This Week in Startups

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Today's show:
We've been going deep on Bittensor and how it works all year on TWiST, meeting with the creators of some of our favorite subnets, and exploring how the system decentralizes inference, compute, and storage. Now, on this very special episode, Jason and Lon welcome Bittensor co-founder Jason Steeves (aka "Const") to the show.
He gives us a quick tour of the project's first principles, before diving into how subnets incentivize miners to contribute, how dTAO turned the creation of subnets into its own competition, how Const says he employs "the internal machinery of capitalism" to rank subnects, and his latest project, Subnet 120 (aka Affine).
Find out what the OpenTensor Foundation actually does, go inside the Templar controversy, and learn why Const is trying to make himself increasingly irrelevant.
Guest
Jacob Steeves on X: https://x.com/const_reborn
Bittensor: https://www.bittensor.com/
Affine: https://affine.io/
Relevant Links
Original Bittensor whitepaper: https://bittensor.com/whitepaper
Bittensor governance and documentation: https://www.bittensor.com/docs
Beginner's Guide to Dynamic TAO: https://www.tao.media/the-complete-beginners-guide-to-dynamic-tao-dtao/
Prime Intellect: TOPLOC: https://www.primeintellect.ai/blog/toploc
Engy (SN53): https://engy.ai/
Lium (SN51): https://www.lium.io
Targon (SN4): https://targon.com/
Templar (SN3): https://www.tplr.ai/
Hippius (SN75): https://hippius.com/
MakerDAO: https://makerdao.com/
Stillcore Capital: https://stillcorecapital.com/
Timestamps:

0:00 The origin of Bittensor (and the name Const)
10:48 Northwest Registered Agent - Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity — Learn more at https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
13:55 From Bitcoin mining to mining intelligence
19:33 DigitalOcean - Head to https://do.co/twist to start building on DigitalOcean's AI-Native Cloud today — and cut your AI workload costs by up to 50%.
30:17 Odoo - The all-in-one business platform. Get started for free at https://Odoo.com/twist
32:37 What is a subnet?
33:35 Forcing honest inference from bad actors
37:14 Building a subnet is harder than it looks
40:42 Understanding dTAO
51:57 Where the registration TAO actually goes
1:02:57 All about the Conviction "rug pull"
1:15:19 How Const is making himself irrelevant
1:17:33 The "Buy One TAO" philosophy



