This Week in Startups

Deel’s growth overshadows SpyGate, Claude learned new skills, and the great “momentum is moat” debate | E2194

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Oct 18, 2025
Deel's explosive growth is overshadowing espionage allegations, drawing investor interest. The discussion turns to the potential expansion of AI companies into trillion-dollar valuations. Momentum as a growth strategy faces scrutiny as Jason and Alex debate its effectiveness versus traditional methods. Plus, Anthropic enhances Claude's skills, opening doors for innovative AI applications in business operations. The impact of capital as a competitive tool in the startup landscape is a hot topic, revealing how deep funding can shape industry dynamics.
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INSIGHT

AI Widens The Total Addressable Market

  • AI is expanding the addressable market by reinventing work and increasing per-person spend.
  • Jason projects many software categories will rapidly become trillion-dollar revenue markets.
ANECDOTE

Deel Raised Big Despite Spy Claims

  • Deel raised $300M despite spying allegations and reached a $1.2B ARR run-rate in September.
  • Jason revealed he owns a small position and recently messaged Deel's CEO to congratulate him.
INSIGHT

VC May Not Behave Like An Asset Class

  • Roloff Botha argues venture isn't a standalone asset class because exits at scale are rare and returns are unpredictable.
  • The math shows the industry needs far more mega-exits than historically occur to justify current inflows.
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