This Week in Startups

23andMe BANKRUPT, Saylor Still Buying Bitcoin, + Founder Interviews | E2102


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Today’s show: In this episode, Alex and Lon kick things off with the latest tech news — including 23andMe’s dramatic collapse, MicroStrategy’s half-million Bitcoin haul, and whether we’re finally seeing a rebound in startup M&A. Then they sit down with three standout founders building the future across AI chips, data privacy, and healthcare. First up, Etched CEO Gavin Uberti explains why they’re betting big on transformer-specific ASICs. Then, Skyflow co-founder Anshu Sharma breaks down how they’re helping enterprises use LLMs without leaking private data. Finally, MedServe’s team walks us through how they’re securing medications in outpatient clinics and staying on the right side of the DEA.

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Alex kicks off the show

(1:15) 23andMe bankruptcy and SPACs impact

(5:23) MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy

(8:58) Increase in M&A activity and market trends

(10:06) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(13:37) Browser use, agentic AI, and VC market insights

(19:28) Financial responsibility in startups

(20:28) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(21:56) Interview with Gavin Uberti of Etched

(30:32) Fidelity Private Shares℠ - Visit ⁠https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com ! Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription.

(32:12) Economic and technical aspects of chip efficiency

(39:53) Etched's market demand, manufacturing, and AI scaling

(43:05) Founder insights and hardware startup potential

(45:43) Introduction to Skyflow and Anshu Sharma

(50:19) Skyflow's growth and customer acquisition strategies

(1:03:09) ServiceNow's new product and Skyflow's bullish outlook

(1:06:33) M&A interest and AI stack value creation

(1:12:06) Skyflow's funding and cybersecurity customer trust

(1:13:12) Introduction to MedServe and Milwaukee's startup ecosystem

(1:16:30) MedServ's solution to drug dispensing and diversion

(1:23:05) Economic challenges and solutions for smaller facilities

(1:26:50) MedServe cabinet features and use case demonstration

(1:29:51) Cybersecurity and physical security of MedServe systems

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Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com

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Follow Etched:

Website: https://www.etched.com/

X: https://x.com/Etched

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etched-ai/

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Follow MedServe:

Website: https://medserverx.com/

X: https://x.com/MedServeRX

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medserverx/

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Follow Skyflow:

Website: https://www.skyflow.com/

X: https://x.com/SkyflowAPI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyflow/

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Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm

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Follow Lon:

X: https://x.com/Lons

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:06) Northwest Registered Agent - Get a 60% discount on your next LLC at https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

(20:28) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(30:32) Fidelity Private Shares℠ - Visit https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com ⁠ Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription.


Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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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

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This Week in StartupsBy Jason Calacanis

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