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Today's show:
*Anthropic is likely headed for the largest IPO in history. A reported 2-3 trillion October debut would blow past SpaceX's recent record. Jason breaks down why the. numbers matter less than what they'll reveal about the entire AI economy.
Then, chats with a pair of founders: one who's selling subscription water filtration systems that will keep microplastics out of your brain (and other body parts), and another who's building the AI software that powers automated solar panel installation.
Guests
Sami Khoreibi: https://x.com/samikhoreibi
Wisewell: https://www.wisewell.com/
Puneet Puri: https://x.com/puneetp
Gritt Robotics: https://www.gritt.ai/
Relevant Links
Fortune: Anthropic reportedly plans $2T IPO in October: https://fortune.com/2026/08/13/anthropic-ipo-2-trillion-october-largest-ever-spacex/
Ramp AI Index: August update: https://ramp.com/data/ai-index-august-2026
Decart: https://decart.ai/
Bloomberg: Anthropic in talks to buy Decart: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-13/anthropic-said-in-talks-to-buy-ai-startup-decart-for-6-billion
Nat Geo: Profile of water sommelier Martin Riese: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/water-sommelier-martin-riese
Mailman School of Public Health: Nanoplastics study: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/bottled-water-can-contain-hundreds-thousands-nanoplastics
Bryan Johnson microplastics post: https://x.com/bryan_johnson/status/1937194358027190637?lang=en
Topo Chico: https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/brands/topo-chico
San Pellegrino: https://www.sanpellegrino.com/
Acqua Panna: https://www.acquapanna.com/intl/
Evian: https://www.evian.com/
Mountain Valley Spring Water: https://mountainvalleyspring.com
Fiji Water: https://www.fijiwater.com/
TechCrunch: Gritt exits stealth: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/21/gritt-exits-stealth-with-34-million-for-robots-to-build-solar-plants-then-everything-else/
Our World in Data: Solar panel prices: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/solar-pv-prices
Our World in Data: Solar module prices vs. cumulative capacity: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/solar-pv-prices-vs-cumulative-capacity
NYT: Do your emojis make you look old? https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/08/12/upshot/emoji-generations.html
DJI Mic 3: https://www.dji.com/mic-3
Ted Lasso S4 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk1KdTMhFs8
Lanterns trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UIBOsuUwc4
Furious trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBSqPDxmNZs
The Shards trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpm9HUOrZIc
Sporked: What are Tim Tams? https://sporked.com/article/what-are-tim-tams/
Timestamps:
0:00 New Segment: "Enough Already!"
3:36 Anthropic's record-breaking IPO plans
9:59 Why it's "Springtime for Trump and M&A"
10:39 PayPal - Built for payments, growth, and agentic. Paypal Open, built for all business. Visit https://paypalopen.com to get started
16:00 Sami Khoreibi of Wisewell joins
17:30 Hiring a water sommelier
20:23 CLA - Innovation takes balance. CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors can help you get from startup to where you want to end up. Get started now at https://www.claconnect.com/withyou
29:00 The problems with tap and bottled water
30:34 Odoo - The all-in-one business platform. Get started for free at https://Odoo.com/twist
49:58 Puneet Puri of Gritt Robotics joins
54:35 Solar's version of "Moore's Law"
1:05:08 Are you using the Boomer emojis?
1:09:02 Why Jason loves the DJI Mic 3
1:11:36 Jason & Lon's streaming recommendations


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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
 
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These robots could cut delivery costs by 80% | Next Unicorns
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Today's show:
*Cytronic built a robotics-first fulfillment network, packing and shipping orders for cents instead of dollars, from small, city-adjacent micro-warehouses. Alex chats with CEO and co-founder Kevin Gibbon about how he can build a fulfillment warehouse for $1.2 million, and why it costs Amazon 50M-100M.
PLUS Eyebot delivers low-cost doctor-reviewed eyeglass prescriptions following 90-second vision tests, conducted in everyday kiosks. We asked CEO and co-founder Matthias Hofmann how he's trying to simplify vision care and caught up with his Walmart and Sam's Club pilot programs.
Guests
Kevin Gibbon on X: https://x.com/kevingibbon
Cytronic: https://cytronic.ai/
Matthias Hofmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mchofmann/
Eyebot: https://www.eyebot.co/
Relevant Links
Axios: Cytronic seed round: ****https://www.axios.com/pro/supply-chain-deals/2026/07/15/robotic-fulfillment-cytronic-13m
Airhouse acquired by Syncware: https://www.airhouse.io/
Amazon News: 10 Years of Robotics: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/10-years-of-amazon-robotics-how-robots-help-sort-packages-move-product-and-improve-safety
Serve Robotics: https://www.serverobotics.com/
Zipline: https://www.flyzipline.com
TechCrunch: Manna plots major US expansion: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/08/autonomous-drone-delivery-startup-manna-plots-major-u-s-expansion/
TechCrunch: Eyebot Series A round: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/eyebot-gets-20m-series-a-to-boost-to-expand-eye-care-access/
CNET Eyebot coverage: https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/i-took-a-vision-test-in-90-seconds-with-a-robot-and-saw-the-future-of-vision-care/
Walmart & Sam's Club announcement: https://www.eyebot.co/resources/walmart-and-sams-club-pilot-fast-affordable-eyeglass-prescriptions-using-eyebots-technology/
Formlabs: https://formlabs.com/
Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses: https://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/
Google Android XR AI announcement: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-xr-gemini-glasses-headsets/
World Health Organization: Blindness and vision impairment fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
Timestamps:
0:00 Kevin Gibbons of Cytronic joins the show
5:29 How small is a micro fulfillment center?
9:59 Squarespace - Turn your idea into a beautiful website! Go to https://www.squarespace.com/twist for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
11:33 Understanding the unit economics
20:24 Northwest Registered Agent - Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity — Learn more at https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
22:29 Why fulfillment costs rise as you scale
29:46 Automatons Roll Out
30:12 Matthias Hofmann of Eyebot joins the show
30:31 Agree.com - Stop chasing invoices and automate your entire contract-to-cash stack. Go to https://agree.com and tell them Jason sent you to get 50% off for life!
31:29 Vision tests vs. eye exams
42:28 The terrifying doctor shortage
47:22 Fundraising and partnerships
57:07 Will we always need human doctors in the loop?
 
