This Week in Startups

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Molly and Jason chop it up about New York Attorney General Letitia James probing into MSG's alleged use of facial recognition to identify and target specific patrons (1:46). This segues into a great discussion about Meta's $10M deal with BuzzFeed and The Creator Economy as a whole (21:41). We cap off the week with two great interviews, one with LA26 graduate Nevsah Karamehmet of Breath Hub (36:17) and another with Brett Bauman, the creator of PlaylistAI (48:09).

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

(1:46) WLITF WTF: Facial recognition software at MSG

(8:33) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(10:03) More on the NYAG case regarding MSG's facial recognition software

(20:11) Linode - Apply to Linode's Rise program for up to six figures in discounts at https://linode.com/twist

(21:41) BuzzFeed's lucrative deal with Meta + Revenue share with creators

(35:07) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(36:17) LA26 Founder: Nevsah Karamehmet of Breath Hub

(48:09) Ok Boomer with Brett Bauman

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Vinny and Sunny are back for our first crypto-roundtable of 2023. Vinny breaks down the macroeconomic variables affecting Bitcoin's price (1:39), plus they all predict whether Bitcoin will hit $30K or $16 first (11:43) (This is not financial advice). They delve into the ongoing controversy involving DCG, Gemini and Genesis (26:54), as well as the news that the SEC has charged both Gemini and Genesis with offering and selling unregistered securities (35:12). We wrap up the show with a great discussion about Porsche's failed NFT drop and how brands should approach entering Web 3.0 (44:38).

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show

(1:39) Vinny's macroeconomic breakdown

(10:18) Acquire.com - Sign up for FREE at https://try.acquire.com/twist

(11:43) Bitcoin's price action + will it hit $30k or $16K

(17:35) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(18:59) Gluttony and the lack of consumer savings

(26:54) DCG, Genesis and Gemini controversy

(33:40) Fitbod - Get 25% off at https://fitbod.me/twist

(35:12) The SEC has charged Gemini and Genesis for selling unregistered securities

(44:38) Porsche's NFT drop

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Please take our audience survey!: https://launchevents.typeform.com/to/K5RhKaEH Jason sits down with Bryan Roberts of Venrock for another episode of Angel Season 7! They discuss Bryan's first bets (2:22) and his perception of the dot com bubble. (14:38) The two also dive into topics like creating optionality as a startup (21:24), bad habits in VC (28:49) and Theranos. (36:18) To wrap the show, Bryan and Jason discuss disagreeing with founders (39:07) and the psychology of placing bets! (44:33)

(0:00) Jason kicks off the show (2:22) Bryan's first investment: Illumina (8:52) LinkedIn Jobs - Go to http://linkedin.com/angel and post your first job for free (10:16) Bryan's second investment: Athena Health (14:38) Bryan's experience during the dot-com bubble (19:54) Merge - Get started by integrating up to 5 linked accounts for free today at merge.dev/twist (21:24) Creating optionality in a startup (25:30) Understanding your leaders (28:49) Bad habits in venture (34:55) Velocity Growth - Get $500 off your first growth audit or monthly package now with promo code TWIST at velocitygrowth.com/twist (36:18) Bryan's thoughts on Theranos (39:07) Diligence and disagreements with founders (44:33) The psychology of placing bets + advice for founders

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Molly goes solo today to cover the DOJ joining eight states to file an anti-trust lawsuit against Google (2:04) before covering Ticketmaster taking the stand in a Senate hearing today. (15:37) Producer Rachel then joins to discuss the latest on user-friendly ticket competitors. (23:07) Then, Molly is joined by two different LA26 founders: Rhian Beutler of Govalo (32:47) and Daniel Sakhai of HeyHire! (44:44)

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(2:04) the DOJ's lawsuit with Google

(9:16) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(10:51) Google and Microsoft's prior lawsuits with the DOJ

(15:37) Ticketmaster's senate hearing

(21:30) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(23:06) Rachel joins Molly to discuss the latest on user-friendly ticket competitors

(31:18) Nutrisense - Use code TWIST and get $30 off at nutrisense.io/twist

(32:47) Rhian Beutler of Govalo joins Molly

(44:44) Daniel Sakhai of HeyHire joins Molly

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Join Molly and Jason as they react to TikToks posted by former Google employees who have recently been let go. They discuss why Google is letting people go despite their massive profits (8:54). They also explore Open AI and Microsoft's codified partnership (38:39) and the report from the WSJ that activist investor Elliot Management has invested billions into Salesforce (45:06). To end the show, we have another great edition of WLITF featuring NVIDIA's new AI-generated eye contact feature (49:16).

