This Week in Startups

Thinking Machines’ RECORD seed round, VC Geoff Lewis, and MORE | E2152


Listen Later

Today’s show:

Jason and Alex tackle a full tech and business news docket on today’s show, including Jason’s big SF trip with Launch Accelerator’s 34th cohort, some peculiar social media posts from VC Geoff Lewis, a look inside the HUGE seed rounds being commanded by early-stage AI startups, crunching the numbers on how much compute data centers need to sell before they’re profitable, Polymarket asks who will be the next CEO of X and MUCH MUCH MORE.

Join us for the longest-running and most in-depth podcast on Earth for startup founders.


Timestamps:

(00:00) INTRO

(01:31) Jason’s in SF with LAUNCH Accelerator cohort 34… His take on the mood in Silicon Valley.

(07:52) Odd X posts from Bedrock Capital’s Geoff Lewis… what does it all mean?

(10:09) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(14:44) Ask JCal: What founders can do to guard their own mental health and well-being

(20:17) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!

(22:04) Thinking Machines Lab set a new record for a seed round: what’s going on with these MEGA deals?

(28:51) Alex (and Kabir from LAUNCH’s research team) investigated the economics of data centers… just HOW MUCH can you make from selling compute? And how long does it TAKE to turn a profit?

(30:52) Bolt - Don’t be left behind. Build apps quickly without knowing how to code with Bolt.new. Try it free at https://www.bolt.new/twist.

(37:09) Superintelligence vs. AGI: Jason thinks we’re still more than 2-3 years away…

(39:52) GPx is not a traditional VC fund: here’s what industry vet Brian Singerman is up to

(49:37) The importance of setting your own corporate culture… before it gets set for you!

(58:15) Polymarket has ideas for the next X CEO… see where Jason ranks on the list!

(01:03:18) Reddit wants to know… Do investors judge founders negatively who rely on lots of AI tools?


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 Lon:

X: https://x.com/lons


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:

(10:09) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(20:17) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!

(30:52) Bolt - Don’t be left behind. Build apps quickly without knowing how to code with Bolt.new. Try it free at https://www.bolt.new/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

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

This Week in StartupsBy Jason Calacanis

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

1,244 ratings


More shows like This Week in Startups

View all
a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

a16z Podcast

1,040 Listeners

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

522 Listeners

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors by SaaStr

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

179 Listeners

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

2,287 Listeners

Equity by TechCrunch, Rebecca Bellan, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, Max Zeff, Theresa Loconsolo

Equity

339 Listeners

Y Combinator Startup Podcast by Y Combinator

Y Combinator Startup Podcast

228 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

9,216 Listeners

Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist by Joe Lonsdale

Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

173 Listeners

ACQ2 by Acquired by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

ACQ2 by Acquired

240 Listeners

The Logan Bartlett Show by by Redpoint Ventures

The Logan Bartlett Show

187 Listeners

No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups by Conviction

No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups

129 Listeners

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

464 Listeners

AI + a16z by a16z

AI + a16z

31 Listeners

Lightcone Podcast by Y Combinator

Lightcone Podcast

21 Listeners

Uncapped with Jack Altman by Alt Capital

Uncapped with Jack Altman

36 Listeners