This Week in Startups

First, Jason and Molly cover Tesla's strong Q1 and gems from the earnings call (2:22), then Lon Harris joins (31:32) to discuss WeCrashed episode 7 (34:17), Severance episodes 1-3 (58:46), Netflix's rough Q1 and quality drop off (1:13:35) and CNN+ shutting down (1:26:40).

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's news topics and their chat with Lon Harris (02:22) Tesla had a blowout quarter in Q1 earnings (14:12) Rocket - Go to http://getrocket.com/twist and use promo code TWIST for 20% off your first placement. (15:33) Thinking of ways Tesla's robotaxis could work (21:37) LinkedIn - Post your first job for free at https://linkedIn.com/twist (22:52) The power of Optimus; OpenAI getting sentient? (29:06) iTrust Capital - Visit https://itrust.capital/twist to create your Crypto IRA today (31:32) Talking WeCrashed, Severance, Netflix, and CNN+ with Lon Harris (34:17) WeCrashed ep. 7 (SPOILERS) (58:46) Severance ep. 1-3 (SPOILERS) (1:13:35) Lon on Netflix dropping subscribers for first time since 2011 (1:26:40) Lon on Warner Bros Discovery shutting down CNN+ April 30th

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

First, Jason and Molly cover Tesla’s strong Q1 and gems from the earnings call (2:22), then Lon Harris joins (31:32) to discuss WeCrashed episode 7 (34:17), Severance episodes 1-3 (58:46), Netflix’s rough Q1 and quality drop off (1:13:35) and CNN+ shutting down (1:26:40).

First, we break down Netflix's earnings and discuss where Netflix's content strategy might have gone wrong (2:46). Then, Jason pitches Jared Kushner's leaked PE firm fundraising deck (35:15). We wrap with a discussion of Warner Bros. Discovery possibly killing CNN+ (56:27) and Just Eat Takeaway announcing they are looking into selling Grubhub, 10 months after finalizing a $7B acquisition (1:13:21)!

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

(02:46) Netflix reported a drop in subscribers for the first time ever in their Q1 earnings report

(13:54) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.co/twist

(15:14) Netflix vs. other streaming platforms

(24:47) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist

(26:06) Does Netflix need to take more risks with content?

(34:11) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist

(35:15) Jared Kushner's $3B VC pitch deck was leaked by The Intercept… it's exactly what you might expect

(56:27) Axios reports CNN+ is already in danger of being canned 3 weeks after launch

(1:13:21) Just Eat Takeaway announced they're looking to sell Grubhub after finalizing $7.3B acquisition of the company just 10 months ago

(1:22:22) WeLove Adam Neumann

(1:25:06) All In Summit 30 days away

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

First, Jack is getting candid about Twitter's board dysfunction (2:14). Then, we cover Facebook's internet infrastructure development projects in Africa (24:31) and Better.com's new round of layoffs (33:53). Our startup of the day is Regent, which is making a regional seaplane (46:51). We wrap with a discussion of Zendesk considering a sale (1:01:34) and Telsa's third act (1:04:57).

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's news (02:14) "Jack After Dark" Dorsey tweeting candidly about twitter's board (13:20) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist (14:33) What were Jack Dorsey's plans? (23:13) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist (24:31) Developing countries increasingly reliant on Meta for internet access (32:39) Rocket - Go to http://getrocket.com/twist and use promo code TWIST for 20% off your first placement. (33:53) Better.com started another round of layoffs (46:51) Startup of the day: Regent (1:01:34) Zendesk working with M&A advisor Qatalyst Partners on a potential sales (1:04:57) TechCrunch earnings preview saying we may get a look into Pt. 3 of Tesla's mission

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

First, Jack is getting candid about Twitter’s board dysfunction (2:14). Then, we cover Facebook’s internet infrastructure development projects in Africa (24:31) and Better.com's new round of layoffs (33:53). Our startup of the day is Regent, which is making a regional seaplane (46:51). We wrap with a discussion of Zendesk considering a sale (1:01:34) and Telsa's third act (1:04:57).

All-news show. First, we go over PitchBook's Q1 Venture Monitor report where VC fundraising is high, but portfolio exits are down (3:08). Then, we discuss how the incoming CNN CEO Chris Licht and Chris Sacca are both taking a Twitter break (33:35), and touch on Alex Jones' InfoWars filing for bankruptcy (44:33). Our startup of the day is new social app BeReal (53:55).

