This Week in Startups

First, we break down the Crypto companies that ran super bowl ads and see how they stack up against the dot-com era ads (1:53). Then, we do an update on Joby aviation now that they are trying to roll out an air taxi service in South Korea (28:03). To wrap, Molly covers the BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) space and the challenges these companies are having as they scale, specifically Affirm's recent earnings (36:49).

Jason and Molly begin this double-header Sunday show with a VC Sunday School segment on top-tier VC behavior (01:38). You will learn:

1. How first-tier VCs compare to second-tier VCs

2. When VCs should intervene in a portfolio company

3. The difference between micromanaging and good governance

4. Jason's framework for ensuring alignment: Mission, Plan, Strategy, Tactics

5. Why good Board Members remain calm and positive

Then, Molly is joined by Mike Lin from Dangerous Ventures for a This Week in Climate Startups segment (22:00). You will learn:

1. What Mike learned from working at Makani Power (acquired by Google X)

2. The potential of "muscle-powered" energy and its limits

3. Lessons from the failed Potenco generator & One Laptop Per Child project

4. How Mike got himself fired from Apple for insubordination

5. Why Dangerous Ventures is backing "Dunkirk" climate solutions

Show Notes:

(00:00) Jason and Molly tee up the show, Top VC vs. Second-tier VCs, Mike Lin from Dangerous Ventures

(01:38) The behavior difference between a top tier VC and a second tier VC

(09:23) Where VCs should actually intervene in a portfolio company, micromanaging vs. good governance

(11:47) First Republic Bank - Discover what a long-term financial relationship can do for you. Visit https://firstrepublic.com/startup today to learn more.

(12:50) What needs to be in alignment Mission, Plan, Strategy, Tactics

(14:58) Why good Board Members are calm and positive

(19:30) Jason and Molly intro the This Week in Climate Startups segment

(20:40) Superside - Go to https://superside.com/twist to get $3000 or more in credits when you sign up for an annual subscription

(22:00) Mike Lin from Dangerous Ventures discusses his previous startup experience at Makani Power

(26:09) Can muscle-powered energy come back?

(27:57) Pulling Power from the Sky: The Story of Makani

(30:56) Notion - Go to https://Notion.so and use promo code TWIST to get $250 off its annual team plan

(32:28) Lessons from Mike's time as the founder of Fenix, which was bringing power to low income economies, and the lessons from the failed Potenco generator & One Laptop Per Child project

(36:35) How Fenix rose out of the ashes of his previous startup, Fenix's smart battery

(39:55) Why Mike Lin was fired as an Apple contractor for insubordination

(43:39) Who is going to actually solve the climate crisis?

(46:15) Mike's ambition at Dangerous Ventures and why they are backing "Dunkirk" climate solutions

(53:43) Managing a micro-fund and using SPVs to build initial momentum Check out Dangerous Ventures: https://www.dangerous.co/

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

Jason and Molly begin this double-header Sunday show with a VC Sunday School segment on top-tier VC behavior (01:38). You will learn:

1. How first-tier VCs compare to second-tier VCs

2. When VCs should intervene in a portfolio company

3. The difference between micromanaging and good governance

4. Jason's framework for ensuring alignment: Mission, Plan, Strategy, Tactics

5. Why good Board Members remain calm and positive

Then, Molly is joined by Mike Lin from Dangerous Ventures for a This Week in Climate Startups segment (22:00). You will learn:

1. What Mike learned from working at Makani Power (acquired by Google X)

2. The potential of "muscle-powered" energy and its limits

3. Lessons from the failed Potenco generator & One Laptop Per Child project

4. How Mike got himself fired from Apple for insubordination

5. Why Dangerous Ventures is backing "Dunkirk" climate solutions

Jason and Molly open the shown discussing Disney's Q1 Earnings and the 37% increase in Disney+ subscribers (01:51).

Then, Qloo CEO Alex Elias joins to discuss his AI prediction company (21:12). You will learn:

1. How Qloo uses machine learning to understand taste and draw cultural correlations

2. Why Qloo adopted an API business model and is focused on developers

3. Ways businesses and brands are using Qloo to improve customer experience and drive revenue

To wrap, we have an "OK Boomer" segment where Producer Rachel speaks with Zehra Naqvi from Republic (45:21). They disucss Zehra's work at Republic as an investment associate (48:00) and how Zehra developed the Z-list to facilitate intros between startups & VCs (55:21).

