This Week in Startups

YC demo day valuation tensions, how VCs can find gems, Substack's performance & more | E1716

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason breaks down the valuation tension surrounding YC demo days (2:36), how to get better prices on YC-equivalent startups (8:59), Garry Tan's re...

Satya Patel on the state of VC, flexible investing frameworks & converting to evergreen | E1715

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Satya Patel joins Jason to discuss the economics of being a self-funded GP and the structure of their fund (6:51). Then, they have an all-encompassing...

Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K | E1714

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring three startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.foun...

Saudi Arabia discloses LP positions & SEC charges Frank founder with fraud | E1713

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Jason touches on Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund disclosing which VC firms it has made LP investments in (2:48), which leads to him ...

Trump, Saudi, & Adam Neumann’s obsession with cities + BioFluff CEO Martin Stübler | E1712

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason kicks off the show by breaking down clips from a recent conversation between Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, and Adam Neumann about Saudi Arabia’...

Stephen Wolfram on AI’s rapid progress & the “Post-Knowledge Work Era” | E1711

31 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Stephen Wolfram of Wolfram Research joins Jason for an all-encompassing conversation about AI, from the history of neural nets (7:53) to how modern ai...

Crypto’s de-platforming and the balkanization of AI with Vinny Lingham | E1710

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Vinny Lingham joins Jason to break down the state of crypto’s de-platforming by the US government. They discuss recent happenings with Coinbase (2:1...

Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K live! | E1709

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason hosts another pitch competition featuring three startups from our Founder University program! Apply for Founder University: https://course.foun...

Alibaba's six-way split, Disney cuts its metaverse team, Substack's raise & more | E1708

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Producer Rachel joins Jason to break down the latest tech news. They cover AOC's arguments against banning TikTok (2:29), Alibaba's six-way sp...

First Citizens acquires SVB, the daunting reality of AI & Refiberd CEO Sarika Bajaj | E1707

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason starts the show by discussing First Citizens acquiring SVB’s assets (2:03) before diving into a Reddit post detailing how generative AI change...

Acquired’s Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal on private markets, ZIRP impact, future of Amazon | E1706

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Acquired co-hosts Ben and David are BACK to discuss the state of the VC market and YC shutting down its Continuity Fund (6:20) before diving into indu...

TikTok CEO grilled in front of Congress, Coinbase's Wells Notice & Do Kwon arrested | E1705

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason kicks off today's episode by reacting to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony in front of Congress (1:41) before delving into the news th...

ANGEL: Freestyle’s Jenny Lefcourt on nailing non-consensus bets and avoiding hype | E1704

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jenny Lefcourt of Freestyle VC joins Jason for an insightful conversation. They delve into the mission of All Raise and the importance of diversity in...

Startup pitch competition! Jason invests $25K into one of four founders | E1703

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the podcast, we have a new format for you! Jason will hear four pitches from Founder University participants and choose ONE startup to invest...

Balaji’s $1M Bitcoin bet, banking crisis update, OpenAI launches GPT-4, and Jay Trading! | E1702

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Reporting joins Jason to read the news! First, they give an update on the banking crisis and how it’s impacting startups (1:34). Then, they c...

ANGEL: Laurie Yoler on investing early in Tesla, strategic partnerships, and her VC career | E1701

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Molly is joined by Laurie Yoler as they dive into her early experiences in VC before discussing how she became the first investor in Tesla (1:45). Nex...

Banking crisis impact, more Meta cuts, and GPT-4 with Sunny Madra and Vinny Lingham | E1700

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Vinny and Sunny are BACK with Jason for another roundtable! First, they cover the aftermath of the bank shutdowns (2:54) before breaking down the impa...

Andy Rachleff on SVB, how to evaluate VCs, market pull indicators, Wealthfront, and more | E1699

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wealthfront Chairman and Co-Founder Andy Rachleff joins Jason for an incredible interview! They start the show by discussing the SVB situation before ...

How ocean farming can solve world hunger with Alora CEO Luke Young | E1698

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alora CEO and Co-Founder Luke Young joins Molly to discuss ocean agriculture and the ability to grow crops offshore (1:17). They discuss the progressi...

Silicon Valley Bank collapse recap + Wist CEO on capturing XR memories | E1697

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason kicks off Monday by recapping this weekend’s chaos caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (1:45). Then, he advises founders on preventi...

