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Aug 2023
50m 2s

LK-99 breakthrough with Varda’s Delian A...

Jason Calacanis
About this episode

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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 openphone.com/twist

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Today’s show:

Varda CEO Delian Asparouhov and R&D head Andrew McCalip join Jason to break down their recent experiment in replicating the LK-99 room-temp superconductor (4:19), the current state of material science (18;52), what the world would look like if this works (26:34), and more. Then, Krepling’s Liam Gerada joins Jason for an update on his business! (40:46)

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Time stamps:

(00:00) Varda CEO Delian Asparouhov and R&D head Andrew McCalip join Jason

(1:21) The LK-99 superconductor and how Varda is involved

(4:19) Varda’s latest achievements in replicating the LK-99 superconductor

(8:05) Is this the real deal or just a strong diamagnetic effect

(11:00) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(12:30) Securing the material needed to run these experiments

(14:06) The increased interest in Varda and feedback from the community

(18:52) The culture shift in the tech industry

(25:06) Crowdbotics - Get a free scoping session for your next big app idea at crowdbotics.com/twist

(26:34) Brute force science: How innovation emerges and receives funding

(30:17) How the venture model has continued to evolve

(34:28) Superside - Go to https://superside.com/twist to get $2000 off with Superside's Startup Accelerator package

(36:00) Questions from the live audience

(40:46) Krepling’s Liam Gerada joins Jason for an update on his business!

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Check out Varda: https://varda.com

Follow Delian: https://twitter.com/zebulgar

Follow Andrew: https://twitter.com/andrewmccalip

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Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four

Apply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply

Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.com

Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, 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

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason

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

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