This Week in Startups

Molly and Jason kick off the show catching up after the weekend, discussing the Super Bowl and the spy balloons that the US airforce has shot down. (1:30) Then they have a very interesting conversation about bypassing ChatGPT's guardrails and content moderation. (23:29) (0:00) M+J kick off the show

(1:30) Super Bowl 57

(8:33) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(9:58) UFOs in American airspace

(22:26) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(23:29) ChatGPT's alter ego DAN + content filter transparency

(37:17) Revelo - Get 20% off the first 3 months by mentioning TWIST at https://revelo.com/twist

(38:44) Programming LLMs and neural networks

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Four-cycle investor and Redpoint Ventures Co-Founder Geoff Yang joins to discuss his early years in VC (1:45), what it takes for a founder to survive in a down market (11:47), what makes CEOs like Frank Slootman and David Zaslav stand out, and more! (43:35)

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(1:45) Geoff Yang's experience cracking into VC

(10:26) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to https://linkedIn.com/angel and post your first job for free.

(11:47) Surviving and thriving in a down market

(22:35) First Republic Bank - Discover what a long-term financial relationship can do for you. Visit https://firstrepublic.com today to learn more.

(23:29) Being flexible and understanding risk as an entrepreneur

(30:00) Accomplishing the most with the least

(34:05) ProsperStack - Take 10% off your subscription by mentioning TWIST at https://prosperstack.com/twist

(35:17) Geoff's favorite investments

(43:35) Working with David Zaslav

(50:57) What's next for Geoff + Generative AI

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Joe Gebbia joins Jason to discuss the early days of Airbnb, gaining traction, persevering through the "no's," and functional design. (2:09) They also discuss gaining customer trust and Airbnb's incredible COVID turnaround. (21:17) Joe wraps the show by breaking down his new venture, Samara. (45:05)

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(2:09) Airbnb's first sign of traction

(9:05) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(10:04) Persevering through the "no's," and functional design

(19:48) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(21:17) Gaining customer trust

(30:46) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(32:17) Airbnb's incredible COVID turnaround

(45:05) Joe's new startup Samara

Check out: https://www.samara.com/backyard

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Molly and Jason discuss Google's announcing plans to roll out its ChatGPT competitor, called Bard, in the coming weeks. (1:10) Then, they discuss Adam Neumann's explanation of Flow's business before wrapping up with a SOTD, Jobber. (18:59)

(0:00) M+J kick off the show

(1:10) Breaking down Google's announcement of Bard

(9:29) Coda - Startups can get $1000 credit by visiting https://coda.io/twist

(11:00) Neeva's approach to search

(17:33) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist

(18:59) An update on Adam Neumann's Flow

(36:31) Meowtel - Save $25 on your first booking with code TWIST25 at https://meowtel.com/

(37:53) SOTD: Jobber raises $100M

(46:17) Microsoft officially announces the integration of ChatGPT into Bing

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Molly breaks down Google's $300M investment in Anthropic and how this deal compares to Microsoft's investment in OpenAI. (2:00) Then, she dives deep into a former Google executive's paid search engine and ShiftMed raising $200M to solve the nursing shortage. She wraps the show with an interview featuring the CEO of dating app So Syncd, Jessica Alderson. (13:44)

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(2:00) Google invests $300M in Anthropic

(12:15) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(13:44) Neeva's new approach to search

(21:33) Acquire.com - Sign up for FREE at https://try.acquire.com/twist

(22:58) AI's data problem

(28:27) ShiftMed raises $200M

(33:18) LMNT - Get a free sample pack with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/twist

(34:45) Seed/Series A Interview: Jessica Alderson, CEO of So Syncd

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Molly is off for the day, so Producer Rachel joins Jason to break down Google, Amazon, and Apple's latest earnings report. (1:29) Then LA26 graduate Perrin Davidson, CEO of EATERCLUB, joins Molly. (46:05) Lastly, we end the week with another edition of Ok Boomer, where Rachel interviews Eerika Savolainen, the CEO of Slush. (1:02:16)

(0:00) Jason and Rachel kick off the show!

