Podcasts · Technology
This Week in Startups
1,275 episodes · 20 with AI analysis
Jason Calacanis covers startups, tech, markets, media, and all the hottest topics in business and technology. He also interviews the world's greatest founders, operators, investors, and innovators.
AI Intelligence · across all analyzed episodes
People · top 20
Companies · top 20
Topics · top 10
AI adoption as a differentiator in SaaS earnings performanceStock-based compensation analysis in public and private tech companiesSmall modular nuclear reactors for maritime and data center energyByteDance 10-trillion-parameter AI model developmentOpenAI model autonomous escape and inter-model communicationFigma post-IPO stock performance and founder equity signalsTwilio AI-powered business transformation and free cash flowAirbnb host-guest relationship tension and AI cost reductionOpen-source AI safety and the limits of model containmentGLP-1 weight loss medications and employer-sponsored health initiatives
Analyzed Episodes
Aug 7, 2026
How AI splits startups into winners and losers | E2322
AI adoption as a differentiator in SaaS earnings performanceStock-based compensation analysis in public and private tech companiesSmall modular nuclear reactors for maritime and data center energy
View AnalysisAug 5, 2026
Airtable's 80% off value crash: VCs explain why it's still a win | E2321
Airtable acquisition by Bending Spoons at 80% valuation discountSaaS valuation compression and zombie decacorn problemVenture capital secondary market strategies and DPI vs TVPI
View AnalysisAug 3, 2026
How Bespoke faked AI until it actually worked (w/ Akemi Tsunagawa) | E2320
Wizard-of-Oz AI prototyping and human-in-the-loop validationJapan demographic decline and SME succession crisisIndustrial inspection robotics for shipyards and construction
View AnalysisJul 31, 2026
Why AI has no taste and how to fix it (w/ Thais Castello Branco) | E2319
AI aesthetic quality and taste in generative designPreference data collection and human annotation for model trainingDecline of the cultural critic and curator class
View AnalysisJul 27, 2026
While other cultivated meat companies are collapsing, this one turned a profit | E2317
Cultivated meat scaling challenges and unit economicsBeachhead market strategy for deep-tech startupsCell-cultured cosmetic ingredients as a revenue bridge
View AnalysisJul 24, 2026
Why quantum has been "10 years away" for 30 years | E2316
Neutral atom quantum computing hardwareQuantum error correction (QEC) and fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC)Qubit scalability and the path to 10,000+ physical qubits
View AnalysisJul 22, 2026
Why this longevity startup raised in Japan, not Silicon Valley | TWiST Tokyo | E2315
Epigenetic methylation analysis for drug discoveryCell therapy manufacturing quality control using biomarkersJapan's Regenerative Medicine Act and regulatory fast-tracking
View AnalysisJul 20, 2026
An AI that watches your every click may be the future of work | E2314
AI-powered endpoint security and behavioral preventionCitizen developer risk and unsanctioned AI tool usage in enterprisesOn-device AI agents and small language models at the edge
View AnalysisJul 15, 2026
A Startup Is Trying to Buy PayPal… Craziest Deal of 2026! | E2312
Stripe Acquisition of PayPal — Strategic Rationale and Deal StructurePrivate vs. Public Company Tradeoffs in 2026AI Custom Evals for Startups — When and How to Build Them
View AnalysisJul 17, 2026
The dawn of surgery bots + buy a home for $250 (w/ Andromeda & Mogul) | E2313
Autonomous surgical robotics and AI-assisted surgeryFractional real estate investing via syndicate structuresSurgical data acquisition and proprietary dataset moats
View AnalysisJul 6, 2026
$100T is managed by “human duct tape” | E2308
AI-native fund administration and ERP for investment firmsLong-horizon AI agents for financial document processing and data migrationLegacy fund admin stack replacement (QuickBooks, Excel, Bill.com)
View AnalysisJul 1, 2026
Why the VC Hype Cycle Always Gets It Wrong | VC Roundtable | E2307
Oversized Seed and Series A Round Valuations in AIOpen-Weight Model Adoption and Cost Reduction (GLM 5.2)Pre-AI Company Pivots and 'Burn the Boats' Strategies
View AnalysisJun 24, 2026
Why the Future of Video Games is Moving Back to the Dinner Table
Face-to-face gaming console hardware innovationCapacitive touch technology for physical game piece recognitionHardware startup prototyping and capital-efficient development
View AnalysisJun 27, 2026
Why F1 Teams are Replacing Wind Tunnels with Smart Tape | E2305
Real-world aerodynamic data collection via sensor tapeWind tunnel disruption in Formula 1 and motorsportOpenAI GPT-5.6 series government-delayed model release
View AnalysisJun 29, 2026
Chamath on why young people need more agency, risk, and adventure
AI-driven enterprise software development and Software Factory platformsAgentic workflow orchestration for business process automationEnterprise software unbundling and the $4 trillion maintenance market opportunity
View AnalysisJun 10, 2026
Why the most expensive Seed deals are the cheapest | E2299
AI Company IPOsSeed Round ValuationsAI Token Economics
View AnalysisJun 8, 2026
The AI Tutor That Makes Kids Actually Think | E2298
AI-powered tutoring systemsSocratic teaching methodologyEducational technology pricing strategies
View AnalysisJun 6, 2026
Anthropic wants to slow AI down and Bernie wants 50%: JCal Reacts | E2297
AI Development RegulationWealth Redistribution from AIUniversal Basic Income
View AnalysisJun 3, 2026
The Startup Turning Space Into a Logistics Network
Orbital logistics and satellite transportationSpace propulsion technologyConstruction automation and robotics
View AnalysisJun 1, 2026
This Startup Fused Human Brain Cells with Silicon Chips | E2295
Biological ComputingNeuron-Silicon IntegrationAgricultural Drone Automation
View Analysis