This Week in Startups

Today, Jason makes his first investment in our new Jay Trading segment (which is not investing advice), and Jason and Molly break it down (3:22). Then, we do a little segment called "Series A & M&A" (24:40)! We also cover Stripe's 409A valuation (37:52). And of course, we have to cover the Netflix + Microsoft partnership (45:50). Finally, we wrap with Peloton outsourcing their hardware manufacturing (57:00).

(0:00) Jason and Molly tee up today's show!

(3:22) Jay Trading: Bill Gurley bought ~1M shares of Stitch Fix yesterday for a total of $5.4M and the stock popped as much as 15% on the news

(14:17) Liquid I.V. - Feel better faster. Get 25% off at https://liquid-iv.com using promo code TWIST

(15:30) Talking revenue and profit

(23:18) Wealthfront - Get your first $5,000 managed for free, for life at https://wealthfront.com/TWIST

(24:40) Series A and M&A: You.com

(35:59) Harmonic - Get $4000 off at harmonic.ai/twist

(37:52) WSJ reports that Stripe just cut its internal valuation by 28%

(45:50) Netflix named Microsoft as its global advertising technology and sales partner

(57:00) Peloton is going to stop making its own bikes and tread machines, opting to outsource all manufacturing to Taiwan

(1:06:00) M&A: Battery Ventures announced a $3.8 billion raise

(1:15:07) Outro + Plugs

Today we kick off our new series, "The Blueprint." Jason gives practical advice on how to brand yourself (1:33). Then, Jason sits down with Stanford professor and author Jeffrey Pfeffer to talk about his new book, "7 Rules of Power: Surprising--but True--Advice on How to Get Things Done and Advance Your Career" (14:36).

(0:00) Jason tees up today's show!

(1:33) The Blueprint E1: branding yourself

(13:39) Visa. Learn more about Visa's online Small Business Hub at Visa.com/smallbusinesshub.

(14:36) Jeffrey Pfeffer speaks about his book "7 rules of Power"

(28:26) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

(29:56) Break the rules: Why are people so uncomfortable breaking the rules?

(37:41) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

(38:58) Show up in a powerful fashion: body language

(41:45) Building a brand

(50:12) Use your power

(53:53) Trump using his power

(56:46) Once you have power, what you did will be forgiven forgotten or both

(1:01:42) Q&A: how do introverts exert power?

(1:02:46) Best networking tips

First, we break down the 3AC situation where the founders were reportedly MIA for about 12 hours (1:52). It's a complex situation, and we try and make sense of it. Then, we cover Matt Taibbi's deep-dive article on Circle (8:10). Jason also gives his thoughts on a recent Twitter thread about how to succeed as a low-level startup employee (33:27). And we wrap with a little M&A story from Spotify (40:50)!

(0:00) Jason tees up today's topics!

(1:52) Bloomberg reported that liquidators in charge of handling Three Arrow Capitals bankruptcy have NOT been able to locate the founders

(8:10) Investigative reporter Matt Taibbi spent time researching the Crypto Crash, and warns against investing in Circle's stablecoin USDC

(11:51) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(13:08) Red flags Taibbi found

(24:11) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist

(25:25) Making sense of the crypto crash

(32:16) Assure - To get 20% off your first Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) visit https://Assure.co/twist

(33:27) Zach Weinberg had an interesting thread about how to stand out as a low or mid-level startup employee

(40:50) Spotify has acquired a Wordle-like daily game for your ears called: Heardle!

(46:56) Previewing the week ahead

(53:17) Outro + Plugs!

Today we talk about the Elon Musk & Twitter deal-or-no-deal (2:14). Then we get into two big pieces of Uber news today: first, over a hundred thousand leaked documents about Uber's aggressive expansion efforts back in the early days (20:47), and second, present-day Uber under Dara is testing out geo-located ads (33:18). Finally, we've also got some insider dirt from Apple's autonomous car efforts (49:20).

(0:00) Jason and Molly intro today's show

(2:14) Elon Musk calls off the Twitter deal

(12:49) Dell For Startups - Apply for Dell for Startups and get an additional 10% off of all Dell Latitude products at http://dell.com/twist

(13:58) Is Twitter a niche product?

(19:28) This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp - Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/twist

(20:47) The Guardian obtained 124,000 leaked internal documents from Uber's global expansion phase under Travis

(32:04) Thorne - Personalized, science-back wellness. Get 10% off your first order at thorne.com/u/TWIST

(33:18) Uber is testing its ad business

(49:20) Apple Car project has faced repeated setbacks

(58:39) Outro + Plugs

For today's VC Sunday School, Jason asks Molly what she's learned in her first six months as a venture capitalist (1:59). Then, on This Week in Climate Startups, Molly speaks with siblings Steven and Zora Chung of ReJoule about EV battery recycling (18:52).

(0:00) Jason and Molly intro the show

(1:59) VCSS: Molly's first 6 months as an investor recap

(14:06) Bubbles - Get your point across with unlimited screen and video recordings for free at https://usebubbles.com/twist

(15:24) Toss to TWiCS

(18:52) TWiCS: Zora and Steven Chung, co-founders of ReJoule

(22:51) Brave - Download Brave today at http://brave.com/twist to browse faster, search privately and so much more

(24:08) Explaining the ReJoule technology like we're 10

(30:03) iTrust Capital - Visit https://itrust.capital/twist to create your Crypto IRA today

(31:06) What's ReJoule's business model?