(00:00) Jason and Molly open the show, Disney Earnings, Alex Elias from Qloo, Rachel OK Boomer

(01:51) Disney added 34% increase in revenue and 37% increase in Disney plus subscribers

(06:56) Netflix vs. Disney on streaming growth

(10:07) Revelo - Get 20% off the first 3 months by mentioning TWIST at https://revelo.io/twist

(11:37) How different streaming companies cultivate and develop new IP vs. exploit existing IP

(19:42) Assure - To get 20% off your first Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) visit https://Assure.co/twist

(21:12) Alex Elias from Qloo, a company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to understand taste and draw cultural correlations

(26:48) How Qloo is used by developers to make predictions

(32:06) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist

(33:15) Qloo's business model and example use cases with large brands

(40:10) How restaurant groups are using Qloo to determine the right music for their restaurants

(45:21) OK Boomer intro, Rachel speaks with Zehra Naqvi from Republic

(48:00) Zehra's work at Republic as an investment associate

(51:09) The path to being an investment associate

(55:21) How Zehra developed the Z-list to facilitate intros between startups & VCs

Check out Qloo: https://www.qloo.com

FOLLOW Alex: https://twitter.com/ape

FOLLOW Zehra: https://twitter.com/zehranaqvi_

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

Jason and Molly open the shown discussing Disney’s Q1 Earnings and the 37% increase in Disney+ subscribers (01:51).

Then, Qloo CEO Alex Elias joins to discuss his AI prediction company (21:12). You will learn:

1. How Qloo uses machine learning to understand taste and draw cultural correlations

2. Why Qloo adopted an API business model and is focused on developers

3. Ways businesses and brands are using Qloo to improve customer experience and drive revenue

To wrap, we have an “OK Boomer” segment where Producer Rachel speaks with Zehra Naqvi from Republic (45:21). They disucss Zehra's work at Republic as an investment associate (48:00) and how Zehra developed the Z-list to facilitate intros between startups & VCs (55:21).

In the opening news segment, Molly and Jason break down the news around Peloton's new CEO, Barry McCarthy, including the open letter he sent to the company, his background and principles for success (2:05).

Then, Monique Woodard of Cake Ventures joins for Episode 5 of Season 6 of Angel (32:50). Monique was a founder, startup community leader, VC scout, and VC partner before raising her first fund.

In this episode you will learn:

1. Her thesis on investing in demographic change
2. What fundraising is like as a founder vs. fundraising as an aspiring fund manager
3. Why she chose to have multiple closes for her fund
4. Why Monique focused her efforts on institutional LPs, even though they take longer to close than individual LPs
5. What it takes to operate as a solo GP

(0:00) Jason and Molly tee up today's topics: Breaking down Peloton's new CEO background and leadership style and an amazing interview with Monique Woodard (Cake Ventures)

(2:05 ) Understanding Peloton's new CEO and the value of its user base

(12:47) LinkedIn - Post your first job for free at https://linkedIn.com/angel

(14:15) Some more fun with numbers, plus breaking down Barry McCarthy's introduction email to all Peloton employees

(21:43) Ourcrowd - Check out the deal of the week at https://ourcrowd.com/twist

(22:54) Finalizing McCarthy's "principles of success" list and reflecting on the difficulty of a turnaround

(31:32) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist

(32:50) Introducing Cake Ventures' Founder & Partner Monique Woodard: Understanding Cake's thesis on investing in demographic change

(42:20) Fundraising as a founder vs. fundraising as an aspiring fund manager, understanding how different types of LPs invest

(50:58) Check sizes differences from institutional LPs and individual LPs, understanding multiple fund closes

(1:07:18) Managing deal flow as a first-time fund manager, is the industry becoming more welcoming to underrepresented fund managers?

Check out Cake Ventures: https://cake.vc/

FOLLOW Monique: https://twitter.com/MoniqueWoodard

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

In the opening news segment, Molly and Jason break down the news around Peloton's new CEO, Barry McCarthy, including the open letter he sent to the company, his background and principles for success (2:05).

Then, Monique Woodard of Cake Ventures joins for Episode 5 of Season 6 of Angel (32:50). Monique was a founder, startup community leader, VC scout, and VC partner before raising her first fund.

