LMArena Goes Startup, AI App Wars Begin, Scott Bair’s Design Playbook | E2114

In this episode, Jason and guests explore the rapid value accrual in the AI industry, highlighting the business models and benchmarking strategies of AI startups like LM Arena. They discuss milestone-based investing, early-stage funding, and the dynamics of high valuations and consumer AI pricing models. The conversation shifts to the rise of drone startups and the geopolitical implications of autonomous weapon systems. Additionally, the episode features a "Savage my startup" clinic, offering insights on branding, design, and effective website creation. The episode concludes with thoughts on productivity in remote work and the cultural aspects of brand missions.

AI Progress and Impact on Ecosystem Players with CapitalG’s Jill Chase | AI Basics with Google Cloud

In this episode of AI Basics, Jason sits down with CapitalG partner Jill Chase to break down how AI is reshaping the startup ecosystem — from founders to investors to incumbents. They cover how CapitalG (Alphabet’s independent growth fund) thinks about the AI stack, why speed alone isn’t enough for startups today, and how to build durable advantages in a world where anyone can copy your product. Jill shares insights from portfolio companies like Motif (next-gen CAD for architecture) and Abridge (AI-powered doctor’s scribe), plus how startups can use AI “in the business” (product) and “on the business” (ops, GTM, etc). They also explore the transition from copilots to agents — and what that means for the next wave of software. If you’re building or investing in AI, this is a must-watch.

Cuts CEO Talks Tariffs, Figma's IPO Buzz, and a Nerd Crawler Update | E2113

In this episode, we explore the impact of tariffs on ecommerce and CPG with insights from Lon Harris and Alex Wilhelm. We discuss Figma's potential IPO, Adobe's breakup fee, and Hammerspace's $100 million raise. Jason shares his experiences with Patreon and Substack, touches on Trump's legal issues, and Lyft's acquisition of FreeNow. We also dive into OpenAI's new social network and Google's Tmall ads shutdown. Steven Barelli's viral tweet sparks a discussion on tariff-induced costs, supply chain issues, and US manufacturing, ending with critiques of tariff policy communication and domestic job creation.

Vertical AI Innovations: Abacus LLM in Finance & Synthesia's Video Avatars | E2112

Alex interviews founders from Abacus and Synthesia—two companies leading the charge in vertical AI. Abacus is deploying on-prem LLMs to banks and insurers with a focus on data control, accuracy, and integration with legacy infrastructure. Synthesia just hit $100M ARR by helping 70% of the Fortune 100 turn internal documents into scalable AI video. If you're interested in how generative AI is moving from hype to real enterprise utility, this one's for you.

HuggingFace Buys Pollen Robotics, DHH & Bezos Founder Advice & a JCal Origin Story | E2111

Today’s show: In this episode, Jason, Alex, and Lon dive into Blue Origin’s all-female celeb spaceflight (yes, Katy Perry sang on reentry), Hugging Face’s unexpected move into robotics, and Jack Dorsey’s wild take that we should “delete all IP law.” Plus, they break down Figure AI’s eye-popping $39B valuation, the risks of SPVs, and what founders and investors can learn from the SPAC boom. As Jason puts it: “You just have to assume an 80% failure rate.”

Palantir's Fellowship, Coco Robots & Startup Office Hours | E2110

Today’s show: We dive into the latest tech and startup news — including Palantir’s bold new fellowship program that challenges the traditional college path, and DoorDash’s rollout of burrito-delivering Coco robots in LA and Chicago. We debut our new segment “Tips from the Trenches,” focused on how to land your first customers, and wrap up with two great Office Hours: BRX AI (self-healing AI agents) and InviteJet (calendar-based marketing). Plus, one founder’s wild story about a fake investor using an AI deepfake on Zoom. Don’t miss Jason’s tactical GTM advice and a reminder that if no one complains about your pricing, you’re probably too cheap.

70mph Drone Deliveries, 125% Tariffs & What $10M Exits Really Mean | E2109

Jason, Alex, and Lon talk about stories reshaping the startup world: 70mph drone deliveries are officially live in Dallas, with Zipline and Walmart promising groceries “as the crow flies” in under 5 minutes. Meanwhile, Trump slaps a 125% tariff on China and hints at a global economic shakeup — Jason warns founders to brace for layoffs and bankruptcies unless they’ve got a Plan B and C. Finally, a UK startup sells for $450M and VCs barely break even… but the founders walk with $20M. Jason explains how small exits create the most dangerous kind of founder: the one who never needs another check. Plus Office Hours with Orchestra CEO Sergie Poe.