(44:18) Outro + Plugs

Today, Jason sits down with Frost Giant CEO Tim Morten to discuss the gaming business models, Esports, and more (1:50). Then, on this week's OK Boomer segment, Producer Rachel speaks with Richard Mensah, co-founder of Salley, about being an international founder (1:09:45).

(0:00) Jason and Molly introduce today's show

(1:50) Jason speaks with Production Director & CEO of Frost Giant, Tim Morten

(11:15) PolicyGenius - Head to https://www.policygenius.com to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save

(12:25) Running a game studio as a startup

(21:54) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(23:09) Business model changes in the gaming industry

(30:40) Intercom - Get advanced Intercom features and Early Stage Academy at a 95% discount https://www.intercom.com/early-stage

(32:56) Raising money as a gaming startup

(1:09:45) Producer Rachel tees up this week's OK Boomer

(1:12:37) OKB: Richard Mensah, Co-Founder of Salley, on being an international founder

(1:36:51) Outro + Plugs

First, we cover some breaking news: Theranos ex-president Sunny Balwani has been found guilty of fraud (2:27). Then we dive into crypto: those responsible for the lack of crypto regulation in the US might also have significant crypto investments themselves, and the US is currently trying to change that (13:42). Then a big class-action lawsuit hits Solana and takes aim at VCs (23:09). But it's not all bad news, we cover the Turkish government claiming it just discovered almost 700M metric tons of rare earth materials (39:29). And finally, our startup of the day is a job board for warehouse workers (49:27)!

(0:00) Jason and Molly tee up today's topics!

(2:27) Sunny Balwani found guilty of fraud

(12:26) Microsoft for Startups Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups

(13:42) US officials that invest in crypto can't work on crypto-related policies and regulation that could affect the value of their assets

(21:42) Masterworks - Skip the waitlist to invest in art using promo code TWIST at https://Masterworks.io/twist

(23:09) Key players in the Solana ecosystem are being accused of illegally profiting off the blockchain's token SOL

(36:05) Crypto firm Uprise lost 99% of customer funds trying to short LUNA tokens during the Terra/Luna collapse last month

(38:12) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(39:29) The Turkish government is claiming it just discovered almost 700M metric tons of rare earth materials

(49:27) SotD: Traba has a job board that helps entry-level workers find shifts at fulfillment centers and event venues

(53:41) Outro + Plugs!

Molly is out today, but don't worry- we still have crypto news to cover. Crypto firm Voyager Digital filed for bankruptcy (2:14), and crypto loan company Celsius paid some debts (10:43). Finally, Jason takes some questions in today's Ask Jason segment (25:35)!

Voyager Bankruptcy Filing: https://cases.stretto.com/public/x193/11753/PLEADINGS/1175307062280000000036.pdf

(0:00) Jason introduces today's show!

(2:14) Crypto Update: Voyager Digital filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last night

(9:31) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist

(10:43) Celsius just unlocked 2000 "wrapped Bitcoin" (~$40M worth) by paying down ~$183M of debt to another crypto lender

(24:21) Thorne - Personalized, science-back wellness. Get 10% off your first order at thorne.com/u/TWIST.

(25:35) Ask Jason: Jason answers your questions

(26:27) Would you ever apply to Shark Tank as a judge or create your own version with the besties?

(29:23) Trying to bootstrap as long as possible, but when is it ok to quit your day job?

(34:16) Indochino - Get $50 off any purchase of $399 or more by using code TWIST at checkout https://www.indochino.com

(35:34) When a previous investment asks for more money, how do you decide whether or not to double down?

(41:56) I'm about to raise a seed round… should growth be the target or generating positive cash flow?

(45:04) What current FAANG CEOs would you like to interview? What insights would you look for?

(48:00) What are "pre" and "post" money?

(48:43) Do you entertain pro-rata multiples?

(58:31) How is the electric bike effort going?

(1:04:00) What Gen Z startups have excited you from the OK Boomer segment or your staff?

(1:11:31) Outro + Plugs

On today's show, Molly and Jason catch up after the long weekend (0:00) before breaking down how the new "Minions" movie broke a box office record by using TikTok, catchy hooks, and viral marketing (5:19). They also cover TikTok dropping plans to expand its ecommerce platform into the US and Europe (29:52), before covering the "Chips Act" stalemate and discussing how we should reframe semiconductor manufacturing and energy independence as national defense issues (35:50).

Links referenced in the show:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.578644/full

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-07-04/chipmakers-and-us-congress-are-playing-a-stupid-game-of-chicken

On today's show, Molly and Jason catch up after the long weekend (0:00) before breaking down how the new "Minions" movie broke a box office record by using TikTok, catchy hooks, and viral marketing (5:19). They also cover TikTok dropping plans to expand its ecommerce platform into the US and Europe (29:52), before covering the "Chips Act" stalemate and discussing how we should reframe semiconductor manufacturing and energy independence as national defense issues (35:50).

Links referenced in the show:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.578644/full

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-07-04/chipmakers-and-us-congress-are-playing-a-stupid-game-of-chicken