This Week in Startups

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Ramp. The corporate card and spend management software designed to help you save time and money. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist. DevSquad. Most dev agencies only offer developers. Why? Because product management is hard. Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist. Digital Ocean. Whether you’re just getting started with AI, or seeing your project take off, DigitalOcean is the cloud platform that lets you focus on what matters: building killer apps. Right now get up to $100k in free credits at https://www.do.co/twist. Terms and conditions apply. * Todays show: Jason and Alex kick off the show with a deep dive into Nvidia’s blowout earnings and the skyrocketing demand for its upcoming Blackwell chips. Meanwhile, Google’s search monopoly took center stage as proposed remedies, including a potential Chrome divestment, sparked heated debate. To unpack the implications, Brave’s Jean-Paul Schmetz joined the discussion, offering insights into the fight for search independence. The episode wrapped up with updates from three Founder Friday hosts, sharing what they’re hearing from the builders shaping the future. * Timestamps: (0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show (3:20) Google's antitrust case and DOJ's proposed remedies (5:22) Nvidia's market performance and AI chip competition (7:00) Nvidia's Blackwell architecture and AI advancements (9:45) Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist. (11:13) Google's advertising market dominance and Chrome divestiture (21:00) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist (22:50) DOJ's negotiation strategy with Google (25:50) Brave browser's business model, competition, and privacy focus (31:00) DigitalOcean - DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions. (32:13) Brave's search engine development and DOJ's impact (40:26) AI's role in search technology and the future of browsers (44:08) DOJ's remedies and their effect on smaller search engines (46:22) Google's growth strategies and M&A outlook (51:03) Founder culture, motivation, and Founder Fridays initiative (58:50) Founder Fridays host Georges Colbert joins the show (1:06:12) Founder Fridays experiences in Longview, Texas with Kitty and Coco (1:15:09) Endora's success and advice for Founder Fridays hosts * Want to host or join the next Founder Fridays? Check out https://www.founderfridays.tech Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * Mentioned on the show: Check out Albetroz: https://albatroz.ai/ Check out Endora: https://www.endora.app/ Check out Brave: https://search.brave.com/ https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-backed-startup-d-matrix-launches-first-ai-chip-2024-11-19 https://x.com/Jason/status/1859630517894983977 https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/public-policy/doj-search-remedies-nov-2024 * Follow Jean-Paul: X: https://x.com/jpschmetz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpschmetz * Follow Kitty: X: https://x.com/endorakitty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kittyboglesherman * Follow Coco: X: https://x.com/endoracoco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cocoharmon * Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm * Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis * Thank you to our partners: (9:45) Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp today at https://www.ramp.com/twist. (21:00) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist (31:00) DigitalOcean. DigitalOcean is the cloud platform you need to turn your AI project into a rocket ship. Right now, approved listeners can get up to $100,000 in free credits to try us out. Visit https://www.do.co/twist - get started and view terms and conditions. * Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland * Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at https://www.vanta.com/twist OpenPhone. Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠ Sprig. The Product Experience platform that generates AI-powered opportunities to continuously improve your product at scale. Visit https://www.sprig.com/twist to book a demo and get a $75 gift card. * Todays show: Jason and Alex dig into why Nvidia's latest earnings report is such a big deal, and how the chip giant could help keep the AI hype alive. Or, how it could poke a hole in market enthusiasm. The pair also welcome the CEO of Allen Control Systems to discuss building venture-backed defense companies. Then, the CEO of Querio joins the show to show off what his company has built. * Timestamps: (0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show (1:32) Nvidia’s expected $33B revenue and its transition from gaming GPUs to AI workloads. (9:01) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist (10:05) Nvidia’s growth over time (15:55) When will an Nvidia lighthouse customer switch to a competitor’s product? (22:28) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠ (23:28) Allen Control Systems’ Steven Simoni joins the show (32:38) Sprig - Visit https://www.sprig.com/twist to book a demo and get a $75 gift card. (33:52) The rise of venture-backed defense startups and autonomous systems for military applications (50:20) Querio’s Rami Abi Habib joins the show (55:38) Demo of Querio’s platform * Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * Mentioned on the show: Check out Allen Control Systems: https://www.allencontrolsystems.com Check out Querio: https://querio.ai * Follow Steven: X: https://x.com/stevensimoni LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni * Follow Rami: X: https://x.com/ramiabih LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/datarami * Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm * Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis * Thank you to our partners: (9:01) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist (22:28) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠ (32:38) Sprig - Visit https://www.sprig.com/twist to book a demo and get a $75 gift card. * Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland * Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Todays show: Spenser Skates and James Evans join Alex to discuss Amplitude's