logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
1h 40m

Fireside chat with Jason Calacanis & Bra...

Jason Calacanis
About this episode

This Week in Startups is presented by:

Squarespace. Turn your idea into a new website! Go to http://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.

Trovata. Starting up is hard. Trovata makes managing cash easy. Start automating your cash management at http://trovata.io/TWIST.Use Code TWIST for 30% off one full year of premium features like AI forecasting.

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 http://openphone.com/twist


Today’s show:

Jason and Brad speak with Mubadala Capital’s Head of Ventures, Ibrahim Ajami, at Hub71 in the UAE. The three discuss how startups can survive and thrive in an economic downturn (1:02) before diving into the sacrifices that founders must make to create an incredible product. (14:16) They also explain how the AI revolution will affect software, startups, capital allocators, and more! (40:36)

Follow Mubadala: https://twitter.com/MubadalaCapital

Follow Ibrahim: https://twitter.com/IbrahimAjami

Follow Hub71: https://twitter.com/hub71ad

Follow Brad: https://twitter.com/altcap


Time stamps:

(0:00) Nick kicks off the show

(1:02) Surviving the downturn

(12:46) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://Squarespace.com/TWIST

(14:16) Sacrificing to build a great product

(26:34)Trovata - Use code TWIST at https://trovata.io/twist for 30% off one year of premium features, like AI forecasting

(27:47) Brad’s letter to Mark Zuckerberg and AI creating ultra-efficient startups

(39:02) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(40:36) The AI revolution

(50:48) The implications of AI on the software industry

(55:50) Creating the Silicon Valley culture

(59:32) Reflecting on the success of the Launch Accelerator

(1:06:23) Building culture within your firm and dealing with failure

(1:19:03) Opinions on WFH

(1:25:05) Recognizing product velocity

(1:29:11) Advice for young founders

(1:34:47) Advice for founders in emerging markets


Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo & Apply for Funding

Buy ANGEL

Great recent interviews: Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis


Follow Jason:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis


Follow TWiST:

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin


Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Up next
Yesterday
Battery Power for Texans with Zach Dell, plus Tim Apple is LEAVING?, Polymarket to the US, and a Tesla fan update | E2190
Today’s show:*Zach Dell of Base Power joins us at the top of today’s show to talk about building batteries in Austin, that $1 billion investment, and why an “all of the above” energy strategy is the only way forward.PLUS Jason and Alex’s thoughts on that Tesla non-upside down car ... Show More
1h 11m
Oct 8
We’re Hiring! Join the This Week in Startups Team
Everything’s going great here at This Week in Startups — and we’re expanding! As we launch a brand new podcast next year, we’re looking to bring on two new creative roles:Video Editor — Full-time or part-time, remote or in-person (Austin). If you love startups and tech and you’re ... Show More
1m 38s
Oct 7
OpenAI’s latest “bizarre” mega-deal, datacenters in space, previewing Tesla’s big announcement and more | E2189
Today’s show:*How many weirdly circular mega-deals is OpenAI going to sign this year?On a new TWiST, Jason and Alex consider OpenAI’s latest agreement with AMD, how the biggest American companies keep trading cash and chips back and forth, and whether or not the entire AI economy ... Show More
1h 16m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
Multi-Billionaire’s Journey In India - Leadership, Culture, and Opportunity | Odoo | TRS 386
Check out BeerBiceps SkillHouse's Video Editing Course - https://bbsh.in/bb-launch-yt Use my referral code OFF40 to get a 40% Discount on a standard membership subscription. Follow BeerBiceps SkillHouse's Social Media Handles: YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-Y36TqZ5 ... Show More
1h 57m
Sep 2017
330: Gurbaksh Chahal - Gravity4 Launches Lydian, its BlockChain Marketing Cloud Token
Gurbaksh Chahal is a die hard entrepreneur with a passion for innovation & building amazing companies. He is the founder of ClickAgents, BlueLithium, RadiumOne, Gravity4 & The Chahal Foundation. Back in 2008, Oprah Winfrey introduced Gurbaksh to her audience by saying “My next gu ... Show More
32m 47s
Feb 2024
#981 - How High Can Tech Fly? with Dave Mazza
🔥 SuperAI Singapore: Get 20% OFF tickets realvision.com/superaiDave Mazza, chief strategy officer at Roundhill Investments, joins Ash Bennington to discuss the recent market action after a record-setting week, where he sees the tech sector headed from here, and the outlook for t ... Show More
38m 50s
Feb 2024
E167: Nvidia smashes earnings (again), Google's Woke AI disaster, Groq's LPU breakthrough & more
(0:00) Bestie intros: Banana boat! (2:34) Nvidia smashes expectations again: understanding its terminal value and bull/bear cases in the context of the history of the internet (27:26) Groq's big week, training vs. inference, LPUs vs. GPUs, how to succeed in deep tech (49:37) Goog ... Show More
1h 20m
Feb 2024
Ultra-Niche Positioning: How to Find Success By Going SUPER Narrow
I’m so f*cking happy to announce that ​my book, Stand The F*ck Out, is officially available for PURCHASE​! To buy the book—and more!—DIRECTLY from us and support our small business, go to: https://book.stfo.ioFree Shipping Worldwide • Ripped Apart by 70+ Marketers • Money-Back Gu ... Show More
57m 59s
Sep 2023
Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI: ChatGPT, Future of AI, AGI, and China
How does Sam envision a world where humans and AI coexist? How far into the future can he see, and when will AI completely change the way we live? Sam Altman, Founder and CEO of OpenAI, provides unique insights into how AI will impact the world going forward.Sam’s book recommenda ... Show More
49m 18s
Feb 2024
197 (Lead) Communication Hacks to Unleash Your Sales Team’s Full Potential (Jake Dunlap, Skaled Consulting)
Check out Jake’s new book The Innovative Seller: Keeping Peace in an AI and Consumer-Centric World and pre-order your copy today!FOUR ACTIONABLE LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Allocate your time into now, near future, and far future to identify true priorities. Use two-week blocks to under ... Show More
32m 34s
Jun 2023
Digital Identity w/ ENS Domains
Always mixing business and education, Khori has major experience managing for-profits and non-profits, with a big love for tech and always being an early adopter. Developing an interest in distributed ledger tech, and being passionate about decentralized inclusion and identity, h ... Show More
1h 17m
Jan 2024
Deep Focus Music To Improve Concentration - Improve Focus Study Motivation And Productivity
Deep focus is necessarily required for concentration that will eventually increases the productivity. If you know someone who could use this, share it with them! -- ⚠️ TRENDING on SUBSTACK ⚠️  USE THIS LINK TO JOIN MOTIVATION HUB  for 50% OFF (discount limited to first 500) -- Un ... Show More
2h 44m
Sep 11
VoidRafter - Drum & Bass Session Vol. 1
VoidRafter - Drum & Bass Session Vol. 1 Выпускной микс школы диджеев Clubmasters 
1h 11m