In this episode you will learn:

1. Her thesis on investing in demographic change

2. What fundraising is like as a founder vs. fundraising as an aspiring fund manager

3. Why she chose to have multiple closes for her fund

4. Why Monique focused her efforts on institutional LPs, even though they take longer to close than individual LPs

5. What it takes to operate as a solo GP

We have a great interview with a serial-founder today! But first, Molly and Jason cover one of the craziest stories of the year. A couple has been charged with conspiring to launder ~$3.6B worth of crypto from the 2016 Bitfinex hack. Ilya is a former YC founder and Heather part-time rapper.

Today's Guest is Peter Reinhardt, the co-founder of Segment, a customer data platform that sold to Twillio for $3.2B. Peter discusses his new company, Charm Industrial, which is focused on carbon capture and removal. You will learn:

1. How they turn agricultural waste and biomass into a high-carbon fuel

2. The carbon-removal benefits of injecting the bio-fuel into old oil wells

3. Why carbon capture is an important piece of getting to Net Zero

4. The potential impact of Charm Industrial if it succeeds (total CO2 tonnage)

5. Why this process differs from more passive ways of carbon offsets

6. How he landed customers like Shopify & Stripe (and why he thinks companies will continue to do this, even without government regulation)

0:00 Jason and Molly tee up today's topics: a MAJOR crypto scandal and an amazing interview! 2:14 Breaking down the $3.6B Bitcoin seizure federal investigators 13:39 Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Pro Cover and get $150 off at checkout! 14:56 Explaining how the laundering happened mechanically 18:21 Jason's prior emails re: the YC founders' company, jumping to BAYC "doxxing" story 24:25 Vanta - Get get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist 25:44 The most amazing part of this story: Razzlekhan the rapper, and Ilya the s***poster; plus Jason and Molly cast the docu-series for this disaster 33:12 Fiverr - Sign up for https://Fiverr.com/Business free for the first year and save 10% on your purchase with promo code JASON 34:34 Crypto brigading, crypto's impact on the environment 42:00 Charm Industrial's Peter Reinhardt (formerly of Segment) speaks about Segment selling to Twilio for $3B+ 51:38 Charm Industrial's origin story, understanding industrial de-carbonization and carbon removal 1:05:11 1 TAM for carbon removal companies, breaking down the 4 quadrants of fighting climate change

Check out Charm Industrial: https://www.charmindustrial.com

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

We have a great interview today! But first, Molly and Jason cover one of the craziest stories of the year. A couple has been charged with conspiring to launder ~$3.6B worth of crypto from the 2016 Bitfinex hack (2:14).

Today’s Guest is Peter Reinhardt, the co-founder of Segment, a customer data platform that sold to Twillio for $3.2B. Peter discusses his new company, Charm Industrial, which is focused on carbon capture and removal. In addition to his takeaways from selling Segment (42:00), you will learn:

1. How they turn agricultural waste and biomass into a high-carbon fuel

2. The carbon-removal benefits of injecting the bio-fuel into old oil wells

3. Why carbon capture is an important piece of getting to Net Zero

4. The potential impact of Charm Industrial if it succeeds (total CO2 tonnage)

5. Why this process differs from more passive ways of carbon offsets

6. How he landed customers like Shopify & Stripe (and why he thinks companies will continue to do this, even without government regulation)

Molly and Jason cover Peter Thiel stepping down from FB's board and look back at the board's evolution over time (2:07). Next, we cover Joe Lonsdale's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, where he argues AWS should be split off from Amazon (27:41). We debate if valuations would increase if separated. Then, Peloton Founder & CEO John Foley is stepping down as the firm lays off 2800 people (40:30). We debate if they angling for an acquisition or making a turnaround attempt. To wrap, we discuss our startup of the day, Island, which is a browser for enterprise with a big valuation for a pre-product company (50:11). 00:00 Jason and Molly tee up today's topics 02:07 Peter Thiel is stepping down from Meta's board after almost 17 years of service 11:48 Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST 13:12 Thiel maximizing political influence, Marc Andreessen's shadow advice to Zuckerberg, other $FB board squabbles 24:32 Marlow - Get 15% off your individual or team memberships at https://getmarlow.com/twist. 25:47 Reed Hastings testy email to Peter Thiel in 2016 (while they were both $FB board members) 27:41 Joe Lonsdale's case for splitting AWS away from Amazon's retail business 39:08 Indochino - Get $50 off any purchase of $399 or more by using code TWIST at checkout https://indochino.com 40:30 Peloton CEO John Foley steps down as the company lays off ~2800 employees (20% of its corporate workforce) 50:11 Startup of the Day: Island.io — enterprise browsers in the cloud: valuation vs. traction, founder, market, and more

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