EMERGENCY POD: $SVIB implodes, contagion risk, advice for founders, and what’s next? | E1696

11 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason reacts to Silicon Valley Bank being shut down by the FDIC and breaks down what this means for founders and VCs. (0:00) Breaking down the SVB sit...

Stripe to raise $6B, $SIVB drops 60%, generative AI funding | E1695

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Eric Newcomer joins to break down all the trending tech topics, including Stripe raising $6B (16:31), major generative ai fundraises (35:55), Silicon ...

Ask an Angel! Startup funding overview, investor red flags, negotiating early-stage terms | E1694

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Zach Coelius is BACK with Jason to take questions from founders and investors! They cover investing on Zoom post-COVID (6:07), diligence red flags (13...

ANGEL: Threshold VC’s Emily Melton on market distortion, healthcare investing & culture | E1693

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Melton joins Molly to discuss her early days in venture and what she learned while working at DFJ (1:30). Then, they talk about the barriers tha...

Crypto climate bill resurfaces, BlocPower raises $155M + Arcadia CEO Kiran Bhatraju | E1692

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Molly kicks off Climate Tuesday breaking down the news that the Crypto-Asset Environmental Transparency Act has resurfaced (1:37). Then, she discusses...

Sequoia resigns from Citizen's board, IPO window opens, chaos at Dapper Labs | E1691

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason is BACK with Molly to break down the news! They cover Sequoia leaving Citizen's board after passing on a "pay to play" round (5:46), two major c...

Apple blocks AI email app, TikTok restricts teens, Foodini’s Dylan McDonnell | E1690

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Molly starts the show with Producer Rachel, covering Apple blocking an email app with an AI update (7:17), TikTok's latest restriction for users under...

Snowflake CEO Frank Slootman on moving the needle, win-first culture & managing burnout | E1689

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Frank Slootman joins Jason for another incredible conversation that ranges from the management shift in Silicon Valley (1:08) to how to know if you’...

Crypto Roundtable: Twitter payments integration and latest Yuga Labs NFT drop | E1688

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Vinny and Sunny joined Molly on another segment of Crypto Roundtable! Highlights included how Twitter could have integrated crypto  (2:02), the b...

ANGEL: Canaan’s Maha Ibrahim on fund sizing, distribution strategies & early VC days | E1687

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Maha Ibrahim of Canaan joins Molly to discuss her early days in VC (1:38), managing distributions and exiting at the right time (20:36), the clean tec...

Neeva CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy on AI chatbots and the search revolution | E1686

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Neeva CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy joins Molly to talk all things search and AI chatbots, including Neeva’s technology and the difficulty of building a sea...

WallStreetBets founder on why he's suing Reddit; Andrew Hart of Hyper; and Ok Boomer | E1685

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Friday variety show is back! Jason kicks it off by interviewing WallStreetBets founder Jaime Rogozinski, who's currently suing Reddit (2:08). Then...

Sophia Amoruso on branding, raising a fund, portfolio construction & more | E1684

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sophia Amoruso, Founder and GP at Trust Fund, joins Jason to discuss her angel investments (1:23), raising a fund publicly (5:54), and the creative pr...

ANGEL: Upfront’s Mark Suster on the power of alignment, setting reality, and raising capital | E1683

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason is joined by Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures to cover raising capital in the early 2000s (1:22), aligning board members (21:19), the three varia...

Brain-computer interfaces and the future of neural engineering with Dr. Benjamin Rapoport | E1682

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Precision Neuroscience’s Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer joins Molly to discuss how the brain communicates with the body (7:08) and the breakth...

Meta's paid tier, Bing's chatbot gone wild, Stripe's $4B bill | E1681

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First up, J+M break down Meta taking a note from Twitter with a $12 paid tier and how it can have a material impact on revenue. (12:05) Then, they cov...

US crypto crackdown with Vinny Lingham & Sunny Madra + OK Boomer | E1680

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Vinny and Sunny join Jason and Molly for another crypto roundtable discussing the federal government’s crackdown on crypto. (1:39) They define what ...

ANGEL: Insight's Deven Parekh on venture tourists, cleaning cap tables & winning investments | E1679

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Deven Parekh of Insight Partners joins Jason to discuss navigating markets during the dot com era and the pandemic. (1:50) Then they discuss "venture ...

Bing dodges $100B bullet & IVP's Tom Loverro on the looming startup collapse | E1678

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Molly is joined by Rachel as they discuss the news that some companies are selling data about their mental health patients. (1:33) Then they discuss h...

