Episodes

  • Who Is Soham Parekh? Luckey and Thiel Launch Startup Bank, Microsoft Scales Back AI Chip Plans and Cuts 9,000 Jobs, Sam Altman Slams Meta’s AI Talent Poaching | Deedy Das, Emily Sundberg, Mert Mumtaz, Zak Kukoff, John Kim, Amit Jain

    Who Is Soham Parekh? Luckey and Thiel Launch Startup Bank, Microsoft Scales Back AI Chip Plans and Cuts 9,000 Jobs, Sam Altman Slams Meta’s AI Talent Poaching | Deedy Das, Emily Sundberg, Mert Mumtaz, Zak Kukoff, John Kim, Amit Jain
    Jul 2 2025

    • (01:35) - Top Stories
    • (38:42) - Crypto Bank Erebor Rises from SVB Ashes
    • (46:12) - Microsoft Scales Back AI Chip Plans
    • (54:11) - Sam Altman Slams Meta
    • (57:40) - Deedy Das, a principal at Menlo Ventures, has a background in engineering and product leadership, including roles at Google and Facebook, and was a founding team member at Glean. In the conversation, he discusses his transition from engineering to venture capital, emphasizing the value of technical expertise in investing, and highlights his focus on early-stage investments in AI/ML, next-generation infrastructure, and enterprise software.
    • (01:28:56) - Emily Sundberg is a New York-based writer and director, best known for her daily business newsletter, *Feed Me*, which has garnered a dedicated readership of around 60,000 subscribers. In the conversation, she discusses her journey from launching *Feed Me* during the COVID-19 pandemic to its current success, emphasizing the importance of authentic storytelling and community building in the digital age. She also highlights the evolving media landscape, noting how independent creators are reshaping traditional journalism by fostering direct engagement with their audiences.
    • (02:01:28) - Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius Labs and a prominent advocate for Solana, discusses the emergence of tokenized private company shares on blockchain platforms, highlighting initiatives by Republic and Robinhood. He notes that Republic's offering involves mirrored assets with a $5,000 investment cap and a one-year lock-up period, while Robinhood plans to launch on Arbitrum before transitioning to its own optimized chain, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance and the potential for increased competition in the space. Mumtaz also addresses the challenges of integrating real-world assets on-chain, underscoring the need for clear regulatory frameworks and the ability to implement controls within decentralized finance to manage market risks effectively.
    • (02:18:19) - Zak Kukoff, Chair of the Tech and Venture Practice at Lewis-Burke Associates, has a background in venture capital and entrepreneurship, including founding and selling an education technology company. In the conversation, he discusses his Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch, a gift from his family for his 30th birthday, highlighting its significance during a period when he and his wife were in different time zones. He also provides insights into recent political developments in Washington, D.C., focusing on the challenges faced by Congress due to a major storm that disrupted travel, affecting members' ability to vote on critical legislation.
    • (02:27:23) - John Kim, co-founder and CEO of Paraform, a recruiting platform, discusses the company's recent $20 million Series A funding led by Felicis, bringing their total funding to $25 million. He explains that Paraform connects companies with specialized recruiters to fill critical roles, emphasizing the increasing importance of recruiters in the evolving tech landscape. Kim also highlights the growing demand for forward-deployed engineers and the role of AI in enhancing, rather than replacing, human recruiters.
    • (02:43:19) - Amit Jain, co-founder and CEO of Luma AI, discusses the development of multimodal models that integrate audio, video, language, and images to advance beyond current large language models. He highlights Luma's video generation models, which are being utilized by Hollywood, advertising agencies, and individual creators, serving tens of millions of users. Jain also addresses the transformative impact of AI on industries like Hollywood and advertising, emphasizing the need for adaptation to rapidly evolving AI technologies.
    • (03:10:58) - Who Is Soham Parekh? Timeline in Turmoil!

