

This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 27, 2022 • 51min
The cost of CEOs ignoring mental health with Bonobos Founder Andy Dunn | E1470
Today's episode is a Molly solo interview with Bonobos founder and author of "Burn Rate," Andy Dunn (2:30). We go deep on entrepreneurship and mental health, talk about how founders are up to 7x more likely to suffer from bipolar disorders than the average person, how Andy's bipolar disorder impacted building his business (22:09), and advice for founders navigating mental health struggles (34:31).
(00:00) Molly tees up today’s episode with Bonobos founder Andy Dunn
(2:30) Molly speaks with Andy Dunn about his book “Burn Rate”
(12:30) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(13:52) Andy Dunn on mistakes he made as a leader
(20:52) Wealthfront - Get your first $5,000 managed for free, for life at https://wealthfront.com/TWIST
(22:09) Andy on navigating his Walmart acquisition amidst his mental health issues
(33:21) ActiveCampaign - Get 10% off your ActiveCampaign subscription today at https://activecampaign.com/promo/twist
(34:31) More emphasis on mental health in startups; male traits in entrepreneurship

May 26, 2022 • 1h 28min
Solving our biggest problems, Cerebral’s fast & loose telehealth prescriptions, Jack leaves Twitter Board | E1469
We discuss the tragedy at a Texas elementary school and gun violence in America (2:25). Can tech play a role in decreasing child deaths? (21:14) Then we cover mental health startup Cerebral getting probed by the DOJ (52:55). Finally, we touch on a breaking story: Jack Dorsey steps down from Twitter’s board (1:13:25).
(00:00) Jason and Molly introduce today’s show
(2:25) Talking about the school shooting yesterday in Texas
(10:49) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist
(12:06) What is HB8?
(15:45) A school safety drone company?
(20:01) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist
(21:14) Discussing potential technology to save children’s lives, top causes of death for children
(30:05) Swag.com - Visit https://swag.com/twist and use code TWIST for 10% off your order!
(31:22) Discussing potential solutions to prevent gun deaths in children
(52:55) Cerebral, startup that provides telehealth subscriptions to Adderall & other stimulants, probed by DOJ overprescription methods
(1:13:25) Breaking News: Jack Dorsey leaves Twitter’s board of directors
(1:15:45) Discussing the proper way to release the Palmer Luckey All-In talk
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

May 24, 2022 • 1h 28min
Snap drops 40%, Layoffs at Gorillas & Klarna, Adam Neumann's new startup, Coinbase using Principles | E1468
First, we break down SNAP dropping over 40% after lowering earnings estimates (4:43). Then we cover some layoffs at instant-delivery startup Gorillas AND BNPL player Klarna (29:18). Next, we talk about Adam and Rebekah Neumann co-founding a tokenized crypto carbon marketplace called Flowcarbon (1:00:02). We wrap on Coinbase’s new Ray Dalio-inspired employee rating system (1:10:36).
(00:00) Jason and Molly tee-up today’s news topics!
(04:43) Snap down ~45% in one day, largest single day drop we can remember
(11:03) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST
(12:19) Efficiency, pausing hiring, and cutting new projects in the downturn
(28:03) Thorne - Personalized, scientific wellness. Go to https://Thorne.com/u/TWIST
(29:18) More tech layoffs at delivery service Gorillas
(37:09) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(38:22) More tech layoffs at buy-now-pay-later service Klarna
(55:30) David Sacks’ thread about founders thinking about positioning themselves in a downturn
(57:30) Amazon’s share of US eCommerce Sales hit All-Time High of 56.7% in 2021
(1:00:02) Startup of the Day: Adam + Rebekah Neumann have backed a blockchain-based carbon credits company Flowcarbon
(1:10:36) Coinbase is trying a new meeting feedback rating system
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