acquisition of Command AI, shedding light on recent startup M&A trends and the strategic vision behind this move. The conversation delves into Command AI's user assistance technology and its integration into Amplitude, which aims to enhance user surveys and feedback. Spenser outlines Amplitude's product-led growth strategy and its approach to scaling through acquisitions while managing risks and ensuring cultural alignment. The discussion also covers the acquisition deal structure, regulatory concerns, and the decision-making process between raising funds and selling. Also, we hear Spenser’s unfiltered take on private equity and regulatory oversight! * Timestamps: (0:00) Spenser Skates of Amplitude & James Evans of CommandAI join Alex. (1:40) Startup M&A trends and Amplitude's acquisition of Command AI (4:30) Overview of Command AI's user assistance technology (7:05) Integration and benefits of Command AI within Amplitude (10:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (11:45) Enhancements in user surveys and feedback with Command AI (16:58) Amplitude's strategic vision behind acquiring Command AI (20:22) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist (21:28) Product-led growth and enhancing user experience at Amplitude (26:08) Amplitude's approach to scaling through strategic acquisitions (30:01) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist (31:30) Managing acquisition risks, integration, and cultural alignment (35:19) Acquisition discussions and deal negotiation (39:48) Acquisition deal structure and stakeholder conviction (42:08) Addressing regulatory concerns and valuation mismatches in acquisitions (44:20) Decision-making: Raising funds vs. selling a company (46:00) Post-acquisition: Integrating Command AI's technology (49:37) Amplitude's future growth strategy and leadership (54:00) Transition from founder mode to distributed leadership (56:15) Role of AI in Amplitude's product development (59:44) AI model considerations and financial sustainability in B2B software (1:01:34) Market position and growth of Command AI * Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * Mentioned on the show: Check out Amplitude: https://amplitude.com Check out CommandAI: https://www.command.ai * Follow Spenser: X: https://x.com/spenserskates LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spenserskates * Follow James: X: https://x.com/dazzeloid LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-evans-7086b3126/ * Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm * Thank you to our partners: (10:17) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST (20:22) Gusto - Get three months free when you run your first payroll at http://gusto.com/twist (30:01) DevSquad - Get an entire product team for the cost of one US developer plus 10% off at http://devsquad.com/twist * Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland * Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

This Week in Startups is brought to you by… Coda. A new doc that brings words, tables and teams together. All your valuable data, plans, objectives, and strategies in one place. Go to https://www.coda.io/twist to get a $1,000 credit! Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist Kyte. Looking to get out of the city? Rent a car with Kyte. Kyte delivers rental cars to your door. No counter, no lines, no hassle. Download the Kyte app today and use code JASON to save 10% on your first rental. * Todays show: Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss Netflix's 'fight' night, exploring content rights, media models, and the fragmentation of sports. They then covered Brendan Carr's promotion to FCC chair, a win for satellite Internet but raising concerns about business interference. The conversation shifted to global social media regulation before examining the tech community's excitement about Emil Michael potentially leading the Department of Transportation. * Timestamps: (0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show (1:14) Netflix's live event issues and potential in sports streaming (6:28) The growing intersection of professional wrestling, sports betting, and viewership (10:03) Evolving business models in streaming: Advertising vs. subscription (11:55) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist (13:49) The future landscape of sports streaming rights and network deals (17:17) Maintaining editorial independence in media companies (20:24) Analyzing NFL viewership trends and their influence on television (21:11) Netflix's content strategy and Amazon Prime's new ad policies (23:10) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist (24:39) AI, monetization, and the move towards ad-free experiences (27:49) Exploring the viability of Netflix hosting pay-per-view events (33:52) Brendan Carr's FCC chairmanship and the future of rural broadband (38:22) The role of the free market in social media platform regulations (32:21) Kyte - Download the Kyte app today and use code JASON to save 10% on your first rental. (45:02) Political shifts and their impact on tech and social media (49:50) TikTok's regulatory challenges and UK censorship laws (1:03:11) Emil Michael's potential cabinet position and government efficiency (1:12:26) Strategies for balancing the federal budget and reducing national debt (1:16:19) ByteDance's valuation amidst US restrictions * Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com * Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * Mentioned on the show: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2024/11/15/mike-tyson-jake-paul-netflix-issues-buffering-reactions/76343456007 https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/18/media/brendan-carr-trump-fcc-nominee-project-2025/index.html * Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm * Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis * Thank you to our partners: (11:55) Coda - Get a $1,000 startup credit at https://coda.io/twist (23:10) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist (32:21) Kyte - Download the Kyte app today and use code JASON to save 10% on your first rental. * Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland * Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com * Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916