ChatGPT’s alter ego and moderating AI-generated content | E1677

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

ANGEL: Surviving a down market, early VC stories & more with four-cycle investor Geoff Yang | E1676

11 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia on early “a-ha” moments, elite design + his new startup Samara | E1675

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Gebbia joins Jason to discuss the early days of Airbnb, gaining traction, persevering through the “no’s,” and functional design. (2:09) They...

Google announces Bard, Adam Neumann’s business plan, Blue Collar tech’s moment | E1674

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ad...

The AI arms race escalates: Google’s $300M bet, Neeva’s paid search engine + So Syncd CEO | E1673

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 de...

Google, Amazon & Apple earnings + OK Boomer with Slush CEO | E1672

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Meta’s massive comeback, FED’s latest hike, GPT-4 rumors + Spotify earnings with Lon Harris | E1671

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

ANGEL: FirstMark’s Rick Heitzmann on shaking off the bull run, “shock absorbers,” and more | E1670

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason is joined by FirstMark Capital’s Rick Heitzmann, who started his investment career in 1999. They discuss “sobering up” after the 14-year b...

Instagram co-founders team up for new startup + Magic Spoon’s Gabi Lewis | E1669

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Sys...

Anthropic seeking $5B valuation, OpenAI hires 1000 contractors, Mr. Beast’s latest video | E1668

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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), som...

MSG's facial recognition software, BuzzFeed's deal with Meta, The Creator Economy and more | E1667

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Please take our 90-second audience survey for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card at www.thisweekinstartups.com/survey Molly and Jason chop it up ...

Macro picture, Bitcoin’s bull/bear case, DCG controversy & more | E1666

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Please take our 90-second audience survey for a chance to win a $50 amazon gift card at www.thisweekinstartups.com/survey Vinny and Sunny are back for...

ANGEL: Venrock’s Bryan Roberts on 25 years in VC, hitting wins early, avoiding bad habits | E1665

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Please take our audience survey!: https://launchevents.typeform.com/to/K5RhKaEH Jason sits down with Bryan Roberts of Venrock for another episode of ...

DOJ sues Google over ad practices, Ticketmaster takes the stand + LA26 founders | E1664

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Please take our audience survey!: https://launchevents.typeform.com/to/K5RhKaEH Molly goes solo today to cover the DOJ joining eight states to file an...

Employee reactions to Google layoffs, Microsoft & OpenAI codify deal + NVIDIA's new feature | E1663

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 peop...

$NFLX earnings, Reed Hastings steps down, Google's 6% RIF & Ok Boomer with Mike O'Brien | E1662

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Quiet hiring, Semafor’s $10M SBF buyback + M3GAN and The Last of Us with Lon Harris | E1661

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

ANGEL: Brad Feld on investing through 3 economic cycles, CEO/investor dynamics, and more | E1660

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

(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...

Getty to sue Stability AI, $MSFT to incorporate OpenAI into Azure + new climate startups | E1659

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 (...

Tim Cook’s $50M pay cut, CEO compensation packages & Acquire.com's CEO Andrew Gazdecki | E1658

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

OpenAI’s endgame, DeepMind’s chatbot, United by Zero’s Lex Kiefhaber + OK Boomer | E1657

14 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason kick off the show about social taboo topics and getting to the bottom of Covid-19.(2:22) Following the two discuss Molly attending Str...

Jay Trades and SBF's Substack + Award season and Netflix's content strategy with Lon Harris | E1656

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason chop it up about Jason's latest Jay Trades: Apple, Amazon and Disney. (2:21) Then they briefly discuss SBF's new Substack. (14:42) To ...

Slack’s troubles inside Salesforce, crypto trader gets jail time, DoNotPay’s robo-lawyer | E1655

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First up, J+M cover the problems at Slack and Salesforce (3:00), before breaking down the anti-competitive issues with bundling software to harm compe...

Coinbase cuts 20%, Microsoft to invest $10B into OpenAI & Ascend Elements CEO Mike O’Kronley | E1654

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason discuss the news that Coinbase is doing another 20% RIF. (6:50) Then they discuss the announcement that Microsoft is investing $10B in...

"The weirdest economy ever," Noma shuts down, Jason demos ChatGPT's iOS app | E1653

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Back from the weekend! First up, J+M catch up and cover a very strange economic situation. (2:07) Then, the duo covers NoMa, the world's most famous r...