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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
 
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Today's show:
*Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg published a 6,500 word essay about the future of AI, and Jason thinks it's his smartest PR move in years.
The thinkpiece, "The Future is for Everyone: The Path to a Positive AI Future," arrives alongside a new open-weight Meta model — Muse Glimmer — and the promise of an open-weight version of Muse Spark 1.2 to come. Zuckerberg's clearly pitching an "abundance" narrative, promising the American public untold benefits from AI technology — everything from a PhD-level tutor for every student to scientific breakthroughs, personal assistants, and beyond — all for the low low cost of not banning new data centers. Do our hosts think everyday voters will take this deal?
PLUS X retires its revenue sharing program, the CLARITY Act misses a key pre-recess vote, what can we do to stop widespread AI-powered community college cheating, and some of the podcasting positions for which LAUNCH is hiring.
Relevant Links
Meta: "The Future is for Everyone": https://about.fb.com/news/2026/08/the-future-is-for-everyone/
Meta: "Introducing Muse Glimmer": https://research.meta.ai/blog/introducing-muse-glimmer-open-agentic-model
MS Now: "Kevin O'Leary wants to atone for his data center sins": https://www.ms.now/news/kevin-oleary-wants-to-atone-for-his-data-center-sins
"The Social Reckoning" teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM4LkaXwGuY
X: Original Content Rewards Program: https://help.x.com/en/using-x/original-content-rewards
TechCrunch: Nikita Bier steps down as X's head of product: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/05/nikita-bier-steps-down-as-xs-head-of-product/
Congress.gov: H.R. 3633 - Digital Asset Market Clarity Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3633/text
Politico: "Crypto faces a setback in the Senate": https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/07/delays-imperil-senate-crypto-bill-01029817
NYT: "AI Agents are Taking Entire Online Courses for Cheating Students": https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/ai-cheating-online-degrees.html
Inside Higher Ed: "Brown Professor Suspects Majority of His Class Used AI to Cheat": https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty/learning-assessment/2026/07/08/brown-professor-suspects-most-his-class-used-ai-cheat
Podnews: Spotify's Skip Ahead ad skip test: https://podnews.net/article/spotify-threat-ad-skipping
Tommy Vietor X post on Spotify: https://x.com/TVietor08/status/2085073214968037428?s=20
JJ Smith SF "open drug market" video: https://x.com/war24182236/status/2086839186137710724
Timestamps:
0:00 Why Zuck thinks the future is open source
2:26 Meta's roadmap: personal assistants and beyond
9:21 Every.io - For all of your incorporation, banking, payroll, benefits, accounting, taxes or other back-office administration needs, visit https://every.io
20:22 Netsuite - For the first time ever, you can try NetSuite Next for free. If your revenues are at least in the seven figures, go to https://NetSuite.ai/TWIST
27:43 How to win the data center argument
29:32 YSecurity - The on-demand security team for startups. Need enterprise-grade security without hiring a $400k CISO? YSecurity gives you 40+ expert engineers, matched to exactly what you need, by the hour, with your first six hours completely free. Go to https://YSecurity.io/TWIST
39:24 X intros Original Content Rewards
51:58 The CLARITY Act faces new setbacks
1:00:46 AI agents are taking students' tests for them
1:09:37 LAUNCH is hiring!
 
