First Jason and Molly cover FTX CEO SBF buying 7.6% of $HOOD (1:57), SoftBank’s $13B loss (8:29), Twitter’s exec layoffs (14:55) & give a deal update (21:50). Then Producer Rachel chats with Nicole Ruiz is an investor at Compound VC, a thesis-driven, research-centric investment firm (35:34). Together, they talk about her untraditional path to VC, their investment in Pear Bio, the importance of being a skilled researcher, and more.


(00:00) Cold open

(1:57) 4-for-5 Friday: SBF buys 7% of $HOOD

(8:29) SoftBank loses $13B

(13:51) OurCrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist

(14:55) Twitter layoffs start

(20:33) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(21:50) Twitter deal on hold

(30:29) Gun.io - Get $250 off your first developer hire at https://Gun.io/twist!

(31:45) Toss to this week’s OK Boomer

(35:34) OKB with Producer Rachel and Nicole Ruiz of Compound VC

(31:45) Toss to this week’s OK Boomer

(35:34) OKB with Producer Rachel and Nicole Ruiz of Compound VC


Follow Nicole: https://twitter.com/nwilliams030


FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood



SBF buys 7.6% $HOOD stake, SoftBank’s $13B loss, Twitter exec layoffs & deal update + Nicole Ruiz from Compound VC | E1459

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.

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Todays show:
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg joins Jason to discuss the different types of conversations (9:29), the role of humor (22:48), and they way conversation dynamics can shift (49:30).
*
Timestamps
(0:00) Charles Duhigg joins Jason to break down his latest publishing, Supercommunicators
(4:01) The importance of communication in startups and lessons from "The Power of Habit”
(8:06) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/twist
(9:29) The role of communication in organizations and the different types of conversations
(21:30) Mantle - Get your first 12 months free at https://withmantle.com/twist
(22:48) Exploring the role of humor, laughter, and vulnerability in conversations
(30:06) Understanding gender and cultural differences in communication
(39:23) HubSpot - Be sure to check out the Million Dollar pitch competition from Hubspot for Startups & HubSpot Ventures. Apply now at ⁠https://www.hubspot.com/milliondollarpitch
(40:34) The role anecdotes have in conversation
(49:30) How the dynamic of the conversation shifts when someone has an ask
(1:01:35) The Harvard Study of Adult Development
(1:06:36) Closing remarks
*
Check out Supercommunicators: https://www.charlesduhigg.com/supercommunicators
*
Follow Charles:
X: https://twitter.com/cduhigg
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Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
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Founder University: Cohort 8 begins May 9th. Apply here: https://www.founder.university

The power of super communication with Charles Duhigg | E1938

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Todays show:
Jason kicks off Ask Jason live! 5 live guests ask questions on key topics, including finding job opportunities (1:43), the “likely winner” and “definitive winner” framework (26:19), how a non-AI startup with traction can stand out to potential investors (1:04:05), and more!
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Timestamps
(0:00) Jason kicks off another Ask Jason with 5 live guests!
(1:43) Dustin asks about how to find job opportunities and market his generalist skills
(9:50) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist
(10:42) Dustin asks about how to find job opportunities and market his generalist skills
(24:57) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/twist
(26:19) Francis asks about defining the terms "likely winner" and "definitive winner" in a strategic framework using specific metrics
(39:15) Mercury - Join 100K+ startups banking with Mercury at http://www.mercury.com⁠
(40:17) Mathew asks about choosing between mission-aligned sponsors and more lucrative, unrelated advertising opportunities for his podcast
(52:23) Jason asks whether to continue low-cost growth strategies or seek seed funding to boost growth through advertising, as their product is the advertising itself
(1:04:05) Douglas asks about how a non-AI startup with traction can stand out to potential investors
(1:15:37) Host or join Founder Fridays! Go check out https://founderfridays.tech
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Send us your questions for the next episode of Ask Jason LIVE! http://www.thisweekinstartups.com/askjason
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Thank you to our partners:
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(39:15) Mercury - Join 100K+ startups banking with Mercury at http://www.mercury.com⁠ 
*
Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
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Founder University: Cohort 8 begins May 9th. Apply here: https://www.founder.university