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    3 hrs and 30 mins
  • Weekly Recap: Tesla Robotaxi, Mr. Beast's AI Tool, Yacine, The Social Network 2, Neuralink Update

    Weekly Recap: Tesla Robotaxi, Mr. Beast's AI Tool, Yacine, The Social Network 2, Neuralink Update
    Jun 28 2025

    • (00:03) - Tesla Robotaxi
    • (08:55) - The Social Network 2 In Development
    • (13:05) - Yacine (Former Software Engineer at X)
    • (41:47) - Iran Launches Attack on US Base in Qatar
    • (45:28) - Mike Gallagher (Palantir)
    • (01:16:24) - Hims & Hers Stock Crash
    • (01:26:55) - Crémieux (Writer)
    • (01:43:51) - Potential Shell-BP Deal Shakes Markets
    • (02:00:22) - FedEx Founder Dies at 80
    • (02:10:41) - Mr. Beast's AI Tool Drama
    • (02:17:26) - DJ Seo (Neuralink Co-founder)

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    2 hrs and 50 mins
  • S&P 500 at Historic Highs, Neuralink Update | DJ Seo, Tejpaul Bhatia, Tomasz Tunguz, Kendrick Nguyen, Kirsten Green

    S&P 500 at Historic Highs, Neuralink Update | DJ Seo, Tejpaul Bhatia, Tomasz Tunguz, Kendrick Nguyen, Kirsten Green
    Jun 27 2025

    • (04:10) - S&P 500 at Historic Highs
    • (07:36) - Timeline
    • (14:10) - Paris Hilton Buys Mark Wahlberg's Mega Mansion After Losing Malibu Home
    • (17:15) - Mr. Beast Backs Down After AI Thumbnail Drama
    • (26:45) - DJ Seo, a founding member and implant engineer at Neuralink, discusses the company's progress in developing brain-computer interfaces, highlighting that their technology has already positively impacted seven human participants. He outlines the next milestones, including scaling the technology to thousands, eventually millions, of users and expanding functionalities beyond movement to speech, vision, and inner thoughts. Additionally, he emphasizes Neuralink's ultimate goal of understanding and unlocking the mysteries of the human mind.
    • (01:01:06) - Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space, brings over 25 years of experience in startups and strategic leadership, including roles at Google and as a founder of three investor-backed startups. In the conversation, he discusses Axiom's plans to build the world's first commercial space station, the potential of orbital data centers, and the commercialization of microgravity research and manufacturing. He emphasizes the importance of reducing costs and increasing accessibility to space, drawing parallels to the evolution of cloud computing and its impact on startups.
    • (01:28:02) - Tomasz Tunguz, founder and general partner of Theory Ventures, discusses his firm's focus on concentrated investments in early-stage AI and blockchain companies, emphasizing a thesis-driven approach to identify technological discontinuities that provide go-to-market advantages. He highlights the importance of building a venture firm that thrives in varying capital market environments by maintaining a small portfolio and dedicating significant resources to support each company through market fluctuations. Additionally, Tunguz explores the evolving landscape of AI, noting the shift from structured to unstructured data and the potential for AI to transform industries by automating tasks and enhancing productivity.
    • (02:02:18) - Kendrick Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of Republic, a platform democratizing private investments, discusses the launch of a token providing performance benchmarked to SpaceX. This initiative aims to fractionalize assets, allowing everyday investors to gain exposure to companies like SpaceX without direct ownership. Nguyen emphasizes that this financial product is an obligation of Republic, ensuring investors receive comparable economic returns upon a liquidity event, while acknowledging potential controversies and the evolving legal framework surrounding such innovations.
    • (02:15:24) - Kirsten Green, founder and managing partner of Forerunner Ventures, discusses the rapid evolution of consumer AI, emphasizing the importance of building products that resonate with users amidst the swift advancements in technology. She highlights the necessity for startups to carve out unique spaces that large companies may overlook, focusing on specialized areas requiring dedicated attention and expertise. Green also underscores the significance of being first to market, noting that early movers can establish strong positions by leveraging new technologies to create compelling consumer experiences.
    • (02:42:35) - Timeline