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

(2:35) Jason is still on the mend + vaccine talk

(7:46) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist

(8:54) The difference between Meta, Amazon and Google's layoffs + Employee reaction to getting laid off

(18:52) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/twist

(20:16) Why Google is doing layoffs + more employee reactions

(37:05) Meowtel - Book a local and insured sitter on the #1 cat sitting app. Save $25 on your first booking with code TWIST25

(38:29) OpenAI codified its deal with Microsoft

(45:06) Elliot Management invests billions in Salesforce

(49:16) WLITF: NVIDIA's insane update This Week in Startups 90-second survey - Enter for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card at www.thisweekinstartups.com/survey

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Molly and Jason tackle Netflix's stellar fourth-quarter earnings and the news that Reed Hastings is stepping down as CEO. (1:55) Plus, they delve into Google's announcement to lay off 6% of its workforce (17:00), and the former MySpace founders raised a $32M Seed round for their new gaming startup PLAI. (28:55) Lastly, Producer Rachel is back with another segment of Ok Boomer with Mike O'Brien! (36:47)

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

(1:55) Netflix earnings + Reed Hastings steps down as CEO

(9:29) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(9:37) Netflix's future

(17:00) Google to layoff 6% of their staff

(23:37) Mixpanel - Apply for $50K in credits at https://mixpanel.com/startups

(20:50) Will Apple do a RIF?

(28:55) Former MySpace founders raise $32M for their new startup PLAI

(33:53) This Week in Startups 90-second survey - Enter for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card at www.thisweekinstartups.com/survey

(35:19) House of Macadamias - Get 20% off at https://houseofmacadamias.com/twist by using code TWIST20

(36:47) Ok Boomer with Mike O'Brien

Bloomberg Article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-01-20/reed-hastings-retires-as-netflix-ceo-with-a-long-list-of-wins

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Molly and Jason kick off the show by discussing the concept of 'quiet hiring' (1:53) and the SEC's proposed rules making it easier for LPs to sue VCs (9:37). They also cover Semafor's buyback of Sam Bankman-Fried's $10M investment (20:50). And Lon Harris is back to discuss the new box office hit M3GAN (31:00) and the premiere of The Last of Us (45:45).

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:53) Jargon Watch: What is "quiet hiring"?

(8:29) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(9:37) SEC proposes new rules making it easier for LPs to sue VCs

(19:21) Supergut - Get 30% off with code TWIST at https://supergut.com

(20:50) Semafor to buy back SBF's $10M investment

(29:44) Formulate - Get 25% off at formulate.co/twist

(31:00) Blumhouse and Atomic Monster's potential merger + M3GAN's marketing campaign

(45:45) The Last of Us Premiere + more on video game adaptations

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(0:00) Jason Kicks off the show

(2:49) Brad Feld, Co-founder of Foundry, talks about starting out in investing

(13:30) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/angel

(14:56) Brad's thesis for whom he'll get in the "trenches" with

(20:48) MasterClass - Get 15% off an annual membership at https://masterclass.com/startups

(22:22) Fighting to the end + Investing through the dot-com bubble

(38:13) Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(39:43) Surviving the GFC

(44:23) Brad's perspective on the investor/CEO dynamic + being a leader in a down market

(1:00:02) Reflecting on the speculative asset bubble

(1:16:44) Looking forward into 2023

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First up, Molly and Jason cover a bunch of news happening in the world of AI, Getty Images is preparing to sue Stable Diffusion creator Stability AI (8:47), Meta is partnering with Shutterstock to train its AI models, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the company will integrate OpenAI's software into Azure - it's cloud computing platform - and ALL it's other products. (36:07) Then, we cover two new sustainability startups! Mill is a company started by former Nest co-founders making an automated compostability trash can. (55:12) And Sollum is building AI-enabled LED lighting solutions for indoor farming. (1:06:35)

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

(2:47) Molly and Jason catch up after their long weekend

(7:23) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(8:47) Getty Images prepares a lawsuit against Stability AI

(12:54) Data and data integrity

(17:55) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(19:30) The similarities between AI and the music industry

(34:31) AgeTech Collaborative - Find out more and apply at https://agetechcollaborative.org/twist

(36:07) Microsoft announces that they will integrate AI into all their products + more on round-tripping

(49:50) Blockchain versus AI

(55:12) SOTD: Mill

(1:06:35) SOTD: Sollum Technologies

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Molly and Jason dive deep into the recent news of Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, taking a $50 million pay cut. They discuss this move's implications and whether CEOs are worth their large compensation packages. (1:24) Andrew Gazdecki, CEO of Acquire.com, joins Jason for a fun interview discussing Acquire.com's rebrand and the acquisition marketplace. (24:47)

(0:00) Molly kicks off the show

(1:24) CEO of Apple, Tim Cook takes a $50M pay cut

(11:51) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(13:21) Are CEOs worth their compensation packages?

(23:18) Notion - Sign up for FREE at https://notion.com/jason

(24:47) Andrew Gazdecki of Acquire.com joins Jason

(40:45) Formulate - Get 25% off at formulate.co/twist

(42:02) Serial sellers, Acquire.com's growth and M&As

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