
The Biggest Private Funding Round in History | E2256
About this episode
This Week In Startups is made possible by:
Deel - http://deel.com/twist
Wispr Flow - https://wisprflow.ai/twist
Luma AI - https://lumalabs.ai/twist
Today's show:
*$110 billion buys you 15% of OpenAI. Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank placed their bets on ChatGPT, which now has 900 million weekly active users and 50 million paying subscribers. Find out why Jason is anticipating the wildest J-Curve swing of all time, and believes we've ALREADY hit AGI… it's just not implemented yet.
Plus a visit from our roving correspondent Nick O'Neill, checking in on the Crypto Chaos in Miami Beach, and hot demos from three young founders.
GUESTS:
Nick O'Neill: https://x.com/chooserich
Everest Chris: https://openclaw.unloopa.com/
Ben Broca: https://polsia.com/
Adi Gabrani: https://makemyclaw.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:33 We're hiring a new producer!
05:42 OpenAI raised $110 billion
08:59 Understanding the LLM J-Curve
00:11:25 Deel - Founders ship faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes and get back to building. Visit https://deel.com/twist to learn more.
00:15:02 CRYPTO CHAOS IN MIAMI BEACH!
00:21:10 Wispr Flow - Stop typing. Dictate with Wispr Flow and send clean, final-draft writing in seconds. Visit https://wisprflow.ai/twist to get started for free today.
00:22:54 Mass layoffs at Block
00:30:50 Luma AI - Stop guessing and start directing with the all-in-one Dream Machine text-to-video platform. Visit https://lumalabs.ai/twist to try The Dream Machine for free.
00:32:04 AI Scott Adams: The Saga Continues
00:38:13 Make URLs for local businesses with Unloopa
00:45:36 Rent a Polsia agent to run your company
00:58:55 Deploy swarms in 60 seconds with MakeMyClaw
01:05:05 LAUNCH FEST is coming to SF
01:55:49 Will Paramount actually buy WBD?
01:06:58 Why Lon loves "Knight of the 7 Kingdoms"
01:07:21 On "Neighbors" and First Amendment Warriors
01:13:43 All about Jason's favorite chargers
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Follow Lon:
Follow Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
Follow Jason:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
Follow TWiST:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Get every episode summarized
Each time This Week in Startups publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from This Week in Startups

Dr. Mark Hyman on Function Health & GLP-1 microdosing | E2334
This Week in Startups

Becki DeGraw on spinouts, IP licensing & clean exits | Wilson Sonsini Startup Le...
This Week in Startups

VC experts on why Physical AI funding is heating up | E2333
This Week in Startups
Are AI Agents forming "civilizations" or is this just a psy op? | 2332
This Week in Startups