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    2 hrs and 47 mins
  • Meta Poaches OpenAI Researchers, Murati's Plans to Take on OpenAI, NATO Takeaways | Mike Gallagher, Pippa Lamb, Dan Shipper, Eliano Younes

    Meta Poaches OpenAI Researchers, Murati's Plans to Take on OpenAI, NATO Takeaways | Mike Gallagher, Pippa Lamb, Dan Shipper, Eliano Younes
    Jun 26 2025

    • (02:28) - The Social Network 2 Sneak Peak
    • (06:27) - Meta Poaches OpenAI Researchers
    • (29:28) - Murati's Plans to Take on OpenAI
    • (31:18) - Pippa Lamb is a partner at Sweet Capital, an early-stage tech fund established by the founders of King.com following their $5.9 billion sale to Activision Blizzard in 2015. In the conversation, she discusses the recent increase in European defense spending, highlighting the UK's commitment to allocate up to 5% of its GDP to defense by 2035, and the potential opportunities this presents for both established defense companies and emerging startups in the sector.
    • (01:00:34) - Timeline
    • (01:10:07) - Dan Shipper, co-founder of Every, a writer-focused media company, discusses the public launch of Quora, an AI-powered email assistant designed to streamline email management by filtering messages, drafting responses, and providing concise summaries. Priced at $15 per month, Quora aims to reduce the time users spend on email by automating routine tasks and prioritizing important communications. Shipper emphasizes the challenges incumbents face in integrating AI into existing platforms and highlights the advantages startups have in leveraging new technologies to innovate user experiences.
    • (01:23:45) - Eliano Younes, Palantir's Strategic Engagement Lead, discusses the successful relaunch of the company's merchandise store, emphasizing its commitment to American manufacturing and the overwhelming demand that led to rapid sellouts. He highlights the store's evolution, noting the shift to U.S.-made products and plans for unique, limited-edition items. Younes also mentions the significant traffic from international markets like South Korea and the store's role in strengthening the Palantir community.
    • (01:32:19) - Mike Gallagher, Head of Defense at Palantir Technologies, discusses his transition from military service and Congress to the private sector, emphasizing his commitment to national security and preventing global conflicts. He highlights Palantir's partnership with The Nuclear Company to develop an AI-driven Nuclear Operating System (NOS) aimed at streamlining nuclear reactor construction, reducing costs, and enhancing energy security. Gallagher underscores the strategic importance of this collaboration in maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear technology amid global competition.
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    2 hrs and 9 mins
  • Mamdani Election, Shell in Talks to Acquire Rival BP | David Senra, Yancey Strickler, Joe Weisenthal, Alex Atallah, Michael Moriarty, Nikunj Kothari, Alex Kehr

