xAI’s App Store lawsuit, Intel shares vs. grocery stores, and Netskope’s IPO | E2169
This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis
4.4 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 26 August 2025
⏱️ 74 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today’s show:
On an upbeat and optimistic new TWiST, Jason and Alex are debating why any new innovation or technology gets hit with a wave of bitter cynicism.
PLUS Jason defends the government taking shares of Intel, explains the importance of interoperability, and predicts how AirBnB’s Joe Gebbia will upgrade the US government’s website design.
All that PLUS thoughts on the Netskope IPO, Perplexity offering publishers actual revenue share, a deep dive on the new AI-based PAC, thoughts on open-source LLMs, and much much much more.
Timestamps:
(0:00) Cynicism vs. Optimism and why Jason thinks cynics go after any interesting new technology
(10:02) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist
(11:04) Show Continues…
(14:37) Why Jason supports the Intel deal but worries it will become a trend
(20:46) Public - Take your investing to the next level with Public. Build a multi-asset portfolio and earn 4.1% APY on your cash—with no fees or minimums. Start now at public.com/twist.
(22:00) Show Continues…
(27:02) Is it hypocritical to oppose socialist grocery stores but support the Intel deal? Jason says NO.
(29:41) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(30:58) What does xAI hope to get out of this OpenAI/Apple lawsuit? Jason and Alex theorize…
(39:12) Why Jason thinks interoperability is so important and how App Stores OUGHT to work
(41:12) How AirBnB’s Joe Gebbia could potentially upgrade the US government’s websites
(49:27) What does Netskope do exactly? SASE?! Producer Claude explains…
(58:32) Alex and Jason celebrate Perplexity rev sharing with publishers
(01:10:02) Jason’s thoughts on the Leading the Future PAC, and US AI policy
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Thank you to our partners:
(10:02) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist
(20:46) Public - Take your investing to the next level with Public. Build a multi-asset portfolio and earn 4.1% APY on your cash—with no fees or minimums. Start now at public.com/twist.
(29:41) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | There's a lot of precedent for the government getting warrants, equity, or loans. |
| 0:06.9 | I never liked the giving away of the American taxpayers' dollars. |
| 0:11.3 | I never like that, especially when it comes to corporations. |
| 0:13.7 | Why? |
| 0:14.6 | Because corporations are taking this money, and it's free money for them. |
| 0:19.6 | And then the American people get caught with the bill, which seems |
| 0:23.7 | tremendously unfair because all of those executives and shareholders are going to reap the |
| 0:28.3 | benefits of every American putting up $100, $200, $300 each. |
| 0:34.8 | This weekend startups is brought to you by Squarespace. |
| 0:38.8 | Turn your idea into a beautiful website. |
| 0:41.2 | Go to Squarespace.com slash Twist for a free trial. |
| 0:44.8 | When you're ready to launch, use offer code Twist to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. |
| 0:51.3 | Public. |
| 0:52.4 | You take investing seriously. |
| 0:57.8 | Public does too. Build a multi-asset portfolio and earn an industry leading 4.1% APY on your cash with no fees or minimums. Learn more at public.com |
| 1:06.9 | slash twist. And Vanta. Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal breaker for startups to win new business. |
| 1:14.7 | Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC2 report fast. |
| 1:18.7 | Get $1,000 off for a limited time at vanta.com slash twist. |
| 1:24.3 | All right, everybody, welcome back to this week in startups. |
| 1:26.8 | I am your host, Jason Calcanus. |
| 1:28.2 | We've been doing this for 14 years over 2,000 episodes. We do it three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, |
| 1:32.5 | Friday. You get your tech news. You get your startup news once in a while, politics, markets, all of those |
... |
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