Economic Chaos, More Pitch Madness & the Shopify AI Manifesto | E2108

This episode kicks off with the "cockroach strategy" for startups, focusing on resilience amid market chaos and tariffs. Founders receive advice on navigating economic uncertainty and the tech sector's tariff impacts. The gig economy's downturn resilience and Jason's optimistic outlook are highlighted. Discussions cover SignalFire's billion-dollar fund, substantial startup revenue, Krea’s $87 million raise, subscription model challenges, and AI pricing pressures. AI advancements, Shopify's AI workforce, and Founder Friday updates spotlight Creatant, Kippy, and Vidala Labs. Sunny from Menu Data shares insights on ethical data scraping, pricing, and growth plans.

Rippling Targets $16B, Market Chaos, TikTok Timeout, and Office Hours | E2107

Today’s show: Jason and Alex dive into the startup world’s latest chaos — from Nasdaq’s slide and Trump’s tariffs to Klarna’s IPO pause and Rippling’s $16B target. They break down what founders really need to know: tightening CIO budgets, longer sales cycles, but easier hiring. Plus, TikTok’s ban gets another delay (with Bezos possibly lurking?). In Office Hours, they chat with two sharp founders: Luke Belbina from PodEngine, who's building AI for podcasters and doubling revenue, and David Moscatelli from Abacus, who’s bringing secure, on-prem AI to banks and just hit $1M ARR. Don’t miss it! 👇

Spycraft in SaaS, Rabbit’s Comeback, and Startup Pitch Madness | E2106

In this episode, Jason Calacanis delves into the intriguing corporate espionage case involving Rippling and Deal, exploring its implications and the competitive dynamics in the tech sector, including Y Combinator connections. The conversation examines the legal and potential criminal aspects, while critiquing the spycraft involved. Board governance and Silicon Valley's culture of rule-breaking are also discussed. Later, Jesse Lyu from Rabbit joins to discuss his Y Combinator journey and Rabbit's new hardware product. The episode wraps up with Founder Friday pitch offs, offering critiques and insights into various startup pitches, including an AI-powered podcast app and a community for women in sports.

M&A Mania, Palantir Meme Crash, Office Hours with Hookhub + more! | E2105

This episode explores Uber and DoorDash's strategic partnership and its impact on delivery services. We discuss Substack's acquisition strategy and Palantir's stock performance, delve into meme stocks, and analyze the X and XAI merger. M&A trends in tech and AI content acquisitions are examined, alongside Circle's IPO amid stablecoin regulation changes. Updates on tech IPOs, SPACs, and deep tech investment risks are provided. Hookhub's growth in the RV market and social media strategy are highlighted. Finally, we compare Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz's investment strategies, ending with a touch of venture capital humor.

AI Revolution Gains, Non-Consensus Startups & Prosperous AI | E2104

In this episode, Jason is joined by Alex Wilhelm, Lon Harris, and notable guests including Melanie Perkins, Brad Burnham, and Fred Wilson for a deep dive into the startup ecosystem. The discussion begins with insights into power law companies and the role of accelerators, followed by breaking news on CoreWeave and insights from Founder University. Trevor Milton's pardon and AnySphere's Cursor success are highlighted alongside pricing strategies for startups. Mariano from Prosperous AI shares growth strategies and market data integration, while Melanie Perkins offers insights on handling investor rejection. The episode concludes with a discussion on fractional jet ownership and venture success strategies with Fred Wilson and Brad Burnham.

11x in Trouble and China's AI Acceleration | E2103

In this episode, Jason, Alex, and Lon delve into the controversial use of customer logos by startup 11x, leading to potential legal consequences. They analyze Gamestop's leap into Bitcoin, influenced by Michael Saylor, and discuss strategies for managing company treasuries. The episode also covers the importance of transparency in startups, drawing from personal SEC investigation experiences. The conversation shifts to Chinese advancements in AI, highlighting rapid innovation in technology. Insight from Israeli VC Gilly Ranan offers a glimpse into successful startups. Finally, the episode introduces the Founder Friday March Pitch Madness and the structure of the upcoming competition.

