logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2023
58m 30s

The hard lessons from building three sta...

Jason Calacanis
About this episode

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 www.vanta.com/twist

The Embroker Startup Program helps startups secure the most important lines of insurance, at a lower cost, and with less hassle. For guaranteed 10% off on premiums (& up to 20% depending on quote) go to www.embroker.com/twist.

Brave is an internet privacy company on a mission to protect your personal info online. Try the Brave Search API at http://www.brave.com/jason

Today’s show:

Maven Co-Founder and CEO Gagan Biyani joins Jason to break down his startup's live, cohort-based education model (2:28). Then, Gagan dives into his past journeys at Udemy, where he was eventually fired but wound up revolutionizing online learning and going public (35:08), and Sprig, a food-delivery startup that went on to raise $60M and scale to $20M in revenue, but ultimately failed (47:36).

*

Time stamps:

(0:00) Gagan Biyani, CEO of Maven, joins Jason to discuss the future of online learning.

(2:24) Maven: the evolution of online learning.

(3:23) Exploring Maven's elite courses offered by a diverse pool of passionate professionals.

(6:57) Analyzing who is leveraging Maven for education and the cost dynamics of online learning.

(10:30) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist

(11:36) How Maven's live cohort-based learning emphasizes accountability and interactivity for higher success rates.

(13:15) Comparing the outdated cost structures of traditional education with modern alternatives.

(23:10) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://www.Embroker.com/twist

(26:31) Unveiling the potential earnings for educators in the online learning marketplace.

28:27) The online educational landscape featuring insights on Coursera, Udemy, and others.

(30:56) Brave - Try the Brave Search API at http://www.brave.com/jason

(33:40) Jason built the “pit” at TechCrunch50, where he and Gagan first met.

(35:08) How Udemy's early days were shaped by the Founder Institute and Adeo Ressi.

(41:28) Gagan shares his personal story of being fired from Udemy and his lessons learned.

(47:33) The trials, tribulations, and ultimate closure of the food delivery startup, Sprig.

(53:39) Discussing the most effective methods for scaling and growing a product.

(55:02) The world of fundraising and understanding the power law in venture capital.

Check out Maven: https://www.maven.com

Follow Gagan:

https://twitter.com/gaganbiyani

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaganbiyani * Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/fourApply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/applyBuy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.com

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

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
Oct 10
Figure’s 03 Chore-bot, Jake Paul Sora takeover, ChatGPT app integrations, and more | E2191
Figure’s 03 Chore-bot, Jake Paul Sora takeover, ChatGPT app integrations, and more | E2191Today’s show:Figure’s butler-bot could be cleaning up after you soon than you think!On a Friday TWiST, Jason and Lon are checking out the Figure 03 demo reel, checking out the humanoid robot ... Show More
1h 8m
Oct 9
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
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2021
E43: Innovative venture strategies, Zymergen's implosion, Square acquires Afterpay, future of fintech & more
Show Notes: 0:00 Big week for the besties: Friedberg's new raise, Sacks' new fund & more 16:30 Innovative venture strategies: internal mark ups, venture studios, deployment strategies 30:44 Zymergen's implosion: role of diligence, how to make deep tech sustainable, finding frauds ... Show More
1h 31m
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
EP 141: Navigating tech hiring trends and cultivating inclusive teams with Shathiya Rengalwar.
Join us as host James Mackey and his guest Shathiya Rengalwar, People Leader,  unpack the intricacies of tech hiring, discussing the surge in layoffs and the subsequent challenges for hiring teams. Explore talent acquisition strategies, emphasizing the pivotal role of networking ... Show More
23m 25s
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
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
Dec 2023
Leveling up technology
Join hosts Walt Cooley and Matti McBride as they dive into Cooley’s recent presentation “Level-Up” given at the Amelicor Herd and Feed Management Conference in this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast. Learn how to level up technology on your operation, champion an employee ... Show More
32m 25s
Feb 2024
Jay Z's Autobiography
What I learned from reading Decoded by Jay Z. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders at Founders Notes----(1:39) I would practice from the time I woke in the morning until I went to sleep(2:10) Even back then I though I was the best.(2:57) Bourdain: The ... Show More
2h 7m
Feb 2024
Microsoft's New Direction with Copilot, Data Management & Retention, Tech Skills Shortage
The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews: Microsoft’s New Direction with Copilot, Q&A (Darian Chwialkowski, Third Stage Consulting) Data Management ... Show More
1h 54m