    Mamdani Election, Shell in Talks to Acquire Rival BP | David Senra, Yancey Strickler, Joe Weisenthal, Alex Atallah, Michael Moriarty, Nikunj Kothari, Alex Kehr
    Jun 25 2025
    (02:31) - Timeline (02:35) - Mamdani Timeline Reactions (41:43) - Shell in Talks to Aquire Rival BP (55:29) - David Senra is the creator and host of the "Founders" podcast, where he delves into the lives and careers of history's most influential entrepreneurs. Each week, he reads a biography of a notable founder and extracts lessons that listeners can apply to their own ventures. Senra's passion for reading and entrepreneurship has led him to consume over 300 books on the subject, which he discusses in his episodes. In addition to his podcast, Senra has been featured in various interviews and discussions, sharing insights on topics like the importance of storytelling in communication, the value of authenticity in podcasting, and the significance of learning from historical figures. He emphasizes the power of distilling complex concepts into clear ideas and believes in the importance of practice and repetition to enhance clarity of thought and speech. Senra's work has garnered attention for its depth and dedication to understanding the minds of successful entrepreneurs, making his podcast a valuable resource for those interested in business and leadership. (01:23:29) - Yancey Strickler, co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter, began his career as a music journalist before pioneering the crowdfunding platform that has raised over $4 billion for creative projects. In the conversation, he reflects on Kickstarter's early days, highlighting musician Allison Weiss's 2009 campaign as a pivotal moment that shaped modern crowdfunding practices. Strickler also discusses the evolution of the internet and the creator economy, emphasizing the shift towards creators having greater control over production and distribution, and the challenges and opportunities this presents. (01:56:00) - Joe Weisenthal is an American journalist and financial expert. He serves as the executive editor of news for Bloomberg's digital brands, co-anchors the television show "What’d You Miss?", and co-hosts the "Odd Lots" podcast. In the conversation, Weisenthal discusses the recent political landscape in New York City, focusing on Zoran Mamdani's mayoral victory, the role of prediction markets in gauging political outcomes, and the potential impact of autonomous vehicles on urban planning. (02:27:53) - Alex Atallah, co-founder of OpenSea, now leads OpenRouter, a platform that optimizes language model usage by routing traffic to the best GPU hosts based on user preferences. In the conversation, he discusses OpenRouter's role as a control plane for language models, enabling users to access various models with optimal performance and uptime. He also highlights the challenges in the AI landscape, such as the fragmentation of model availability across different cloud providers, and emphasizes OpenRouter's efforts to streamline access to these models. (02:40:15) - Michael Moriarty, co-founder of Orca, an energy water company, discusses the challenges and successes of launching their product, emphasizing the innovative clear can packaging that differentiates them in the market. He highlights the difficulties faced in manufacturing the clear cans, which took two years and multiple factories to perfect, as well as the viral marketing strategies employed, such as a nine-minute launch video featuring Corbin Bleu listing road signs. Moriarty also touches on their rapid growth since launching on Amazon in March, the ongoing fundraising efforts, and plans for retail expansion in Southern California. (02:48:22) - Timeline (02:52:21) - NVIDIA Launches Cloud AI Playground (02:54:16) - Nikunj Kothari, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, has spent over a decade building startups across various sectors, including logistics, networking hardware, and real estate. He recently joined FPV Ventures, a generalist venture capital fund co-founded by Wesley Chan and Pegah Ebrahimi, which closed a $525 million fund focusing on diverse industries from biotech to consumer fintech. In the conversation, Kothari discusses the shift of value to the application layer as large AI models stabilize, emphasizing the importance of unique data and efficiency in building impactful AI applications. (03:10:47) - Alex Kehr, CEO of Superlocal, discusses the development of Superlocal—a personalized map application that automatically logs users' locations to provide tailored recommendations—and its recent acquisition by Foursquare. He explains that Superlocal combines features reminiscent of Google Maps and Foursquare, offering automatic place mapping, check-ins, and persona building based on user preferences. Kehr expresses enthusiasm for the acquisition, noting that it allows Superlocal to continue its operations without the constant concern of financial instability.TBPN.com is made possible by: Ramp - https://ramp.comFigma - https://figma.comVanta - https://vanta.comLinear - https://linear.appEight Sleep - https://eightsleep.com/tbpnWander - https://wander.com/tbpnPublic - ...
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    3 hrs and 20 mins
  • Hims & Hers Stock Drops Over 30%, All-In Launches Ultra Premium Tequila | Crémieux, Clément Delangue, Emmett Shear, Brendan Foody, Sam Schwager, Zach Lloyd, Dara Ladjevardian, Amjad Masad, Angus Muffatti