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's news stories (03:08) PitchBook and the NVCA released Q1 2022 Venture Monitor, results are staggering (12:32) Notion - Get started for free at https://notion.com/thisweekinstartups (13:49) Q1 US VC funds raised combined $73.8B, more than half of 2021's total of $131.5B (23:13) Microsoft for Startups Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups (24:30) Investing in supercycles (32:23) Wealthfront - Get your first $5,000 managed for free, for life at https://wealthfront.com/TWIST (33:35) Twitter breaks (44:33) Alex Jones' InfoWars filed for bankruptcy (53:55) Startup of the day: BeReal

FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis

FOLLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

All-news show. First, we go over PitchBook’s Q1 Venture Monitor report where VC fundraising is high, but portfolio exits are down (3:08). Then, we discuss how the incoming CNN CEO Chris Licht and Chris Sacca are both taking a Twitter break (33:35), and touch on Alex Jones' InfoWars filing for bankruptcy (44:33). Our startup of the day is new social app BeReal (53:55).

Friday variety show! First, The Verge's Alex Heath joins to talk about two big stories he recently broke (2:32): Facebook's plans for AR glasses and Twitter's internal reaction to Elon's takeover bid. Molly sits down with LAUNCH Accelerator founder Aleks Smechov whose company Wordcab specifically focuses on speech-to-text AI summaries (1:04:54). We wrap with an edition of OK Boomer where Producer Rachel talks to writer and marketer Rachel Cantor (1:18:51)!

(00:00) Molly tees up today's variety show (02:32) Alex Heath from The Verge joins to discuss the news he broke on Facebook/Meta's further push into AR/VR (10:40) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist (11:59) Mark Zuckerberg's ego in the AR/VR race, CTRL-labs acquisition a cool move or a fool move? (22:17) Gun.io - Get $250 off your first developer hire at https://Gun.io/twist! (23:33) Magic Leap & where is Microsoft in AR/VR? (33:24) Microsoft for Startups Hub - Apply in 5 minutes, no funding required, sign up at http://aka.ms/thisweekinstartups (34:41) Will Google get more involved with AR/VR? (38:04) Twitter's all-hands and future prospects (1:04:54) Introducing Molly's interview w/Wordcab's founder & CEO Aleks Smechov (1:07:10) Molly's interview w/Wordcab founder & CEO Aleks Smechov (1:18:51) Toss to OKB w/Rachel & Rachel Cantor of Tydo

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

FOLLOW Rachel: https://twitter.com/rachelcantor_

FOLLOW Aleks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandr-smechov/

Check out Wordcab: https://wordcab.com/

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

Friday variety show! First, The Verge’s Alex Heath joins to talk about two big stories he recently broke (2:32): Facebook’s plans for AR glasses and Twitter’s internal reaction to Elon’s takeover bid (38:04). Molly sits down with LAUNCH Accelerator founder Aleks Smechov whose company Wordcab specifically focuses on speech-to-text AI summaries (1:04:54). We wrap with an edition of OK Boomer where Producer Rachel talks to writer and marketer Rachel Cantor(1:18:51)!

All news show. First, Jason and Molly debrief after their Worldcoin interview (2:37). Next, they discuss Elon Musk's take-private offer for Twitter at $43B (08:50), the highlights from Elon's TED interview (15:33), and more (24:53). In a We Live in the Future segment, we react to a viral video of police pulling over self-driving Cruise car (58:38).

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro today's Elon/Twitter packed news day (02:37) Discussing Worldcoin and dictating narratives (08:50) Elon offers to purchase all outstanding shares of Twitter and take the company private, a deal worth $43B (14:01) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (15:33) Elon Musk speaks at TED on 4/14/22 about open-sourcing the Twitter algorithm (23:32) Indochino - Get $50 off any purchase of $399 or more by using code TWIST at checkout https://www.indochino.com (24:53) Elon on increasing the trust in Twitter as a public platform (32:42) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist (34:04) Are Elon's claims about Twitter credible? (58:38) WLITF: Vid of police pulling over self-driving Cruise car goes viral

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