(1:29) Google earnings

(11:19) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups

(12:44) Amazon earnings

(23:28) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(24:30) Apple earnings

(33:36) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(34:36) The US jobs report

(46:05) LA26 Founder: Perrin Davidson of EATERCLUB

(1:02:16) OK Boomer with Eerika Savolainen, the CEO of Slush

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Jason and Molly kick off the show by discussing Meta's Q4 earnings and the news that the Fed is raising rates by only 25 basis points (3:06), which leads to a discussion on unemployment, automation, and generative AI updates. (11:24) Then, Lon Harris joins to discuss Oscar nominations, Spotify earnings, "peak podcasting," and more. (37:51)

(0:00) M+J kick off the show

(3:06) Meta Earnings

(7:56) The Fed raises rates by 25bps

(9:57) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(11:24) Unemployment and Automation

(21:59) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes for six figures in discounts at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(23:30) ChatGPT hits 100M MAUs + Google's Apprentice Bard

(36:46) Anyplace - Get $250 off your booking with the code TWIST250 at https://www.anyplace.com/twist

(37:51) Oscar Nominations with Lon Harris

(44:06) Spotify earnings

(55:35) The Last of Us is another hit for HBO

(1:00:58) James Gunn reveals chapter one of the DC Universe

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Jason is joined by FirstMark Capital's Rick Heitzmann, who started his investment career in 1999. They discuss "sobering up" after the 14-year bull run (1:55), Airbnb's response to the downturn (7:38), how senior leaders must act as shock absorbers for their founders (26:30), and more!

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(1:55) Rick's experience of the "Speculative Asset Bubble"

(7:38) Airbnb's reaction to the downturn

(11:33) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to https://linkedIn.com/angel and post your first job for free

(12:58) Rick's memory of the Dot Com bubble

(19:39) Advice for founders in a downturn

(22:27) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(23:29) How CAC and LTV have changed

(26:30) The emotional state of Founders and keeping them focused

(35:09) Term sheets in the Dot Com era and today

(40:06) Letterhead - get 50% off their first year at tryletterhead.com/twist

(41:21) Different forms of exits + Key attributes in founders

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Jason and Molly kick off the show with a quick third-rail story about Area 51. (1:56) They then cover Instagram co-founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom's new startup, Artifact. (10:44) Finally, Gabi Lewis of Magic Spoon joins Molly for an awesome interview about their latest raise, launching in big box stores and more. (41:56)

(0:00) Molly Kicks off the show

(1:56) Conspiracy Theories with Molly and Jason

(9:37) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(10:44) Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom's new venture: Artifact

(20:16) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(21:19) Monetizing news aggregators + content moderation

(40:42) Letterhead - get 50% off their first year at tryletterhead.com/twist

(41:56) Gabi Lewis of Magic Spoon joins Molly

(1:13:51) Jay Trades, immigration and TikTok ideas

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Jason and Molly kick off the week with a generative ai update! (5:00) Then, they cover Mr. Beast's latest video and "stunt culture" (35:21), some more third-rail topics (49:40), and Billy McFarland being back in the news! (59:50)

(0:00) M+J kick off the show

(2:10) Apply to Founder University 2-Day Workshop at https://intensive.founder.university/

(5:00) Anthropic raises at a $5B valuation

(9:31) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(11:01) More on Anthropic

(18:01) Notion - Sign up for FREE at https://notion.com/jason

(19:21) Semafor reports OpenAI has contracted 1000 developers

(27:06) Baidu is developing their own AI Chatbot

(33:53) CAST AI - get a FREE cloud cost audit AND a personal consultation at cast.ai/twist

(35:21) MrBeast's latest video + Stunt culture

(49:40) Third-rail topics

(59:50) Billy McFarland is back in the news

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