May 23, 2022 • 57min
All-In Summit recap, Argo debuts AV test cars in Miami/ATX, $AMZN to sublease 10M+ square feet | E1467
Molly and Jason are BACK from Miami to break down all the most interesting stories and content from the All-In Summit! (2:13) Then, they cover Argo AI, an AV company that just launched autonomous test cars in Miami and Austin (36:50). Finally, they close by discussing a recent Bloomberg report on how Amazon is looking to sublease 10M+ square feet of warehouse space... negative signal, or no big deal? (45:23)
(0:00) Molly and Jason intro the show!
(2:13) Recapping the All-In Summit!
(14:05) LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
(15:31) Reflecting on the most interesting debates and conversations at AIS
(26:12) Intercom - Get advanced Intercom features and Early Stage Academy at a 95% discount https://www.intercom.com/early-stage
(27:15) All-In Summit party recap + TWiST Live preview
(35:35) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(36:50) Argo AI launches autonomous test cars in Miami and Austin!
(45:23) Amazon is reportedly looking to sublease 10M+ square feet of warehouse space, is this a negative signal or just overblown?
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood
Thanks to our partners:
LinkedIn Marketing - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at https://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups
Intercom - Get advanced Intercom features and Early Stage Academy at a 95% discount https://www.intercom.com/early-stage
OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist

May 22, 2022 • 40min
Proof of Impact CEO Fleur Heyns on meaningful metrics for measuring environmental impact (This Week in Climate Startups) | E1466
In this episode of This Week in Climate Startups, Molly sits down with Fleur Heyns of Proof of Impact about how to measure, verify, and analyze ESG & impact data. We discuss the current pain points for investors (11:20), how blockchains can interact with real-world assets (21:15), ESG regulation (34:16) and more!
(00:00) Cold open
(01:57) This Week in Climate Startups: Molly sits down with Fleur Heyns of Proof of Impact
(10:03) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(11:20) Labeling data for investors, the materiality, productivity
(19:58) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(21:15) The term “oracle” as it relates to the blockchain
(32:58) Reforge - Apply for their next cohort at https://reforge.com/twist
(34:16) How much will the future regulatory atmosphere affect or improve their business in the US? ESG strategy
Check out Proof of Impact: https://proofofimpact.com/
FOLLOW Fleur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleur-heyns-9a8a9436
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

May 21, 2022 • 2h
Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding: cleaning up space junk with Steve Wozniak + Behind the scenes of working for Jason | E1465
First, Jason and Molly reflect on their time in previous tech recessions (03:06). Then, Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding joins to discuss solving the space junk problem (18:02), the difficulties of mapping debris (33:25), and more. Then, Producer Rachel hosts an OK Boomer episode where she talks with the other Gen Z employees that work for Jason about how they got their jobs and what they've learned at Launch (1:00:21).
(00:00) Jason and Molly tee up today’s episode
(03:06) Ask JaMo: What do you remember about the tech industry during the dotcom era and recession?
(12:45) Where was Molly in 2008 and how did her career change?
(11:31) BetterHelp - Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/twist
(12:45) Where was Molly in 2008 and how did her career change?
(18:02) Jason and Molly speak with Alex Fielding, CEO and Co-Founder of Privateer Space
(21:04) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(22:20) More on the dangers of space junk
(32:12) AdQuick - Visit https://adquick.com/twist and mention TWIST to get $1000 off your first campaign.
(33:25) Is it humanly possible to clean space trash with so many variables?
(1:00:21) Producer Rachel tees up this week’s special OK Boomer segment
(1:10:31) OK Boomer: Rachel speaks with LAUNCH’s other Gen Z employees
Check out Privateer: http://www.privateer.com/
FOLLOW Alex: https://twitter.com/2345678
FOLLOW Nick: https://twitter.com/nickcalacanis
FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar
FOLLOW Justin: https://twitter.com/Justinpfortier
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

May 19, 2022 • 54min
Fixing a broken system - Mahmee CEO Melissa Hanna on patient-centric maternal care | E1464
Molly Wood sits down with Melissa Hanna, CEO and Co-Founder of Mahmee, a care network for parents (01:44), they discuss the impetus for Melissa launching the company (12:34), the challenges of bringing the product to market (22:08), how she built the network and more (37:29)!
(00:00) Molly tees up today’s episode
(01:44) Molly Wood sits down with Melissa Hanna, CEO and CoFounder of Mahmee, a care network for parents
(11:19) Thorne - Personalized, scientific wellness. Go to https://Thorne.com/u/TWIST
(12:34) Melissa on how the pandemic helped expose the need for a care service like Mahmee
(20:54) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist
(22:08) The bittersweetness of it taking so long for this product to happen
(36:12) Reforge - Apply for their next cohort at https://reforge.com/twist
(37:29) How Mahmee built its network
Check out Mahmee: https://www.mahmee.com
FOLLOW Melissa: https://twitter.com/melissachanna
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

