This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis covers startups, tech, markets, media, and all the hottest topics in business and technology. He also interviews the world’s greatest founders, operators, investors, and innovators.
Apple’s App Store Loss, AI Persuasion, and an Interview with Tyler Denk of Beehiiv | E2120
Today’s show: Jason, Lon, and Alex break down a loaded week in tech: Apple’s 27% App Store “link-out” fee gets shut down by a judge—unlocking margin for startups and slashing CAC; AI bots on Reddit’s r/ChangeMyView are now 6x more effective than humans at changing minds, signaling a seismic shift in online discourse; and Beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk joins to discuss building in public, rapid product iteration, and the irony of being critiqued like a market leader for innovating too fast. The big takeaway? AI is evolving fast, gatekeepers are falling, and founders who build through chaos are best positioned to win.
Key Points
- Innovative feature launches can sometimes backfire if they are not fully polished, leading to user dissatisfaction despite offering unique capabilities not found on competing platforms.
- Apple's control over the App Store and its 30% tax has been a significant burden on many subscription-based businesses, but recent legal rulings may force Apple to allow developers to direct users to external payment methods, increasing the profitability of these businesses.
- Beehive, a competitor to Substack, has implemented a multi-part revenue strategy that includes SaaS fees, an ad network, and a user growth marketplace, allowing it to grow rapidly and provide significant value to its users.
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Transcript
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