Logan Paul & CryptoZoo’s alleged scam breakdown with Coffeezilla + Ok Boomer with Em Herrera | E1652

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Coffeezilla joins M+J to discuss the latest on the alleged Logan Paul and CryptoZoo scam. (1:21) Then Em Herrera joins Rachel for this year’s first ...

Bing to integrate ChatGPT, Microsoft’s first union + Flux Gourmet review with Lon Harris | E1651

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

M+J kick off the show by discussing the news that Bing will integrate ChatGPT into its search service. (1:21) Then they chop it up about ZeniMax formi...

Keith Rabois on 2023 macro outlook, startup valuations, founder advice, ChatGPT vs Google | E1650

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Multiple time guest and friend of the pod Keith Rabois is back! Jason and Keith talk 2023 macro outlook (1:00), big tech's impact on startups (10:01),...

SpaceX valued at $137B, Starlink's massive market, Shopify purges meetings | E1649

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason and Molly are BACK for the first news show of 2023! First up, they break down SpaceX's reported $137B valuation, the astounding market opportuni...

2023 Predictions! Startups, VC, tech, media, stocks, shutdowns, and more! | E1648

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason and Molly rip through 20+ predictions for 2023, including over/under bets, shutdowns, stocks, main characters, startups, new tech, and SO much m...

The 2022 TWiSTY Awards! | E1647

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason present... the 2022 TWiSTY Awards! Join them in commemorating all the best, worst, and craziest moments from this year in startups, ma...

Direct listing rule change, Notion AI demo, NYE planning & more | E1646

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

J+M kick off the show by discussing some approved changes to direct listings, which will make it easier for companies going public via direct listings...

Bonus episode! Tár review with Lon Harris

25 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas surprise! Check out Jason and Molly's FULL review of Tár, spoilers and all, with Lon Harris! (0:00) Tár review from Thursday (21:53) Bonus...

FTX & Alameda execs plead guilty, YouTube inks NFL Sunday Ticket deal + Tár review | E1645

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason discuss Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang pleading guilty to securities fraud. (2:04) Then Lon Harris joins J+M for this week’s edition...

Managing your cash reserves | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1644

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to educate founders on how to get the most out of their cash reserves. (0:00) (0:00) Your fiduciary duty to pro...

The inside story of Iger's Disney return, Epic Games record-breaking fines + ClimateCamp CEO | E1643

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, J+M break down Disney's "Battle of the Bobs" (2:59), before covering two record-breaking fines against Epic Games, and explaining "dark patt...

Salesforce CEO questions WFH amid SaaS slowdown, OpenAI projects $1B revenue by 2024 & more | E1642

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

J+M start the show by breaking down the recent disruption at Salesforce and Marc Benioff's comments on remote work. (2:44) Then, they cover OpenAI pro...

VCSS: Year in review + Valerie Shen of G2 Venture Partners | E1641

18 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason celebrate the last VCSS of 2022 by reflecting on what Molly has learned over this past year. (1:24) Then Valerie Shen of G2 Venture Pa...

Financial info to include in your pitch deck | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1640

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to explain the MOST important financial information that founders should include in their pitch deck ( (0:00) K...

Interest rates, inflation and “getting fit” with Brad Gerstner | E1639

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Brad Gerstner of Altimeter Capital joins Molly and Jason for an epic Friday show. They chop it up about the state of the economy, what it actually mea...

Jason interviews EatKind CEO Neetha Avalakki and ‘TWiST Mean Tweets’ with Lon Harris | E1638

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Jason interviews Neetha Avalakki, the founder and CEO of EatKind. EatKind is an AI-powered search engine that converts ANY food or recipe in...

Affirm addresses Molly & Jason + is TikTok getting banned, and Pearpop’s CEO Cole Mason | E1637

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason react to a letter they received from Affirm after yesterday’s episode. (1:59) Then, Molly and Jason discuss Marco Rubio’s bipartis...

SBF gets arrested, The Block’s CEO gets a bag from FTX, + Walmart launches a BNPL service | E1636

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason react to the breaking news that Bahamian authorities have arrested Sam Bankman-Fried. (1:27) Then, from earlier in the day, Molly and ...

Jason’s big night, the culture war in tech + Google Search vs ChatGPT and more | E1635

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Molly and Jason talk about their big weekends. (2:27) Then they discuss the culture war in tech right now (13:47). Followed by our new favourite game,...

