) Addressing chip obsolescence and cost advantages in space
(56:21) Deployment strategies and competition in the space data center market
(1:00:12) Strategies for staying ahead of competition and future plans for Lumen Orbit
*
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Check out Weaviate: https://weaviate.io/
Check out Lumen Orbit: https://www.lumenorbit.com/
*
Follow Bob:
X: https://x.com/bobvanluijt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobvanluijt
*
Follow Philip:
X: https://x.com/johnstonphil
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstonphilip/
*
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:
(8:23) Lemon. TWiST listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(18:03) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(28:12) Vanta. TWiST listeners automate your SOC2 and get $1,000 off at http://www.vanta.com/twist
*
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
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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
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Jan 16, 2025 • 1h 8min
What’s Going On With Google Gemini Deep Research? | E2072
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!
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Today’s show: Jason and Alex interview Aarush Selvan, lead PM at Google Gemini Deep Research, and discuss their groundbreaking work. They also took a moment to cover TikTok’s dire situation and AI investment to start the year.
(0:00) Show Teaser
(1:26) Jason Calacanis shares his Japan skiing experience
(6:18) Arush Selvan from Google Gemini team background discussion
(9:26) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!
Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game.
(14:23) Deep research demonstration and server resource usage
(19:42) Coda. TWiST listeners get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist
(22:11) Google's business model and AI-generated research reports
(29:55) Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST
(32:00) Personalized data integration and content permissions in AI tools
(34:22) Differentiation and hallucinations in AI-generated content
(44:11) Business models for AI search engines and OpenAI's new task feature
(54:30) Synthesia's AI-generated video tool demo and privacy in biometric payments
(59:36) Investments in AI companies and TikTok's potential ban
(1:04:17) Chinese government influence and US rule of law in tech
(1:07:29) Irony of migrating to Little Red Book and upcoming inauguration
(1:08:02) Staying updated with This Week in Startups
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
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Check out Google Gemini Deep Research: https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-gemini-deep-research/
Check out Open AI Scheduling: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgpt
Check out Synthesia: https://www.synthesia.io/
Follow Aarush:
X: https://x.com/AarushSelvan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarush-selvan-3a376a8b/
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:
(9:26) PrizePicks. TWiST listeners, download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!
Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST PrizePicks - Run your game.
(19:42) Coda. TWiST listeners get 6 months at https://www.Coda.io/twist
(29:55) Fitbod. Get 25% off your Fitbod subscription or try out the app for FREE when you sign up: fitbod.me/TWIST
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

Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 7min
Profound, Resistant AI & OpenAI’s Economic Pitch | E2071
Today’s show: Alex covers Mark Zuckerberg’s Joe Rogan interview, OpenAI’s economic pitch and the pending IPO of India’s Groww. Our guests include two companies freshly added to the TWIST500: James Cadwallader from Profound and Martin Rehak from Resistant AI.
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Alex kicks off the show!
(2:51) A look at key moments from this week’s Mark Zuckerberg interview on Rogan.
(8:08) James Cadwallader, Co-Founder and CEO of Profound join Alex.
(10:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(11:23) Comparing Profound’s approach to SEO and looking and how problemism impacts search.
(20:21) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.
(24:48) Building Profound in NYC, business model, and managing LLM costs
(30:51) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(32:15) Introduction to Resistant AI's mission and building an AI startup
(34:18) Resistant AI's approach to fraud detection and criminal techniques evolution
(41:17) Shift in the landscape of digital threats and security solutions ROI
(51:39) Synthetic fraud detection demonstration and business growth
(58:01) The Biden administration's AI diffusion plan and OpenAI's policy recommendations
(1:04:25) Groww: India's largest retail stock broker and tech IPO landscape
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
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Check out Profound: https://www.tryprofound.com/
Check out Resistant AI: https://resistant.ai/
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Follow James:
X: https://x.com/thejamescad
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jsca
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Follow Martin:
X: https://x.com/rehakmar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinrehak/
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Follow Alex:
X: https://x.com/alex
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
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Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
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Thank you to our partners:
(10:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(20:21) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.
(30:51) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
*
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