Codeium’s Vision for AI-Driven Development with Varun Mohan | E2064

Jason & Alex chat with Varun Mohan, founder & CEO of Codeium, the revolutionary AI-powered coding platform backed by Kleiner Perkins & Founders Fund. Varun shares insights on pivoting to greatness, scaling enterprise solutions, and launching Codeium's new IDE, Windsurf. How to pivot successfully: Lessons from ExaFunction to Codeium Building enterprise-grade AI tools for developers and enterprises The future of coding: AI agents, IDEs, and the rise of 80%+ AI-generated code

Databricks' Record Raise, TikTok goes to the Supreme Court, and all about the Grammarly-Coda Deal | E2063

Alex and Jason discuss Databricks’ record raise, TikTok’s big day at the Supreme Court, Shishir Mehrotra on the Coda-Grammarly merger, and more.

Sora Disappoints, ChatGPT Pro Tested, Inference Time Reasoning & More with Sunny Madra | E2062

Jason Calacanis is joined by Sundeep Madra to discuss the potential outcomes of the OpenAI lawsuit and explore Grok's recent developments alongside tech inspiration from the Middle East. They delve into the challenges global businesses face and Jason's announcements for 2025. The episode features a demo of the Gemini app, comparing it to ChatGPT 4, and evaluates the limitations of ChatGPT 4.0 Pro, especially regarding robo-taxi fleet costs. They discuss the importance of prompt engineering in AI tool adoption and address workplace AI challenges. The conversation extends to AI model performance, Meta's Llama 3.370b launch, and evolving infrastructure costs. Closing thoughts focus on trust, bias in language models, and startup ideas for news analysis.

Silicon Valley Clones and Jersey Drones: Decoding the Signals with Nicole Wischoff | E2061

Jason and Alex kick off the episode discussing recent government reactions to unexplained drone sightings, exploring theories and official statements. The conversation shifts to speculation about drones' potential radiation detection capabilities and insights from TikTok and the Swiss startup Arctis Radiation Detectors. They examine the geopolitical implications and startups focused on drone detection technology. The American Security Drone Act of 2023 is highlighted for its role in government coordination. Nicole Wischoff joins to delve into startup pitches, market dynamics, AI's impact, and investment strategies. The episode wraps up with discussions on venture capital performance and challenges facing large funds.

Cyera's Hypergrowth, Cake's Cap Table Push, and ServiceTitan's Stellar IPO | E2060

Alex Wilhelm kicks off the show with Cyera’s Yotam Segev to dive into the state of enterprise data security. They discuss Cyera’s impressive feat of raising $300 million just quarters after its previous mega-round and explore the company's recent nine-figure acquisition of Trail Security. Next, Alex unpacks ServiceTitan's successful IPO and Broadcom's milestone achievement of reaching a $1 trillion market cap. To close, Cake Equity’s Kim Hansen joins the conversation to share insights into his company’s growth strategy and how it’s thriving in a highly competitive market.

Negative Venture Returns, GM Kneecaps Cruise, and Finix joins the TWiST500 | E2059

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss the reporting that Tiger Global's 2021-era fund is not only posting poor results, it's lagging peers from the same timeframe. Then, the pair also interview Suvir Wadhwa, founder and CEO of Flite, a former Launch accelerator company, and dug into the Cruise-GM news along with a peek at the next head of the FTC.

TWiST News: Bitcoin’s Future, Reddit Answers, SEC Shifts, and more! | E2057

Anthony Pompliano joins Jason and Alex to discuss crypto markets, Bitcoin's future, and Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy. Then, they dive into Reddit's new Q&A feature, SEC shifts, and more!

TWiST News: Bitcoin’s Future, Reddit Answers, SEC Shifts, and more! | E2057

Anthony Pompliano joins Jason and Alex to discuss crypto markets, Bitcoin's future, and Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy. Then, they dive into Reddit's new Q&A feature, SEC shifts, and more!

Ghost Engineers, Measuring Productivity, & Memecoin Scams | E2056

In this episode, we discuss Hailey Welch and the viral Hawk coin, then discuss David Sachs' new White House role and recent job data's economic impact. We address the United Healthcare CEO's murder, debate cancel culture, and a viral tweet on software engineers' habits. Deedy Das offers insights on tech inefficiencies and the shift to in-person work. Coffeezilla joins to explore crypto scams, influencer marketing ethics, and regulation. We wrap up with David Sachs' Czar role in AI and crypto for the US government, market dynamics, and a new addition to the Twist 500.

TWiST News: $100k Veteran Pitch Winner EMPEQ, US unicorn dominance, and T500 Updates | E2055

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss breaking news on Paul Atkins and SEC leadership transitions into discussions on corporate security concerns. Then, Mike Sherbakov and Herbert Dwyer share insights on veteran leadership and EMPEQ's equipment management technology. The conversation highlights technology applications in military contexts and Empeq's dual-use tech. The episode also covers SaaS growth, touches on crypto's influence on elections, economic growth, and more!

TWiST News: Bitcoin, Saylor's Microsoft Pitch, and the Delaware-Tesla Fight | E2054

Jason and Alex discuss Michael Saylor’s pitch for Microsoft to shift shareholder returns into Bitcoin, the Delaware court's ruling on Tesla pay, and more!