May 18, 2022 • 42min
Accelerating leadership - Chief Co-Founder & CEO Carolyn Childers on raising $100M Series B, building a women's executive network and more | E1463
Molly speaks with Carolyn Childers, CEO of Chief, a women’s professional network (01:26) about how their community stretches across digital and physical spaces, accelerating women's executive careers, growing with word-of-mouth as marketing (30:08), their $100M raise (33:22), augmenting Linkedin (39:18) and more.
(00:00) Cold open
(01:26) Molly speaks with Carolyn Childers, CEO of Chief (a women’s professional network)
(11:09) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist
(12:24) The SoHo club factor of Chief: how its spaces work
(15:05) What does Chief’s roadmap look like?
(20:52) Dell For Startups - Apply and get up to 45% off at http://dell.com/twist
(22:05) Carolyn talks about some of Chief’s early investors
(30:08) Word-of-mouth as marketing, reducing churn with an expensive ask
(32:17) Odoo - Get your first app free and a $1000 credit at https://odoo.com/twist
(33:22) How will Chief deploy their $100M raise?
(36:20) What happens on the app?
(38:35) Can you switch core groups in Chief?
(39:18) Engagement: does Chief replace LinkedIn?
Check out Chief: https://chief.com
FOLLOW Carolyn https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-childers-55b2642/
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

May 17, 2022 • 44min
Bitcoin payments on the Lightning Network with Strike's Jack Mallers | E1462
First, we cover the news of Ex-Meta crypto chief David Marcus launching a Bitcoin payments startup backed by a16z & Paradigm (02:05). Then, Jack Mallers, the CEO of Strike joins (8:13) to discuss the lightning network & the history of payment networks (12:10), why companies use the Strike API (24:42), why he thinks Visa and Mastercard can't compete (31:24), Strike unlocking Bitcoin’s potential (34:40) and more!
(00:00) Jason and Molly tee up today’s show
(02:05) Ex-Meta crypto chief David Marcus launches Bitcoin payments startup backed by a16z & Paradigm
(08:13) Molly interviews Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike
(10:57) Vanta - Get $1,000 off automating your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist
(12:10) The lightning network & the history of payment networks, how Strike disrupts them
(23:26) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(24:42) Use cases for Strike’s API
(30:070 Reforge - Apply for their next cohort at https://reforge.com/twist
(31:24) How do Strike fees compare to merchant fees from Visa, Mastercard, etc?
(34:40) Has Strike unlocked Bitcoin’s potential?
(41:12) What dominoes will fall before people get off dollars?
Check out Strike: https://www.strike.me
FOLLOW Jack: https://twitter.com/jackmallers
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

May 16, 2022 • 1h 13min
SaaS multiple compression, downturn outlook & advice for new VCs with Jason Lemkin of SaaStr | E1461
Jason and Molly chat with Jason Lemkin of SaaStr (01:44). They discuss: advice for new VCs (16:14), the future of SaaS investing (27:37), playing offense as investors (35:50), secondaries and more.
(00:00) Jason and Molly tee up today’s interview show
(01:44) Jason and Molly speak with Jason Lemkin of SaaStr
(14:59) Notion - Get started for free at https://notion.com/thisweekinstartups
(16:14) Jason Lemkin’s advice for new fund managers
(26:16) Microacquire - Sell your business with no fees at https://try.microacquire.com/twist
(27:37) Will SaaS investments continue to be good?
(32:44) What makes Notion so good?
(34:44) AdQuick - Visit https://adquick.com/twist and mention TWIST to get $1000 off your first campaign.
(35:50) What does it mean to play offense? Why should you be playing offense now if you have the runway?
(39:35) Jason Lemkin’s predictions for the next year & advice for capital allocators/investors
(52:25) Are founder secondary sales a red flag?
(1:01:20) Strategies for investors in a down market
FOLLOW Jason Lemkin: https://twitter.com/jasonlk
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood


