OpenAI drama, billion-dollar exits, and founder salaries with new co-host Alex Wilhelm | E1953

This Week in Startups

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 http://www.vanta.com/twist

LinkedIn Ads - To redeem a $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups

Equinix - The Equinix Startup program offers a hybrid infrastructure solution for startups, including up to $100K in credits and personalized consultations and guidance from the Equinix team. Go to https://www.equinixstartups.com to apply today.

*

Timestamps:

(0:00) Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to dive into this week’s news.

(1:17) Announcing new co-host on TWiST Alex Wilhelm of TechCrunch fame!

(3:03) Alex breaks down what’s on the docket for today!

(4:16) The OpenAI equity issue.

(10:38) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(12:39) OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4o. (15:33) Why ChatGPT is better than Siri.

(17:50) OpenAI’s net revenue in the wake of last week’s announcements. (20:04) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (22:06) Comparing the needs of consumers vs enterprise for ChatGPT. (24:17) OpenAI has pulled “Sky” one of the voices for the new ChatGPT 4o due to it sounding like Scarlett Johansson

(28:48) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://deploy.equinix.com/startups (30:01) Alex’s favorite topic around how much founders paying themselves. (38:46) A billion-dollar deal in cybersecurity.

(45:43) Breaking news Scar Jo!

(56:24) What’s going on with crypto-venture capital.

(58:02) A look at “decentralized twitter” called Farcaster.

*

Links from episode:

OpenAI Equity link: https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-openai-nda-clause-vested-equity-ilya-sutskever-2024-5

OpenAI revenue growth https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/20/chatgpts-mobile-app-revenue-saw-biggest-spike-yet-following-gpt-4o-launch/

Founder salary report: https://pilot.com/founder-salary-report-2024

CyberArk-Venafi deal: https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/20/cyberark-snaps-up-venafi-for-1-54b-to-ramp-up-in-machine-to-machine-security/

Crypto VC rising: https://www.reuters.com/technology/venture-capital-funding-crypto-rises-24-bln-pitchbook-says-2024-05-20/

Check out Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/

*

Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp

*

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:

(10:38) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at http://www.vanta.com/twist

(20:04) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups (28:48) Equinix - Join the Equinix Startup Program for up to $100K in credits and much more at https://deploy.equinix.com/startups

*

Great 2023 interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland

*

Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis

*

Follow TWiST:

Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups

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

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups

*

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