The Self-Driving Unicorn You Need to Meet & MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Bet | E2052

Join us as we chat with Alex Kendall, Co-Founder & CEO of Wayve, about their unique approach to autonomous driving and AI technology. We dive into the LiDAR vs. camera-first debate, exploring economic and strategic considerations for autonomous vehicles. Discover Wayve's deployment plans, future market scenarios, and the autonomy subscription model. We also discuss AI driving behavior, driving culture, and provide a Twist 500 update. The episode shifts to MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy, including a convertible debt analysis. We wrap up with insights into complex business models and investor advice, along with an invitation to Michael Saylor for future discussions.

TWiST News: Pardons, Enron, Crypto's Moment, and the Future of Chinese Venture | E2053

In today’s episode, Jason and Alex explored the curious return of Enron, the latest developments in Bitcoin and MicroStrategy, and the evolving cryptocurrency landscape. They closed with an analysis of China's uneven investment climate and its effects on venture capital activity.

TWiST News: Startups & Wealth Taxes, The Bitcoin Boom, and The OpenAI Browser | E2051

This episode begins by examining Norway's proposed exit and unrealized capital gains taxes, exploring their impact on startup formation and the broader economic landscape. We delve into the implications of Norway's wealth tax, the exodus of top taxpayers, and the paradox it presents. The discussion shifts to Dune Analytics' revenue growth and new product launch, alongside Norway's international branding and Bitcoin's regulatory stance. We analyze Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy, market risks, and crypto wealth diversification. The episode also covers OpenAI's new browser project, CoreWeave's IPO, and Bitcoin market dynamics, concluding with a preview of upcoming topics.

How Startups Can Crush Enterprise AI Sales | E2050

This episode explores the transformative role of AI in modern workflows, starting with Yahoo's evolution and Anthropic's recent funding. We examine AI spending trends in enterprises, particularly in healthcare and legal sectors, and highlight popular AI use cases. The discussion shifts to the role of large language models in content creation and workflow automation, followed by advances in generative AI applications. We address enterprise generative AI spending, ROI, and budget expansion, offering insights into selecting tools and opportunities for AI-first startups. The episode concludes with a look at AI training for market verticals, the future of AGI, and a recap of enterprise AI trends, ending with a lightning round on personal investments.

TWiST News: Nvidia's AI Edge, Google Might Have to Sell Chrome, and Founder Fridays Updates | E2049

This episode starts with a tech news overview, then delves into Google's antitrust case and the DOJ's proposed remedies. We discuss Nvidia's strong market performance and its AI chip development, including the Blackwell architecture. The episode also covers Google's dominance in advertising, potential Chrome divestiture, and Brave browser's privacy-focused competition. We examine AI's role in search technology and the DOJ's impact on smaller search engines. Finally, we share insights into Google's growth strategies, founder culture, and highlights from the Founder Fridays initiative, featuring experiences from Longview, Texas with Kitty and Coco.

TWiST News: Venture-Backed Defense Startups, Anti-Drone Guns, and Querio's AI Data Platform | E2048

Jason and Alex dig into why Nvidia's latest earnings report is such a big deal, and how the chip giant could help keep the AI hype alive. Or, how it could poke a hole in market enthusiasm. The pair also welcome the CEO of Allen Control Systems to discuss building venture-backed defense companies. Then, the CEO of Querio joins the show to show off what his company has built.

AAnatomy of a Win-Win Acquisition: Synergy, Growth, AI, and the Future of SaaS | 2047

Spenser Skates joins to discuss Amplitude's acquisition of Command AI, shedding light on recent startup M&A trends and the strategic vision behind this move. The conversation delves into Command AI's user assistance technology and its integration into Amplitude, which aims to enhance user surveys and feedback. Spenser outlines Amplitude's product-led growth strategy and its approach to scaling through acquisitions while managing risks and ensuring cultural alignment. The discussion also covers the acquisition deal structure, regulatory concerns, and the decision-making process between raising funds and selling. The episode concludes with insights into Amplitude's future growth strategy, the role of AI in product development, and Command AI's market position.

TWiST News: Netflix Goes Live, The FCC Revamp, Free Speech, and Regulatory Shifts | E2046

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss Netflix's 'fight' night, exploring content rights, media models, and the fragmentation of sports. They then covered Brendan Carr's promotion to FCC chair, a win for satellite Internet but raising concerns about business interference. The conversation shifted to global social media regulation before examining the tech community's excitement about Emil Michael potentially leading the Department of Transportation.

Misaligned Incentives Between GPs and Founders with Altimeter's Jamin Ball | E2045

In this episode, Jamin Ball and Alex Wilhelm explore the intricate dynamics between venture capitalists and founders, focusing on incentive alignment and the demand for venture capital allocation. They compare returns from small versus large venture funds and discuss the effects of rapid fundraising cycles on founders. The conversation delves into the impact of venture capital on startup M&A activity and the valuation disparities between public and private markets. They offer insights on the future of startup liquidity, AI's role in startup growth, and trends in SaaS multiples. Jamin shares his investment outlook and expectations for IPOs and startup exits in the coming year, highlighting promising companies and market differentiation.