Ask Jason LIVE!: Navigating startup growth with Real-Time Q&A | E1937

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Timestamps:
(0:00) Sunny joins Jason to dive into this week’s AI news and demos.
(2:03) Examination of Facebook's Llama 3 model, its impact on the AI community, and its superior performance compared to GPT-4 despite being a smaller model.
(4:45) Open source vs. commercial products
(9:14) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(10:42) Three big projects where Facebook has affected the open community.
(15:38) US Air Foruce staging dogfights with AI-flown fighter jets.
(19:09) Curotec - Check out http://www.curotec.com/twist and get $5000 off
(21:06) Looking at Grok’s capabilities in first-party research.
(27:35) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist
(29:08) Jason asks Grok a more “spicey” question regarding Trump.
(40:46) Sunny demos Marblism.
(45:33) Sunny demos Lumona
*
Check out Marblism: https://www.marblism.com
Check out Lumona:https://www.lumona.ai
Article “US Air Force stages dogfights with AI-flown fighter jet” https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/04/19/us-air-force-stages-dogfights-with-ai-flown-fighter-jet
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Article: Meta is opening up Horizon OS to third parties, Asus and Lenovo first with new headsets https://www.gsmarena.com/meta_is_opening_up_horizon_os_to_third_parties_asus_and_lenovo_first_with_new_headsets_-news-62561.php
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(27:35) Zendesk - Get six months free at http://www.zendesk.com/twist
*
Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
*
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*
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI Demos and News: Llama 3, Marblism, Lumona & AI Jet-Fighter Dogfights | E1936

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HiddenLayer. Generative AI is revolutionizing industries. HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack.  Helping you generate more – by enabling seamless & secure Generative AI. Visit https://www.HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more.
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) Sunny joins Jason to dive into this week's AI news and demos.
(1:39) AI, LLMs, and Groq infrastructure discussion.
(9:32) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist
(11:00 ) Meta's AI landing page, new search engine, and investment strategies
(20:06 ) Eppo. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit  https://www.geteppo.com/twist
(23:19) Zuckerberg's approach towards Google's dominance and the impact of Meta's search engine
(30:19) HiddenLayer. HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://www.HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more.
(32:11) Importance of a dedicated domain name and Google's commitment to Google Plus
(34:36) Meta's progress in AI and the strategy of open sourcing
(45:34) The industrial revolution in technology, AI development, and rights issues
*
Check out Meta AI: https://www.meta.ai/
Check out Groq: https://groq.com/
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X: ⁠https://twitter.com/sundeep⁠
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Thank you to our partners:
(9:32) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at http://www.openphone.com/twist
(20:06 ) Eppo. Accelerate your experimentation velocity with Eppo. Visit  https://www.geteppo.com/twist
(30:19) HiddenLayer. HiddenLayer’s AI Detection & Response Solution secures your Generative AI & LLMs from malicious attack. Visit https://www.HiddenLayer.com/TWiST to learn more.
*
Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
*
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

AI Demos: Meta AI Ups it’s Game with Llama 3 | E1935

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*
Todays show:
David Weisburd hosts Logan Bartlett, Hunter Somerville, and Jason Calacanis to discuss the fundraising market (3:07), M&A; (26:45), Google’s huge investment in generative AI (58:15), and much more!
*
Timestamps:
(0:00) David Weisburd intros Logan Bartlett, Hunter Somerville, and Jason Calacanis
(3:07) Tiger's recent fund and fundraising indicators
(11:55) HubSpot’s Chatbot Builder - https://clickhubspot.com/s0u https://clickhubspot.com/mfx
(13:26) The challenges and realities of venture capital
(25:14) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at https://www.devsquad.com/twist
(26:45) Startup acquisitions, due diligence, and unethical behaviors in the industry
(31:27) Selling partial positions in startups and structuring the selling of shares
(37:18) Mercury - Join 100K+ startups banking with Mercury at http://www.mercury.com⁠
(38:20) Cendana and Kline Hill’s $105M fund to buy stakes in seed VC funds
(46:59) The correlation between capital consumption and equity value, and the dangers of excess capital
(54:28) The role of private equity in tech M&A; and the future of tech IPOs
(58:15) Google's $100 billion investment in AI and competition in the AI ecosystem
(1:06:30) The challenge of capacity in seed stage investing and the value of a strong community in portfolio management
*
Follow Logan:
X: https://twitter.com/loganbartlett
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganbartlett
Check out: https://www.redpoint.com
*
Follow Hunter:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-somerville-2a24117
Check out: https://www.stepstonegroup.com/
*
Follow David:
X: ⁠https://twitter.com/DWeisburd⁠
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd⁠
Check out: ⁠https://10xcapital.com
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Thank you to our partners:
(11:55) HubSpot’s Chatbot Builder - https://clickhubspot.com/s0u https://clickhubspot.com/mfx
(25:14) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at https://www.devsquad.com/twist
(37:18) Mercury - Join 100K+ startups banking with Mercury at http://www.mercury.com⁠
*
Check out the Launch Accelerator: https://launchaccelerator.co
*
Check out Founder University: https://www.founder.university
*
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
*
Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
*
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

SBF buys 7.6% $HOOD stake, SoftBank’s $13B loss, Twitter exec layoffs & deal update + Nicole Ruiz from Compound VC | E1459

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