This Week in Startups is brought to you by…

Linear. Linear helps product teams focus on what they do best: Planning and building great products. Streamline issues, projects, and product roadmaps in a tool your team will actually enjoy using. Get 25% off at https://www.linear.app/twist

Oracle - Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. Save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist⁠⁠

Fundrise. Fundrise provides access to diversified portfolios of private real estate to all investors with their industry leading, easy to use platform. Sign up today at https://www.fundrise.com/TWIST

*

Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss OpenAI CTO’s departure (2:03 ), DOJ AI compliance guidelines (9:11 ), current trends in tech M&A (19:15 ), and much more!

*

Timestamps:

(0:00 ) Jason and Alex kick off the show

(2:03 ) Breaking news: OpenAI CTO departure and speculation

(8:17 ) Linear - Streamline issues, projects, and product roadmaps in a tool your team will actually enjoy using. Get 25% off at https://www.linear.app/twist

(9:11 ) DOJ AI compliance guidelines

(17:52 ) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist⁠⁠⁠

(19:15 ) Current state and trends in tech M&A

(29:13 ) Liquidity, market trust, and the move towards a cashless society

(36:05 ) Fundrise - Sign up today at https://www.fundrise.com/TWIST

(37:21 ) Startup funding, valuations, and disciplined fundraising

(50:09 ) Instacart's valuation journey and venture capital challenges

(53:25 ) Optimism for the AI-driven business super cycle

(55:36 ) The future of labor: Skilled trades vs. knowledge workers

(1:02:03 ) Trends in apprenticeships, college enrollment, and geographic arbitrage

(1:08:24 ) Startup opportunities in vocational training and alternative education models

(1:11:09 ) Google's career certificates initiative

(1:14:16 ) Job expectations and the reality for young professionals

(1:15:42 ) Tenet Media controversy

*

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

*

Mentioned on the show:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/16/the-toolbelt-generation-why-teens-are-losing-faith-in-college.html

https://globalventuring.com/corporate/exit/exits-corporate-backed-startups-august-2024

https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-pushes-companies-to-consider-ai-risks-116cfcf7?mod=hp_minor_pos11

https://www.ft.com/content/78b7e7a7-7428-4c5e-bfa2-0921c9d6cd25

*

Follow Alex:

X: https://x.com/alex

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

*

Follow Jason:

X: https://twitter.com/Jason

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

*

Thank you to our partners:

(8:17 ) Linear - Streamline issues, projects, and product roadmaps in a tool your team will actually enjoy using. Get 25% off at https://www.linear.app/twist

(17:52 ) Oracle - Try OCI and save up to 50% on your cloud bill at ⁠⁠https://w⁠⁠⁠⁠ww.oracle.com/twist⁠⁠⁠

(36:05 ) Fundrise - Sign up today at https://www.fundrise.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

*

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

*

Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916