How to calculate "Bottom-up TAM" + Hubspot Co-Founder Brian Halligan on his new climate fund | E1634

11 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

J+M kick off the show discussing TAM, SAM, and SOM on this week’s edition of VCSS. (2:40) Then, HubSpot Co-Founder and Partner at Propeller Brian Ha...

Business of superhero films, James Gunn's DC reboot + OK Boomer w/Alex Banks | E1633

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Lon Harris joins to cover James Gunn's DC reboot (2:14), the business of superhero films (28:18), the top films of the year debate (37:15), ...

How to send effective investor updates | Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1632

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kruze COO Scott Orn is back with Jason to explain how founders can nail their investor updates! (0:00) Kruze's Scott Orn joins Jason to discuss the MO...

Crypto Roundtable: SBF updates, $GBTC's role, Saylor says $ETH is unregistered security | E1631

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sunny and Vinny are BACK to break down all the important topics in crypto: SBF updates (2:52), how $GBTC played into the industry unraveling (11:34), ...

Ask Jason: investing in similar startups, pitch deck tips + MycoWorks Co-Founder Sophia Wang | E1630

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Jason answers some founder questions! (1:46) Then, MycoWorks Co-Founder Sophia Wang joins for this week's edition of The Next Unicorns! (10:...

Meta's ad targeting troubles, Ask Jason, Hive Social's data mishap & more | E1629

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Molly breaks down some news stories, including Meta's ad troubles in Europe (1:24) and Semafor's saga with its climate editor departing. (9:...

Slack CEO departs Salesforce, Circle cancels SPAC, SBF's links with media & regulators | E1628

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

J+M start the show with some BREAKING NEWS: Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield is leaving Salesforce! (5:09) Then, they cover Circle canceling its SPAC (26...

Momentum investing in VC + Convective Capital’s Bill Clerico | E1627

04 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

J+M are back for another edition of VC Sunday School. This week, they discuss momentum investing in venture capital! (1:35) Then, Molly interviews Con...

OpenAI releases ChatGPT, a16z sunsets future.com + OK Boomer with Jack Raines | E1626

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

J+M kick off the show by discussing and testing out OpenAI’s ChatGPT. (1:59) Then, they wrap up the news with a16z’s announcement that they are sh...

Reacting to SBF's ill-advised media tour + Disney's new in-house AI-based de-aging tool | E1625

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, J+M go through a tale of two interviews: SBF at DealBook (3:14) and on Good Morning America (31:58). Then, Lon Harris joins to discuss Disne...

Generative AI's potential, Spotify Wrapped + AMP Robotics Founder Matanya Horowitz | E1624

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Jason answers two great questions from the most recent cohort of Founder University! (1:34) Then, Molly and Producer Rachel discuss Spotify ...

Apple vs Twitter, app store duopoly, YouTube's efficiency, Snap goes back to the office | E1623

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, J+M cover Twitter vs. Apple and the app store duopoly (2:10) before breaking down Google's employees per department. (32:48) They wrap up ta...

Managing Finances in a Recession: Startup Finance Basics w/ Kruze's Scott Orn | E1622

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jason welcomes back Kruze COO Scott Orn for another edition of Startup Finance Basics! Jason and Scott break down the state of the market (0:00), 2023...

Pipe's Co-Founders step down, Apple's China-based iOS update, Black Friday's BNPL boost | E1621

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

TechCrunch's Alex Wilhelm joins to break down the news! First up, the trio covers Pipe's Co-Founders abruptly stepping down (7:06) and the lessons lea...

How VCs size their bets + Ben Birnbaum of TeraWatt and Keyframe | E1620

27 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On VC Sunday School, Jason and Molly discuss how VCs size their investments (1:40). Then, Molly is joined by Ben Birnbaum of Keyframe and TeraWatt! (1...

Zoom earnings, SaaS burnout, Amazon's $10B Alexa loss + FTX contagion with Sunny Madra | E1619

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First up, Jason and Molly discuss Zoom's Q3 earnings and SaaS burnout throughout the industry (1:37). Then, they break down Amazon's $10B loss tied to...

EMERGENCY POD! Bob Iger returns as Disney CEO | E1618

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bob Iger is BACK as Disney CEO, and Bob Chapek has left the company! First, Jason and Molly break down how we got here (11:49) before Lon Harris joins...