    Hims & Hers Stock Drops Over 30%, All-In Launches Ultra Premium Tequila | Crémieux, Clément Delangue, Emmett Shear, Brendan Foody, Sam Schwager, Zach Lloyd, Dara Ladjevardian, Amjad Masad, Angus Muffatti
    Jun 24 2025
    (04:30) - Anthropic Clears Legal Hurdle on AI Data (11:32) - All-In Launches Ultra Premium Tequila (30:45) - Timeline (45:17) - Hims & Hers Stock Drops Over 30% (56:09) - Ford is Scrambling For Rare-Earth Minerals (01:03:01) - Fedex Founder Fred Smith Dies at 80 (01:15:37) - Cremieux discusses the expanding applications of GLP-1 medications, highlighting their effectiveness in treating conditions beyond diabetes and weight loss, such as sleep apnea and certain cancers. He expresses concern over the misuse of these drugs, particularly among individuals without medical necessity, and notes the ease of obtaining them through unofficial channels. Additionally, he comments on the implications of the Hims and Novo Nordisk partnership dissolution, suggesting potential issues with drug distribution practices. (01:32:47) - Clément Delangue, CEO and co-founder of Hugging Face, an open-source AI platform, discusses the company's origins, including the choice of the "Hugging Face" emoji as its name, and its evolution from an AI chatbot to a leading platform with over 10 million AI builders. He highlights the importance of democratizing AI development to prevent the concentration of power among a few organizations, emphasizing the need for open-source collaboration to foster innovation and ethical practices. Delangue also addresses the challenges in AI, such as the scarcity of talent and resources, and advocates for a more decentralized approach to AI development to ensure broader accessibility and mitigate risks associated with monopolization. (02:04:02) - Emmett Shear, an American entrepreneur and investor, co-founded Justin.tv and its gaming-focused spin-off, Twitch, where he served as CEO until March 2023. In the conversation, Shear discusses his new AI startup, Softmax, which aims to discover principles of alignment and scale them for humanity, focusing on multi-agent reinforcement learning research to understand how agents interact and learn within complex systems. (02:36:52) - Brendan Foody, CEO of Mercor, discusses the company's rapid growth, noting collaborations with six of the "Mag Seven" tech giants and a 45% month-over-month growth over the past year. He highlights the increasing complexity in AI training, emphasizing the need for professionals like consultants, doctors, and lawyers to evaluate and teach models tasks beyond academic domains. Additionally, he addresses the challenges in AI's ability to perform basic tasks, such as booking flights, underscoring the importance of developing effective evaluation methods to measure and enhance model capabilities. (02:44:08) - Sam Schwager, co-founder and CEO of Super Dial, a voice AI company specializing in automating phone calls for healthcare, discusses the company's transition from Superbill to Super Dial, focusing on revenue cycle management (RCM) and the automation of outbound calls to health insurance companies. He announces the successful completion of a $15 million Series A funding round led by Signal Fire and elaborates on the company's strategic approach to integrating various technologies, including text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and large language models, to enhance their services. Additionally, he highlights the importance of perfecting workflow and integration, emphasizing the need for domain-specific context to ensure the effectiveness of their voice AI agents in handling repetitive transactions within the healthcare sector. (02:49:24) - Zach Lloyd, founder and CEO of Warp, discusses the launch of Warp 2.0, an AI-driven development environment that enables developers to prompt a terminal-like interface to run coding agents capable of tasks such as coding and debugging. He envisions a shift in software development workflows where engineers initiate tasks with prompts, allowing multiple agents to handle various development activities simultaneously, thereby enhancing productivity. Lloyd also emphasizes the importance of a competitive landscape among AI model providers to ensure better quality and pricing, expressing a preference for using the best available models, such as those from Anthropic, to deliver optimal user experiences. (02:58:44) - Dara Ladjevardian, co-founder and CEO of Delphi, discusses the company's recent $16 million Series A funding led by Sequoia, aimed at expanding their digital cloning platform that enables individuals to create interactive digital versions of themselves to scale their expertise. He highlights diverse applications, including coaches scaling client practices, authors making books interactive, and CEOs enhancing internal communication. Ladjevardian also addresses monetization strategies, noting that some users have generated multiple seven-figure revenues, and emphasizes the importance of trust and quality in representing users' data and likeness accurately. (03:16:12) - Amjad Masad, CEO and co-founder of Replit, discusses the company's journey from its inception as an open-source project in 2011 to ...
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    3 hrs and 48 mins