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This Week in Startups

Next Unicorns: Manufacturing pharma drugs in space with Varda’s Delian Asparouhov | E1793

This Week in Startups

Jason Calacanis

Technology

4.21.4K Ratings

🗓️ 16 August 2023

⏱️ 91 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 vanta.com/twist

CLA. Innovation takes balance. CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors can help you get from startup to where you want to end up. Get started now at CLAconnect.com/tech

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Today’s show:

Varda’s Delian Asparouhov is back with Jason to discuss Varda (18:43), his insights on different aspects of venture capital (1:41), the shifts in silicon valley culture (11:56), and much more! Then, Jason is joined by Argyle CEO Maret Thatcher to discuss how her startup is using AR headsets to make construction PMs faster and more efficient. (58:27)

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Time stamps:

(0:00) Varda President and Co-Founder Delian Asparouhov joins Jason

(1:41) Delian’s insights on different aspects of venture capital

(8:35) Defense tech and silicon valley’s aversion to military

(10:48) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://vanta.com/twist

(11:56) The shift in silicon valley culture

(14:39) Culture wars and keeping everyone focused

(18:43) The inception of Varda

(23:15) Varda’s first provisions and overall mission

(27:14) CLA - Get started with CLA's CPAs, consultants, and wealth advisors now at https://claconnect.com/tech

(28:31) The customer base and transporting cargo into space

(33:14) LinkedIn Jobs - Post your first job for free at https://linkedin.com/unicorn

(34:30) Proving this is a sustainable business and “induced demand” in this area

(47:21) Government engagement in the startup community

(50:53) Progress around the globe and U.S. relationship with China

(58:27) Argyle CEO Maret Thatcher joins Jason

(1:03:50) Argyle’s product and Magic Leap’s role

(1:07:42) Video examples of the product in the field

(1:09:09) The customer base and how designs are rendered

(1:22:25) Business model and live demo of Argyle's UI

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

Check out Varda: https://www.varda.com

Follow Maret: https://twitter.com/MaretSheWrote

Check out Argyle: https://www.argyle.build

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

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

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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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Follow Jason:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason

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

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Follow TWiST:

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin

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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

you look at all of the trends,

0:01.1

whether it's like US foreign investment into China,

0:03.4

the percentage of iPhone components that are built in China,

0:06.4

you know, it's sort of the number of machine shops

0:07.9

that can actually build ammunition

0:09.3

or can build space crafting,

0:10.5

the United States is only increasing.

0:11.9

All of these trend lines are on the, you know,

0:13.4

sort of right direction.

0:14.4

I think the biggest fear is if China invades Taiwan in 2025,

0:17.9

will those trend lines have quite caught up

0:19.5

to where they need to be?

0:20.9

So I do think we have this like, you know,

0:22.3

four to five year gap

0:23.4

where the United States could be potentially relatively weak.

0:26.5

But, you know, I love this country

0:28.8

and I am so stoked.

0:29.9

Pretty great country, too.

0:31.4

Yeah.

0:32.2

So that's where our country turns out.

0:33.6

Yeah, it turns out still the best.

0:35.5

Still the best.

...

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