23andMe BANKRUPT, Saylor Still Buying Bitcoin, + Founder Interviews | E2102

In this episode, the discussion kicks off with the bankruptcy of 23andMe and the impact of SPACs, before delving into MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy and the surge in M&A activity. The episode features an interview with Etched, exploring the economic and technical aspects of non-programmable chip efficiency and their market demand. Skyflow's Anshu Sharma shares insights on growth, customer acquisition, and integrating privacy solutions with ChatGPT. The focus then shifts to MedServ and its innovative solutions for drug dispensing and security, highlighting challenges and opportunities in smaller markets. The episode concludes with reflections on building companies outside major tech hubs.

Fact-Checking Mark Rober, and the Fall of TechCrunch | E2101

Today’s show: Jason, Alex and Lon break down a subreddit question: A founder builds 100% of the product, is promised equity—and now he’s being pushed out. We break down exactly what he should do next. Plus, YouTuber Mark Rober’s viral Tesla test gets fact-checked by a small creator, and the results don’t look great for Mark. Finally, TechCrunch gets quietly sold to Regent in what looks like a fire sale. Is this the end of an era for tech media?

Tesla vs. Mark Rober, Google’s $32B M&A Bet, & XRP’s SEC Victory | E2100

In this episode, Jason, Alex, and Lon dive into a viral controversy surrounding a popular YouTuber and his Tesla video, sparking debates on autopilot versus FSD and the implications of his relationship with a lidar company CEO. The trio critiques the video, discussing audience expectations and the need for accountability. They also explore the potential fallout and stock impact. Shifting gears, the episode covers the Wiz acquisition, its effects on the M&A market, and antitrust concerns. Crypto regulations come under scrutiny with updates on the XRP and SEC lawsuit, while the hosts debate crypto's legitimacy and call for clearer guidelines.

AI-Powered Coding & Space Tugboats? Inside the Future of Software & Satellites! | E2099

Today’s show: Alex interviews two incredible founders from the TWIST 500! First, Replit CEO Amjad Masad breaks down how AI-powered coding is changing software development and what the future of agents looks like. Then, Starfish Space co-founder Austin Link explains how they’re building a satellite towing service to extend missions and clean up orbit. Two deep dives into the future of tech and space.

Self-Driving Car Myths, Klarna’s Big IPO & Netflix’s $300M Gamble | E2098

Today’s show: Jason, Alex, and Lon break down a wild viral test on self-driving cars— will FSD see through fog, or does LiDAR win? Plus, Klarna is finally going public… but is "buy now, pay later" still the future or just a debt trap? And Netflix drops $300M on a Russo Brothers sci-fi blockbuster—critics hate it, but audiences love it. Was it worth it? We also dive into big tech’s crackdown on remote work, the Uber of estate managers, and why content creators might be falling into an algorithmic trap.

Europe’s Startup Future with Harry Stebbings | E2097

Today’s show: Jason and Alex break down the biggest tech stories of the moment. OpenAI is pushing to rewrite copyright laws to benefit AI companies while suing others for doing the same—hypocrisy or smart strategy? Meanwhile, European startups are fleeing to the U.S. as overregulation and weak IPO markets make scaling harder. Harry Stebbings joins to discuss whether Project Europe can reverse the trend. Plus, with AI-driven startups staying lean, angel investing is evolving—should investors wait for traction or bet on potential?

Is Project Europe a YC Riff? Nick Denton is Back! And more! | E2096

Today’s show: Europe wants to keep its founders from fleeing, AI is growing at breakneck speed, and Nick Denton is back with a spicy Twitter storm—so we had to talk about it. Jason, Alex, and Lon break down Project Europe, a new $10M fund aimed at stopping the European startup brain drain. Plus, Anthropic’s revenue just jumped 40% in a single quarter, and we debate what that means for AI’s future. Meanwhile, China’s EV makers are coming for Tesla, Saudi Arabia is building a gaming empire with a $3.5B Pokémon GO buyout, and we ask the big question: Should X and XAI just merge? Since XAI gets real-time data from X, it’s got a major advantage—so what’s stopping them from becoming one?