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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
 
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Today's show:
A hedge fund just blew up shorting SaaS stocks. In turns out, the software companies that went all in on AI are bouncing back. Figma's CEO — still riding high on strong revenue — forfeited roughly $46 million in stock awards to ease investor nerves. Twilio posted its strongest quarter in years. Airbnb's CEO credits AI as the single biggest factor in the company's incredible turnaround.
Jason and Lon break down what's separating the winners this earnings season from the companies that are falling behind.
PLUS we're chatting with Bluecore Energy CEO and founder Kofi Asante about his plan to power ports, and one day AI data centers, with small, floating nuclear reactors.
AND we're kicking off the TWiST Weight Loss Challenge! Co-host Lon and Jason's brother, Jamie, are both starting GLP-1s. We'll track their progress and follow along as they attempt to collect $15,000 EACH in prize money.
Guest
Kofi Asante on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kofiasante1/
Bluecore Energy: https://www.bluecore.energy/
Jamie Calacanis on X: https://x.com/CalacanisJamie
Relevant Links
Bloomberg: Figma CEO forfeits $46M: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-05/figma-ceo-forfeits-46-million-in-stock-after-share-decline
Twilio announces second quarter 2026 results: https://investors.twilio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/twilio-announces-second-quarter-2026-results
TechCrunch: Twilio co-founder Jeff Lawson buys The Onion: https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/26/area-man-twilio-co-founder-jeff-lawson-buys-the-onion
Chesky: Airbnb will spend a lot more on AI: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/07/chesky-airbnb-ai-earnings.html
"Unreasonable Hospitality" by Will Guidara on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573
The Times: Meet the unreasonable hospitality master who inspired "The Bear": https://www.thetimes.com/magazines/the-sunday-times-magazine/article/will-guidara-hospitality-the-bear-tkgzqz33w
Port of Long Beach partnership on nuclear-powered shipping: https://gcaptain.com/port-of-long-beach-marad-launch-first-u-s-partnership-on-nuclear-powered-shipping/
Reuters: ByteDance targets mega AI model: https://www.reuters.com/technology/bytedance-targets-mega-ai-model-nearing-anthropics-mythos-ft-reports-2026-08-07/
Axios: OpenAI says its AI agents breached its own systems before Hugging Face: https://www.axios.com/2026/08/06/openai-hugging-face-black-hat
Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House: https://franklloydwright.org/site/ennis-house/
Dwell: Why "The Studio" built a faux Frank Lloyd Wright HQ: https://www.dwell.com/article/the-studio-apple-tv-filming-locations-production-design-frank-lloyd-wright-john-lautner-97c68081
"Predators" documentary trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibVZkvpAJjI
A24 "Primetime" trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fHXyqQOKL8
Alex Honnold free solos Taipei 101: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/25/sport/alex-honnold-taipei-101-free-solo-netflix-intl-hnk
Harmonic.ai: https://harmonic.ai/
Ro.co: http://ro.co/twist
Timestamps:
0:00 Figma, Twilio & Airbnb earnings: who's winning at AI?
9:50 DigitalOcean - Head to https://do.co/twist to start building on DigitalOcean's AI-Native Cloud today — and cut your AI workload costs by up to 50%.
11:32 The real cost of stock-based compensation
17:38 Kofi Asante of Blue Core Energy joins the show
19:47 Sentry - Your team should be focused on shipping features — not chasing down bugs. New users can get $240 in free credits when they go to https://sentry.io/twist and use the code TWIST
20:51 What is a small modular reactor (SMR)?
26:00 Floating nuclear reactors for ports and data centers
29:47 Lightfield - Name one person who's ever enjoyed updating a CRM. Exactly. Lightfield's AI agent does it for you — it even prospects and books your meetings. Used by thousands of startups. Free at https://lightfield.app
31:56 Nuclear waste, submarine risks, and public perception
42:41 The generational shift in how we think about nuclear
48:19 ByteDance is training a 10 trillion parameter model
53:47 When AI models plan heists: the Hugging Face caper
58:02 Jason's Roko weight loss competition
1:11:38 Off duty: To Catch a Predator, Alex Honnold, and comedy




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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
 
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